Various websites,journals,analysts parts of the media claim that the two Manchester clubs are the two to beat in the Premier League this season but i also feel Chelsea are also a force that are being under-estimated. Man United, Man City and Chelsea look to be the potential top 3 come the end of the season, if these early signs are anything to go by.There are other clubs too but these are the three teams who have a real chance of emerging out as winners .
Like any team the three clubs have their own have positives and negatives.
Man United:
Positives- Man United started the season in tremendous form but their recent form is not satisfactory at all.However if theres any team that deserves to win its united. the strikers have been in prime form and some of their attacking play has left some commentators speechless. Wayne Rooney has been in sensational form this season and has been one of the biggest, if not the biggest attacking force in world football. However, when Rooney gets out of this purple patch of form, can United mantain this goalscoring frenzy and the fluidity of their football? Rooney is the main man in United’s 4-4-1-1 formation, playing just behind Hernandez or previously Welbeck. Rooney has controlled the tempo of Man United’s play and has kept the ball moving at a great pace. He has created and he has scored, so you can’t ask for much more.Luis Nani seems to of finally found his game and looks to be the skillful, pacey winger that Man United have lacked since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Nani looks a real threat every time he is in a forward motion. I think Phil Jones could potentially be one of the best centre backs in world football in future if he keeps improving and working hard at his game, so could have been the best buy of the summer.
Negatives- Man United’s young defence has been raved
about through this early season run of games, but when they got their hardest test yet vs the likes of Mata and Torres, they all came up short, bar Phil Jones. Jonny Evans was run ragged by the sensational movement of Fernando Torres and Smalling was lost whether to track Mata, or let him drift inside. Chelsea’s brilliant attacking game against United may have encouraged other teams to go at the inexperienced United’s defence in future, which could potentially cause problems. Although i think this could be a big weakness if exploited, Man United clearly are in great form and look the team to beat.
Man United lack; A creative player if Rooney drops out of form or gets injured. Maybe a Sneijder type player?…
Man City:
Positives- Man City look to be playing a more attacking style this season, which is different to the way Mancini looked to line up last season. Nasri is a top player who is very versatile and could add alot to the team. Aguero looks to have settled right into the sky blue kit of Man City. Aguero is a top talent but the lucrative wages he was already on at Athletico Madrid, meant that Chelsea and Liverpool were not an option. These two teams did not want to pay him next to silly wages, due to the introduction of the Financial Fairplay rules. Silva looks like one of the best players in the world at this time, and every chance Aguero seems to get is somehow created by the magical creativity of David Silva.
Negatives- Man City may find it hard to contest for the Premier league, along with other competitions, due to them having no top leader in their squad. Vincent Kompany looks to wear his heart on his sleeve but doesnt look like someone who is a born captain and leader, whereas someone like John Terry, is. Kompany could be a great captain for City but with the egos of Balotelli and Tevez in the squad, can he back up Mancini when times get tough? That is yet to be answered as Man City are on a good run of form. Also, when you look closely at the City squad, you soon realise that there isn’t many players who have won stuff in the past and who know how to win, whereas Man United and Chelsea do.
Man City lack; experienced winners and a born leader.
Chelsea:
Positives- Chelsea look like a team who want to play quick tempo football and create chances, which ‘AVB’ has quickly installed quite successfully. Torres now has Mata, Meireles and Sturridge who can create many chances for him in the team, which could make him a goalscoring threat to any side. I see it as though Torres’ Chelsea career properly started against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, due to it being his first start with Mata, Meireles and Sturridge playing with him and since then he has looked sharp aswell as scoring one goal and bagging two assists. Juan Mata looks like a technically gifted player who could be one of the best signings of the summer, who can create and score goals for fun at times. Mata plays in a similar style to how David Silva plays for City, so i think those two players are extremely vital for their teams success.
Negatives- Chelsea’s new attacking style of play means playing a high defensive line, which takes some getting used to. Chelsea have looked sloppy defensively at times from set pieces too, but mainly the high defensive-line is a worry for them. The Chelsea defence will learn how to play the high defensive-line well in the coming weeks, as they continue to play as Villas-Boas wants them too; with attacking flair. The attacking mentality of ‘AVB’ may mean the players get carried away with scoring, which could mean Chelsea get stretched and become open, allowing the opposition to have goalscoring chances.
Chelsea lack; knowledge of the high defensive-line. Also, security when defending set-pieces at times.
The Premier league contenders look as strong as ever this season and the title-race could be one of the best in recent years. I pick these three teams to be the ones up there come the end of the season
