1. Sir Alex Ferguson
Quite simply – nobody does it better. Fergie turns 70 on New Year’s Eve, but is still running rings around his younger rivals. There is not a fan in the country who wouldn’t rather have the United manager at their helm – even if they wouldn’t openly admit it.
After leading United to a record 19th title last season, he immediately set about building his next great team – introducing a new generation of stars for club and country.
Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Chris Smalling are expected to provide the backbone for United and England long after Ferguson has decided to call it day.
Even at a time of great transition, following the retirements of Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville, United are still in the hunt for the title and that is down to Ferguson’s unique powers of management.
2. It can only get better
Avoid defeat at home to Blackburn on New Year’s Eve and United will start 2012 looking down on the rest of their Premier League rivals.
That is a remarkable feat given the general acceptance that they have been far from vintage this season.
A debilitating run of injuries to key players such as Nemanja Vidic, Tom Cleverley and Anderson should have been far more disruptive than it has proved. And despite crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage, their domestic form has been nothing short of outstanding.
As that injury list eases, Ferguson will see his squad reinforced at a crucial stage of the season. And given that he traditionally prepares his players to hit their peak after Christmas, it is an ominous sign to City and anyone else hoping to prise the Premier League crown from Old Trafford.
3. January sales
So far Ferguson has been adamant he does not need to strengthen his squad. But with a mounting injury list and without the need to find players eligible for the Champions League, he could well pull out his chequebook in January.
Despite his insistence he is happy with the players at his disposal, he is still in need of a playmaker to replace Paul Scholes, as was evident in the failed Champions League campaign.
Targets like Wesley Sneijder, Ajax’s Christian Eriksen and Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica could give his side a crucial lift in the New Year and give them edge over City in the title run-in.
4. Know how
There is nothing like experience – and know-how could prove the deciding factor as United and City turn into the home straight.
United have been there and done it time and time again. They know they can handle the pressure at the business end of the season and the prospect of a tight finish will hold no fears for them.
They’ve already had to use all of their experience to get to the midway point neck-and-neck with Roberto Mancini’s men – evidence of their resilience even in the face of adversity.
City are only just learning how to cope with the pressures of being the team to beat, and how they respond to that in the New Year will be telling when it comes to the destination of the title.
5. Wayne Rooney
The England striker’s importance to United cannot be overstated. He is the talisman, inspiration and heartbeat of the side. United’s hopes rest on his form – and as long as he is scoring goals they will remain on course for title number 20.
You need only look back to 2010 and the effect his injury in March of that year had on United’s attempt to win a fourth successive title.
Having scored 34 goals to that point, he failed to score again that season as Chelsea ran out winners by a single point.
His 14 goals in 26 games in the second half of last season fired United to yet another title and his 16 in 21 games this term have been a crucial factor in helping Ferguson keep pace with City.
City and United go into 2012 locked in a battle for the Premier League title. M.E.N.’s James Robson gives his reasons why the Reds will win the league
December 28, 2011
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How diplomatic. Not a mention of SAF biggest drawback to future success...sssssshhhhhhhhh....dont mention the 'G' factor.
This lad talks sense, even city can't dispute Fergie is the proven master.
Surely he will dip in the market in January though because if he doesn't and we continue with our shocking injury run then I'm afraid it's city's for the taking.
Sir Alec what a genius what the man has coul not be bought by all the sand in Arabia.His manhandling skills are innate no Tvistock institute or Faculty of psycchology could confer what this unique huma being has broughtfrom the University of Govan. Manchester as a City, as a and United as an institution are lucky he is going to be around for some time . He has contributed to keeping the name Manchester at the forefront of peoples mind's. Feliz cumpleanos to the yongest 70 year old in the Manchester firmament
20th tiltle is there for the taking. Just need to off load the mediocre players, Gibson, Evans, Welbeck, Macheda and Carrick and bring in some quality CM’s
Also hope Owen gets a decent run in the new year.
Suppose he is going to use the "war chest". You are in a false position at the moment and i expect you to finsh 3rd or below.
REMARKABLE!! It really is. In that dismal period following the derby nobody foresaw this phoenix like response. There aren't enough superlatives to describe what Fegie has done, absolutely jaw droppingly amazing.
A lot of us pointed the finger at Phelan and the coaching for that complete loss of form, with the team losing its structure and the players forgetting the basics. I can only imagine that SAF took a hands-on, if not boots-on, approach to the mess. Starting with sorting the defence, then re-inventing Carrick and finally letting loose his potent attack.
The injuries are worrying but hopefully we'll have a bit of luck with Jones and Smalling and they'll stay fit over the winter when they return. Cleverly's return could also be key.
I have to give a special mention for Evra who has been getting a lot of stick. OK he's not been giving the performances we know that he can, but that assist for Park's goal was top class as well as his defensive adaptability. However the most important thing about him is that he is ALWAYS there, he misses very few games and at the moment that is priceless even if he isn't the best left back in the world, he's still bloody good.
A few weeks ago Mancini was walking with a swagger, taking the plaudits and putting the champagne on ice. Now I think that he might not be sleeping too well!
Now that the title challenge is back on track I think that we should start worrying about Spurs too, how did we let Bale escape?
i have to agree with nearly everything they say.
but no.5 is just plain stupid. we are not a one-man team, we are more than Wayne Rooney. absolute joke of a saying.
"Avoid defeat at home to Blackburn on New Year’s Eve and United will start 2012 looking down on the rest of their Premier League rivals."
????????
if city win and we draw they will go top, so what's the point? stupid remark.
UTID
Yesterdays man. Sorry.
When we played CITY we had Fletcher and Anderson in our midfield they had De Jong on the bench that say everything.
Cleverley did wonders for us but unless Fergie gets some world class experience in out midfield it will make life difficult.
BERBATOV has a better goals per minute ratio than Van Persie.Genola used to be world class like Berbatov but you need a good midfield around these sort of players who think that its not their job to spend half the game going looking for the ball.Chico is often starved of the ball and this is just down to midfield problems
We will win it because we are better, then you only need to look at the youth in the team, the twins, cleverley, wellbeck, hernadez, jones, de gea, smalling, evans, add to that Rooney, Nani and Valencia not yet 27...plus the likes of pogba, morrison and fryers,,,,you have to think that this could be one of the greatest Manchester United teams of all time and will win it time and time again.
We shall not, we shall not be moved.........................
The test will start next week - at city, surely any result there will benefit the squad's outlook. This is where it all starts and as we all know - Fergie is the master !
Little did Sheik Mansour know at the time, but when he handed the keys to his bank vault over to City, he was unwittingly strengthening United, it was just the challenge Sir Alex needed,having swept aside all comers in previous seasons, so thank you Sheik Mansour, the more you spend, the stronger we become, United for #20
Will Becks come back in Jan for a bit of nostalgia and experience in midfield? That's a rumour I have been hearing but I don't think it will happen.
AS much As I agree with all the above points I am still worried by our seemingly un ending injury woes, 11 first team players out, No Central Defender, and right back for that matter and our first choice Central Midfielders are out as well. If we dont get a boost from somewere, Players returning or january transfer Im afraid we just might run out of steam towards the end. I hate saying this but City does have a superb team and to wrestle the premier league away from them, we need to have our first team players back by at most mid feb
United have a tough second half of the season to come. Away games at Newcastle, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and City will all be major hurdles. I think we only got a total of 3 points from these 5 fixtures last season and although we still finished top, we will need a lot more from these matches this season.
All 5 points are perfectly sensible and combined make a compelling argument. But surely logic dictates that its City who are most likley to the league.
Either way this season is turning out to be the most exciting and competitive in many years and the fact that its the two Manchester clubs battling it out at the top makes it even better.
As someone who supports both clubs and watches United one week and City the next i'm absolutely loving it.
I will try to be as pragmatic as I can. On paper City remain the favoiurites, as they have already played all the 'big boys' away, and we have a crippling injury list, particularly the devastating loss of Vidic. However, if we can avoid any further serious injuries, I believe that there are many twists still left in this race. Cit's home form has been imperious so far, and if that continues they will almost certainly win the league. Nonetheless, they will have to do remarkably well to beat Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and ourselves at home. Also, as West Brom showed, there are many a banana skin awaiting BOTH teams on their travels.
The crunch will come if we can keep up the pressure, which will test them in a way they have not yet been tested, particulary when 'squeaky bum' time comes around! The next few fixtures could prove decisive: if City can negotiate them without damage ... then they remain favourites. However, if they slip up, and we continue winning ... then we open up a lead. And we will see how good they are at handling the pressure of chasing.
That's not to say they have been anything but superbly impressive so far. But it's much easier being way in front and pummelling teams, with a comfortable points/goal difference cushion to fall back on. When you find yourselves NEEDING to win in order to just draw level, then the pressure cranks up considerably, no more so than when the winning post is in line. That's when the experience of 'been there, done that' comes vitally into play. Confidence remains a major factor: easy to lose, yet so difficult to regain!.
So yes, on paper it's theirs to lose. But it's also ours to win.
And we have been pretty good at winning in recent history!
Paul, Whalley Range
It's going to take a huge effort to win this title. I can't see city falling away, and they have played the so called bigger teams away, we have played most at home. If we can get 4 recognised defenders for each game and Cleverley stays fit we have a chance. If and when city's wobble comes we have to be ruthless and take the lead. The next derby could be one of the most nerve racking games in years!
City fans shut your mouth, you have no experience of winning titles, you have just passed your driving test, a crash will soon come, United have 19 grand prixs under their belts :]
city fans still waffling about winning the League. What do they know about it? Nobody under 50 remembers city winning the League, but still they're all experts who know all about it.
£300 million in 2 seasons, the League should already be bought and wrapped up on the mantlepiece, but United will go into the New Year on top of the table as usual.
Where/Who is the Troll who calls himself Antique, Manchester. He infests the City sites and doesn't appear on this side at all. Coward!
Trade Nani and then see what happens.
All those titles were won with a little help from United's mountain of resources
which were only off limits to Ferguson not too long ago and I am not a City fan.
In Sir Alex we trust...
our strength in character will see No. 20 delivered to our trophy come the end of May.