Weekly Why: Manchester City, Chelsea and the Stupidity of Premature Coronations
Welcome to Bleacher Report's Weekly Why, a place where we discuss world football's biggest questions that may go neglected and/or avoided. Ranging from the jovial to the melancholic, no subject matter is deemed off limits.
Why Are Leagues Called "Over" So Quickly?
I am genuinely overjoyed the transfer window has closed.
Having to rehash the same, trodden rumours, which are less likely than Rihanna misdialling my cell phone number, gets tedious. I feel like the biblical Moses at times, aimlessly wandering for years, waiting for the promised land.
Mercifully—it's arrived; as a collective, en masse, we can now thrust our full attention to actual football. Secretly, however, with much focus heaped on incoming and outgoing transfers, the 2015/16 Premier League season has apparently been decided.
Manchester City have won their four opening fixtures in stellar fashion. A goal difference of 10 and a quartet of Joe Hart clean sheets have made the Sky Blues the resounding favourites for reclaiming England's crown.
So it seems—as soon as we could devote ourselves to football—English officials should transport their preeminent trophy to the Etihad Stadium, leave it there and reopen the transfer window for 2016/17.
Not so fast—since when do four matches tell the story of a 38-game season?
I wasn't the greatest student as a youth. I eventually found my lane in university, but throughout my formative years, school was boring, monotonous and a generally detestable experience. What I always did, though—much to my parents' despondent frustration—was start brilliantly.
I'm not sure whether to impress new teachers, to show off in new classes, the fresh clothes, shoes and/or supplies (possibly all the above), but for three months I was an absolute star. Then holiday season arrived and my early form dwindled, motivation fizzled, the classwork would clog like a troubled toilet and my star faded—grades followed suit.
Being a decent to excellent test-taker normally bailed me out, so I invariably passed, but never with the marks I should have.
In hindsight, I learned one crucial thing: Quick starts count for nothing in a marathon.
Manchester City have a point to prove this season, as many thought this particular chapter in their history was dead or dying. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United were summarily projected above the Citizens—mainly because their 2014/15 form (and stars' ages) instilled little confidence in their ability to rebound.
An entire offseason of "Chelsea will retain their title, Man City are old and falling" must have been fierce motivation for the likes of Manuel Pellegrini, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and the rest of City's world-class outfit. They have shown exactly why one should never doubt the pedigree of champions past, storming out of the proverbial blocks.
That said, I'm not convinced about anything concerning the 2015/16 Premier League title—and therefore bewildered at how anyone could declare the league's finality in August/September. It seems totally premature and certainly illogical to make such definitive statements.
The Football League has been around since 1888/89, so we could go back as far as the 19th century for examples, but we don't have to—how about 2014/15?
Current holders Chelsea were in a similar position last season. Missing the 2013/14 title by five points. Jose Mourinho signed Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Loic Remy, Didier Drogba and brought back Thibaut Courtois from his loan. The Blues were magnificent in the season's first third.
After 12 matches, Mourinho's side had an eight-point lead on their primary title rivals, Man City; all things were pointing to a comfortable procession to their fifth conquest—but is the Premier League ever so simple?
Eight matches later, Chelsea's eight-point gap was extinct. They were listed above Manchester on behalf of their relationship in the English alphabet. Twenty matches were completed, and 18 remained—with 54 points to decide the eventual winner. Pellegrini's men eventually imploded, but City did the most important thing: They gave themselves a puncher's chance to dislodge Chelsea after falling behind early.
Last season is not emblematic of a pattern this season, but we must consider every permutation possible with 34 matches left to parse. Moreover, cup competitions will separate boys from men, and those ready to challenge will avail themselves during the stretch run.
Personally, I love the uncertainty of sport. Universal rush to judgement, for me, is symptomatic of society at large. People would rather be first than be correct—and the desire to be acknowledged for prognostication and discovery only causes convolution and stokes my annoyance.
Whoever wins the 2015/16 Premier League will certainly face adversity. Injury, illness, suspension, form and personal issues—they all play their part. One team avoiding any combination of these items is an impossibility.
Nobody can determine, with any believable clairvoyance, who will avoid the most pitfalls over the next nine months. Labelling any contender out of the running, as we stand, is hyperbole and guesswork. Four games is barely an adequate sample size to determine a player's form, much less an entire club's credentials to fulfill a championship campaign.
When it comes to football: Everything should be a surprise—but nothing should be surprising. I suppose people insisting on disrupting that formula will remain a personal conundrum.
Last Weekly: Arsenal, Karim Benzema and the Mystery of Arsene Wenger's Chequebook | Why Aren't All Clubs Run For Trophies?
*Stats are via WhoScored.com; transfer fees are via Soccerbase where not noted.
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