Manchester City have been a joy to watch this season, haven’t they? Aguero’s 30 yard rocket against Swansea on his debut, Edin Dzeko’s fourth against Spurs, David Silva’s precision through ball to Edin Dzeko against United. City have given us some wonderful moments since August.To many the 6-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford last month signalled a changing of the guard.
Indeed, the result was the clearest indication yet that City and owner Sheikh Mansour may well be set to win the Premier League following the significant financial investment in the club over the last few years.
However, it would do everyone a world of good to remember that it’s early yet, November still has few days run, and for that very reason we must be careful not to get ahead of ourselves and declare City champions in waiting.
The season is not yet a third completed and yet some would have you believe the chase for the Premier League title is a foregone conclusion.
Of course, Roberto Mancini, talented manager that he is, will certainly not allow his players to become complacent and harbor the belief that they are destined for the title. Hard work and determination will be required to see City crowned champions and Mancini will be drilling this into his players on a daily basis in training.
At the risk of rolling out the clichés all too readily, the league title is never won this early in the season, although it can often be lost.
If you want proof that the league is never won this early, just look back at at Newcastle’s ill fated collapse in 1996, when Kevin Keegan’s side let slip a 9 point lead, with a game in hand, after February. Even last season Arsenal were in the title fight well into the spring before falling away to finish 4th, 12 points behind champions Manchester United.
And for proof that it can be lost at this stage just look atChelsea and Arsenal this year. Arsenal may feel the title was gone at least 6 weeks ago and following Chelsea’s defeat to Liverpool last weekend, any title ambitions that Andre Villas-Boas’ side may have had surely must have been eradicated.
With so long left in the season there remains plenty of time for United to capitalise on any potential dip in form from their city rivals, at 5 point the gap may disappear just like that.
City still face trips to Stamford Bridge, the Emirates and play Liverpool at Anfield this weekend. If Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side can hang on to the coattails of City, it will be interesting to see whether ‘squeaky bum time’ will have an effect of City’s expensively assembled squad as the season comes to the business end.
It would be unfair on Tottenham Hotspur not to give them a mention, with the North London club having picked up 25 points from the last 27 available. Harry Redknapp may feel that his side can challenge for the title this season, although you get the feeling that Spurs may fall a little short this season, lacking the squad depth of Manchester City and the experience of Manchester United.
Yet, in November, after 12 games, it’s wise to never say never, and it would certainly come as no surprise to me if this season goes right to the wire.
Am I right to believe this season will go to the wire? Or will City cruise to the title? Comment and follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries
Written by Cameron Humphries for FootballfanCast.com
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