Bosses back United for title

The majority of Premier League managers believe Manchester United will win the title this season.

A survey of 15 of the 20 top-flight bosses by League Managers’ Association sponsors Barclays revealed 80% of them backed United to become English champions for a record-breaking 19th time.

Only 7% of managers questioned felt Arsenal would overhaul Alex Ferguson’s men, whom they trail by five points with a game in hand.

The same proportion backed Chelsea to complete one of the greatest comebacks in championship history by closing the nine-point gap to United.

The majority of managers also dismissed the notion the competitiveness of the Premier League this season was down to a reduction in quality. Sixty per cent of bosses felt greater strength in depth was the biggest factor.

Only 7% believed it was the result of falling standards at top clubs, while 74% said the Premier League’s new home-grown player rule had made no difference to the division.

Four-fifths of those surveyed named Blackpool as their team of the season so far.

Of the survey’s other findings, man management was declared the most important skill a boss can have (53%), with tactical know-how and ability to manage the board the least crucial aspects.

Ferguson was named the best manager in the history of the Premier League (87%) as well as being voted the greatest football manager of all time (27%), ahead of Jock Stein (20%) and Bob Paisley (13%).

United veteran Ryan Giggs was voted the greatest player to have graced the Premier League (47%), beating Eric Cantona (27%) and Alan Shearer (13%).

Arsenal teenager Jack Wilshere was voted the young English player who has impressed managers most this season.

Rafael Van der Vaart was voted the best signing of the season having become Tottenham Hotspur’s leading goal scorer following his summer move from Real Madrid.