By Stuart Howard-Cofield, Featured Columnist Feb 17, 2014

The English Premier League likes to promote itself as the most exciting league in world. What it may lack in technical quality, it makes up for with testosterone-fueled abandon. However, it has often been the case that the actual title run-in has fallen short in the entertainment stakes.

Manchester United’s famous collapse in 2012, which handed City a title in the last minute of injury time, was a marketing man’s dream come true.

Fast-forward one year, though, and United completed a comfortable procession toward title glory with an 11-point margin—hardly the sort of stuff to get the pulses racing.

This season, we appear to have the rare sight of a four-horse race to the finish. Without a doubt, the most unusual aspect of this is the absence of the side that has been the major force throughout the Premier League years.

Barring a few seasons where Arsenal and Chelsea shared the league titles in 2002, 2004 and 2005, the race for the title has always involved United finishing first or second. It has almost been a simple case of Manchester United and one other side contesting the league.

Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City breached defences, whereas Aston Villa and Newcastle United and Liverpool attempted to keep pace at times.

United’s amazing consistency won them the league last year, but it was not exciting. Widely proclaimed to be the weakest United side in years, the competition fell apart just after Christmas and the red steamroller just kept on going.

This season, of course, has seen David Moyes presiding over a squad that looks like they haven’t played together before. Team selection, tactics and togetherness have all been questioned as United have laboured to their current position of seventh place after 26 games.

With four sides still vying for the league this year, it begs the question: Has Manchester United’s current plight helped create a Premier League season to be excited about?

Premier League Standings after 26 games, February 2013

1- Manchester United65 pts.
2- Manchester City53 pts.
3- Chelsea 49 pts.
4- Tottenham Hotspur48 pts.

Look back to last season at the same point. After 26 games, United had 65 points. This season’s current leaders are Chelsea, who are only on 57 points.

Manchester City have been rightly lauded for many of their performances this season, but again their travel sickness has caused them problems. They currently only have one more point than they had at the same stage last year.

Big improvements have of course been made by both Arsenal and Liverpool. Both have been playing sparkling football at times and matched Chelsea and City stride for stride so far. They are respectively 12 and 17 points better off this February than last.

Premier League Standings after 26 games, February 2014

1- Chelsea 57 pts
2- Arsenal 56 pts
3- Manchester City54 pts
4- Liverpool 53 pts

Just four points, then, separate the current top four sides.

Can we really ignore the fact that, had United shown the same consistency and form as last season, each of these four would be still well short of challenging?

The numbers suggest that the top four have not progressed too much—it is just that Manchester United's standards have fallen so far. Moyes must find out the reasons why and rectify them for next season as a repeat would be unthinkable.

United’s malaise might just be providing entertainment for football fans in more ways than just schadenfreude.

The catastrophic start to Moyes’ tenure at Old Trafford has handed an opportunity to the current top four. While there might not be a “squeaky-bum time" in store for fans of the Red Devils this spring, it does look likely to be the most exciting finish in years.

Both the winners and the Premier League can thank United later.

lolz more like thanks Moyes later...

The race for the title has always involved United? That's the clueless thing I have ever read. Before Ferguson and his spendings, United were never always a title contenders or top 4. Mid table at best.

@tuan
You killed the League for years before the end, United were the best English team for many years....
That shows how good was SAF and his Club vision, i doubt a second SAF exists in this planet but it just made me love more what he achieved.
How many CL finals did your team played in his reign ? 7 ? 8 ?

@steven
Think before commenting, thats the clueless comment i ve read too...
The article is obviously talking about SAF era, the recent past. We dont talk about Dinosaurs era.

I was talking about the clueless Stuart Howard-Cofield and please don't compare us to United we have a greater history than them, especially in Europe. He shouldn't have said "Always" Their success only came in Ferguson era and never before. They are not Liverpool and will never be. You should read the English league records and see for yourself where we stood and where United stood, that's if you can find them before Ferguson.

Mark my words. We ARE going to come back stronger.
Just wait...

@Man_Utd How long?

@Man Thats all i wish for you.

@messi6511
Next season.

• Mistakes of Sir Alex Ferguson-David Moyes Transition +

#7 Sir Alex Ferguson Needs to Step Away

Every single time Manchester United lose, draw or put in a poor performance, the camera zooms in to catch Ferguson’s reaction immediately after the referee blows full-time whistle. As long as Ferguson is in the stadium, the focus will be on Ferguson, and how Moyes is not performing at the same level as him. The sooner Ferguson takes a long vacation away from the game, or watch matches in the comfort of his own home, the better it’ll be for Moyes. It’s not going to make a difference on the pitch, but by Ferguson being in the stands, it’s not helping Manchester United at all.

#6 Manchester United’s Fear Factor Disappeared

While much has been said of Manchester United is no longer being a team to fear at Old Trafford, I’d argue that the problem is more severe. The main concern is not that teams no longer fear United, but that Manchester United players no longer fear the manager, or give him the respect he deserves.

While it’s difficult to know for sure what’s happening inside Old Trafford, the body language and reaction from the Manchester United footballers is that now that Ferguson is gone, the players have taken their foot off the pedal. You have instances of Fellaini texting while sitting in the stands at Old Trafford. Plus you have former captain Rio Ferdinand laughing behind Moyes’s back during a game, and going public to share his frustration with Moyes’s methods. These are instances that Sir Alex Ferguson would have not tolerated. But more importantly, these are instances whereby the players would have never acted in this manner in the first place if Ferguson was still in charge.

#5 Manchester United Made Several Blunders in the Transfer Window

The summer transfer window of 2013 was a crucial period for United to strengthen in key positions. Unfortunately for the club, the chief executive David Gill left the club the same time when Sir Alex left. His replacement, Ed Woodward,who had a background in accounting, and wasn’t active enough to make the transfer signings that the club so desperately needed. Instead, Manchester United made a desperate move on transfer deadline day, spending £27.5 million on Marouane Fellaini when United could have signed him for £4million less just weeks ago. In addition, United failed to sign midfielder Ander Herrera, while Moyes said United came very close to making a major signing. Most importantly, Manchester United’s transfer activity in the summer window failed to resolve the areas of the squad that needed strengthening the most — a creative midfielder with the added bonus of defensive cover.

#4 Moyes Took a Badly Timed Vacation

After the news came that David Moyes was going to become the Manchester United manager before the 2012/13 Premier League season even ended, Moyes had to awkwardly continue on as the Everton boss until the season came to an end for the Toffees on May 12 before settling in at the Old Trafford. Instead of using the valuable time to focus on the summer transfer market, Moyes took a vacation and returned to Manchester United on July 1. Moyes may have regretted the family vacation, given that the first United friendly of the summer was in Thailand less than two weeks later (July 13), which didn’t give him much time to concentrate on securing the much needed new signings.

#3 Moyes Removed Ferguson’s Backroom Staff

By letting Manchester United coaches Rene Meulensteen, Mike Phelan, and Eric Steele leave United, against Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice, and bringing in his own Everton coaching staff including Phil Neville, Manchester United had no comfortable transition from one manager to the next. All of the expertise and inside knowledge of Meulensteen-Phelan and Steele was irreplaceable. Due to Moyes's overconfidence of Ferguson’s legacy and system was destroyed in one fell swoop. Moyes could have still brought in Neville and his fellow coaches from Everton, without getting rid of the previous coaches for sometime just to get the inside knowledge.

#2 Ferguson Hired a Mirror Image of Himself

Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to personally recommend David Moyes as the new manager to replace him was a mistake. Instead of hiring someone who had a better or different skill set, Ferguson selected a fellow Scot with a fiery temper. Both men were brought up in the same area of Scotland (Glasgow), and had a mutual respect and understanding of each other. By recommending Moyes for the job, Ferguson selected someone that was his safest bet.

#1 Ferguson Covered Over the Cracks of a Weakened Side

Despite winning the 2012/13 Premier League title, Sir Alex Ferguson has covered over the weakness of the team for the past 2-3 years. Instead of pressurizing the Glazer folks to bring in better talent from the market, Ferguson has used all of his skills and man-management to get the most out of his squad without spending large in the transfer market. Ferguson brought players back from retirement or were on their last legs to fill holes in his side. Paul Scholes and Henrik Larsson are just two examples. The reality is that Ferguson handed Moyes a side that was in much need of rebuilding.

Source : Teensdigest.com

^True.

LOL Stuart trying to troll people with this dumb article.

No this article is true.

That was my point since the start of the season, those who thinks that English bottom teams were becoming world class were just wrong. The level of English elite teams has decreased drastically and 2012 Chelsea victory was the exception to whats becoming the rule.
When you lose to Norwich, its not because Norwich has amazing players, you should just ask the right questions without being biased or a dreamer, reality will just wake up you.
The last year United win made it clear for us ( Neutral fans )...

I see many new lfc fans this year. Last year there was 3 on fr pages. U ll dissapeare again,trust me . "Feguson spending" ? yeah right... 4th spending team ,u dumby lfc fan.

If anyone thinks what was written in this article has any credibility then they misunderstand the basic fundamentals of football.

"I see many new lfc fans this year. Last year there was 3 on fr pages. U ll dissapeare again,trust me . "Feguson spending" ? yeah right... 4th spending team ,u dumby lfc fan."

^ I mean, the reason why I rarely comment on here is because of responses like this.

I don't care about shity posts and comments , I will defend and support United forever . Many plastic fans kissing ass each other here. keep going.

@tiki lol you just can relax about EPL .

EPL teams played unfortunately against two "monster" teams for the most part of the game with 10 men . And unfortunately United was just crap , but I am sure they will pull it off . If Barcelona or Bayern played with 10 men against EPL side you all would again talk about how unfortunate they were and how good they are . It is like you can't win against you .

You do realize Barcelona and Bayern's quality and financial power. They gathered best talents in the world and have one of the best players in the world . Well Barca got very fortunate with academy players who are already aging and then we have Bayern got fortunate that they are rich club that collects best talent from germany and even brings best talents from abroad .

These are two financial monopoly teams not just domestically but internationally as well . You are just so quick driven by media to hit at EPL . Quality has not dropped we are in " recession " and this year we just been simply unlucky . if you want to hit back about English talents then yes , english young talents are no where near as good as other nations , but clubs they are just as good as any other top club . Also, these two monster teams get winter break to relax gather some powers and get ready for second half of the season . Meanwhile EPL clubs play on the god damn New Years day !!

Again , EPL clubs are fine and with new TV packages and sponsorships we will see who will have the last laugh. So relax people , because when i see this headlines from media , It makes me realize even more that EPL is real deal and other leagues hate it .

Loool at your comment Marcus. '' Got very fortunate ? '' : Thats called work, and its funny you call us money team when you support Chelsea, at least Bayern and Barça are here by hardworking not by oil or gaz money.

Im not hitting at EPL you are the BIASED here, just few days ago you were claiming the 5th Cl place for EPL, look at the results against Europeen powers and SEE WHO IS BIASED ??

I remember RM raped Galatasaray 0-5 in a wonder performence, what did you said guys ?? ( That was against a shitty team) , like when they trashed Valencia 0-5.
Sometime, you may just admit reality...

As i told Lodatz, Football is on the pitch and dreams is in our heads, you must sometimes do the reality check.

@Marcus

It's not called being "fortunate", it's called business. Barcelona and Bayern's boards know how to run a club, and that's why they managed to have such a successful time in the last 5-6 years.

In comparison, your team, Chelsea, are loaded with more money than almost any other club in the world (except maybe PSG and City). And yet, your team has won 7 trophies in the last 5 years, while Barcelona have won 16 and Bayern have won 9.

@StevenLFC, do you know what will go down in history books? How about Liverpool not winning the league for 24 years? Or that they only won 1 measly cup (league cup) in the past 8 years? Or that they did not qualify for CL in the past 4 years? Quit talking about history like it's some sort of a sacred, untouchable or intangible phenomenon that only belongs to your precious Liverpool. 50 years from now, what happens THIS season will be considered history. And the record books will show United absolutely dominated the English game for 2 decades.