As the first half of the English Premier League season comes to a close, the big question is whether any other team can keep pace with the two Manchester clubs, City and United.Roberto Mancini’s City certainly have the edge over Alex Ferguson’s side at this stage but you can never rule out United; after all, how many times have they managed to get their hands on the title even when the odds are stacked against them. Just ask Newcastle United!There’s no doubt City are the team to beat this term but United are still in contention for the title and are just two points behind the league leaders.It will be interesting to see how City handle the pressure during the business end of the season if the Red Devils are still breathing down their neck.As for the chasing pack, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal well, I think third place is the best those teams can hope for this time around.I was hoping my old mate Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur could mount a title challenge but when you keep dropping points, as they did against Chelsea at home this week, it’s going to be very difficult for them.Consistency is the key for any title contender and I think Thursday night’s result at White Hart Lane shows Spurs aren’t quite ready yet to challenge United or City.It’s an age-old footballing adage, but you really do have to win your home games and Spurs did little to help their cause by drawing with Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea.Those were points Spurs had to claim to keep the heat on the Mancunian teams and, at the end of the day, if you’re harbouring title hopes then you have to beat the so-called big boys in your own back yard.Tottenham are as good as anyone going forward with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale, but their midfield is a little thin and that’s one area where I feel they need to strengthen during the transfer window. I still don’t think their squad is deep enough to realistically challenge for the title.I imagine Villas-Boas would have been satisfied with his team’s night’s work, though.He’s had his critics since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge but I think Chelsea are slowly showing signs of improvement under their young manager.There’s no doubt Villas-Boas needs time to stamp his mark on the club and has already shown he’s not frightened of making big decisions by leaving Frank Lampard on the bench in place of former Liverpool man Raul Moreiles.The festive period always throws up some intriguing matches, and I’m particularly looking forward to City v Liverpool on January 3 and Newcastle v United the following day.It’s important to remain patient at this juncture of the season; you have hope your rivals slip up somewhere down the line or maybe pick up a few injuries.City, of all of the top teams, are probably the best equipped at the moment considering the depth of their squad, but anything could happen if they lost a few of their most influential players.I think Mancini’s side play very attractive football although I still feel Arsenal are the easiest on the eye.But neither of those sides can hold a torch to Barcelona who thrashed Santos 4-0 in the Club World Cup in last Sunday’s final in YokohomaPep Guardiola’s side have now secured their fifth trophy of 2011 an incredible feat.Football supremacy changes hands so many times. When you look back over the years it was Brazil at one point, then the Dutch teams came into the arena and showed how to play the game, but now it’s the time of the Spaniards.Barca have been a treat to watch this year, and by winning the Club World Cup just confirmed what everyone had already known for quite some time.To be able to do what they have done over the past two or three years is phenomenal and let’s hope they continue to entertain for many seasons to come.