We Can Almost Smell Europe

Injustices in football are just that. But also, the footballing gods have a way about them. With Liverpool losing and Chelsea the same. It only leaves Aston Villa later today to ‘trip’ and if they don’t manage to get a result then our draw in the previous game might not even matter as much. It’s strange how the universe works but sometimes that’s how it goes.

We now have a few weeks of rest before we have some big games ahead. One thing is certain. If all our results this weekend go as planned, and as we want them to. We’re really in a good position with only so many football games left. Obviously, as injustices go in football, we’ve had our fair share over the last decade, so it’s only right that Manchester United put in their complaint with the authorities.

That standard of officiating cannot carry on being that way. It’s not the standard you want in any football match. It doesn’t matter if it’s Manchester United or even if it’s another team. We have to look at ‘being better’ there. It simply cannot go uncontested. There has to be a certain standard in the Premier League.

Some fans have been saying it’s not exciting ‘The Premier League’ because of the way certain teams play. Honestly, football is football but if you’re asking me if the standard of football has gotten better or worse over the years. I am going to go with the latter.

It all comes down to the players and some of the most influential managers in the game over the last decade in how the players have been influenced. The only real manager of merit who has played a positive style of football was back in the early days of Klopp. If you asked me who I’d rather watch as a neutral. It would be a Klopp team. Obviously not Liverpool, but the point remains.

Obviously VAR (debacles) haven’t helped since its debut and that’s dragged football down as well. There has been less ‘immense’ talent in terms of footballers in my opinion. When you’re looking for ‘quality’ it always starts with the players but the way they play can be influenced by the manager as well.

Look at what’s going on at Arsenal, they’ve influenced a sort of style ‘with corners’ but they’re in no way going to be bothered if it wins them the Premier League. It’s an influence of the manager but it’s one that’s working for them. So why wouldn’t they do it if you were in their position?

That goes for other teams that are fighting for their lives also. It’s a situation managed game-by-game.

Manchester United can almost smell Europe. We happen to be doing it in a way where we haven’t really been playing at the ‘levels’ we can play. Ultimately though, it’s about getting the results and in football that’s all that matters in the grand scheme of things.