SIR Alex Ferguson has warned United's Premier League rivals the champions are ready to take the title bull by the horns.
The Reds boss is convinced a consistent run over the next few weeks will shatter any hopes Chelsea and Arsenal have of wrestling the Premier League trophy away from Old Trafford.
Last season a sequence of 11 victories during the winter from United crushed Chelsea and Liverpool's hopes. A win at Old Trafford tonight against Wigan Athletic will put together a mini run of three wins going into 2010 and close the gap on Carlo Ancelotti's leaders to just two points.
"The league is so tight now," said Ferguson. "Teams are taking points off each other that you don't expect. A consistent run from someone will give them a great chance.
"Our experience of run-ins is good and we can handle that part. Hopefully we can go on that kind of run.
"The team that does that will certainly have a big chance. We have got the experience to do it and we have got the players to do it. I think we are better placed than most teams in that respect. They all know that.
"At the start of the season I saw Chelsea as our biggest danger and I have not changed my mind on that.
"The important thing is to win the Wigan game which would put us a couple of points off the leaders coming into the New Year.
"I would have taken that considering all the defenders we have had injured."
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
roykeane, i always wanted to play for city (not!) (30/12/2009 at 13:55)
Blah blah i cant listen to this c... anymore. We miss Ronny - FACT.
Just win the Wigan game and walk the walk SAF
GC Northstand (30/12/2009 at 14:11)
Selfish tantrums on the field were disruptive Fact
£80 million was exceptional business Fact
We are 1 point behind where we were last year Fact
We always play beter during the 2nd half of the season Fact
Except for the Bitters thare are always wingers who never go to the games on this site (most of them from Witslow I suspect) MAJOR FACT
Now where are the Bitters after spending £200m
Where are the Scousers after spending £40+m
Last time I looked the answer was
THEY'RE BEHIND YOU oh no they're not
OH YES THEY ARE
Barry Lee, USA (30/12/2009 at 14:11)
Gilly, Belgium (30/12/2009 at 14:21)
Lou Macari's Fish and Chippie (30/12/2009 at 14:28)
Blah blah i cant listen to this c... anymore. We miss Ronny - FACT.
Just win the Wigan game and walk the walk SAF
roykeane, i always wanted to play for city (not!)
30/12/2009 at 13:55
Sir Alex has walk the walk for the past 23 years, and forget all about Ronaldo he is HISTORY.
ENGINEER, Heywood (30/12/2009 at 14:39)
Also we had at least two or thre world class players whereas this season we only have one Rooney and it has shown as he is not the most prolific goalscorer in the world.
We also do not have a quick thinking and playing midflield, look at the game against Hull it was two breakaways that we scored from for most of the game we were plodding along in the middle with no one to take on the mantle of the old Scholes/Keane or as Fabregas did for Arsenal. The only player we have that can do that is Anderson, but he suffers from consitently being in and out so his form keeps dipping.
I don't remember the chopping and changing of the team especially in the middle when we had Giggs Keane Schole Beckham, the only time they did not start a game was through injury or carling cup games this is one of the reason Butt left because he was only getting the odd game or as a sub.
Also what is to stop hate to say this but even city putting in a run as the new manager syndrome kicks in win their game in hand and they are only 2 points behind us, and arsenal will be a point in front if the win theirs.
At present I can't see this team of ours with the constant chopping and changing the middle achieving any consistancy. I hope I am wrong.
T.LESS, SALE (30/12/2009 at 15:42)
Raju, Katmandu (30/12/2009 at 15:55)
ChrissyH (30/12/2009 at 16:04)
Man U PIK note £138mio initially borrowed in 8/06. At 14.25% p.a. the interest is rolling and the accumulated unpaid p+i is already £202mio. Matures 8/17 And that’s just one of the loans!!!!! - in fact the last one up. Rest maturing 2013-2016 at £100-150mio p.a plus PIK (interest that capitalises and gets added to interest just like in the loan sharking business). I am planning an Administration party in August 2013.
If you dont believe this check out the Bloomberg site for Red Football Joint Venture Limited which is the debt issuance vehicle.
You talk about City and money, but you guys have burned through it. You have actually been insolvent since about August 06.
Instead of talking about which player you might buy, you should be thinking about which insolvency firm will be picking the team. E&Y, KPMG and PWC might be your best bet. My favourite would be Deloitte because apparantly they employ a lot of City fans and they might actually turn the swamp into a NCP car park or a Pets at Home.
Cant wait for next week when we stuuf ya.
Come on City!
Not going to get £80mio for many of the others are they.
Alias Smith, over the moon (30/12/2009 at 16:30)
Gianni Rossi (30/12/2009 at 16:38)
I agree with you completely, some people are deluded and just don't want to see how, slow, ordinary, and predictable our current midfield is. If Rooney got injured, which other player out of our current squad would strike fear into the opposition?
Alias Smith, over the moon (30/12/2009 at 16:45)
Enjoy your money. All it will bring you is unfulfilled hopes (you're used to that), mercenary players who don't give a monkey's for the shirt (you already have plenty of those) and a new manager every six months.
Doc Savage (30/12/2009 at 17:06)
Interesting comments on both scouting generally and also Mourinho. Tried responding a couple of times but the MEN did not post the comments for some reason.
It is ironic referring to Mourinho and scouting in the same sentence, as it is the wider aspects of the club that make me question JM's suitability for United. Whether Mourinho is capable or interested in progressing or maintaining the over-arching philosophy of United is something I have doubts over. He does though guarantee competitiveness, which is paramount and aside from Capello or Wenger, is one of the few with shoulders broad enough to take over from SAF.
Personally though, I feel that Laurent Blanc or Guardiola (if he aspires to leave Barcelona) would be better suited long-term. IMO perhaps Mourinho offers an ideal transitional appointment and he would also be happy for SAF to manage the structural aspects of United.
Chrissy H,
If I was you then I would be more concerned that City's expenditure will never match revenue and that you do not even own your [sic] stadium.
Esso Blue, , Manchester Central (30/12/2009 at 17:16)
LEASE ON COUNCIL HOUSE IS 200 YEAR'S ?, MANCHESTER (30/12/2009 at 17:52)
BlackleyBluez, North Manc (30/12/2009 at 18:06)
Man that headline made me laugh...Fergie must learn to take it easy on the old sauce.
You "might" just scrape one more title, however your time is over...step aside please...The Mancs are in town now lady's!!! ;-)
manu expert (30/12/2009 at 18:32)
i agree with you. mourinho is one of the best managers's in the world and would do a great job if he manages united, but for few reason's i don't think he suit's us.
i would prefer Laurent Blanc or Guardiola simply becouse the kind of football they believe in is better suited to us then mourinho's.
i would also like frank rijkaard who has been brilliant with holland and then barcalona. a lot of people seem to have forgetten that the current all conquering barcalona team was built by rijkaard rather then guardiola. he also knows how to manage big star's and his type of football will great.
LEASE ON COUNCIL HOUSE IS 200 YEAR'S ?, MANCHESTER (30/12/2009 at 19:11)
red (30/12/2009 at 19:19)
Bill Wirral (30/12/2009 at 19:21)
Ged_MCR_SINCE73, MCR (30/12/2009 at 19:24)
All the money in the world wont change the fact that Manchester is 3/4 Red!!
Always has been, always will be....
Red Army!!
Invisible Man, Manchester (30/12/2009 at 21:22)
Mr C., Chorlton, Manchester. (30/12/2009 at 22:55)
Ged_MCR_SINCE73, MCR (30/12/2009 at 23:08)
Doesn't matter if I was at the game or watching in the pub,
Still supporting The Reds, an still right about Manchester being 3/4 Red!
Now live up to your name and become completely invisible (just like the trophies in your cabinet)
Ta Ta!
It may be 33 yrs but it will never be 37yrs. (31/12/2009 at 00:35)
red, .....That is the best and common sense comment I have read on here, well done that man for seeing the bigger picture.