With five days to go before the start of a new Premier League season, pubs, offices, factories and even around the dinner table discussions are likely to be based upon one question: Who will be crowned Premier League champions?
Ultimately, the potential destination of the title is separated by the 163 miles that takes you from the city of Manchester to the capital city which are home to Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and not forgetting mega-bucks Manchester City.
Whilst the impressive core of Chelsea’s team will lead pundits to suggest an inevitable retention of their Premier League crown, what is not so impressive is their form going into the season. Defeats to Hamburg, Frankfurt and Ajax and most recently Manchester United in the community shield leave room for improvement when the season kick-starts in a few days’ time.
Manchester United on the other hand offers a neat blend of youth and experience. Players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen and Van Der Sar are complimented by new Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, Rafael, Darren Gibson and Macheda as they hope to wrestle a 19th Premier League of Ancelotti’s men. But who is the likely winner? The immunity to a major facelift for either makes it all the more intriguing.
Although by their own admission, the Community Shield match at Wembley has no bearing coming May time, Manchester United certainly looked sharper and more incisive than their title rivals. Chelsea seem to be suffering a world cup hangover and even star striker Didier Drogba said “they must be find a solution” before their opener against West Brom for a winning start sets tone.
However, whilst Manchester United and Chelsea are at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it would be imprudent to write off United’s near neighbours who have spent abundant funds on an array of world class talents.
Whether it will be enough for City to mount a serious challenge for the title after being 19 points off the pace last season is largely dependent upon how the players settle and whether Mancini can pick the right team (not necessarily the best players) but even Gary Neville admits their threat is imminent: “City will be powerful over the next few years – we’ve got to get our heads around that. The players they’re signing, the manager they’ve got, and the fan-base they’ve got … they will be powerful.”
Powerful? Yes. Just how much so remains to be seen and if Mancini’s men can gel quickly and eradicate the inconsistency which reined their ambitions back last season then the posters around Manchester which read “This could be our year” in the club’s distinctive blue may be justified.
If I have thrown Manchester City’s name into the mix, it would be wrong of me not to include Arsenal in the teams who will be locked in a tussle for silverware, something which they have not achieved for quite some time.
With the retention of Cesc Fabregas ensured, Wenger will be hoping the addition of Chamakh is an astute one and that Laurent Koscielny will make the transition from the French Ligue 1 to the Premier League a smooth one.
It is perhaps about time that Arsenal’s youngsters come to the fore and produce a trophy the Emirates faithful are so desperate for as Wenger’s reiteration that his youngsters will come good offer little consolation in North London these days. Their potency in attack was somewhat undermined by injuries to key players and they will have to stay relatively injury free to mount a serious challenge.
I personally believe that fact the title is at Stamford Bridge will only fortify desire from the red half of Manchester and that their unique blend may hold the key to Chelsea’s trophy cabinet to take the trophy back in the upcoming season.
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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery