It would appear that the off-season saw the teams at the top of the Premier League table get even stronger and pull further away from the rest of the pack, but who’s the favorite? Probably still Chelsea.
Has Manchester United elevated themselves to title contenders with all their spending? According to Manager Louis van Gaal his side needs more speed, and then that would make them title winners. Of course, you can’t really evaluate how Manchester United rank versus Chelsea or the rest of the top four until the David de Gea situation is resolved.
Who knows when that will be? The Angel Di Maria transfer saga only just reached closure today; FINALLY!
Said NBC Premier League Analyst Robbie Mustoe of the Premier League pecking order: “The top contenders have all upgraded, and the gap to Chelsea has lessened.”
Added fellow NBC Analyst Rebecca Lowe: “It’s been a summer of big money signings and interesting acquisitions both in terms of players and managers, and that makes this new Premier League season so enticing. It also feels like a slight ‘evening up’ has taken place amongst the top teams and with time in the transfer window still left, we couldn’t be looking at four-way title race could we?”
Well, I’m not sure I agree with that, especially given how last year ended, but this is the time of year when you can say things like that. Everyone is undefeated right now. After United’s final preseason match of the summer, a 2-0 loss to Paris St. Germain in Chicago, I asked Van Gaal what he was pleased with from his side this preseason, as well as what he would like to see improve.
“I hope that we shall be able to finish from out of first chances, because that is very important,” Van Gaal answered, and then gave the preseason friendly versus Barcelona as an example of what has worked for his side. He mentioned that they had the first chances against PSG, but just didn’t finish them.
“I think that we have to very very happy with the spirit of the team, and the discipline off the pitch and on the pitch,” he said to complete his answer to my big picture question.
Van Gaal was pleased with how his team handled themselves while they spent more than two weeks in the United States. He felt they handled a very rigorous training camp, which included unexpected and unseasonable heat, in stride.
Since Van Gaal brought up finishing first and foremost, I guess it’s worth mentioning how the Dutchman dropped Pedro’s name in a press conference recently, and that the Barcelona Winger has been heavily linked to the team.
Of course, even if the De Gea situation were ideal, which it’s not, every Manchester United supporter has to be concerned about the center backs. Paris St. Germain were able to go right down the center of United’s central defense and score twice.
A reporter asked PSG Manager Laurent Blanc about this very topic, but via the translator: “He said he wouldn’t talk about the strengths and weaknesses of other teams,” but he did point out “several technical errors”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country.
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