Changing Times

December is just around the corner and from now on in, the football season will just keep increasing the pressure on managers, players and chairmen alike. Perhaps the most unusual thing this season is seeing the usual 'big boys' struggle- thank you to the blue side of Manchester for causing this panic. 
However with one more match to go for both Manchester clubs in the Champions League group stage, both clubs have contrasting deciding matches. Both clubs may need to gain a positive result on matchday 6, but what favours United having Champions League football in early 2012 is that they only need a draw in Basel whereas City would need to pull out a win at home against Bayern Munich and hope other results go their way.
Despite their dominant form in the Premier league all season, City have struggled in Europe with just two solitary wins over Villareal. This may have been considered a suprise to many, but when you look at their group it may well tell another story compared to the other English clubs whose recent history and seeding has led to an easier group draw. Drawing Napoli from the fourth tier of seeds is a rotten bit of luck compared to the other sides they could have got such as Genk, Otelul Gelati or Dynamo Zagreb who have put up very little resistance in their respective groups.
If you compare England's two other representatives in Europe's elite competition from London they may be in a slightly better position than their northern counterparts, this can't be said domestically however. Chelsea have lost five of their last nine games in all competitions and face other off field problems as well as trying to mould a new young manager into the 'New Mourinho'.

But this season's competition does show a shift in European football. Gone are the recent years of England's finest qualifying for the knock out stages with games to spare, with less 'pushover' teams and the drop in quality of the English sides it isn't a surprise to see them struggling their way through and could potentially face a tricky last 16 tie and possible early exit. Whether Andre Villas Boas survives through December and into a potential last 16 tie is another matter. Three of the defeats that 'AVB' has suffered recently were against Arsenal and Liverpool, two clubs who have also been muscled out by Manchester City and the impressive rise of Tottenham Hotspur. That makes six clubs fighting for the elusive four champions league places, it is sure to be some fight right up until May. Oh and don't forget Newcastle are still there causing upsets and the other domestic and European competitions which conclude at Wembley and abroad in 2012 along with the small matters of European championships and the Olympics to come too. Does it ever slow down?