In The Red Corner #7

Impossible Is Nothing?

There are no “David`s” in the Barclays Premier League. There are no underdogs upon entering a weekend fixture. There are no upsets or surprises in the division because the sides are all so even, which makes our league the best in the world.

Well, that`s what people would have you believing anyway. The reality is that, whilst the Premiership may, at this time, be the best league in world football, the suggestion that the old-fashioned David Vs Goliath battle is outdated, is laughable. Goliath`s are present in English football, and they`re here to stay. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal; otherwise known as the Big Four. They are the “Goliath`s” of the Premier League. The rest of us, therefore, are simpletons, also-rans or “David`s”.

The notion that “anything can happen in football” may still exist in the darkest of corners, however the belief amongst one`s supporters that their side can actually challenge with the big guns has faded long ago. In the grand scheme of things who, sober and in their right mind, would have bet against the Big Four`s dominance coming to an end this campaign. Everton have given it a right go, but they just don`t possess the resources that the “Goliath`s” of this world have.

So, onto Sunday`s visit of Manchester United to The Riverside. The Goliath of Goliath`s strut onto Teesside with an irrepressible swagger that could never be seen from an ordinary side. However, with six wins from their last six league games, with just one goal conceded in that time, and on the back of a comfortable 2-0 victory over Roma in the Champions` League Quarter-Finals in midweek, United have every right to strut their stuff like Kate Moss in her latest Gucci designer clobber on the catwalks of Milan.

They`re five points clear domestically and favourites to become champions of Europe. They have, in their ranks, the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, and have, at their helm, the greatest club manager these shores have ever had the pleasure of witnessing, Sir Alex Ferguson. So swagger they might.

Goliath rolls into town bigger, better and more powerful than ever before. But what tricks does little David have up his ragged sleeve? The pace of Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere against the depleted United rearguard? The in-form winger Stewart Downing up against the not-so-convincing Wes Brown? Or, simply, the element of surprise? Because, let`s face it, no one fancies the Boro to provide a shock at The Riverside.

Try as I might, and I`m a pretty pessimistic kind of guy, I cannot see the Boro boys causing too many problems to the champions. They might of given Chelsea a real scare last weekend, but United and Chelsea are chalk and cheese, despite their closeness in league standings.

At least when David steps up, head-to-head, toe-to-toe, with his towering opponent on Sunday, he`ll have slightly more backers than usual. Certainly, those residing in West London, the Red half of North London, and perhaps the customary, and majority, Blue half of Manchester, will be urging the Teessiders on to produce that shock of shocks. And how we`ll need them.

The visiting supporters will make the long journey to the North East from their leafy Surrey pads. How indicative of their Goliathian status that they will be expecting, rather than hoping, their side to come away with all three points.