Manchester United enter the final third of the season with a huge lead in the title race. Not since 2001, when Arsenal lay in United’s wake, have the Reds had such an advantage on the opposition. This time it’s Manchester City way back, but hoping to get into the slipstream of their rivals, as the climax to the season approaches.
Sir Alex Ferguson now has to juggle one of his deepest ever squads in order to maintain a strong challenge on all three fronts. But, after the bitterness of last ditch, goal difference defeat to Manchester City last year, the Manchester United boss is playing strong teams every week in the league – he’d like to keep City at arm’s length this time around.
The Scottish terrier wants to get this title wrapped up as soon as possible. With a 12 point lead and 33 to play for, 22 points from 11 games will make absolutely certain for Manchester United. In all likelihood 7 wins will do it. If they draw at OT to Manchester City on 8 April(tbc), 6 wins should get them over the line.
It’s easy to imagine 4 of those wins coming from home games against Norwich this weekend, then Reading, Villa and Swansea. And, on this form, you’d expect them to beat Chelsea at Old Trafford too. So a solitary win or three draws from Stoke (a), Sunderland (a), Arsenal (a) West Brom (a) and West Ham (a) should do it for United.
Easier said than done, but Manchester United look at their sharpest in a few years and as if they will win every time they take to the field. They aren’t too concerned with showboating or generating cricket scores. They simply want to chalk off the victories as conservatively as possible.
In short, you’d have to be absolutely off your tiny chops to bet against Manchester United winning the title in this mood and from this position.
Henry Katchule Chigulu
Feb 26, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Last season Sir Alex Ferguson deliberately and single handedly surrendered the title to vociferous neighbours-Man City- through his repeated experimentation then, as evidenced by the fielding of JS Park at Etihad Stadium ahead of the then inform Nani and Valencia,eventually the match was narrowly lost- 1-0- due to lack of endurance on our part. However, this is not the case this time around because our dear Manager, Sir Alex , has drastically reverted to fielding the strongest squad at his disposal as evidenced in the recent matches in all competitions. And such being the case,the 20th is imminent and within grasp. Aruta continua Man Utd !
nzivo boniface
Feb 26, 2013 at 6:57 pm
fergie is doing it right the players ar surely giving their best kudos guys ur living to funs expectations, keep red flag flying high
CiTyBlUe
Feb 27, 2013 at 8:30 am
Foreign glory hunters with no clue & a pee poor grasp of English, by the way soccersweep united have already played at the Etihad this season and it’s the swamp (Old Scaffold) that is the return fixture venue you idiot.
RedDevil 78743
Feb 27, 2013 at 9:51 am
Lol shame you city fans are feeling quite a bit irritated. The season is long from over but know that united is not going to give you miserable lousy soul losers an easy opportunity as you’ll had last season. Poor Moancini now says that united is lucky when in actual fact it was city that was lucky last season to win on goal difference in the last 2 minutes of the game is pathethic for the amount of money that went into investing in players. City got all this hype and big mouths for what? take a couple of those star players that player for city (or should we say for money) and what is city then, NOTHING…………… Lets see if Moancini can take a team like united and win 19 league titles. When you’ll reach 19 my great great great great great great great great great grandson will be 90 years old.
CTID 72
Feb 28, 2013 at 3:09 am
Ha ha not bitter at all?
19:3 WILL NEVER BE CAUGHT.
Feb 27, 2013 at 11:39 am
Man city fans are all bitter, all ten of them.
And thats the ‘Theatre of dreams’ to you bertie, you know an iconic stadium around the world, not the empty head arena, an arabs ply thing full of empty blue seats.
Red
Feb 27, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Clown
sexyush
Feb 27, 2013 at 10:23 am
Fergie is doing the right thing this season.signing 29 years RVP changed everything in favor of manutd. Manutd current form in this stage of season with 12 points ahead neighbor 20th EPL title is theirs.
RAppel
Feb 27, 2013 at 10:57 am
Why is the URL called: “http://www.soccersweep.com/the-7-wins-that-will-take-the-title/?” when the title is “The 6 wins that will take the title”?
manchesterisred
Feb 27, 2013 at 11:02 am
cityblue – foreign glory huntersare whatyou get when your team is successful. another trophey or 2 and you may start noticinga few tourists at wastelands which are needed because all these legions of mancunian city fans rarely fill the stands.i’m a manc who lives in sunderland and found it funny how many glory hunting city shirtsturned up here after last seasons victory. stop been bitter man and get on with supporting your club.
don process process
Feb 27, 2013 at 1:03 pm
They are all playing well and they are also in from
andymanc
Feb 27, 2013 at 2:04 pm
CitTyBlUe
Hey Bertie the article clearly states that the return fixture is at OT not the Emptyhad so who’s the idiot here?
You seem to be on every United article all over the web son making silly,pointless jibes,perhaps you’d be better concentrating on your own little,no-history club?
Speaking of foreign glory hunters and the tie at the Council house,I remember it well,those Japanese tourists in City tops,beaming smiles as they photographed Rooney as he celebrated…priceless.
Considering how obsessed and bitter you are now with your plastic club as champions,you’ll be fit to explode once our title returns home for number 20…I’ll say that again NUMBER 20,puts your 3 into perspective doesn’t it lol.
By the way how’s it going filling the stadium,is the owner still buying all the unsold tickets to call it a sell out?
Eric the king
Feb 27, 2013 at 2:39 pm
@ BitterBlue.
“If they draw at OT to manchester city on 8 april (tbc)….”
Think, or read, a little more carefully before classing people as idiots, or peoples grasping of english.
Still, as Bobby Manc says, you boys have been very unlucky, losing to united to a legitimate late goal (while neglecting to recall utd being robbed of a perfectly fair 3rd that could well have gone on to be even more with your heads down even further….)
Alan
Feb 27, 2013 at 3:11 pm
the fact that United are still competing on three fronts make it difficult to asses how they will do in the prem. In a way, not wining progressing past Madrid might be a blessing in disguise. However, United have a very strong squad this season and surprisingly not that many injuries for this time of the season especially compared to last season when we were bereft of players. I can see United dropping points in only 4 of the remaining 11 matches. Norwish at home will be trickier than most people think and so will Stoke away, but United have had the better of Stoke in recent times. 7 wins to secure the EPL then.
Wins: Norwich, Reading, Villa, Swansea, Sunderland (a), West Brom (a), Stoke (a),
Draw: Arsenal (a), Chelsea (h) and West Ham (a)
Loss: Man City (h),