Sun 26 Feb 06
Carling Cup: The Score is Half the Tale
The results may read 4-0 for Manchester United over Wigan Athletic but today’s game is a victory for both teams.
Sir Alex has some hardware to claim after a tough season in the EPL and the CL. The Red Devils face a domestic league far more challenging with the rise of Chelsea, the rebirth of Liverpool and the tailspin of Arsenal. They can still display remarkable football talent in the crunch. Whether that will satisfy the gruesome Glazer clan has yet to be seen.
The Latics can take pride in the journey that took them to Cardiff today. Despite a lopsided final score, Wigan sits within an EPL spread between fifth and ninth places of only three points. A spot in the UEFA Cup next year is not out of question.
Taken together, these performances are a reassuring sign that the EPL is not caught in the death spiral of ennui that has been the hallmark of its Scottish counterpart.
Paul Canniff
