Introduction

We’re now comfortably settling into the year 2024. You’ve written down the wrong date enough times now to recognize that the calendar has officially flipped into the new year. It’s a new time to set resolutions for how to make this year different from the last.

For me, 2024 is all about the “year of pressing on.” I’ve started a lot of new journeys in the past two years, and so this year is a resolution to stay the course. Keep plugging away, keep focused with eyes on the prize.

Commitment To Soccer Fandom

One of those journeys is my quest to be a legitimate soccer fan. I tend not to be a “casual fan” of much of anything. Once I decide to get into a new pursuit, I want to become the best I can be. Whether it’s following a new sport, listening to a new style of music, or becoming a new podcast co-host, I don’t want to go halfway on anything.

As such, this marks the beginning of approximately year 3 of my journey into becoming a soccer fan. For others, this might be more like the beginning of year 1 or year 2. Or perhaps you’ve been a fan for a long time and are looking down on me for being such a newbie…please be patient and realize that I am a work in progress.

Soccer Vs Football

And to address the elephant in the room, yes we do call it “soccer” here in the States. I recognize that there is a movement even among people in the US to refer to it as “football.” While we respect the tradition of the world’s game, we believe we can still call it soccer without being immediately classified as ignorant, fake fans. We are writing from the perspective of American fans who sincerely want to engage in the sport with you all, and the best way for us to do so is to use terminology that is most commonly used where we live.

So in case you’re new to the game like we are, here’s a quick guide of what to watch for in 2024:

A Glimpse Into 2024

In many ways, the headlines in the world of soccer revolve around one particular city which serves as the home to two of the game’s highest profile teams. The industrial city of Manchester in northwest England has long been known for the classic red shirts of Manchester United, but in recent years there has been no team better than the crosstown Manchester City. The City club is coming off of its third straight Premier League title in the 2022-2023 season, as well as victories in the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup.

Manchester City

However, at the approximate halfway point through the 2023-2024 Premier League season, Man City sits in third place behind the clubs of Liverpool (5 points ahead) and Aston Villa (2 points ahead). They no longer look invincible, even against some of the PL’s mid-tier teams. Back to back losses to Wolverhampton and Arsenal in the fall have put them on the back foot.

They are still getting strong production from their dynamic forward Erling Haaland, who has 14 goals in 15 PL appearances so far this season. But can the Club led by manager Pep Guardiola get itself back in the conversation for the PL title? Or will they relinquish the top spot to another team for the first time since finishing second to Liverpool in the 2019-2020 season?

Manchester United

On the other hand, this season has been filled with turmoil for the club of Manchester United. They’ve suffered embarrassing losses on multiple occasions, most recently losing to 15th-place Nottingham Forest on December 30. As of the beginning of 2024 they sit in 8th place in the PL table, far below where their passionate fanbase expects them to be.

Furthermore, there seems to be little hope on the horizon for Man U. The team is hampered by a number of large contracts given to players whose performance has not been up to par. High profile names like Marcus Rashford and Antony have not been able to find the back of the net very often. And there’s been no shortage of drama around players like Jordan Sancho who do not seem to be a good fit with current manager Erik Ten Hag.

Does Ten Hag maintain leadership of the team through the rest of the season, especially now that the British billionaire James Ratcliffe has taken 25% ownership in the club? Do players like Rashford and Antony continue to straddle the line between “starter” and “sub” or can they start producing like they are capable of doing?

Looking Ahead

Of course there are many more storylines in the current PL season, but I’m keeping a close eye on these two clubs from Manchester. If you’re new to the Premier League or just looking to get into it, now is a great time to get on board to see how the 2023-2024 season concludes.

Enjoyed This Blog? Read Other Posts Here