Is Manchester City the New Manchester United?

The last season of Barclays Premier League was not just another year of football. It was unpredictable, it was exhilarating and it gave an altogether new meaning to the phrase ‘down to the wire finish’. Manchester City emerged as the new powerhouse of English Football with some wonderful attacking game play that help them won the league in literally the dying moments of the season. What was being fought for, for 38 matches of a year was decided in the last match, in the injury time. What more could a football fan ask for?

Bigger surprise for the fanatics was the season long display of the Red Devils. Manchester United returned bare handed, conceding 8 point lead with one month to go, to hand the title to their blue neighbours. Their drubbing against their city rivals in both home and away matches will be a talking point for long. And this has started a debate which was, some believe, had to happen one day- is Manchester City emerging as the new Manchester United?

There is more than one reason that supports this topic.

1. The late winners and equalizers- Over the years, this has been one of the major aspects of the game of Manchester United- their ability to score winners and equalizers when everyone has given up the hope; sometimes in 88^th minute and sometimes in 93^rd minute. There have been many examples of this. When you never expect, a goal would come up. Even those players who are considered fringe players in Manchester United ranks would rise to the occasion and be a hero. Manchester City, to some extent, emulated Manchester United last season. The best incidence that can be cited was the two injury time goals against QPR to clinch silverware from the hands of Man United. Also, throughout the season, they were a team to beat, a team you can never write off until the final whistle was blown. The late goals scored throughout the season supports the debate.

2. A strong team- Manchester City, although unarguably assembled at a high cost, are a strong bunch of players. To go a full season without enduring a single defeat at home ground is really commendable. They made Etihad their fortress; with only one draw out of 19 games played there. In that game too (Sunderland); they grabbed a draw out of nowhere even when trailing 3-1 at one time. And the bench strength they have is envious. Imagine strikers like Balotelli and Dzeko along with Barry and De Jong in the substitutions list; this had to be scary. Pretty much the team was Manchester United of old. Although they have not made big signings this season, they were a threat once. Going to Old Trafford used to be a nightmare and winning there used to be a big feat. And the substitution list they named had players like Giggs and Scholes waiting on the bench while young guns plied their trade on the pitch. The experience gave way to the youth which is always good in the game of football.

3. A shrewd manager- The axing of Mark Hughes came as a surprise for many; he had not done that bad in his time. But the appointment of Roberto Mancini was a masterstroke by the club’s ‘oily’ owners. This man had wealth of experience while managing in his native nation Italy. And it was just not managing; he had won trophies there. This was the touch Man City needed; a man who could handle the pressure in the crunch situations. And boy, how well he did that. One could not forget the tactical mastermind he displayed when he pushed Yaya Toure ahead against Newcastle United to win the match which gave them the self belief in dying stages of the season. Sir Alex has been doing it for years at the Theatre of Dreams. He had his tactics planned, always had plan B when plan A is not working. The substitutions he made worked 8 times out of 10. Manchester United usually get the things right. Mancini has started doing it and he has started getting the Citizens results.

Purists may agree that Mancini is spending too much; both true and false. Yes, they have made massive investment in last two years but when you see their emergence in this duration, you say this is acceptable. Chelsea is doing this since Roman Abramowich took over the Blues. They spend almost every season. Manchester United paid insane money for Rooney, Berbatov and some say, now, Van Persie. More important is that the money is being converted into trophies; the league is expanding wings beyond the Big 4.

Say whatever, the emergence of Man City is beneficial for the die-hard critics of Manchester United, the fan of league and the lovers of the game. A new rivalry is being born and pundits predict the base of power is shifting from the blue half of Manchester from the red one, where it has rested for many years and some say, it has to move on.. As a fan, I say- Bring It On.