Red is the new Black

Chelsea are the new Manchester United

Manchester United under Ferguson were unpopular because they were winners, but they did also have some scumbags in the team over the years to make them extra dislikable (I'm thinking in particular of Cantona, Keane, Giggs and Rooney, but I could go on). The manager may have calmed down in the later years of his reign, but he was still a genius at influencing officials, mind games and generally rubbing people up the wrong way. Lastly, Manchester United fans had an infuriating sense of entitlement and of superiority over fans of other teams.

But now the magic talisman has retired, United have been replaced by Chelsea as the club everybody else loves to hate. The manager and John Terry are clearly the two major problems but Diego Costa is also a major controversy waiting to happen. And what can you say about the fans? The recent incident on the Paris subway made them seem like over-privileged, upper-class yobs and has seriously damaged Chelsea's reputation. 

Manchester United are the new Liverpool

Liverpool in the 90s, that is. I think Manchester United will go through a very long period without winning a thing, just like Liverpool did after a long period of success. United may be only one or two percent below the level they were under Ferguson, but the big difference is psychological. Just as they did against Liverpool, other teams raise their game against United now thinking they can get a famous result whereas before they were intimidated by United and just wilted. 

Manchester United may never be the same again.

Arsenal are the new Nottingham Forrest

Forrest under Brian Clough once went eight without winning a trophy (1980 - 1988)  and were a shadow of their former selves in 1993 when he retired. Just as Arsenal have never been quite the same since Viera left in 2005, Forrest were never quite the same after they won their second European Cup and Clough's drinking started to become a problem.

Incredibly, Clough actually got Forrest relegated from the Premier League in his final season; he was also lucky not to have been charged with accepting backhanders from player transfers (called bungs) after he had retired. 

But nobody remembers those things. Instead we remember the European Cups he won with Forest, winning the league with Derby County and the incredible charisma he had. I'm sure that Wenger will be remembered for the Invincibles, not for the decade of injuries and underachievement since then.