This has been a boring Premier League season. I know it’s lazy to say it, but maybe the prolonged lack of entertainment has made me lethargic. Yes, the Football League’s been amazing, the Champions League has had some moments, and the FA Cup had a genuine upset at the end. But, if last season featured the Premier League’s most dramatic climax, this year must be the dullest.
To have the destination of the league title decided by a last minute goal was pretty exciting (for all non-United fans). It was always going to be difficult act to follow; a problem that didn’t deter the broadcasters from milking that cow for far too long. “Aguerrrroooooooooo!” clips have been running pretty much non-stop since pre-season build up began in July. But, what will they have to bombard us with this summer: Fergie retiring, QPR going down with a gazillion pound wage bill, or Mancini being sacked? – KEEP WATCHING THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
City’s title defence was awful, but perhaps this was appropriate in Ferguson’s final year, because it underlined one his greatest qualities: resilience. Ferguson’s United have always come back for more. No other manager has been able to live with him, or his team, for a prolonged period. It’s as if he and he alone had the magic formula to sustain success, while others were always been corrupted by it.
But, wait, even if there wasn’t a title race this year, there’s always: The Race for Fourth. Thank god for UEFA – they get a lot of shit, but if it wasn’t for the bloated Champions League, there would literally be nothing to play for on the last day of the season. Nothing, except pride. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never found pride to be a currency of much worth in football. It’s not very tangible, you see. And, this is coming from a fan whose team have never won a major trophy, so I know what I’m talking about. When people ask me, what have Watford won, I don’t reply ‘pride’, and with good reason, because I’d sound like a fucking knob. Pride is shit. The race for fourth is shit.
Even worse, this year there’s not even an interesting relegation battle going the distance. QPR and Reading were so abysmal they were as good as relegated months ago. Pretty much every non-Arsenal fan was rooting for Wigan on Tuesday, but they fell, and that was that. So, despite being truly awful for huge chunks of the season, the likes of Sunderland, Newcastle, Norwich, Aston Villa, and Stoke are all safe with a game to spare. How can that be?
The thing is, despite its zillion faults, the Premier League still has the potential to entertain, and by god it ought to given the grotesque pay cheque coming its way next year. It might sound unfair on the old man, but Alex Ferguson’s retirement from the game could be the best thing to happen to the Premier League for a while.
It’s not year zero next season, but it kind of feels like it. Everything Ferguson achieved is history. Until now, that history has intimidated United’s opposition, but will it continue to do so, or will it create a crushing pressure on Fergie’s successor, David Moyes? I like Moyes, I think he’s got the right stuff, and he’s tough enough for the job. But, if Mourinho is coming back, he is facing a fierce fight to retain United’s title next season.
Good. United need a proper rival to slug it out with for a while. It’s easy to look back with hindsight, but the rivalry between United and Arsenal from around 97 to 2004 really was fantastic. There was a genuine ebb and flow to it, with supremacy swinging back and forth, and both teams featuring ridiculously talented players. I know the title wasn’t always decided at the end of the season, and United still had the upper hand for long periods, but it felt like Arsenal were always pushing them and coming back for more.
So, despite this being the dullest season I can remember, there is reason to hope that next year will be enthralling. The top three clubs are all going to be under new management. That really does throw it open. And, it’ll also put the ‘stick with your manager’ theory firmly to the test, with Arsene Wenger now by far the longest serving in the top flight. Who knows what’ll happen, but it might actually be interesting. So, we should all thank Fergie, I guess.
Thanks Fergs.
