All those billions and billions and billions of British pounds spent on players this summer, and yet here we are- no true dominant English team. How there are plenty of good, solid sides, with a big five way logjam now at the top of the table, but there’s no EPL club right now that you could truly say is 100% complete.
There’s no British team with the potential to dominate Europe right now.
Manchester United beat Manchester 1-0 yesterday in an EFL Cup featuring the two teams with the top title odds entering the season.
It was a de jure Manchester Derby, but not really a de facto Manchester Derby. Jose Mourinho selected a strong starting XI filled with first teamers while Pep Guardiola choose a reserve side. Both sides were in equal, desperate desire for a victory though. United need to wipe away ugly memories of that horrible 4-0 thrashing at Chelsea, while City were winless in their last five (and now six) competitions.
Neither Manchester club is special and elite this season, and fortunately for them, neither is anyone else.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Mr. Manchester United himself, said: “It’s harder to predict than it was for many years.”
“I think there’s five potential candidates: Manchester City as favourites, Tottenham and Liverpool, but also Man United are still there if we get some consistency soon. Even when you are trailing by six, eight points, it’s still possible to catch one or two teams.”
I agree with Fergie that City remain favored. They have the most complete overall talented team. They’re currently top of the table, but four other clubs (Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Liverpool) are all right there; either tied for first or just one point behind.
Sir Alex Ferguson continued:
“The rivalry and the experience of Guardiola and Mourinho makes for an exciting competition. And you shouldn’t forget Arsenal. The team is more sturdy. They’ve got better and more aggressive. I’m impressed with the young boy Alex Iwobi.”
United are currently way down in seventh, but just six points (two victories) off the pace. It’s a long way until mid May when the season ends, so the Red Devils do have time to make up ground. Of course, they have a ton of issues to resolve and things to figure out, and I’m sure Sir Alex sees all of those in detail.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.