A Manchester United Fan’s Daydream: How the Red Devils Can Capture the Title

The most basic of the lot. Competing in the Champions League quarterfinals against Inter Milan, the Carling Cup semi-finals, and the FA Cup is bound to put strain on Fergie’s resources.

Chelsea and Liverpool are already out of the Carling Cup, while it looks increasingly probable that Chelsea may soon face the ouster in the FA Cup as well.

United is clearly facing the tougher test. And here is where the presence of backup, which boasts the class of Wes Brown, Paul Scholes, Carlos Tevez, Nani and Anderson, and new arrivals of Tosic, Manucho will begin to add up.

While Ferguson has stuck to his youngsters in the Carling and FA Cups, it is unlikely the policy would continue against the likes of Tottenham, and any of the other big five (including Aston Villa) on the event the teams face off.

This wealth of players, who could easily make the first team of quite a few big clubs around Europe, at its disposal, the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Vidic, Ferdinand can all be preserved for the crucial league clashes.

In comparison, it will be interesting how Liverpool manage their players in the three competitions they are still in, with their comparatively smaller player pool.

United’s preferred strike partner to Wayne Rooney is beginning to hit the straps at OT.

Having scored in two consecutive games now for United, even the hugely demanding fans are beginning to warm up the Bulgar.

His understanding with the likes of Ronaldo, Evra, Rooney and Gary Neville is ever improving, and this could clearly be seen in their link up play against Chelsea.

This could only mean more goals from the big man, and his mates (just look at his rate of providing assists this season!).

Some might say Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal possess better players at their prime in this department, but the resourcefulness of Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs and Anderson has been phenomenal this season.

With Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes out injured in the early part of the season, and Owen Hargreaves out for the whole season, the trio did phenomenally well, doing the dirty job for their side, and never complaining about it.

Now with the return of Scholes and Carrick, things seem to be looking brighter for United.

With Park, Nani, new arrival Tosic and Tevez vying for one spot on the left of midfield, expect some fireworks that only desperate players dying to seal a spot at OT are capable of!

Watching this lad play the other night was pleasing! On two occasions, he tried to stay on his feet even after being tripped quite intentionally, which were quite a welcome sight, given his reputation as a diver.

His work-rate was phenomenal, and one assist, and, what could have nearly been a hat-trick were enough proof that his form is clearly better that it was during the final months of 2008.

The change might be due to the near-death experience he had on Friday, or it may be a one off.

In any case, his form, and willingness to allow Berbatov and Rooney grab the goals and remain satisfied with assists, augurs well for the team. If only he could get Spain out of his head, wouldn’t he be the perfect man?

As mentioned earlier, the return of this man is eagerly awaited. The inexperience of Rafael Da Silva leaves the right side a bit wobbly in defence, while Gary Neville’s tried, but tired legs, seem to leave it lacking in attack.

United have sorely missed Brown this season, most notably in the away game at Emirates. He had a horrifying game against Liverpool early on in the season, scoring an own goal in a 2-1 defeat.

But his ability at right back, which saw him bag the spot on the national team under coach Fabio Capello, will surely enhance United as a whole.

With Brown and Ferdinand in the side, United has the finest defensive line up in England, and it will reflect in more clean sheets.

While the first half of the season saw United up against a tough fixtures list, the second will see all the big games being played at home for United.

While they got just the solitary point from their away games to Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, the time is ripe for the team to make amends and maximise returns against the visiting sides.

United have a favourable record against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool at home, but the games against Tottenham and Aston Villa might very well turn out to be the crucial ones as the Devils fight for every point in a bid to go clear of Liverpool.

Or rather the lack of it at Liverpool and Chelsea. United already boast a strong side with a replacement for every spot, but the lack of any major new signings at Anfield and Stamford Bridge might be good news to Man United supporters.

With a rigorous month ahead, and Champions League clashes slated to begin in February, United may begin to pull further away.

Their title hopes are all but over this season. It’s hard to see them winning every game and United, Liverpool, and Chelsea losing a majority of theirs at the same time.

Yet, they have consistently been the giant killers, beating United at home, Chelsea away (an impossible task for any team in the last four years) and drawing with Liverpool.

Though United will need to be on their toes when the Gunners come visiting, it will interesting to see if they can help United’s cause by snapping a few points off Liverpool and Chelsea.

Their clash at Anfield will be particularly interesting, as the London team have had the better of Liverpool here in the past. A loss at home to Arsenal may be a final nail in Liverpool’s coffin.

Last season, they scored over 80 of them. Ronaldo bagged 30 in as many games. This season, the men have been far quieter, with Rooney, Ronaldo, and Berbatov all getting frustratingly close, only to blow it in the end.

With Ronaldo deciding to stay on the flanks, and giving Rooney and Berbatov more room in the box in the process, things are looking rosier for United in terms of the goals.

While on the down-side, Ronaldo will not meet the 50-goal target he set for himself, and probably get more inclined on moving away from the club soon, at least United have found a possibly season-salvaging strategy for the time being.

It’s becoming more and more apparent that Benitez’s outburst his having more of a positive effect on United that anything else. Though it would be juvenile to suggest Liverpool’s draw at Anfield was down to pressure exuded by Benitez’s statement (remember Arsenal lost 2-1, while United very nearly drew themselves), United’s fired up performance can certainly be attributed to a renewed vigour and hunger instilled by a boss determined to “knock ‘em off their perch”. While many credited Rafa for timing his “rant” to perfection, it seems to have backfired on him, as United threaten his side’s title credentials. With Ferguson claiming Benitez to be “disturbed”, the ball is firmly in Benitez’s court, to both continue a duel with the Scot, or buckle-up and focus on his side, and pray United all the bad luck in the world!