On the surface of things, Manchester United would appear to be in a state of flux as we approach the Premier League’s busy Chistmas period, with clubs playing five matches in little over two weeks. An ignominious departure from the Champions League before the knockout stages courtesy of an FC Basle side, who were more than happy to show their English visitors the door, has been coupled with an eye watering injury list. Nemanja Vidic suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the aforementioned visit to Switzerland and is out for the season in effect. In the last few days Darren Fletcher, an unsung hero of United’s midfield, has decided to take an indefinite break from competitive football in a bid to rid himself of a chronic bowel complaint which has dogged him for much of the last year or so.
However, there are reasons for optimism to grow in the hearts and minds of United fans still. United tend not to be frontrunners as far the league title is concerned, at least at this stage of the season. Often the festive period and the New Year sees United begin to eat into a lead which has been established by another club, or clubs. Something a little more tangible for United to look to is that the frontrunner this season is their near neighbour, Manchester City. City has not won the league in over forty years - they have no recent precedent to look to or experience to fall back upon. In addition to this, their unbeaten record perished under unfortunate circumstances in their last outing at Chelsea. The festive period affords no team the opportunity for quiet reflection and rebuilding. The fixtures will come thick and fast and any team can be buffeted from pillar to post if they lack the experience and resolve to ride out the storm, however insignificant it may seem at the outset. A week ago, City had a five point lead. It is now a mere two points. A buoyant Arsenal are the visitors to The Etihad Stadium on Sunday and City must be on their mettle if that lead is to remain intact as United visit QPR in what is an eminently winnable game for them.
Indeed, the respective fixtures of the two clubs are worth looking at closely because they suggest further opportunities for United to close in on City, and perhaps be at the top of the table come the close of play on January the 4th. Up until very recently, perhaps only three or four seasons ago, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day were occasions for a full compliment of Premier League fixtures. This made the two days extra special and a throwback to years gone by when all fixtures kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday. Granted, the fixtures on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day were staggered, but it was still a pleasant oddity for the modern day fan to see the full compliment of fixtures on the one day. In addition to that, in the already hectic festive period, it at least placed clubs on a more level playing field. However, this tradition has gone by the wayside as with many things in modern football. Television wields an ever increasing share of the power and as such there are now fixtures on the 27th of December, the 30th, the 31st (in fact the lion’s share of the New Year’s fixtures fall on the 31st but this is probably more to do with the 31st this year falling on a Saturday), the 2nd of January and so on.
Further to this, the Premier League has deemed that clubs should have double header home and away fixtures over the festive period. That is to say, for example, Manchester City face Arsenal and Stoke at home before Christmas, and then West Brom and Sunderland away after Christmas but before New Year’s Day. Manchester United have the reverse - QPR and Fulham away before Christmas (a pleasant ten minute walk between grounds removes the potential for any onerous journey) and then Wigan and Blackburn at home between Christmas and the New Year. Now, it’s a very slight advantage to hold, but anyone who has been to a home fixture on Boxing Day or New Year’s Day (Eve in this case), knows that the atmosphere is that little bit more charged with festive good cheer and bonhomie. These are super home fixtures if you like. Manchester United are fortunate to be at home for both games and against extremely friendly opposition from the North West. For City, both their away games look relatively kind on paper, but the festive factor for the home team and supporters in addition to the visit to Sunderland, where Martin O’Neill is in throws of his honeymoon period, makes them trickier than they look.
Perhaps of more benefit to United, however, is the spacing of the fixtures. Both United and City have matches on December the 18th, the 21st and the 26th. However, United then have a five day break before Blackburn and then a four day gap before they visit Newcastle on January the 4th. City have a six day break, rather than five, before they play Sunderland on New Year’s Day and then only a two day break before the visit of Liverpool, who are never a pushover, on the 3rd. The logic behind giving one team six days break and another team five, but then having the former play their next fixture before the latter, is not immediately apparent. However the Premier League, in its endless wisdom, has deemed that this is a prudent course of action to take. It is up to City to prevent United capitalising upon it, but it is a further reason for United to be optimistic.
City have two of the traditional bigger sides, Arsenal and Liverpool, to play over the festive period, although it should be noted that both matches are at the Etihad. By comparison, United’s only top half opponent (City also entertain 8th placed Stoke) is Newcastle. Memories of Philippe Albert may be hard to dispel as United travel to St James’ Park, never an easy place to go, but United has the more pleasing set of fixtures on paper. It is a prime opportunity for Sir Alex Ferguson, a past master at preparing sides for the rigours of the season, to drive his side closer and closer to City, ready to capitalise on any slip ups by the Citizens.
Elsewhere at the top of the table, there are grounds for optimism as a result of Chelsea’s defeat of City on Monday. Starting with the West Londoners, then, they have one tricky fixture in their five when they visit Tottenham on the 22nd. Otherwise, Wigan away, Fulham home, Aston Villa home and Wolves away looks like a chance for twelve points. Similarly Spurs, with the exception of Chelsea at home, have winnable matches, though they would be wise not to underestimate the potential for slip ups during the Boxing Day and New Year’s away fixtures at newly promoted Norwich and Swansea. Arsenal follow their tough assignment at Manchester City with games against Aston Villa, Wolves, QPR and Fulham. Nothing less than twelve points there will keep Arsenal in the title hunt in all likelihood.
Of course, nothing is straight forward at this time of the football season, but Manchester United are primed and ready to strike. We must hope that the events that unfold on the pitches match the potential for Christmas excitement. This is the most special time of the league season and the fate of the crown may be in sharper focus by The FA Cup 3rd round weekend in early January.
Nick Rogerson
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