Could this be a start of a revolution in English football this year? Many people believe that the EPL is the strongest league in the world. There have been monumental changes in the big four clubs this summer and the said to be new title contender Manchester City. But where will it all lead? There are so many possibilities, some of them scare me and others intrigue me. Today I'm going to give you a totally hypothetical situation. However, just because it is hypothetical, doesn't mean there isn't a chance of this actually happening in the new campaign.
Let's first start with some background information. We all know the Manchester Derby is unpredictable and a great match to watch. Manchester City over the past handful of years have found positive results despite being eternal underdogs in the tie. A lot of people come together to watch the Red and Blue side of Manchester clash. Over recent years it's been a rivalry that stays relatively to the match. What I mean is, other than playing each other twice a season, though the results may very, it's not really anything significantly more than who beats who in that specific game. It's not like they are contending like Real Madrid and Barcelona at each other's throat to claim the best in Spain because we all know who the better club is in this case, Manchester United. However this season looks to be cooking up a potential recipe for a more heated encounter between the two teams.
You'd have to be living in a nutshell to not know the spending Manchester City has done this summer to totally bolster their squad into a Big Four challenging outfit. We also know there have been changes to the Red Devils as well. Star, Cristiano Ronaldo has left for Madrid and the (former) Old Trafford favorite Tevez, though finally welcomed to stay with the supporters who loved him so, after months of whining about not being asked to remain at Manchester United, dared to turn his cheek and trade in his allegiances by turning in his United uniform for the light blue of Manchester City. There has been a war of words going on all summer about the transfer. Sir Alex has spoken out many times about the Tevez transfer, claiming the Argentine hit man was not worth the money City bought him for. Tevez has hit back at United and Sir Alex on several occasions, directly or indirectly. Manchester City decided to make huge posters of the Argentine that read "Welcome to Manchester." Sir Alex called the attempt arrogant and an attempt to get a rise out of the United fans. "I think it's daft." he said.
So this is where my "What If" comes in. Pay attention closely. If you had read my article Derby Day (and if you haven't, it's not to late), extreme derbies such as the Milan derby of El Clasico are started over a series of events that aren't exactly football related. It's something more that tips tempers other than location in the same city as the two Manchester clubs are (although Manchester United are actually outside the city). El Clasico had the Spanish Civil War behind it. The Milan derby had the exclusion of anyone not English in AC Milan at the routes of that. Could these war of words, massive spendings by Man City, the controversial Tevez transfer, and City's legitimate push for the Premier League title be the reasons that start an English version of a megaderby? One of the same caliber of El Clasico? Perhaps, translated into English, "The Classic?" "The Manchester Classic?" All the ingredients are there. They would just need to be put in to the pot in the right order to boil up this mouthwatering possibility. So let's get hypothetical. Let's say the Manchester spending is beginning to pay off. They are experiencing a series of good results in the early season. Let's say they go on to win their first five matches of the new campaign. Which are Blackburn, Everton, Wolves, Pompey, and then Arsenal. If City can roll 4 games in a row, they will be on a high to face Arsenal. Arsenal is said to be the team, if any, that would drop out of the Big Four this season. It's not like City will be the less favored side here either. After all they've snatched up the Gunner's Adebayor and Kolo Toure who have yet to be replaced. City also beat Arsenal in the first half of last season 3-0. So what if the Gunners fall to City again? What does that mean? City's dreams of cracking the top four are beginning to come true, at least in their own eyes. The Arsenal result doesn't really mean too much this early in the season to experts but the fact the they just scalped a Big Four team, will make the players of City believe even more in the project they are part of and confidence will sky rocket for the next match. Who's next on the transfer list? Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams. Maybe this where City's "dreams" may actually be realized. This stage of the "What If" theory is the most vital to the outcome we've dared to predict here. It also just hypothetical remember. So bare with me. What if Man City goes guns-a-blazin' into Old Trafford and comes away with a win. Let's say the scoreline is 2-1 to the Citizens. What if Tevez has both? Or even one? Perhaps even just a major part to play in the match? This is where the meltdown begins. Sir Alex begins to further criticize City's spending and the performance by his own players, attempting to take the glory out of the City showing, frantically trying to calm the hype that City is the better team in Manchester. However, he's just stirring things up because Mark Hughes will encourage the public that his side were capable all along. Tevez will have his own bit to say. I can already hear the striker: "I made the right choice to leave United. I must be worth the money now" he says jokingly at a press conference. The war of words is never ending. United have lost to Manchester City before but now it means something much more, especially to the supporters. If the light blue had confidence before, what do you think they're feeling like now? In ecstasy. Could this be happening? Two big four victories in as many weeks! This will surely continue for matches to come as their new found confidence pushes aside challenging teams and securing a spot in the top four by Christmas. Now it is Manchester United an the unfamiliar shadow of their rivals. Maybe even below a confident City in the table. The pressure is on them. They will have to wait all the way until April 17th of 2010 to get their revenge (grant it they don't meet in a domestic cup along the way). And on that date, they will have to travel into the heart of the lion's den also known as "The City of Manchester Stadium." Walking into a harsh atmosphere full of passionate City supporters who all of a sudden have a new found sense of pride and glory exercising all the rights the results and confidence has brought them. Baby blue banners and flags that read arrogant and confident messages, kids' with the Tevez kit number painted on their face and jerseys that read "Revenge" in place of a name on the back over the number "10" that signifies the year to date. Picture the images and sounds in your head. City supporters singing cheerfully and jeering just as much as the desperate Red Devils warming up. If United manages to overcome and win here, "The Manchester Classic" is on. They will most certainly use the win to shove back crap back into the faces of the Citizens. If United lose at the hands of City "The Manchester Classic" is even more on! Of course the outspoken Robinho will be throwing his two sense (or more) into the public readings. The papers and other press will have been analysing this phenomenon for weeks previous and even more so in weeks to come. The footballing world will have been turned upside-down in England and the Manchester United bandwagon across the world will begin to deteriorate violently as Manchester City are Champions League material.
Now would be a good time to snap back into reality. There you have it. It almost seems like a doomsday prediction doesn't it? Kind of scary. I'm not saying this is what I believe is going to occur. I most certainly would not put a dime on this theory coming true. For all I know City could lose to Wolves, then crushed by the Gunners, and finally put to rest by United the fallowing week, sending them back to the mid table they are so very used to. However, the elements for United disaster are there. This is football, anything can happen.
R.I.P. Dani Jarque
Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid,
Bobby
Let's first start with some background information. We all know the Manchester Derby is unpredictable and a great match to watch. Manchester City over the past handful of years have found positive results despite being eternal underdogs in the tie. A lot of people come together to watch the Red and Blue side of Manchester clash. Over recent years it's been a rivalry that stays relatively to the match. What I mean is, other than playing each other twice a season, though the results may very, it's not really anything significantly more than who beats who in that specific game. It's not like they are contending like Real Madrid and Barcelona at each other's throat to claim the best in Spain because we all know who the better club is in this case, Manchester United. However this season looks to be cooking up a potential recipe for a more heated encounter between the two teams.
You'd have to be living in a nutshell to not know the spending Manchester City has done this summer to totally bolster their squad into a Big Four challenging outfit. We also know there have been changes to the Red Devils as well. Star, Cristiano Ronaldo has left for Madrid and the (former) Old Trafford favorite Tevez, though finally welcomed to stay with the supporters who loved him so, after months of whining about not being asked to remain at Manchester United, dared to turn his cheek and trade in his allegiances by turning in his United uniform for the light blue of Manchester City. There has been a war of words going on all summer about the transfer. Sir Alex has spoken out many times about the Tevez transfer, claiming the Argentine hit man was not worth the money City bought him for. Tevez has hit back at United and Sir Alex on several occasions, directly or indirectly. Manchester City decided to make huge posters of the Argentine that read "Welcome to Manchester." Sir Alex called the attempt arrogant and an attempt to get a rise out of the United fans. "I think it's daft." he said.
So this is where my "What If" comes in. Pay attention closely. If you had read my article Derby Day (and if you haven't, it's not to late), extreme derbies such as the Milan derby of El Clasico are started over a series of events that aren't exactly football related. It's something more that tips tempers other than location in the same city as the two Manchester clubs are (although Manchester United are actually outside the city). El Clasico had the Spanish Civil War behind it. The Milan derby had the exclusion of anyone not English in AC Milan at the routes of that. Could these war of words, massive spendings by Man City, the controversial Tevez transfer, and City's legitimate push for the Premier League title be the reasons that start an English version of a megaderby? One of the same caliber of El Clasico? Perhaps, translated into English, "The Classic?" "The Manchester Classic?" All the ingredients are there. They would just need to be put in to the pot in the right order to boil up this mouthwatering possibility. So let's get hypothetical. Let's say the Manchester spending is beginning to pay off. They are experiencing a series of good results in the early season. Let's say they go on to win their first five matches of the new campaign. Which are Blackburn, Everton, Wolves, Pompey, and then Arsenal. If City can roll 4 games in a row, they will be on a high to face Arsenal. Arsenal is said to be the team, if any, that would drop out of the Big Four this season. It's not like City will be the less favored side here either. After all they've snatched up the Gunner's Adebayor and Kolo Toure who have yet to be replaced. City also beat Arsenal in the first half of last season 3-0. So what if the Gunners fall to City again? What does that mean? City's dreams of cracking the top four are beginning to come true, at least in their own eyes. The Arsenal result doesn't really mean too much this early in the season to experts but the fact the they just scalped a Big Four team, will make the players of City believe even more in the project they are part of and confidence will sky rocket for the next match. Who's next on the transfer list? Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams. Maybe this where City's "dreams" may actually be realized. This stage of the "What If" theory is the most vital to the outcome we've dared to predict here. It also just hypothetical remember. So bare with me. What if Man City goes guns-a-blazin' into Old Trafford and comes away with a win. Let's say the scoreline is 2-1 to the Citizens. What if Tevez has both? Or even one? Perhaps even just a major part to play in the match? This is where the meltdown begins. Sir Alex begins to further criticize City's spending and the performance by his own players, attempting to take the glory out of the City showing, frantically trying to calm the hype that City is the better team in Manchester. However, he's just stirring things up because Mark Hughes will encourage the public that his side were capable all along. Tevez will have his own bit to say. I can already hear the striker: "I made the right choice to leave United. I must be worth the money now" he says jokingly at a press conference. The war of words is never ending. United have lost to Manchester City before but now it means something much more, especially to the supporters. If the light blue had confidence before, what do you think they're feeling like now? In ecstasy. Could this be happening? Two big four victories in as many weeks! This will surely continue for matches to come as their new found confidence pushes aside challenging teams and securing a spot in the top four by Christmas. Now it is Manchester United an the unfamiliar shadow of their rivals. Maybe even below a confident City in the table. The pressure is on them. They will have to wait all the way until April 17th of 2010 to get their revenge (grant it they don't meet in a domestic cup along the way). And on that date, they will have to travel into the heart of the lion's den also known as "The City of Manchester Stadium." Walking into a harsh atmosphere full of passionate City supporters who all of a sudden have a new found sense of pride and glory exercising all the rights the results and confidence has brought them. Baby blue banners and flags that read arrogant and confident messages, kids' with the Tevez kit number painted on their face and jerseys that read "Revenge" in place of a name on the back over the number "10" that signifies the year to date. Picture the images and sounds in your head. City supporters singing cheerfully and jeering just as much as the desperate Red Devils warming up. If United manages to overcome and win here, "The Manchester Classic" is on. They will most certainly use the win to shove back crap back into the faces of the Citizens. If United lose at the hands of City "The Manchester Classic" is even more on! Of course the outspoken Robinho will be throwing his two sense (or more) into the public readings. The papers and other press will have been analysing this phenomenon for weeks previous and even more so in weeks to come. The footballing world will have been turned upside-down in England and the Manchester United bandwagon across the world will begin to deteriorate violently as Manchester City are Champions League material.
Now would be a good time to snap back into reality. There you have it. It almost seems like a doomsday prediction doesn't it? Kind of scary. I'm not saying this is what I believe is going to occur. I most certainly would not put a dime on this theory coming true. For all I know City could lose to Wolves, then crushed by the Gunners, and finally put to rest by United the fallowing week, sending them back to the mid table they are so very used to. However, the elements for United disaster are there. This is football, anything can happen.
R.I.P. Dani Jarque
Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid,
Bobby
wow dis was a long hypothetical story ere, but im lyk u i dnt fink city will break top 4, apart from Robinho, Tevez and mayb Ireland i dnt fink dey ave enuf quality 2 break top 4, Adebayor is gd but not gr8, Barry is just average, plus wit Mark Hueghs as manager dey aint winnin nofink.
ReplyDeletehaha yeahh its a bit of stretch. But crazier things have happened. In all honestly, I like the big four the way it is now
ReplyDelete