JOSE's YEAR AGAIN?

   

    Manchester United welcome Everton to the Theatre Of Dreams this afternoon for what promises to be a pretty exciting encounter.  Reunions on both sides: Wayne Rooney against his former employers, and Romelu Lukaku v his old teammates. For Jose, a chance to go level with Pep at the top (or probably go top given a big win). Question is: Could he actually pull off another title? Well he's rubbished those second-season claims recently, but we know what he's all about.
    
    Statisticians will tell you the Happy One always likes a second chance. In the last twelve years, he's won all his league trophies in his second year. Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and then Chelsea again in 2015. It's apparent that he uses the first year to get used to the surroundings, and then blitzes past everyone in the second year. Last time he won a league title, Chelsea lost only twice that season (Tottenham away, and a dead rubber in May at West Brom). Has he got the personnel here though to give Old Trafford that elusive crown?
  

You bet he does. Summer signings Romelu Lukaku, Vic Lindelof and Nemanja Matic already helping to solve the personnel problem he faced last year. The most glaring of the solutions is the one big Serb Matic provides. The title winning midfielder has such prowess in commanding his midfield area, and Ed Woodward's delighted because that frees up space for then world-record buy in Paul Pogba. The Frenchman hit six in all competitions (with a similar amount of assists) last season and was usually criticized for not stepping up to the plate. This term, he's looked more like the Pogba Gary Neville would probably lose his voice over. Two already, with four assists. Bookies won't tell he's making double figures for both strikes and set-ups in the Premier League this season. In the past, The Special One relied on certain players to lift his team up, when probably there was no way out. The Dabbing Frenchman could be one of those players. Could hit one on either foot, has a raking pass too, and can't be bullied off the ball easily. He's got the potential to be called a world class talent. So yeah, Big Serb Nemanja's such a big steal for the Mancunians. How about Lukaku? Well, we know how good he is. Five in six in all competitions a testament of that. Pace, power, aerial ability: he has got the lot. "Oi, Wazza, you think he'll beat your record?" Provided he gets the service from the supporting cast behind him (which Mkhi's doing already). The Armenian has set up three of his strikes. Jose can't help but see flashes of Drogba and Costa, whenever he sees the Belgian. Hey, he's got some forward on his hand. Title-winning striker? We all just have to wait and see. That's all we can do.

"Calm down, I've got this."

     As it's turned out over more than a decade, in May he always receives a winners' medal on his home turf. The most dominant of wins in 2012 where his Real Madrid side won the League with a whooping 109 goals. They also blitzed past Pep's Barca with 9 points. It's no wonder Man United were linked with the Real Madrid winger. And guess who was Barcelona's head coach? Meteorologists would always tell you lightning has a second strike.