Will Manchester United be the worst team to ever win the Premier League?
Posted by DavidM in Alex Ferguson, Man United, Premiership, Wayne Rooney | 14 February 2011
I may not be a Manchester United fan but I have huge respect for them as a club, the quality of the squad and their history of success. Only six managers have won the Premier League and Sir Alex Ferguson has topped the table eleven times. Outstanding.
It seems increasingly likely that Man Utd will win the title again this year but will they be the worst team to have ever won the Premier League?
I've had this conversation with a few Man Utd fans. Initially they get very defensive and point to the 7-1 drubbing of Blackburn in November and 5-0 win over Birmingham in January. Then they grudgingly admit that many of the performances this season haven't been up to the standard they have come to expect. It's credit to the team that in all bar one game they've earned at least a draw.
Every team has good and bad days, so it's no surprise that a team like United can destroy a mid-table team on a good day. But for me there have been too few good days and a lot of games where Man Utd have lacked the flair, organisation and passion they've shown in previous campaigns. They've been outplayed on occasions and have taken undeserved points.
Rooney has been very quiet for the vast majority of the season so far, not recovering from a poor summer. The last couple of games have seen him start to come to life and his overhead kick to score against Manchester City on Saturday was excellent. Berbatov has had golden spells but again has had a number of games where he hasn't made a mark.
While no-one should be discounted until it's mathematically impossible for them to win, it looks increasingly like a two-team run to the end of the season. It's Manchester United's to lose but with Rooney coming back into form and United's legendary winning mentaility I can't see them losing 4 points more than Arsenal in the remaining 12 games.
Arsenal are an interesting comparison to this year's United team. Often playing beautiful, fluid football, dominating many of their games this year, they have lacked a killer instinct and have dropped points through a lack of cutting-edge finishing.
If Manchester United finish top this year, I hope they end the season showing some of the style and entertaining football they've given us in previous years.
Comments
United seem that have the mentality that the game is not over until the whistle has been blown. Arsenal on the other hand seem to hit the self destruct button when the game doesn't quite go their way.
With the Gunners, you never quite know which team are going to turn up. Whilst I do think Arsenal could pinch the number one spot, we still lack the depth in the sqad that united have.
How many of the Gunners first team would make the first team for United?
Random thoughts.
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