The EPL race just went up a gear

As is so often the way there is nothing like a bit of adversity to focus people on the main game. Man Utd and Man City both exited the Champions League this week and suddenly the world has changed. This has already been an interesting season in England. Witness the fact that all but one of the top sides have suffered a good hiding. For City going out of the ECL is their first failure of the season. We might remind ourselves that they were the team that won 5-1 at Spurs and 6-1 at United. Spurs themselves hammered Liverpool 4-0, while Arsenal won 5-3 at Chelsea. To round off the lop sided big team matches, Arsenal were themselves embarrassed at Old Trafford 8-2.
Roberto Maccini does seem up unto this point to have spent his middle eastern paymasters money well. Of course he didn't originally spend the cash on Tevez or Adebayor ....his role was more involved in their subsequent alienation. The tricky job of keeping warehoused players happy is a thankless one. City do indeed have seem to have more than two players per position. What will really hurt the Manchester clubs will be the drop down to the Europa League as a result of their ECL exit. The plethora of Channel 5 jokes on the net will really only be understood in England the rest of the anglo-phile football world will see the joke sail over their heads like a centre backs wayward shot.
Of course in England a failure to make the top four condemns sides the afore mentioned Europa League and exposure on a Thursday to the joys of transmission on Channel 5. My gooner buddy Robert O'Connor joyfully published this ditty today and it shows the embarrassment felt by the Manchester duo playing in just the Europa League for the rest of the season.
A little bit of Tevez out the door. A little bit of Vidic on the floor. A little a bit of Nasri on the side. A little bit of Rooney shooting wide. A little bit of Mario having a laugh. A little bit of Nani on his arse...Ladies and Gentleman - Channel Number Five.
TV money has indeed distorted the way football is perceived across Britain and Europe. At home, previously, winning the FA Cup or League Cup was perceived as a plus for most teams. Bus top parades through localities a major form of celebration. Today things seem to have shifted. The top six or seven clubs seem to be continually preoccupied with 'next season' rather than this. Of course in England a failure to make the top four condemns sides the afore mentioned Europa League. Ask the top teams fans would you rather win a cup or qualify for the ECL and many will pick the latter. This writer being in the minority preferring cup glory to cash flow. Perhaps the best argument for the former is one that says you can't attract or keep the best players without ongoing ECL qualifiaction. It is hard to argue with this financial reality.
As we head into another EPL weekend we see the following match-ups.

Barclays Premier League

Arsenal v Everton, 15:00

Bolton v Aston Villa, 15:00

Liverpool v QPR, 15:00

Man Utd v Wolverhampton, 15:00

Norwich v Newcastle, 15:00

Swansea v Fulham, 15:00

West Brom v Wigan, 15:00

Sunday, 11 December 2011

Barclays Premier League

Sunderland v Blackburn, 13:30

Stoke v Tottenham, 16:00

Monday, 12 December 2011

Barclays Premier League

Chelsea v Man City, 20:00 

The key fixture being between Villas-Boas's Chelsea and Mancini's Citeh. Points will be dropped here! A win for the former closing up the title race while a win for the Sky Blues will possibly bring day light between them and the rest especially now that Vidic is out for the season with a knee injury. Spurs face the physical and aerial challenge away to Stoke while Liverpool and Arsenal should take maximum points from QPR and Everton. The Geordies, desperate to keep up have a tricky away game to Norwich. Indeed with less ECL distractions the race for the EPL has just gone up at least one gear.