Tuesday 29 December 2015 13:32, UK
Thierry Henry dropped into Sky Studios on Tuesday morning to review 2015 in the world of football - a year that delivered highs, lows and a new batch of Premier League superstars.
From Chelsea's rapid decline to Leicester City's sensational turnaround in fortunes, Henry, speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, analysed five major talking points from a fascinating 12 months.
Leicester City's rise
When Big Ben chimed to bring in 2015, the Foxes were rock bottom of the Premier League having taken just 14 points from 20 matches. But fast forward 12 months and relegation fears have been replaced by title talk. With one game of 2015 to go, Leicester have won 66 points in total - two more than Manchester United.
HENRY'S VIEW: "What Leicester have done is a fairy tale. You have to give Nigel Pearson credit for starting it all off and getting them on a run that kept them in the Premier League - I hope people don't forget that. Well done to Claudio Ranieri too, who has taken that job on and given his players the belief.
"Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, who is one of the signings of the season, have all been playing so well. The belief they have to beat anyone put in front of them is incredible. Leicester City are a great example to other clubs that don't perhaps have the riches available to clubs in the top six."
Jamie Vardy's form
One of the main reasons for Leicester City's amazing form in the second half of 2015 was Jamie Vardy goals. He leads the way in the Premier League goalscoring charts this season with 15 goals and broke Ruud Van Nistelrooy's record for scoring in consecutive games - netting in 11 successive matches .
HENRY'S VIEW: "Vardy has rolled back the years. When I was playing every striker in the league was like him - chasing lost causes, running in behind and tackling. Even if a ball is about to go out you can't let it go when Vardy is around - he's going to chase it. He makes you run for every single ball.
"Plus, he can score goals. To break Ruud Van Nistelrooy's record playing for a team like Leicester - well done. I love how Vardy has brought back desire into the game, which has been lacking in the Premier League in recent years."
No one-season wonder
Another man to steal the headlines in 2015 was Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who continued his sensational rise to the top by scoring 27 Premier League goals in 2015 - eight more than anyone else.
HENRY'S VIEW: "What a year he's had. But he's more than just a goalscorer - nobody really mentions his work-rate, which is second to none. He always offers a solution for his team and is always on the move.
"It looked at the start of the season that he lost a little bit of composure in front of goal - but he got it back. Since getting that first goal of this season he hasn't looked back. Yes, he plays for Tottenham, but you have to give credit where credit is due."
Heroes to zeroes
It's been a season of two halves for Chelsea. From winning the Premier League title in May, they now sit in relegation trouble after a shocking start to the 2015/16 season which cost Jose Mourinho his job.
HENRY'S VIEW: "We're talking about a team that was top and then nearly went to the bottom of the table. I really don't know what's happened there.
"The players should feel a responsibility for this. I hope they do - if you're a competitor and you love your club you should do. Regardless of any situation, at one point your pride has to kick in and it didn't for a large part of this season. There is plenty of time for Chelsea, but it's very difficult to explain what has happened at that football club. We all saw the stories, but we weren't in the dressing room - things have to change there, and quickly.
"I feel sympathy for Mourinho. The players had a big part to play. You can't sack the entire team, so to spark something it's the manager that has to go. Mourinho is still the best manager in the history of Chelsea and in football."
LVG frustration
Manchester United's progress under Louis van Gaal declined as 2015 wore on. The Dutchman led them back into the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League but they were knocked out in the group stages. Meanwhile, his methodical style of football that has seen them draw five Premier League games 0-0 this season has been heavily criticised.
HENRY'S VIEW: "It doesn't seem like [Van Gaal] can spark that team. He has won so much, he has experience, everything. But does he know his squad? Does he know who he wants to play?
"At times they are a bit too rigid, too predictable, it's not the Manchester United I know. They were looking for goals and pace, and they got that in Anthony Martial. He scored goals, and then suddenly he's on the left, another day on the right.
"Ashley Young one day is left winger, then right back, then left back. Rojo starts, then suddenly he doesn't start for a month and then he comes back. Daley Blind is the guy, and then suddenly he's not the guy anymore. I think he doesn't know his team, he doesn't trust guys yet.
"They have to go back to being the United that we know."
