UNITED STILL LONG WAY OFF PODIUM GLORY

Following Lous Van Gaal's moving and thoroughly entertaining end-of-season speech, many United faithfull supporters were left in upbeat spirits about future prospects under the Dutchman, but has the team's performance all season long been enough to rattle nerves?

After 13 games, United were wallowing in unfamiliar territories with a meagre return of 10 points, despite a formidable outfit that included record signing and the previous season's Champions League winner Angel Di Maria, the prolific Robin Van Persie and the industrious Wayne Rooney.

Despite this shaky start, United picked up pace to go on a seven consecutive winning streak that restored some much needed belief in a place bereft of it. But there was a tiny problem, just a pinch-in-the- ass problem- United's performance in these games was wanting, so much so that it even left some fans displeased and visibly agitated. Sure they were winning but there felt something missing- that conviction of a United team seemed lost. The performance against Arsenal, if not for Arsenal's profligacy and recurring naivety, was a certain loss, same with the 2-0 win against Southampton, which defined luck to whole new heights for the Red Devils.

After the new year there was some improvements in performance and this was evident in the 2-1 win over liverpool. The 4-2 drubbing of city rivals Man City then sent out a statement-United were back! But were they, really?

Three succesive losses that were offset by the 1-0 loss at Chelsea showed that no, United are far from the finished article. The barren draw against Hull on the final day of the season shows that even next season could be too soon for United fans to fantasize about the Premiership let alone the Champions League.

For lengths this season, much to the boredom of even their fans,United's game has been pretty predictable- languid passing as they guide the ball to blind alleys, back pass galore, then launching a long ball to Fellaini's hair. Instead of a Barcelona-esque clockwork mysticism, United are playing a dull, pointless passing game with constant lateral harmless movements.

Their loss to Chelsea should be a reminder that they don't need so many passes to win. Leave Barcelona characteristics to Barcelona, unless of course United relocate to the Catalan city.

The likes of Fellaini and Ashley Young have shown just what they are capable of, but for United to offer some imposing presence, Van Gaal should hit the market big time for some world class talent.

Meanwhile the likes of Januzaj need maturity injected into them before they can even sniff the bench at Old Trafford. Falcao, while only a fool would doubt his talents, just need new beginnings that don't involve Manchester United. Van Persie has been declining faster than a rolling stone on free fall and he shoul also seek an alternative team.

However there is reason to believe in the future just as there is a need to be patient.

courtesy of 
BBC Sport

CHELSEA WORTH OF THE TITLE

Call them boring. Call them unlovable. Call them gruff and ugly. Call them the bus. Hurl at them a tirade of insults from the darkest murks of human thoughts. Then after that, call them EPL champions.
There was a presage to all this, and its amazing how we either totally missed it or blatantly ignored the signs. The writing was on the wall when Chelsea went fourteen games unbeaten, an exploit that helped them solidate their place at the top despite some lethargic showing in 2015. Marquee signings of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa quickly settled in, running rings around helpless and countless defenders and its obvious that they, alongside the mercurial Eden Hazard were and will be in coming times the vertabral point of Chelsea's success. All this happened while teams like Manchster United and Liverpool still tried to come to cognizant with this thing called winning. 

Following the implosion of Man City in 2015, the only team that had shown glimpses of matching Chelsea, it was rather obvious that it would take a miracle then one more to upset The Blues.

To be truthful, save for their early season run off-the-block, Chelsea have barely been pleasing. They haven't been eye-catching. Some have labelled them boring. Yet in the same breath, they have simply been outstanding. Breathtaking on some instances. Devastating on others. Consistent through out. That they have only lost twice by the time of writing goes a long way to prove that they are a formidable outfit and it could take a few more years before Chelsea face some serious competition.

Arsenal lacked the fortitude and only showed some seriousness when there was nothing to be serious about. United still appear hanged over. Manchester City still seem not to know what to do with all that money. Liverpool meanwhile, are still trying to shrug off the mid-table stench that's fast becoming their identity. That leaves Chelsea as the only complete team.

They may not be everyone's cup of tea but Chelsea need not even worry what sort of tea the others enjoy so as to suit their taste. They have shown qualities of true champions-grit, consistency, defiance and using your opponents weaknessess as much as your own strengths. Mourinho has always been a tactical coach and he has proven that Chelsea are a team that embrace his philosophy more than any other.

It is his genius use of Chelsea's good defensive opacity that has led to them being labelled boring, but most importantly, being crowned EPL Champions for a fifth time.

Boring? Boring would be Chelsea winning the title for the next few years as the other teams look on and sulk in silent rage.


photo: courtesy