After securing a terrific win over Chelsea, Manchester United is in an unsailable position to win the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League title, but do they really deserve to lift the trophy?
A lot of pundits have debated back-and-forth about if this United team has the mettle to win the title all season long, but that should all be put to bed when, not if, the Reds claim the title in the next two weeks.
Only needing a solitary point from their next two fixtures to claim the trophy outright, United have certainly been the most consistent throughout the entire season – without being consistent.
This has to be one of those most turbulent seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson’s 24 years in charge at Old Trafford with all of the trials and tribulations that the club has faced – both on the field and off.
Sure others teams have had their issues, but my goodness, anything that could rise up and provide any sort of hiccup has. One thing that United has had to do that the other teams have not is to battle the proven jinx that has surrounded the No. 19 since Liverpool last won their last league title in 1989/90 when it was the old English Division One.
On top of the curse, the Reds have battled injuries to key players; a self-inflicted contract dispute; unjust suspensions to both the manager and key players and, yes, shoddy refereeing decisions that has allowed their title rivals to even be close to them in the standings. This is not crying foul, but stating the obvious. Not many clubs could handle playing without their 34-goal striker; be without six first-choice defenders or play manager-less in the season’s run-in without dropping points or losing matches in the process.
Admirably, when United seemed to have their luck run out, they rebounded well and played with passion and desire, which should appease every single supporter. If United get that point in one of their next two matches, then they would have been in first place for 24 straight weeks. In round 15 and 16, the Reds were level on points with Arsenal, but since then they have had the position on lock down.
Gold
To be honest, United has been as consistent as every other club in the league, but when a team wins 17 of their 18 matches at home they should win the league. The 52 points that they amassed at Old Trafford count for 68% of their season total to date, and that is eight more than Chelsea and 15 more than Arsenal.
With one more home match to play, the Reds have scored a staggering, league-best 45 goals in those matches – seven more than the Blues and 13 more than the Gunners. That helped United strut to a +35 goal differential, which was nine better than Chelsea and 16 better than Arsenal.
Not since 2003/04 has a club won the league title with more than 10 draws, which is the exact number that United has this season. Nine of those ties have come away from Old Trafford, where the Reds have been highly criticized for their form.
Okay
What is most amazing about that criticism is that United is level with Arsenal for the least amount of defeats, four, away from home. Despite playing below their glittering best all season long, the Reds boast the fourth best record on the road with 24 points, which is six short of Arsenal’s league-leading total (Chelsea – 26, Manchester City 25).
Even though this might sound redundant, the thing that has hurt United away from Old Trafford was the fact that they conceded way too many goals and awful times of the match, so they could only muster up a +4 goal differential on their travels. However, with one match still to play, against Blackburn at Ewood Park, the Reds have managed to still be third in goals scored (28), and fifth in goals against (24).
There is not an argument that anyone could make that would suggest that Manchester United would not be worthy champions of the Barclays Premier League this season.
Submitted by The United Religion
