City holding the card’s in the title race

Like any game of poker, keeping your cards close to your chest is pivotal to taking home the final pot. The same can be applied to football; Roberto Mancini currently holds the upper hand over Sir Alex Ferguson, but the wily Scot knows exactly what cards to play and when. Ferguson has continuously called the Italian’s bluff this season and remain a mere two points behind their City rivals as the game looks to continue way into the night.

One can envision the Premier League’s top managers sat round a poker table, playing the game like a seasoned pro, similar to that of texas-holdem, only to drop out during the business end of the campaign with Mancini sat there proud of his achievements thus far.

Kenny Dalglish

Spent heavily in the summer and bought vast amounts of cash to the table. Confident of his success after a productive start to his last game, Dalglish had the aura of self-assurance surrounding him after making his way to the beginning of the season. But, too many false hands and folding saw the Reds drop out of the title race before they managed to gain a head of steam. Coming out with more than he started with due to the Carling Cup win is scant consolation for the Scot, who was hoping to bring the winnings back to Anfield for the first time since 1990.

Andre Villas-Boas

The cocky youngster approached the table at the beginning of the season with a pocket full of chips and a dream of making a sustained impact on the competition. However, his over-confidence has got the better of him with the high-rollers calling his bluff time after time after time. His big money backer  be got frustrated with the money spent and, the young pretender is now out of the game. 

Arsene Wenger

One of the seasoned pro’s of the game, made his way to the table hoping to remain London’s top-team, but fully understanding his big spending rivals will be a tough obstacle to overcome. Lost heavily early one, but has begun to recoup his money spent in the earlier rounds to be in with a loud shout for a top four finish. The support may not be as strong as it has been in the past, but he is not ready to fold just yet and a late push for a Champions League place is proving successful as he looks to return next season.

Harry Redknapp

His twitch helped evade the wary eyes of his opponents and his bluffing skills saw Spurs mount a serious bid for the title, albeit, as an outside bet. However, a recent coming together between himself and Wenger saw Redknapp’s two of a kind trounced by the Frenchman’s royal flush. Now engrossed in a battle of wits with his London adversaries, Redknapp must keep up his previous tricks of the trade in order to finish in a top four spot come May.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Mancini’s biggest rival at the table, Ferguson has been here and done that and won near enough every pot that he has entered. He hasn’t been one to back down from any game and this season isn’t any different. The mind games has seen the Scot keep up with his Italian counterpart, no matter how much money is thrown into the middle. Has the necessary mind-games to outwit his opponent, but is having his game put to the test by Mancini as this hand looks to go into the early hours of the morning.

Roberto Mancini

The proudest manager in the game at the moment, you will be hard pressed to wipe that smile off his face. The money provided by his employers has gone a long way to getting City to where they are at the moment as he looks to break the Red Devil’s stranglehold over Manchester. Still a long way to go before the end of the season, but the Italian has at least one final trump card up his sleeve in the form of Carlos Tevez as he looks to secure Premier League glory. Possesses the strongest ace’s up top, the king’s of the midfield and the jack of all trades in goal, you would be hard pressed to find a stronger candidate to win this game of texas-holdem. Has his eyes firmly on the big pot at the end, with the smaller European one catching his attention, Mancini is hoping his hand remains strong as the season draws towards its emphatic conclusion.

Ben McAleer

For more Football Blogs and opinion from football fans around the world