Yes I am afraid so people, the weekends results signalled the end for the chasing pack in regards to the Premiership crown as it started its familiar journey up towards Manchester to settle down in the showroom of 'The Theatre Of Dreams' once again......
The results in the latest round of games showed exactly why the Red Devils have won so many title's, and this seasons one won't be won in the same vein as the previous one's under the scrutiny of Sir Alex. This years crop of United players seem to have the grit and not for the want of a better word a scrappy disposition for grinding out unlikely results.
We all know that all Ferguson teams are famed for late goals and this season is no different with Hernandez getting the majority of the late shows, but the team that Alex has assembled this year seem a lot more dogged and determined, this is maybe to lack of sheer class in the ranks which the United teams of the past boasted in abundance?
Of course the quality still remains, with Rooney, Scholes, and the sublime but frustrating Berbatov, but aside from these the pickings are slim in comparison to years gone by.
This seasons title race has been anything but straight forward with no team taking it by the horns, it seemed that every time one side involved slipped up and dropped points, then the chasing teams duly obliged the same fate. But with games running out I can only see the silverware heading back to Old Trafford come May.
This weekend further enhanced the fact that no team actually wants to win it, having watched United clamber back from two goals down against West Ham, the challenge was set for Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City to keep the pressure on......only City managing to notch a win out of the rest of the 'challengers', and ever their win only bought them to within a huge ten points of their rivals, surely to far with only seven games to go.
Arsenal the only real threat, as they have been most of the season drew a blank yet again as Blackburn held firm at the Emirates. As the game rode on, the home side seemed to diminish, whether it was the belief or physical I don't know but after an opening twenty minutes where the Gunners looked like they would run out comfortable winners, they seemed to run out of ideas and enthusiasm for the fight.
Chelsea went to Stoke with the mis-firing £50 million pound Fernando Torres only making the bench, back to the old routine looked likely but the Stoke side really were the better side for the majority of the game with Petr Cech making some great saves to win a point for the Blues.
Tottenham travelled to struggling Wigan, normally I watch Spurs and see them miss hatfull's of chances but in this game they never got going at all, whereas the home side threatened most of the game and Tottenham had Gomes to thank for saving them a point.
City hosted Sunderland who were on a torrid run of results and from early on it was evident why, the poor visitors were duly punished for the lack lustre nature they approached the game in, City hit five without reply, but this was by no means a five star performance for me, they just took their chances and made Sunderland look poor, as they undoubtedly were.
Before the games kicked off I predicted to have no further insight into the eventual winners of the league, but as it has turned out I think the League winners became more evident as they put in a second half performance that shows why they will win it, all being over shadowed by the 'ignorant' Rooney as he unleashed a barrage of abuse into the Sky Sports camera's after netting his and United's third.
He took a whole load of abuse himself throughout but even so, this kind of behaviour shouldn't have a place in football no matter the circumstances, but we are all human after all and Rooney instantly noted his fault by way of an apology to the fans and viewers after the game.
So unfortunately I feel I am forced to say that the season ending will see Manchester United notch up their 19th title, finally taking over their fierce rivals Liverpool in that tally.
The winning of the league for this year may give Alex Ferguson the inspiration to continue for a few more years perhaps??????
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