[caption id="attachment_69489" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini."]
Do the math. It doesn’t lie. Going to press Arsenal and Newcastle are 18 points behind Manchester City with 16 games left. Basically that means City have to lose 6 games while the Gunners and Toon likely have to win all remaining matches. And on that note with 19 points adrift it’s safe to also write Liverpool off to win the EPL title.
Chelsea can also be considered a reach to win the league. When they beat City 2-1 on Dec. 12 all agreed they would contend. Then 4 ties and a loss in the next 7 games leaving them 13 points behind City all but ended Chelsea’s title hopes. City (leading by three points and a 9-point superior goal difference), Manchester United and Tottenham, would have to collapse for Chelsea to have a chance, and so the latter is highly unlikely. So, what’s in store for the table toppers in the next handful of games through February and into early March?
If there is one thing the Blues do have going for them it’s the February and early March schedule. It begins this weekend with home advantage at the Bridge over Manchester United. New Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas knows this is the biggest game since he arrived in London. If Boas wins this one then his Blues can fancy their chances to stay in the hunt for a top-3 spot with games against Everton away, Bolton at home, West Brom away and Stoke at home.
Chelsea can close the gap at least on United and Spurs. Their biggest challenge will be to collect 3 points apiece over Bolton and West Brom, as failing against the bottom-half teams has continued to hurt them.
Chelsea’s hopes are also based on comparing their next 5 games to Spurs. It’s like night and day. Tottenham have it all to do to sustain their attempt to challenge City. The away fixtures of Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton are tough roads to travel. Liverpool do not lose at Anfield while Arsenal is the most unpredictable team in the league. On certain days the Gunners can still be invincible. Tottenham’s home games are even tougher against Manchester United and high flying Newcastle.
Poor old Harry Redknapp is having such a hard time in court these days: ‘Arry is battling bad tax raps. He claims he’s a giver not a taker and that he’s a bad businessman man. It’s a lot of pressure that Tottenham don’t need over the next 5 games. Business must be taken care off at the Lane’s ground not in the court and a lack of focus will certainly take Spurs out of the race.
Alex Ferguson is known for his famous comment, “Squeezy Bum Time.” Well it looks like the squeeze is ahead of its time. Like Spurs, United will be tested in the next month as try to keep the pressure on their neighbors, City. Chelsea away and Liverpool at home are two massive hurdles to get over to stay in the race. While United may close the gap when they play Norwich on the road, another big hurdle is around the corner at White Harte Lane. These back-to-back road games will hurt United taking them out of their comfort zone.
Every game has become a challenge for United as the fear factor has gone from opponents. Finally United seem beatable and that includes games at Old Trafford. Bringing back Paul Scholes was a step backwards for United. Now everybody knows just how brilliant Roy Keane was for Utd. It’s a void Ferguson has found next to impossible to fill for both Keano the player and the man.
Make no mistake about it, it’s Manchester City’s league to lose. And while nobody in their right mind would write off Fergie’s United even the Old Trafford legend would admit that City’s schedule can open up a bigger gap. Fulham, Villa, Blackburn, Bolton and Swansea are certainly preferred games that the top teams would rather. While the chasing pack can potentially knock each other out of the race City can cruise ahead into the spring season.
Roberto Mancini continues to speak up about injustices against his team and all the while his side manage to win games, at least in the league they do. He’s clever enough with the media, meanwhile taking away any nonsense that could have a negative impact on his players. Mancini managed to stay out of the circus surrounding Carlos Tevez who in the end may stay at Maine Road. Go figure. Mancini is also managing Mario Balotelli really well, though the star is currently banned for violent conduct. Good management of his superstars has allowed Mancini to bring his team together, another factor to keep an eye on throughout
February.
