I HAD hoped to bump into someone sensible to talk about the amazing turnaround at the top of the Barclays Premier League. But I ended up with United fanatic Micky Greeno so that put an end to that.

“My message to Mancini and City is this – get your tin helmets on – we are coming to get you”, boomed the new Terras’ “master coach and tactical genius.” His words, I hasten to add.

That’s what I like about Greeno. His modesty.

But once he had calmed down he spoke quite eloquently. Which makes a change.

“Look, there are still 10 games to go. And 30 points up for grabs. There will be twists and turns. But in United’s favour is their much easier run-in. Plus they have the experience of having been there, done it and got the T-shirt. That is worth a goal start.”

And so will the TV pictures of that City fan sobbing his heart out after the shock defeat at Swansea remain the embarrassing image of their season?

Sheikh Mansour has spent close on £1 billion on his City project and if everything goes pear-shaped there is only one eventuality. Mancini will be on his bike.

Which brings me on to Carlos Tevez.

Here is a man who allegedly refused to play for his team in a critical Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich. And who subsequently fled to Argentina where we all watched him laughing and joking while he played golf and then lambast the club which pay him £250,000 a week in wages.

Tevez is now being lauded as the man to rescue City’s ailing season after Mancini vowed he would never play for the club again.

It is gross hypocrisy. No other word for it.

Not that City’s suffering fans give a hoot. Their only concern is in finishing above their fierce local rivals to win a first title in goodness knows how many years. Season 1967/68 to be precise.

And Tevez’s impressive record of 46 goals in 60-odd appearances for City enables Mancini to conveniently forgive and forget.

The call-to-arms for Tevez exists because Mancini clearly feels he can no longer rely on wild-child Mario Balotelli who has exhausted everybody’s patience.

A visit to a Liverpool strip club 24 hours before a vital game is the latest headline indiscretion in a career blighted by controversy. But don’t blame Balotelli. Oh no. It is not his fault that he has so much money to burn – literally after that firework in the bathroom mishap.

Blame City’s obsession of trying to buy success. It means they pay immature, dysfunctional and wholly irresponsible young men obscene and insane salaries, which results in a complete lack of discipline and respect for everything and everybody.

At least with The Iron Jock – Fergie, of course – he is the boss. And woe betide anybody who steps out of line.

And the biggest difference between these two football giants is that United have the ideal man for the run-in to the title – being Wayne Rooney who is back to his glorious best at exactly the right moment in time.

Last word to Greeno who is even more ebbullient after the Terras’ crucial victory on Tuesday: “April 30 when United go to City will decide everything.”

I suspect it might be all over before then.