The Table Doesn't Lie

I believe it was after City's 1-1 draw with Stoke that i was chatting with a City fan friend of mine who was bemoaning that, despite it seeming as though United would win the league, it was absolute rubbish because whilst City batter teams United just beat them 1-0. I then proceeded to remind my friend that United have actually scored more goals than City this season (a fact that remains after last night's victory).

But it got me thinking: what with the media and pundits alike falling over themselves to award the PL title to City back in November, as well as City fans' self-aggrandisement all season, one would be forgiven for believing this season-long myth that United have been rubbish and City have been sensational. So i decided to look back on the season as a whole up until now, rather than the little patches that many people prefer to look at.

A lot seems to be made of City's early season form and how far they have fallen from their champagne football up until before Christmas. But what gets little mention is United's early season form. Admittedly, it did not last as long as City's run of form and, of course, came to a shuddering stop with the 6-1 defeat, but i would go as far as to say say that for the first 5 games of the season United were, in fact, playing the better football. Victories included a 5-0 thrashing of Bolton away, a 3-0 win over Spurs, the 8-2 demolition of Arsenal and a 3-1 victory over Chelsea. On top of this, let us not forget the brilliant performance of our team against City in the Community Shield, a game in which we never deserved to be 2-0 down at half-time.

The event that perhaps contributes most to the United rubbish/ City sensational myth is the 6-1 defeat. But it amazes me that people saw this result as anything more than a freak occurrence. Yes, in the 2nd half we were completely outplayed, but people seem to forget that up until Evans' sending off it was a very close match and that, despite being 1-0 down at half time, we had actually had the better of the first half. Furthermore, the fact that it was 3-1 up until 90 minutes seems to slip many memories. Although a poor excuse (you should always play for the whole 90 minutes), it goes to show that United were not embarrassed by City for the entire game.

I should probably also mention the crazy injury crisis we found ourselves in, a crisis where we could name a starting xi from injured players, a starting xi that, in many people's opinions, was better than the team starting our games at the time. Injured players included Tom Cleverly, who has been hugely impressive in his opening games. Vidic, of course, was probably the most influential player to be sidelined: captain and the best defender in the league who has still not returned. Young, a new signing who had impressed many with his first few performances. Valencia, the player who has been unstoppable since his return and has been integral to our rise to the top of the table. There are, of course, many other players to name but we all know who they were.

After the City game there was a run of 5 games where we only managed to score 1 goal, a poor record for Manchester United. But this was soon put right with a 4-1 win over Wolves, and two 5-0 wins over Fulham and Wigan. Unfortunately, we then suffered our 2nd and 3rd defeats of the season in consecutive games to Blackburn and Newcastle. However, since then we have dropped only 2 points in all our other league games in the 3-3 draw to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and have seen our team steadily claw back the deficit at the top of the table; edging closer to City, then levelling, then taking the lead and now extending our lead at the top to 5 points.

There are too many sayings and clichés in football, many of which i think are gibberish, nonsensical and just wrong. However, "the table doesn't lie" is one saying that i do agree with. If United go on to win the league this season it will be because we have been the better team. Not the better team for short periods, but the better team for the duration of a 38 game season. I will stand by this if City manage to win the league. As for my friend, he has now resigned himself to the idea of United winning the league, although he stands by his claim that City have been the better team.