The 2012/13 Premier League campaign is underway and it is already showing signs that it could be the most competitive and interesting one for decades.
Manchester City managed to break the stranglehold and domination of the Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal axis (the only clubs to have won the Championship since Blackburn Rovers snatched the title in 94/95) by winning England’s elite league competition back in May.
For the past decade we got used to discussing the Premiership in terms of the “big four” clubs (probably due to the nature of Champions League qualification) Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. Now, the paradigm has definitely shifted to include the emerging forces of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
Everton, of course, finished above their neighbours Liverpool in the table last term, and started the season on Monday night with a sensational win over Man United – hitting the woodwork twice and outplaying the Red Devils before eventually winning 1-0 with a Marouane Fellaini header.
Man City’s vast wealth and resources has made them stand out as the most significant addition to what we must now call the “big seven”. The settled and lean looking Carlos Tevez and his Argentine compatriot Sergio Aguero are likely to form a devastating partnership this season that could well enable City to retain their title.
Roberto Mancini has been restrained in the transfer market this summer, partly because of UEFA’s new Champions League financial fair play regulations which will come into effect next season. We must not forget however that the Sky Blues’ squad is still relatively young, and keeping the same squad together could be the best thing for their development this year.
Retaining a title is not an easy thing to do though, from a psychological and motivational point of view, especially when you factor in a certain sociopathic Scotsman from the mean streets of Govan in the city of Glasgow, Alec Ferguson.
An absolutely incredible statistic regarding Ferguson’s managerial record at Old Trafford is the fact that, apart from the 1987/88 campaign when they finished 2nd to Liverpool, every time United have finished as runners-up in his tenure they have bounced back and won the League the following season. If Robin Van Persie can remain fit and adapt to life in Manchester then I wouldn’t bet against Ferguson pulling off this astonishing feat for the 6th time in his career.
He seems to be at his best when his pride has been wounded and United have something to prove. Let’s not forget that United only lost the league on goal difference with the last kick in the last seconds of the season. The smart money is on the red side of Manchester to reclaim the title.
This week’s free football predictions:
Manchester United to Win English Premier League
Best Odds, 9/4
