WHY MANCHESTER UNITED WILL WIN THE LEAGUE, WHY THEY WON’T
This season has produced a fair number of surprises. Although the season is far from over and there are a handful of teams with a shout at the title, it will most likely be won by either Manchester United or Chelsea. (Arsenal have a very, very good chance of cracking it however!)
There are three reasons why I believe Manchester United will win it again this season and there are three reasons why I think they won’t.
Why Manchester United WILL win the title:
Their squad
Their manager
The African Cup of Nations
Why Manchester United WON’T win the title:
Their squad
Their manager
Everyone else
(I know the top two are contradictory… hear me out.)
United WILL be champions.
After United’s loss to Fulham, many would have placed money on Chelsea to win the league. What must not be forgotten is that United’s squad is made up of winners (even new boys Obertan and Valencia have won something). The point is that this squad knows how to win. They have won the league for the last three years in a row after all. They were English, European and Club World Cup winners just two years ago. United have seldom won from the front and have often come from behind to lift the trophy. They can do it again – even without Ronaldo. To write off United would be a silly thing to do. This squad can handle the pressure.
Sir Alex is one of, if not the best manager alive, or even ever. That old head is wise and there are still plenty of sneaky tricks up his sleeve. Many doubted United’s title credentials this term when no big signings were made. Even though he hasn’t been replaced, Ronaldo hasn’t been greatly missed – despite United having lost a few matches. Fergie knows how to motivate and get the best out of players. He has done it before. He can do it again…
The African Cup of Nations will deplete the opposition’s resources. Chelsea will lose Drogba and Essien among others. Those two are invaluable to The Blues. Arsenal will see a couple of players fly off as will Spurs and Manchester City. United do not have this problem. Fergie will have a full squad to pick from in January – bar injuries.
United WON’T be champions.
For all that I have said about the winning mentality of the United squad, how they know how to withstand pressure etc, they lack quality. Yes, Ronaldo hasn’t been missed in terms of his greediness on the ball, on how the team seemed to play for him or how no one else could take a free kick. What they have missed however is his creativity. Valencia is a decent replacement. He isn’t in the same mold as Ronnie but he has some quality. What United lack at the moment however is a showboat. Spurs have Lennon, Man City have Robinho, the list goes on. Gabriel Obertan has impressed with his trickery and ‘man-beating’ ability but he is still young to the Premier League. All that aside, United’s biggest problem is in defense. A Vidic/Evans centre pairing is very good. Vidic/Ferdinand is better. Brown is decent. O’Shea is solid but not dynamic. Neville has passed it in my opinion and the Da Silva brothers are brilliant but a little small. Evra is pure class! The problem is fitness. A Carrick/Fletcher back two isn’t going to win you a Premier League title I’m afraid. If United can overcome their injury woes they have a shot.
Sir Alex as a football manager should never have a bad word said about him. His character is another story – but not the one I’m writing. Having said that however, there have been games where Fergie has picked a side I thought was crazy. By the end of the game though, we were all shouting “genius!’. Think back to Giggs’ first midfield bow against Chelsea. More and more he seems to pick a side that raises eyebrows and by the end of the game we are all left scratching our heads wondering why he didn’t see what we did. His side against Fulham is a perfect example of that. Is he losing the plot? I don’t think so. But I do think that he may be starting to complicate a very uncomplicated sport. Winning a soccer match isn’t the hardest thing to do. Especially with the side he has! But sometimes (and more and more frequently it seems) he makes it very hard!
United’s biggest worry when it comes to winning this years’ title is the fact that everyone else has gotten stronger. Now United can lose points to Spurs, City, Villa, Fulham, Everton or even Burnley. In years gone by there were games considered an easy 3 points. With the sides competing in this seasons Premier League however there is no such thing. United have won the league with ‘worse’ sides than they have now. The problem is that everyone else was weaker as well. The level of the opponents has risen steeply. And it could be a hill too steep for United to climb this season.
Chelsea are title favourites but they are not without their own problems. But that’s for the next article. The conclusion for this one is that United have a lot to do if they want to pass arch rivals Liverpool in league titles. The January transfer window will be an interesting one to watch from a United point of view. Who will Fergie buy – if anyone? It will need to be well thought out because whoever he brings in could be the difference between 1st, 2nd or 5th. If I was a Chelsea supporter I would be both confident and weary.
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