MANCHESTER United will win the title this season. I have little doubt about that. They have already built up a lead that a number of their players and – more importantly – their manager knows how to maintain.
And with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal stumbling over themselves in the chase, the race could be over long before the end of the season.
And with it, I believe, could come the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure as manager.
Really, I think he would be silly not to step down. He can walk out on a high with the Premier League trophy under his arm – and maybe more – rather than stay and see it drift away.
My reasons for coming to this notion are simple.
Firstly, his tried and trusted group of players are falling by the wayside. Gary Neville handed in his notice last week, Edwin Van Der Sar has signalled his intentions to retire and Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes will be feeling their age too. They will also want to go out on a high.
Aside from those four, elsewhere in the squad you have John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen and Jonny Evans who all look short of the standard the club demands. Others like Anderson, Chris Smalling, Gabriel Obertan and Darron Gibson may have time on their side to develop, but could not form the basis of a successful side next season.
Sir Alex, if he were to stay on, would have to rebuild the best part of an entire squad – again. Does he really have the patience and years for that? I think not.
And his second worry is the rise and rise of Manchester City.
Sheikh Mansour’s billions and his faith in Roberto Mancini has formed a team challenging for this year’s championship and one that will be favourites next season.
I think City will win it in 2011/12. Manchester United can’t compete – no one can, not even Chelsea – with the Sheikh’s wallet.
And does Sir Alex want to be the manager of United when they surrender their crown to City? Again, I think not.
After a stunning career and his place cemented as the greatest British football manager of his generation, Sir Alex will leave the dugout and head for the directors’ box at Old Trafford.
There is, however, a chink of light ahead for United fans. There is one man who would not baulk at the prospect of stepping into Sir Alex’s shoes. One man who will put in the effort into rebuilding the squad in his own mould and not worry about the Ferguson’s shadow looming large.
Jose Mourinho’s time at Real Madrid looks set to end this summer and a return to the Premier League is an almost certainty.
The Special One as manager and the Great Scot as director of football could prove the combination to keep success in the Red half of Manchester.
