In the Premiership, all that matters is the 3 points.....?

I've grown up supporting United, seeing them win trophies practically every season. The United I've always known hasnt come close to going a season unbeaten. We'd win the league 3 years in a row, beating teams 4 or 5 nil one week, and then losing/drawing to a team at the bottom. But I was OK with that, because then it didnt matter, as long as you were enough points clear at the top.

Now though, with Chelsea achieving a massive 95 points last season and only losing one game, and Arsenal losing none the season before, it seems the Champions cant afford to lose games, but at what cost?

Last season, Chelsea had a couple of big wins, but I remember for long periods Chelsea were just grinding out 1-0s, and playing very dull football. Defending a lot, but just doing enough to put a goal away. Arsenal the season before drew a hell of a lot of games. So is that what it means now? As long as you get the points, it doesnt matter if it's just a 1-0 win in injury time?

United suffered last season by not putting the ball in the back of the net. We outclassed and outplayed several teams who we just got a point from in the end, and no matter how much I'd say to the City fans in the local that we played really great football, they'd respond with 'but playing really well and not winning the game doesnt get you anywhere' and to a certain extent, I agree... however I did find the Prem a lot more exciting when you just never knew who was going to win a game.

A few years ago, United won the league with just 75 points, 2 less than when we achieved 3rd place last season, and we were 7 points clear of Newcastle in 2nd place. Was that a more entertaining season, when 5 teams managed to beat the Champions?

I dont know. Part of me loves the fact the Premiership is always raising its standards, always making it harder for the Champions to be crowned, putting the pressure on getting those 3 points time and again...but then another part of me misses the times when it was so up and down, when playing really great and exciting football mattered more than just getting the 3 points.

What do you think?

the type of football you describe is still being played in England, go no farther than the The Coca Cola Championship......

a simple answer first is ........yes only the 3 points matter .

I would rather win every match 1-0 and win the Premiership than play great football , score lots of goals and win a few matches 3-0 , 4-2, 5-3 ...etc and end up being 2nd or 3rd . If you ask any true fan winning is all that matters . Man Utd outplayed Arsenal in the FA Cup but who won ... yes Arsenal.

But you can also play great football , win matches 4-1 , 4-3, 5-0, 3-2 ...etc and win the Premiership as Arsenal did two seasons and also go unbeaten .

Now with Chelsea and their millions they can buy almost whoever they want and this brings success. I agree they were not exciting to watch at times last season but that is football . If you have a good defense you will not concede many goals. Then of course 1 goal will win the game if you dont concede.

Chelsea have raised the bar in the Premiership and Man Utd , Arsenal , Liverpool will just heve to try harder to keep in touch with them.

Definately the 3 points, and as a villa fan i dont see too many outstanding performances and wins

Three points for a win have made the game much better and my case is rested!

In one of the games i was watching this weekend the commentators were discussing the 'old days' when it was only 2 for a win. I was not a football follower then, i dont even know if i was walking, but it is a great idea changing it to 3 points as it makes teams chase the game so much more.

I would rather Spurs play dull, unattractive football some of the time if it meant we got 1-0 wins under our belt. No question.