A Manchester United Fan's 12 Days of Christmas

It's Christmas time. A time for celebration. A time for giving. A time to reevaluate your team's position of power at the midway point of the European domestic season.

The problem for Manchester United fans is lifting our spirits after a crushing Champions League exit—not to mention the lingering hangover from a hugely embarrassing 6-1 loss to the noisy neighbors.

We need Santa to be generous this year. Here are the 12 days of Christmas a United fan would like to see play out.

1st Day of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Revenge against the City

The first opportunity will come in the FA Cup third round in January; the second when the two teams meet in the Premier League in April. Both games are at the Etihad.

2nd Day of Christmas

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

With Darren Fletcher added to United's list of absentees, Sir Alex Ferguson must surely invest in January to give his side a chance of winning title No. 20. Luka Modric, pictured here, would certainly add some much-needed creativity.

Here's the rumour.

3rd Day of Christmas

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Rooney got back in the goals with a double against Wolves on Saturday. United need him scoring freely to keep pace with City.

4th Day of Christmas

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings

And revenge against the City.

Ferguson needs to decide who his first-choice goalkeeper is—David De Gea or Anders Lindegaard. He also needs a settled back four. Only then can we hope for a second half of the season marked by plenty of clean sheets.

5th Day of Christmas

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings

And revenge against the City.

United's failure to reach the Champions League knockout stages can be put down to their home draws with Benfica and Basel. Ferguson's team have been good in patches at Old Trafford, but occasionally lacked inspiration.

6th Day of Christmas

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six Fledglings flying,

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Ferguson has put a lot of faith in the next generation at United, and fans will be hoping the likes of Ravel Morrison will come to fore as the season progresses—especially if given the chance to impress in the Europa League.

7th Day of Christmas

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Fergies fuming,

Six Fledglings flying,

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Everybody knows a fuming Fergie gets the best out of his team.

8th Day of Christmas

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight late, late winners,

Seven Fergies fuming,

Six Fledglings flying,

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Ferguson's team are famed for their dramatic late shows. To steal the title from City they'll need to summon at least a couple of 1999-esque moments.

9th Day of Christmas

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine wins in Europe,

Eight late, late winners,

Seven Fergies fuming,

Six Fledglings flying,

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Nine wins are what it will take for United to win the Europa League. Of course they don't need to win all nine since all but the final are two-legged affairs. But winning all nine would certainly prove a point.

10th Day of Christmas

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ten Nani screamers,

Nine wins in Europe,

Eight late, late winners,

Seven Fergies fuming,

Six Fledglings flying,

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Nani and Ashley Young were unstoppable at the start of the season. Both have faded slightly of late, but United need their wingers in red-hot form to mount a serious threat to City's ascendancy.

11th Day of Christmas

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eleven Giggsy dribbles,

Ten Nani screamers,

Nine wins in Europe,

Eight late, late winners,

Seven Fergies fuming,

Six Fledglings flying,

FIVE HOME WINS...

Four clean sheets,

Three Rooney hat tricks,

Two world-class signings,

And revenge against the City.

Who doesn't love the sight of Ryan Giggs in full flow? Even at 38 he's still capable of bedazzling the best defenders in the game.

12th Day of Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Twelve Cantonas,

Eleven Cantonas,

Ten Cantonas,

Nine Cantonas,

Eight Cantonas,

Seven Cantonas,

Six Cantonas,

Five Cantonas,

Four Cantonas,

Three Cantonas,

Two Cantonas...

AND AN ERIC CANTONA!

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