I think fixtures are evenly matched. We both mainly play a number of average teams, we both have one very tough away (Tottenham and Arsenal), they have the advantage of having us at home but have a somewhat tricky Chelsea home game too (although I think they'll murder Chelsea 3-0 like).
The Manchester Title Race
- Thread starter charlenefan
- Start date
I think fixtures are evenly matched. We both mainly play a number of average teams, we both have one very tough away (Tottenham and Arsenal), they have the advantage of having us at home but have a somewhat tricky Chelsea home game too (although I think they'll murder Chelsea 3-0 like).
Whoever slips twice in a row will more than likely spur the other team on. A loss now for us is salvageable.
I really do think that if we win the title we'll look back at Giggsy's goal against Norwich on Sunday as the turning point. That goal could prove to be incredibly useful.
Why is it a 6 pointer? Surely it's a 3 pointer...
I honestly think if we win all our games and cITY lose one or two, we'll be champions. And you can quote me on that
Talking Vulture, speaking to assembled Caftards, 29 February 2012.
of course - and I did notice the Blackburn loss. All the more reason to be on our toes. I'm sure we'll both drop points where least expected.
Just my take on things to come. Really looking forward to the run-in. Just can't believe we're still in touch given our respective injuries or lack of.
I think we'll win the title at Wasteland, their home record is the same as Barcodes back in the 95-96 season and they're favourites right now. A win and smashing that 100% record will knock them out of their stride.
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I am of the same opinion.
Mancini is not a gutsy manager.
Fergie may play it like a European away, mind.
But if it is still tight with 25 minutes to go, I know who I would rather making the calls.
I am of the same opinion.
Mancini is not a gutsy manager.
Fergie may play it like a European away, mind.
But if it is still tight with 25 minutes to go, I know who I would rather making the calls.
I think City will beat us at Eastlands to win it tbh.
They have played better than us this season and have a stronger team/squad. I expect us to bounce back stronger next year with players having aged a year and a couple of class recruits (well, I don't expect the latter but can be hopeful)
They have played better than us this season and have a stronger team/squad. I expect us to bounce back stronger next year with players having aged a year and a couple of class recruits (well, I don't expect the latter but can be hopeful)
The only time they've been better than us is when they beat us.
That aside, we have amassed more points from all of our other games, than they have.
Two lucky goals give them a win today. When was the last time they impressed in a league game?
They are winning most of these home games without having to break a sweat. I would call that impressive
if we keep in touch with them...I am convinced we will beat them. This has the feel of that title win all those years ago when Cantona scored the winner away to Newcastle.
Their next five matches all look like potential banana skins. I wouldn't give up hope of being ahead of them when we meet even if we drop points tomorrow.
Seriously, the only thing you've talked about all year is our transfers and City, criticising the former and praising the latter. Surely you're interested in more than just that in football? When we aren't the best team in the league and don't buy the best players in the summer you must have pretty much no interest in United.
Another player back mid-season to do it... Scholes!!!
Theirs...to lose
If we won games in the same fashion people on here would say we were unimpressive and poor.
Even if we lose today, I still think the next five or six games might lead to us being in front.
They have to go to Swansea, Stoke, Arsenal and Norwich, and have Chelsea and West Brom at home. Several matches there that could make them drop points.
After Spurs we have home games against West Brom, Fulham, QPR, Villa and Everton, and away games to Blackburn, Wigan and Wolves (not in that order though).
We have the best run in to our game against City. If we are one or two points behind before that game I think our experience will win it for us.
They have to go to Swansea, Stoke, Arsenal and Norwich, and have Chelsea and West Brom at home. Several matches there that could make them drop points.
After Spurs we have home games against West Brom, Fulham, QPR, Villa and Everton, and away games to Blackburn, Wigan and Wolves (not in that order though).
We have the best run in to our game against City. If we are one or two points behind before that game I think our experience will win it for us.
I can see them dropping points in a few of the away games, possibly losing to Arsenal. Chelsea are dogshit at the moment but let's hope they can go to City and get a result, but can't see West Brom getting anything at City.
Yes I do agree we have the best run of fixtures leading up to the derby match, and hopefully by time that comes around, we'll be ahead of them.
If we win today, I think we'll win the league.
Gary Neville in today's Mail on Sunday is, as always, spot on.
Today is the most significant day in the Premier League title race up to now. I know everyone, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini, is talking about the potential title shoot-out, when Manchester United travel to play Manchester City on April 30, as title D-Day. That may be the case but my gut feeling is that D-Day comes today and April 30 will be Coronation Day.
I drew attention to this in my column on New Year’s Day and nothing has led me to change my opinion. If United win today at Tottenham, coming off a run of league games against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Norwich away and Liverpool at home, the title odds switch in their favour. And they will know that in the United dressing room.
But if City can be five points clear by the end of today, they clearly remain favourites. So they will be watching the Tottenham game today thinking: ‘Please, just give us a break!’ Because, though both clubs will be approaching each match as it comes, they will have taken a look ahead and know the fixtures now dramatically turn in United’s favour. United’s run-in, other than that game at City, is as gentle as could be expected in the Premier League.
When you look at City and United’s fixtures that might be marked red for danger, amber for beware and green for an expected victory, it shows why the balance is tipping in United’s favour. There are the obvious games against top sides that are dangerous and City have more of those, against Chelsea, Arsenal and United. But we used to say in the dressing room those games would take care of themselves. They are so clearly significant there never is any need to remind players to be motivated.
But any away game is a potential hazard and matches at Norwich and Swansea, both of whom have passionate support, tight grounds, great home records and good managers with players in form, are dangers.
We used to say in the dressing room: ‘We have to be at it, today.’ A match like Wolves away, against a side who are struggling but fighting for their lives, is one where, if you are ‘at it’, you’ll win. But any complacency and you’ll get a shock and be punished. And so City’s run of away games at Swansea, Stoke, Norwich, Wolves and Newcastle is hazardous.
The remaining games, the green ones, are matches which United and City should win if they concentrate. And you can see that United have many more green games than City.
In fact, United’s greatest enemy is themselves. They have had very good spells this season that have been punctuated by occasional and extreme aberrations: the 6-1 defeat by City at Old Trafford; the defeat at Basel; the defeats and poor performances in quick succession at home to Blackburn and at Newcastle. Those displays have clouded the season, though now their form does seem to be better and the concentration level will be higher.
But City will also know United’s momentum is growing. The effort United put into the last six weeks, in which they have a hard run of fixtures, just to stay in touch with City has been significant. Last Sunday’s last-minute winner against Norwich was a big moment. When you end up winning games like that, rather than taking one point, with Ryan Giggs scoring in his 900th game, you start to think: ‘Something’s happening here’. That’s a phrase that’s been used time and time again down the years in the United dressing room. You get a feeling the mood is swinging your way. You can just feel an excitement. You could see it in the intensity of the celebration at the end of the game in both fans and players.
So City will be hoping to see a Tottenham side playing the way they have been for the majority of the season, rather than the side they saw in the 50 minutes against Arsenal last week. Because that Tottenham side — the good one — can cause United difficulties. Against Tottenham will be the statistics. They haven’t beaten United for 25 games and though their home record is good, United have the best away record in the top flight with an especially good record at White Hart Lane.
Despite all that, given the way Tottenham have been playing, you have to say last Sunday was a blip. It was a real surprise to see them fall apart after leading 2-0. You could never have imagined that because Tottenham were unrecognisable from the side they have become: compact, hard to break down and resilient.
They will need to put that right today if a blip isn’t to turn into a habit. In the second half, players seemed to be wandering where they wanted and they lost the discipline in attack we’ve seen from Tottenham this season. They need to get back to a good, solid shape in midfield, the back four being tough and their great counter attacking. Because while they have been one of three best sides this season, and remain favourites to finish third, if they were to lose today, or lose badly, they might start to think that the inconceivable could happen: that they might lose their points cushion and end up scrabbling for the top four, especially now that Arsenal are just four points behind them after yesterday’s win.
One slight concern I’d have for Tottenham is over Ledley King, who has been amazing for them given he can’t train. But at some point that lack of training will catch up with a player and it’s usually in the big games that it tells. In the last two, against Manchester City and Arsenal, I have seen signs he wasn’t moving as comfortably as in the past.
Today is a big day for him and his team to get back on track and show the fight they have demonstrated before and show they are not the Tottenham of old. For United, though, there is just as big an incentive. Win today and they can seize control of the title race and will believe they are a huge step closer to winning the league.
I drew attention to this in my column on New Year’s Day and nothing has led me to change my opinion. If United win today at Tottenham, coming off a run of league games against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Norwich away and Liverpool at home, the title odds switch in their favour. And they will know that in the United dressing room.
But if City can be five points clear by the end of today, they clearly remain favourites. So they will be watching the Tottenham game today thinking: ‘Please, just give us a break!’ Because, though both clubs will be approaching each match as it comes, they will have taken a look ahead and know the fixtures now dramatically turn in United’s favour. United’s run-in, other than that game at City, is as gentle as could be expected in the Premier League.
When you look at City and United’s fixtures that might be marked red for danger, amber for beware and green for an expected victory, it shows why the balance is tipping in United’s favour. There are the obvious games against top sides that are dangerous and City have more of those, against Chelsea, Arsenal and United. But we used to say in the dressing room those games would take care of themselves. They are so clearly significant there never is any need to remind players to be motivated.
But any away game is a potential hazard and matches at Norwich and Swansea, both of whom have passionate support, tight grounds, great home records and good managers with players in form, are dangers.
We used to say in the dressing room: ‘We have to be at it, today.’ A match like Wolves away, against a side who are struggling but fighting for their lives, is one where, if you are ‘at it’, you’ll win. But any complacency and you’ll get a shock and be punished. And so City’s run of away games at Swansea, Stoke, Norwich, Wolves and Newcastle is hazardous.
The remaining games, the green ones, are matches which United and City should win if they concentrate. And you can see that United have many more green games than City.
In fact, United’s greatest enemy is themselves. They have had very good spells this season that have been punctuated by occasional and extreme aberrations: the 6-1 defeat by City at Old Trafford; the defeat at Basel; the defeats and poor performances in quick succession at home to Blackburn and at Newcastle. Those displays have clouded the season, though now their form does seem to be better and the concentration level will be higher.
But City will also know United’s momentum is growing. The effort United put into the last six weeks, in which they have a hard run of fixtures, just to stay in touch with City has been significant. Last Sunday’s last-minute winner against Norwich was a big moment. When you end up winning games like that, rather than taking one point, with Ryan Giggs scoring in his 900th game, you start to think: ‘Something’s happening here’. That’s a phrase that’s been used time and time again down the years in the United dressing room. You get a feeling the mood is swinging your way. You can just feel an excitement. You could see it in the intensity of the celebration at the end of the game in both fans and players.
So City will be hoping to see a Tottenham side playing the way they have been for the majority of the season, rather than the side they saw in the 50 minutes against Arsenal last week. Because that Tottenham side — the good one — can cause United difficulties. Against Tottenham will be the statistics. They haven’t beaten United for 25 games and though their home record is good, United have the best away record in the top flight with an especially good record at White Hart Lane.
Despite all that, given the way Tottenham have been playing, you have to say last Sunday was a blip. It was a real surprise to see them fall apart after leading 2-0. You could never have imagined that because Tottenham were unrecognisable from the side they have become: compact, hard to break down and resilient.
They will need to put that right today if a blip isn’t to turn into a habit. In the second half, players seemed to be wandering where they wanted and they lost the discipline in attack we’ve seen from Tottenham this season. They need to get back to a good, solid shape in midfield, the back four being tough and their great counter attacking. Because while they have been one of three best sides this season, and remain favourites to finish third, if they were to lose today, or lose badly, they might start to think that the inconceivable could happen: that they might lose their points cushion and end up scrabbling for the top four, especially now that Arsenal are just four points behind them after yesterday’s win.
One slight concern I’d have for Tottenham is over Ledley King, who has been amazing for them given he can’t train. But at some point that lack of training will catch up with a player and it’s usually in the big games that it tells. In the last two, against Manchester City and Arsenal, I have seen signs he wasn’t moving as comfortably as in the past.
Today is a big day for him and his team to get back on track and show the fight they have demonstrated before and show they are not the Tottenham of old. For United, though, there is just as big an incentive. Win today and they can seize control of the title race and will believe they are a huge step closer to winning the league.
Gary Neville really does write excellent articles, he's a lot better than I thought he'd be. That article is pretty much exactly right on the money.
Hopefully I got these numbers right:
United's Points After 26 Games [27 games]:
2011-12: 61 [?]
2010-11: 60 [63]
2009-10: 57 [57]
2008-9: 62 [65]
2007-8: 58 [61]
2006-7: 65 [68]
For those who think we're having an off year, it's awfully impressive we've managed to gain this many points with our captain, and best center back in the world, Vidic out nearly the whole season, not to mention nearly everyone else being out for long periods of time.
United's Points After 26 Games [27 games]:
2011-12: 61 [?]
2010-11: 60 [63]
2009-10: 57 [57]
2008-9: 62 [65]
2007-8: 58 [61]
2006-7: 65 [68]
For those who think we're having an off year, it's awfully impressive we've managed to gain this many points with our captain, and best center back in the world, Vidic out nearly the whole season, not to mention nearly everyone else being out for long periods of time.
I doubt it
March
Man Utd v West Brom Sun 11 Mar 14:00
Swansea v Man City Sun 11 Mar 14:00
Wolves v Man Utd Sun 18 Mar 13:30
Man City v Chelsea Mon 19 Mar 20:00
Stoke v Man City Sat 24 Mar 17:30
Man Utd v Fulham Mon 26 Mar 20:00
One game at a time but I hope we can take 9/9
Man Utd v West Brom Sun 11 Mar 14:00
Swansea v Man City Sun 11 Mar 14:00
Wolves v Man Utd Sun 18 Mar 13:30
Man City v Chelsea Mon 19 Mar 20:00
Stoke v Man City Sat 24 Mar 17:30
Man Utd v Fulham Mon 26 Mar 20:00
One game at a time but I hope we can take 9/9
West Bromwich (4th best away from home team) and Fulham (Some of their players are on fire in the last weeks).
Wolverhampton should be a win.
I think we should be at least level on points with City at the end of the month, they're having a lot of tough games in the next weeks.
Wolverhampton should be a win.
I think we should be at least level on points with City at the end of the month, they're having a lot of tough games in the next weeks.
I think we are in good shape now but I just have a bad feeling that Tevez is going to be City's ace in the hole if he is in shape and wants to play.
I'd be genuinely shocked if Tevez plays any part in deciding where the title ends up. He's certainly not going to start too many games for City ahead of Balotelli, Aguero & Dzeko and one would imagine he'd be behind all 3 in the pecking order to come on from the bench as well.
The public apology was purely designed to quieten the media from their constant questions about his future while he was off playing golf; issue and apology, get him back in the country and back training maybe put him on the bench every now and again and the media will give it a rest for these last few remaining months of the season.
Given his respectful comments about us in that recent Argentinian interview, I expect him to come on in the derby and score a hat-trick of own-goals.
I oddly feel more concerned about dropping 'silly' points against teams like the upcoming fixtures than when we head into games with the top 6. City need to start dropping some unexpected points soon...
It's certainly not going to be as plain sailing as some expect, I'm already thinking there's a good chance of dropping home points to West Brom next Sunday but I think after the last two league wins it really is in our hands now not just because of the derby but because it'll take a monumental effort from City to win all those tough away games
I think for City, Norwich, Swansea and Newcastle are amber. They never lose at Newcastle and the other two, although tough, are winnable. A couple of draws would do though. 
I feel pretty confident as long as we don't go into dozy mode.
I feel pretty confident as long as we don't go into dozy mode.
I just hope we don't become complacent in this run of fixtures we have coming up. After our recent fixture list it's easy for the players to assume they'll walk over sides like WBA. SAF and the likes of Giggs and Scholes will hopefully step in and make sure we not taking any opposition lightly. Though I expect at least 16 pts from our next 6 fixtures, hopefully all 18 pts. I don't know why but I can't shake this feeling that we going to win it.
Wow, looking at those set of fixtures, this is our chance to go on a winning streak and make the decisive tilt in the title race. If we play as well as we can, we could actually have a lead going into the clash with City.
Ideally we need a 4 points lead going into the City match. The league is hard and I hope they get a reality check away from Wastelands.
If we don't have a lead going into the City game then fair fecks to them for navigating such tough period and they'll probably go on to win the league.
We are on a streak right now. We have dropped 2 points since the turn of the year.
This is not aimed at you, but how we still have moaners after this run is beyond me
Bolton - H - WIN
Arsenal - A - WIN
Stoke - H - WIN
Chelsea - A - DRAW
Liverpool - H - WIN
Norwich - A - WIN
Tottenham A - WIN
Forget some of the performances and just look at those results. City must be shocked that we have remained only 2 points behind.
I hate seeing City above us but I must admit they've provided some really interesting competition. It's going to be a really tight run in but if we can pull it off it'll be an incredible achievement.
To win the title after VDS retiring, Vidic and Fletcher being out for the season, lots of constant injuries, and on top of that doing it with a young promising team would be something really special
Even if we do fall short I'd be proud of our PL season and very excited for the future.
To win the title after VDS retiring, Vidic and Fletcher being out for the season, lots of constant injuries, and on top of that doing it with a young promising team would be something really special
Even if we do fall short I'd be proud of our PL season and very excited for the future.