The Premiership

In all matters in life there comes the defining moment, the critical moment, the turning point. That point in time when clarity emerges and the mists clear. A line in the sand between the way forward and the uncertainty of what went before. For football betting fans this occurred on Sunday when Manchester United exposed the fundamental weakness of a Chelsea side that represented the most serious challenge to the retention of their title. This last week has been an object lesson in footballing dynamics. The game has increasingly been revealed to be a battle between the generals who engage their troops against one another in the weekly battle for supremacy.

The generals in this case are Alex Ferguson, Rafael Benitez, Arsene Wenger and Felipe Scolari. Wenger has already thrown in the towel – there’s no way the Gunners will claw their way back in this tight battle for the top. Benitez has lost his cool and started blaming everyone and everything else for his faltering team while Scolari looks on shell shocked and devoid of ideas as Ferguson’s men casually and calmly sweep them aside. Only Sir Alex remains cool in the heat of battle as it becomes eminently clear to all and sundry that his men will now march relentlessly on towards their goal of footballing supremacy.

Last Friday, sports betting fans could have got 6/4 on a Man U title win. They are now odds on to take the crown in the light of what we now know. It’s also been a week where we have been shown that the strength of the Manchester United badge has been critical. The team plays for the team and not just the money. This also applies to Liverpool but Benitez ain’t no Ferguson. It’s ironic that, in an era where we bemoan the quality of home-grown management and scramble round Europe and South America to find managers worthy of the name, it is a Scot that will rule the roost for the eleventh time in the history of the Premiership.