Manchester United Football Club is eyeing a major haul of silverware this season and Soccer 365’s Pat Johnston believes it is possible for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to pull off an unprecedented quadruple on the campaign.  See if you agree.

By Pat Johnston

At the moment, Manchester United Football Club is the world’s best club.  The current English, European, and World Champion is poised to repeat the accomplishments of 2007-2008 and even surpass those achievements with a possible capturing of the never before achieved “Quadruple”. 

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side is still competing in every competition it entered and as always the expectations are high with the club setting its sights on nothing but victory.  And one would be hard pressed to deny that they will be second best in any competition as their current form is scary to the opposition and Sir Alex has a group of players to select from which is as good as any that has ever been listed.

Barlcays English Premier League

Currently sitting atop the top flight by two points and a game in hand on the nearest threat, Liverpool; United is the odds on favorite to capture the Premiership for the eleventh time since its introduction in 1992.  Man United has won the Premiership more than all the other champions combined.  Only a brave (or foolish) man would bet against them adding an eleventh title to their trophy case. 

Sir Alex has been in this position many times and has managed to close the deal and take home the hardware.  Really, the only team United has to fear is themselves and the aforementioned experience of their manager makes this a remote possibility. 

One thing that is even beyond the world’s best manager’s control is the occurrence of injuries to his players.  This problem has already reared its ugly head and been snuffed like a lit match under Niagara Falls.  After returning from Japan in December, the Red Devils entered the holiday fixture list, with a congested January to follow, missing several key players. Yet, with a different back four over every match, let alone a different lineup, United has proceeded to establish an English Professional league record of consistent minutes without conceding a goal and they have won 9 straight since their return from being crowned world champions.  

At the start of this run, they were seven points adrift of the top of the Premiership, now everyone else has to play catch up, history does not give the chasers any hope. 

One down, three to go!

League Cup

Of the four trophies the least prestigious is the Carling Cup.  Slated to play Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspurs in the final at Wembley on the first weekend in March, the first of the 4 prizes will be captured. 

While Spurs will give United a full strength line up, United will have a mix of seasoned and experienced first team players and reserves to counter Redknapp’s ambitions.  When a manager can call on a fresh Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and mix them up with young talent like Nani and Anderson, there will be trouble for the opposition. 

Recent events have also buttressed the argument for United’s victory in this match. 

The slate of injuries and suspensions after returning from Japan had forced Sir Alex to introduce several untested youngsters into meaningful first team fixtures.  The blooding of Johnny Evans and the Brazilian twins, Fabio and Rafael, has given United’s back four a successful group of debutants that are poised to replace the old guard in the future and stand in as surrogates in the meantime and maintain the standards of excellence demanded by their manager.  Midfield will be represented by the recently selected England U 21 Danny Welbeck and 21 year old new boy Serbian sensation Zoran Tosic, as well as the old guard mentioned already. 

Also in the mix will be some current first teamers, Carrick, Fletcher, Park Ji sung will have a role to play. And then there are the attacking players; Tevez, Berbatov, Rooney and Ronaldo, at least two will start and all four will dress for this match.  No doubt about this one, Sir Alex will use all the resources available to him to see this trophy come home to Carrington and Old Trafford. 

Two down, two to go.

FA Cup

While not as confident on the FA Cup as I am about the previous two, my money is still on United even at inferior odds.  My reasoning is simple, they are the best team in England and their depth and culture will not allow them to lose.  The only thing that keeps this interesting and gives the opposition a sniff of a chance is the fact that these games will be one offs. 

Round five means that at least 4 more victories will have to happen for United to lift the cup.  It is a fact that on any given day a team that sits in will have the luck and the grit to succeed in stifling superior opposition while snatching a goal from a restart or rare moment of excellence.  That is what the FA Cup is all about. 

Still with the quantity and quality available to him, as well as experience, Sir Alex will make all the necessary preparations to avoid an exit prior to Wembley.  Three down.

UEFA Champions League

This is the one where real debate can be had, while I do not think any Italian team poses a threat, the juggernaut that is Barcelona is to be respected and feared. 

In truth, I am of the opinion that if these two play in a home and home, Barcelona will move on.  My reasoning is due to Man U’s history in this competition.  They have been in it every year since its inception in 1992, and have won it twice.  They have never lost a final and are two for two when getting there, but some of their performances prior to the final have been most disappointing and I have to wonder if Sir Alex may have a hand in that. 

Just speculation, but maybe he changes what has worked for him domestically and he outwits himself.  The away goal rule really makes this a game of strategy as well. 

Also consider this; both titles were the result of what can only be called good fortune on United’s behalf.  Tying the game in 1999 in the final minute was certainly not by design and then getting the winner two minutes later in injury time was certainly not on the chalkboard. 

And last year on Sir Matt Busby’s birthday, does anyone truly not believe that the spirit of United’s iconic Sir Matt did not nudge John Terry’s left foot as he planted it to win the final with his PK.  Terry slips, his shot hits the post, United’s Giggs makes his shot and Anelka is saved by Van der Sar and the rest is history: United are the Champions of Europe. 

This year’s team is better, they have the best manager in the world, but there is an opponent that can play them straight up and win.  Messi and company are awesome and this would be a clash for the ages.  Europe will be United’s again if Barcelona stumbles against the other opponents or if they face the Red Devils in the final in Rome (Spirits will intervene). 

If the UEFA draw has them facing each other in the quarters or semi’s United will have fallen one short of the never achieved “Quadruple”.  Otherwise, this team will go down as Manchester United’s greatest ever.

HAVE YOUR SAY…
Do you think Manchester United can win an unprecedented quadruple? What stumbling blocks do you see in the way?  And how will they overcome them or where will they trip up?  Send your opinions to Soccer 365 by CLICKING HERE.

READER FEEDBACK 

After reading your article I agree with everything you've stated except for the champions league part. Do I think they can win it again, yes I do. You may ask why, well I think United's biggest challenge will come from an english side or Inter. Mourinho know United's style of play very well and has beaten them a good number of times with Porto and Chelsea, so he's proven his teams provide an interesting challenge to fergie's army.  United beat Barca last year in the CL (maybe the reason for Messi's ill feelings toward Ronaldo), and sure they aren't the same teams from last year Barca is playing very well now and United are only Champions of the World right now so that will come into play.  But what I've seen from barca is they have a very high powered offense but a very questionable defense at certain times, yes they are playing very well but I think as of the moment United's defense is without a doubt playing at a level that no one in europe can match right now and lets not forget without regular starters as they are injured, imagine what they will be like once the team gets back to full health, very scary to think about, plus not to mention they have become the 1-0 win artist.  Offensively United I believe have not hit their full stride as of yet but are getting there, once they do its lights out for pretty much whoever steps on the field with them and the one team I wouldn't want to be is Liverpool I believe they have an a**whipping coming to them when they visit Old Trafford.  With all that said I am looking forward to the rest of the season, Berba is picking up, Rooney will be back from injury, and oh yeah lets not forget the "World Player of the Year" is on team.  Expect CR7 to heat up because hes due, with all that you have to ask yourself, "even if I'm not a fan am I actually going to bet against them"? And oh yeah Fergie try Tevez out on the left for crying out loud already imagine what that attack would be like then much better than Henry, Eto'o, and Messi I expect.       

Victor W