But the counter now gets reset and it’s time to start all over again with another run at the layers.

The Premier League title is effectively down to a two-horse race and Man City seem a bit of value at 2/1 with their red rivals odds-on across the board.

I can’t shake the feeling that Man Utd have been fortunate to accumulate so many points while City are about to click into top gear.

United really are a Jeckyll and Hyde side with a great forward line and a decidedly average midfield and back four.

In less enlightened times, the phrase BoBFoC was coined to describe women who posed a similar quandary among beer-bellied lotharios passing judgement from their bar stools.

It stood for “Body off Baywatch, Face off Crimewatch” and a similar acronym could now apply to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

I suggest FoBBoC – Forward line of Barcelona, Back line of Crewe Alexandra.

United’s defence isn’t helped by one of the weakest midfields of recent years, but watching them concede so many goals must have Fergie choking on his chewing gum.

Van Persie and Rooney can only get you out of trouble so many times and they look very catchable if Mancini gets Yaya Toure back to his rampaging best.

On a shorter-term note there’s an overdose of football over Christmas and I like the look of a weekend double on Newcastle to beat QPR and Spurs to see off Stoke which pays a shade under 5/2 with Paddy Power.

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Running Total for all 2012 bets to a £10 stake:   +£141.00