A Boxing Day win at Stoke followed by an Old Trafford triumph against Middlesbrough sparked an 11-game victory roll. It overturned a Premier League lead of six points held by Liverpool 12 months ago and ended with the Reds holding a seven-point lead by the time that run came to an end.
Having won at Hull City on Sunday and ending 2009 with a home match against Wigan on Wednesday, the platform is there for a repeat.
So far this term the champions have failed to build up a typical destructive run of wins.
Only the post-Burnley sequence of five league triumphs was the true Reds.
Now Dimitar Berbatov and Wes Brown are both sounding the clarion call for United to build up another head of steam.
"We are in a great position," said striker Berbatov.
"There are a lot of games left but I think it will be decided between us and Chelsea. I think we will come out on top. We have great players and we have a great chance.
"We have had a difficult time with injuries but they are coming back now. The boss knows what to do about changing when needed because of the amount of games.
Berbatov confidence
"I am sure at the end of the season we will be on top.
"The Hull win was a very important win for us. We felt we needed to do something after the 3-0 Fulham defeat. That was difficult to take. It wasn't good for the players. But we bounced back.
"The gaffer told us before the game at Hull that we needed to win the match and now we have put pressure on Chelsea.
"It was magnificent to have the defenders back. They are great players and you have to praise them for their performance at Hull because it is always difficult for defenders against them."
Brown was among a returning trio in the back four along with Nemanja Vidic and Rafael.
"It has been a funny old season. Teams are losing games to anyone," he said.
"But now we have to start winning and keep it going. We have to finish the year with a win against Wigan.
"We are in a confident mood now and we have to keep that going.
"I cannot remember a time like it with so many injuries in the defence but we have handled it pretty well. Now some of us are back and I hope we can go on a nice little run.
"Hopefully Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Jonny Evans and John O'Shea are not far behind us and that will be a great help."
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Sorry Berbs, I really wanted you to become a star at Utd but from what I saw against Hull you have gone back to your languid (lazy) style of play. We had too many passengers on that pitch and only Rooney and the defence played their part. I have been defending Valencia for not being Ronaldo and being a traditional style winger who gets stuck in defensively but he didn't look interested either. We need some new blood and quick,this just isn't good enough. I know we won, bt lets be honest that score did not reflect the game at all.
You know what they say actions speak louder than words stats show Chelsea have defo been getting the rub of the green decision wise.Perhaps its our turn now.
Berbatov has to open his gob. We are not playing well, and its too close at the top to say its a two horse race. Its lucky its a funny season with no one on top form or we wouldnt be second having lost 5 games before xmas. Just hope he hasnt jinxed us.
Watched Chelsea play fulham last night, Chelsea,s defence and goalkeeper were all over the place! And Chelsea were there for the taking. They're certainly not the same team that Mourinho managed and I think we could put a good run of results together, we could win that league. Berbatov is a class player he just needs to go out on the field and show us his old Tottenham form! Watched and old video of the Bulgarian scoring 4 goals against Reading, and they beat them 6-4 at White Hart Lane. I am a big fan of Berbatov's, but he really needs to step up and start performing.
ROLL ON MAY FOR LEAGUE No. 4
4 IN A ROW!!!
Well he should know since he's had such a galvanising effect since his arrival.....................not! Use him as a tradein for anyone who looks like scoring a goal. Could have sworn that Diouf was a striker!?
I think Berbs urgently needs to do much more talking on the pitch and a lot less in the press. I'd love him to succeed but all we see are glimpses of what he might have. Not sure any more about him - maybe United is too a stage big for him?
a bit arrogant methinks. arsenal are in the mix too.
Don't think we should write off Arsenal, in fact they could be a bigger threat to us than Chelski.
We really need to get a run of form going and our midfield stiffened up and showing more creativity to set up our strike force.... Hargreaves (what's the latest on him?) might be the galvanising agent we need.
As with some other recent posts would love to see Owen and Berbatov playing a bit together with Rooney just in behind. Owen does not look sharp enough yet, still think he needs more game time, but maybe I'm being too generous to him. We need all three strikers to really start firing.
Slightly off topic, though hopefully of some relevance... I've just finished reading "Determined", Norman Whiteside's autobiography. It's a great read, but one anecdote really stuck in my mind. When he moved to midfield, he used to have a competition with Robbo as to which of them gave the ball away least per game. I was thinking that our present central midfielders could do worse than get a similar competitive streak going between them. Or alternatively perhaps we need them to compete to see which of them wins the ball back most often in a game. And a similar competition among our strikers wouldn't go amiss either, like who can get most goals and assists.
What about our own online competition who do you think will be our top goals scorer this season in terms of goals per minute on the pitch? Don't know what the current stats are, but as I believe I've said before, I think Owen could be up there!
If anyone can stop United winning the title this season, it's you Berbatov. I can take a pass and prod it back again for ninety minutes. But I don't think in all conscience I could take your kind of wages for doing it.
If we do win the league this year (and we will need to improve our consistency from the first half's performance), I suspect that Berbatov will not have contributed greatly to it. I genuinely thought that this was the year that he would show why we paid £30m for him but he is 'in the comfort zone' and, seemingly, quite happy to pick up his great big salary each week rather than knuckling down. I recall that Van Nistlerooy was the same - once he had signed his mega bucks contract, he was less inclined to put himself about and relied on tap -ins to keep his goal tally up. I also recall that SAF saw through that and hastened RVN onto his bike when he realised - will he do the same with Berbatov? I suspect that, if we had got Benzema in the summer, we might have seen SAF play his hand but, whilst we have so few options up front, I can't see how he can dump Berbatov just yet. Unless he wakes up, though, his career is heading downwards!
Agree with those who feel the Arses are a threat. I felt at the season start that they would win it this year, I still do.
How can a player who has been this poor, and such obvious bad value for money, have anything to say ?
How can you ignore Arsenal ? over the last 10 games they have taken more points than United !
Sorry to say this, but I'd have Tevez rather than Berbaflop anytime. Look at what the Argie is doing over the other side of town !
well with your lack effort & comitment it will be chelsea then.
history say's those who talk the talk dont walk the walk!
sorry, could be any one of five teams, and dare I include the Blues in those.
Talking about writing off Arsenal... I think that we can win this thing but I also think that there are a few other teams can pull it off .. Its just going to take a run of form for a couple of months and its wide open.. I was looking at squad depth a couple of days ago... Look at Spurs roster.. It is very deep and very Impressive.. There are better starting elevens out there but the depth of their squad is very strong.. Lets not write off any of the top 5 or 6 ... Still think its ours for the taking though..
Keep the faith and sign a proven striker in january to show Berbaflop how it should be done. The reds will be there or thereabouts come may.
Jon exiled manc Wales
Baldrick,you are spot on. It looked comfortable at Hull but I think we got away with it big- style, especially with the penalty. One player turned up, and he was responsible for all the goals. About time the others got fingers out, not least Berba, who I've always backed till now. Two Spaniards and a Russian for starters, and the talented Cleverly back from Watford- oh, and has anyone seen Owen Hargreaves?
berbatov what a player but my god was a lazy B!!!!!d!
Chelsea have the slight edge because they don't have Berbatov in their side..
The same old close door tripe, however the reality is different this year. As many as six club's have a legitimate chance of winning the premiership. Berbatov is whistling in the cemetery called Old Trafford.
They all seem absolutely hell bent on parading their cretinism in public. It's a big ugly, the truth be told.
The guy is sheer class, which sadly a great deal of people don't realise. He has an exquisite first touch, and brings others into the game. He sees openings before other people and his vision is second to none. Ok he doesn't run around like a headless chicken, like Park or traitor Tevez, but I know who I'd rather have in my team any day.
Hi Berbatov, can you just shut up and let your feet do the talking? Your performances had been very2 poor for United so far and yet you dare to say these kind of thingy. We just hope that you can keep your mouth shut and perform on the field.
Dreadful player.
Not a patch on David Villa. A great front man not scared to get stuck in.