Darren Fletcher has dismissed Brian Kidd's claim that the Premier League title is Manchester United's to lose as nothing more than "kidology".
Kidd made the statement after assessing a table that has his old club ahead of his current one by goal difference alone, but crucially also with two matches in hand.
But similar statements about Chelsea came out of Eastlands earlier this season, when it was felt Roberto Mancini was merely trying to take the pressure off his own team.
And Fletcher is not taking any notice of what Kidd has to say now.
"It is just a bit of kidology," said the Scotland skipper.
"It is still early stages and lot of teams will feel they are capable of winning the league. We are one of them.
"We are in a good position. We are top of the league with games in hand.
"But it is easy counting the points. You have to win your matches and your games in hand.
"This is the important part of the season when you really need to kick-on.
"After January, when all the big games come on the title run-in, that is when it is important to be playing well and winning games."
Indeed, Fletcher views City as one of the most serious threats to United's attempt to reclaim their championship, and register a record 19th success.
It might not sit comfortable with the Old Trafford faithful but there is little doubt that a decent portion of the vast amount of cash that has been invested by Sheikh Mansour has been spent wisely.
"Manchester City are realistic title challengers," Fletcher said.
"They are there. They are top of the league with us just now.
"They are winning games and look solid defensively.
"When you have that much money to spend and sign that many quality players, they are going to be a threat."
Having secured top spot heading into 2011 but failed to actually win at Birmingham on Tuesday night, United still have questions of their own to answer when they head to West Brom on New Year's Day.
Fletcher's return is anticipated amongst a number of changes to a side Sir Alex Ferguson retained from Boxing Day, with the exception of Park Ji-sung, who is on Asia Cup duty with South Korea.
Yet even since the draw at St Andrew's, achieved through a controversial late equaliser from Lee Bowyer, there have been further shocks.
Liverpool's home defeat to Wolves has placed further question marks over Roy Hodgson's future, while Arsenal failed to capitalise on United's misfortune when they were unable to beat Wigan.
"It has been a strange season," said Fletcher.
"There were signs of it last year, when there were some unexpected results and a lot more points dropped.
"It is more competitive from top to bottom. The likes of Bolton and Sunderland have improved and Tottenham and Manchester City have got into the Champions League places.
"The league is definitely getting stronger, as a result of which you are seeing a lot more dropped points."
