Ferguson: December Is Crucial

<span class="titolo">Ferguson: December Is Crucial</span></p>

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<span class="sommario">Manchester United boss Sire Alex Ferguson is aware that the congested December fixture list will test the Premiership's big four...</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for his 10^th Premier League title this term. The wily 65-year-old boss knows from experience that December can reveal a lot about the teams who will challenge at the business end of the season.<o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>"December, as we know, is a crucial month," the Scot told a news conference. <o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>"By the end of December, I think we will know for certain who is going to be challenging for this league."<o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>Leaders Arsenal have already dropped December points after being held at </span><st1:city><st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Newcastle</span></st1lace></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> in midweek. </span><st1:city><st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Ferguson</span></st1lace></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">, though, insists that the key is just to be involved going into the New Year. He also refused to rule out any of the so called big four.<o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>"There may be some points dropped here and there but the important thing is to be at the top or round about the top on January 1 and therefore look to the second part of the season as a real progressive step to try and get the title.<o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>"For a couple of weeks we thought that </span><st1:city><st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Chelsea</span></st1lace></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and </span><st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Liverpool</span></st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> were maybe going to get caught short, but they have recovered terrifically and they are playing really well.<o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>"They are up there challenging and there is not really a lot between the teams now so I think you can expect a very competitive top of the league clash now. I think the two will be involved."</span></p>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Rams to the Slaughter</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>The Red Devils play the second of six December league games on Saturday when lowly </span><st1lace><st1lacename><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Derby</span></st1lacename><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> </span><st1lacetype><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">County</span></st1lacetype></st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> make the daunting trip to Old Trafford. The timing of the game with the struggling Rams couldn&rsquo;t be better for United as they look to close the 4 point gap on Arsenal.<o></o></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o></o>However, </span><st1:city><st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Ferguson</span></st1lace></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> was complementary towards his derby counterpart &ndash; new boss Paul Jewell.<o></o></span></p>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">"They are in a dire position at the moment and it is going to take time," </span><st1:city><st1lace><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Ferguson</span></st1lace></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> noted.<o></o></span></p>

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">"But Paul is such a bubbly likeable coach and he will be hoping January will give him some funds to bring in players of his choice and enhance their chances of survival."</span></p>

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