What Is Happening At Manchester United and...?
As the football world gets back into the real action we are left with a few big questions. What are Manchester United actually doing right now? Are they planning ahead with new and younger players or are they ready to win the title. Or is this the final season that Sir Alex Ferguson will be the Man U boss meaning that a new-look team will be his legacy.
Some years it seems safe for us to make a few predictions. Last year, in the Premier League, was just such a year. This year seems different. Somehow this football year, as it begins to hot up on Saturday, is full of mystery. To make predictions on the whole English league seems ok for the relegation drops but for the winners such predictions are more difficult than ever.
Manchester United can win. There is no doubt about that. Yet the decisions now from Sir Alex might well be made with a view to putting together a new-look team that will take at least a year to gel. Arsenal have similar manager decisions to think about. The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, could well be in his final year as boss. His contract is out this year and this might be what is called a ”shit or bust” situation. Could this spur on the Arsenal team to a top four place again?
Chelsea and Manchester City are two clubs I care little about in the personal sense. I am biased against them. Yet those nasty teams do seem to claim respect from those that bet on the football. Both these teams might win the league. If they do they will not have too many jumping up and down in supporting happiness. But bad guys often win. Shame but true.
Liverpool is another call that is difficult to make. New manager, Roy Hodgson, has given Liverpool new hope and even new expectations. The problem here is that the way Hodgson works means that it might take a few months for his ways to become reality with the Liverpool players. Hodgson is a coach that needs time to change things. That is his history. If Liverpool take a few months to get their act together in the Hodgson style then they will be lucky to get into the top six.
Then we have Tottenham Hotspur. Last season was good for them and this year they have a chance at Champions league fame (even if they will never, ever, win that). They have a few problems with defence and that might really tire them out very early on in the year. Unless Harry Redknapp gets a new defence Spurs might be lucky to get a top six place.
My guess for the surprise team to get a top six place is Everton. I think they are more settled now. If they avoid too many injuries then Everton could surprise many big clubs.
Down at the bottom I cannot see too much success going to the likes of a Blackpool, West Bromich Albion and Newcastle United. They need time and they just do not have that time. Also Aston Villa do not look healthy this coming season. The same applies to Fulham and Birmingham.
Last year my predictions turned out to be quite good. Lucky? Oh yes but still mainly correct. This year I wobble and I try to avoid the pain of public failure. Cowardly? Yes. But fairly sensible too.
As an interesting aside. People are rightly talking about ”Capello, Capello” in ways that suits a operatic comedy. It seems true that he has ”lost the plot”. If Capello was managing a Premier League team right now relegation would be the name of his game. That much is for sure. He has lost his damned marbles.
In terms of Nordic and Scandanavian football all teams did rather well this last week. All won in international games. It is good to see this happening but I remain unconvinced for the international future. When the heat is turned up I doubt our Nordic teams will win in this way. I can, however, hope. And, hope I will. We need a couple of northern teams in the Euro Champs.
What our Nordc teams do not need is the ”Capello Capello” comedy of errors on stage.
Steve Bowles
