The English Premiership has changed

I had an interesting conversation with a staunch Manchester United supporter the other day. The conversation went along the lines of whether or not the Red Devils deserved to win the English Premiership this season. United are top of the league, four points ahead of Arsenal with 12 games remaining.

However this friend of mine, a life long supporter, was unhappy that the class of 2011 didn't have the swagger of United sides of the past and even went as far as to say he didn't feel Sir Alex Ferguson's side derserved to win the league.

My response was simple...

The landscape in the English Premier League has clearly changed.

It is more about points not lost than points gained. Ten years ago you could afford to lose a game or two safe in the knowledge the championship could still be yours. Because there was such a huge gulf in class between the top teams (namely Man United and Arsenal) and the rest, the risks of sexy, loose football were accepted.

Therefore the whole act of a football match was different.

Man United knew they could go gung-ho peter show in their matches. Now things have changed. As a coach you look, you think, you prepare differently. Now there are genuinely five teams challenging for the league. All of a sudden your mindset is different – don’t lose and don't drop points at all costs.

This caution has translated into the general perceived poorness of United when you take into consideration what Red Devils ala 1997 to 2003 or so stood for. Now its all about the result, especially over the past three years. United's double season of 2007/08 was perhaps the last of a dying breed in England in terms of the excitement produced by all the title challegers. All-round United, Arsenal and Chelsea (under Avram Grant) were pretty spunky and contributed to the most exciting race this decade.

This season United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City all had realistic hopes of winning the title.

To make matters even more difficult football has seen the gradual introduction of two holding midfielders and one striker, now the prevailing tactic, used even by Arsenal. Automatically football has become more of a transitional battle, i.e. counter attacks. You have the ball, we have our bank of defence... when we get it back you best be prepared for a razor-sharp burst.

Usually the opponent is. But Spurs' winner against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday was a classic example. More and more that’s how goals are scored in the big games.

So for Fergie he's doing what brings results. 

Furthermore, the concept of deserving is a flawed one. Why don’t United deserve to win the Premiership? Do Arsenal deserve it because they lost to Newcastle and West Brom at home? Do Tottenham deserve it for failing to beat Man United all season? Do you Man City deserve it because they once beat an awful Aston Villa 4-0? And what about Chelsea?

It is a flawed notion. You work with what you got. Manipulate, extrapolate the best you can get from your resources.

All top teams have good squads now. But you can never knock United for their passion, application and love for the badge. Ever. The 3-2 win Blackpool? How many teams would have come back from two down in that inferno to draw, let alone win.

This is football, a microcosm of life. There are so many ways in which to win. That’s what the best always do. And there are times when the best are a bit "weak", but you fight to stay on top till that day you are once again at peak of your stength.

So do Man United deserve to win the league? Yes.

That said, whoever wins the English Premier League come May, whether it be Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City or Tottenham will deserve it.

The table never lies.