[caption id="attachment_67528" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Kevin Doyle scored to help Wolves salvage a home point."]
It's expected that everybody will get carried away with themselves after Manchester City beat Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford. And why not? City fans are now talking about winning the title while commentators suggested a shift in power in the EPL.
While Blues manager Roberto Mancini admitted United is still a better team, he compared compared Mario Balotelli to Messi. A top five player is what Mancini called his striker, but that remains to be seen as does City winning the league. In fairness though, if anybody did keep the title race in perspective it was Mancini. You can't blame the fans and ABUs (anyone but United), as it was a great day for football. It sets up an extremely interesting title race and it's long overdue. United were torn apart in the second half as they tried all out attacks a man down thus leaving themselves wide open. City on the day were simply the best.
Big four no more
In recent times, four teams in the EPL dominated the league: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Qualifying for Champions League was a formality for them in the last decade. Not any more. Spurs (in 5th place) and Manchester City (at the top with 25 points, 5 ahead of the United) can now be recognized as the two main threats to the EPL heavyweights. But the old big four are still in the reckoning. Chelsea are in 3rd, while Liverpool and Arsenal lurk dangerously in 6th and 7th.
It is Newcastle, of all teams, joining City and Tottenham in splitting up the Big Four. But, while Spurs are expected to continue fighting for CL qualification, Newcastle are ones most likely to fall out of contention.
Since their FA Cup win last year and winning fourth spot confidence has been very high at Maine Road. Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was said to be embarrassed after the game. It was his worst defeat ever. Expect to see an extremely determined United next game (vs. Everton at Goodison Park) and right up to the Christmas season. And, in the same vein, expect to see Chelsea attempt to make amends after they had two players sent off in a 1-0 loss to QPR.
Wolves fans should cop on
Fans were booing their team at Molineux when the Wolves were down 2-0 to Swansea. With nothing to show for the last five games Mick McCarthy's team were struggling. Then out of nowhere with 6 minutes left Kevin Doyle and Jamie O'Hara pulled two stunners out of the hat. A bit of luck and a bit of magic was just the medicine that big Mick needed to perhaps save his job. But seriously what's the difference from last year and what's the difference in general when it comes to Mick McCarthy in the EPL?
He gets teams up into the Premier and now he's developing a habit of keeping them alive. They are five from the bottom and they play good enough football to stay in the Premier. When it comes to the crunch, McCarthy's Wolves have stayed up. Apparently Wolves fans are not interested in long-term survival. Too many so-called fans left the ground, just like they did at Old Trafford. So whether it's playing for the title or playing to avoid relegation, you can't please some people.
Rovers doing the business
The fans making the most noise on Irish soil are Shamrock Rovers'. Not only is the team doing the business in domestic competition the Hoops are also getting recognition for their efforts in the Europa League. Rovers face PAOK FC on November 3 then on December 15 it's another home game at Tallaght Stadium against Tottenham Hotspur. It wasn't that long ago when Rovers claimed to be bankrupt and when the fans felt the club was a disgrace. Funny fans we have in football, don't we?
