With the Barclays Premier League and UEFA Champions League already in full swing for the 2011 – 2012 season, it is imperative that serious Red Devil fans secure their Man United fixture lists for this season’s matches. Probably the most conspicuous thing regarding Man United fixtures in this year’s Premier League is the early stage at which they play their main title rivals. Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City are all on the agenda before we even hit November, and it is reasonable to think that if Man United can overcome these tough early fixtures, they will be on course for a relatively comfortable run in, come Christmas time when they face the less teams.
Man United are well known to be notoriously slow starters. However, the team is renowned for being able to string a long series of wins together post-Christmas. The primary contenders hoping to dethrone the Champions will have to be on their toes come the turn of the year. Man United’s fixtures, especially those fixtures in the early season will be difficult to navigate to say the least, and this is the period in which they will be at their most vulnerable. An intelligent move from their rivals would be to take advantage of the tiring legs of the Man United players in September and October, flood the midfield and make their teams difficult to beat.
If history is any indication, the other serious title contenders will all have to make a strong start to have any hope of stealing the trophy from Man United. Mourinho’s Chelsea are arguably the first team to prove to Man United boss Sir Alex Alex that they cannot afford to ease their way into the league as in years gone by. Every match is a must win. The competition today, is simply too fierce to be taken lightly.
Having secured their record breaking nineteenth title last year, Man United is seen by most people as an annual fixture at the top of the table come May. However with competitors investing millions of pounds toward strengthening their own teams in the off season, coupled with the tough schedule of domestic league fixtures, this year is likely to be the hardest season yet for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United – the reigning Barclays Premier League champions.