Is 2012 the year of the Red Devils?

The calendar year 2011 was a historic one for Manchester United. The Red Devils won a record 19^th Premier League title but also suffered the humiliation of crashing out in the group stage of the Champions League for just the third time in 17 years. United head into 2012 after defeat to bottom club Blackburn Rovers, leaving them at 2^nd place in the Premier League. A 3^rd round F.A Cup tie against Money Minting City and a tricky Europa league tie against a very exciting Ajax side await them in 2012. The ghosts of a trophyless season are very much looming over a very stoic Old Trafford.

So far this season, neighbours Manchester City have been neck-to-neck with United in pretty much every step of the way. United go into 2012 under substantial pressure following their disastrous exit from the Champions league and the Carling Cup. United have however been boosted by a return to form by their classy Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov, who has grabbed 6 goals in his last 3 appearances. But with Vidic out for the season, Ferdinand seemingly reaching the end of his career and an under confident David De Gea, the Reds have their work cut out.

Berbatov has been in sublime form of late

Traditionally, United grow stronger as the season progresses and sitting in second place, you wouldn’t put it past them to go one better and finish top of the league. However, the lengthy injury list at Old Trafford suggests this season will be a tight one to call. All this considered, United have performed admirably with the squad available at their disposal and going into the second half of the campaign, with injuries easing up, United are still in a very, very strong position.

Cometh 2012, a double is still a decent bet for the Premier League Champions. Sir Alex Ferguson has already declared that he intends to win the Europa League. Add to that, the F.A Cup and the Premier League and United have a very real chance of winning two out of the three competitions. Anderson’s return to full fitness and Smalling’s anticipated speedy recovery imply that the Reds will once again be able to field a strong first eleven for the first game of 2012. Carrick, Nani, Rooney, Valencia, Welbeck, Jones and most notably Berbatov are all looking very sharp and keeping an eye on the players expected back from injury, United have enough quality in depth to challenge on all three fronts.

A beautiful mix of youth and old heads, the Red Devils head into 2012, buoyed by the defeat Man City suffered at The Stadium of Light. Manchester United has a habit of tranquilizing its competitors into a false sense of security and then creeping up on them with ludicrously good post-new year form, most notably in 1992-93, 1996-97 and in the 2008-09 season.

2012 promises to be an interesting year for the Champions. With their city rivals having been in shadows all these years, a sudden surge of cash and talent has inflamed Manchester. For seasons now United have called themselves the only team in Manchester. In 2012, United are going to have to prove that statement. It is no longer about just trophies for the fans, it will be dog fight to finish above their city rivals in all competitions as well, starting with the F.A Cup later on the 8^th of Jan.

With SAF and United knowing what it takes to win a trophy come the business half of a season, a first ever Europa League trophy and a record 20^th Premier League title are very much on the cards.

All in all, 2012 looks an exciting year for the red nine-tenth of Manchester.