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By Martin Lipton Chief Football Writer 01/10/2007
Want to know why the whole of the Premier League should start getting scared?
It isn't just because Manchester United are second, two points behind Arsenal after five straight wins.
Nor is it because they have conceded only two goals in their eight games, their best defensive start to a season since the establishment of the Premier League back in 1992-93.
No, the reason everybody should be really worried is that they haven't played even half-decently yet - except in the one game they lost!
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As Cristiano Ronaldo picked Birmingham's pockets at St Andrews, leaving Steve Bruce heartbroken and poor Franck Queudrue rueing his moment of defensive aberration, the sheer efficiency of Sir Alex Ferguson's side was made clear.
United have scored just seven goals so far this season - only Derby, already doomed to an immediate return to the Championship, have notched fewer.
But those seven goals have netted 17 points, even though the strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez is still nowhere near fully-formed, even though Owen Hargreaves has played only three games, even though Gary Neville hasn't kicked a ball, and even though Nani and Anderson are still miles away from English football pace.
No wonder there is a mood of growing confidence in the United ranks.
Rio Ferdinand, whose shaky first half was followed by a far more convincing second period as United locked the door after Ronaldo's steely-eyed finish, summed up that feeling.
Ferdinand said: "Though we are near the top of the table, it is not too important at this stage of the season.
"But if after the Christmas and New Year period we are still up there, we can then start saying we are on the right track."
That was a comment right out of the Fergie mantra.
Blues boss Bruce, frustrated that all his side's first-half efforts were thwarted, bolstered the defender's view.
Bruce, who admitted he would pay to watch the "fantastic" Ronaldo, said: "With the array of talent they've got, you know it's only a matter of time before they start really playing well.
"Look at the top end of the pitch. Look at their movement, their ability. Rooney is coming back, Ronaldo is coming back - they're worldclass players.
"So it's only a matter of time. At the moment they're still getting the results even when they don't deserve them.
"They are so efficient at the moment. They are also rocksolid at the back.
"To win anything you need a decent defence. It's all right having fantastic players up the pitch, don't get me wrong, but you still have to have a sound base."
Ferguson conceded it was another three points stolen - like the wins over Tottenham and Everton.
Ironically, the only game in which they have really played the attacking football that is their hallmark came in the derby defeat at Manchester City.
While Tevez and Rooney are rare talents, they have not gelled yet. Even so, the United players feel it is only a matter of time.
Ronaldo, who marked his 100th league start with his 36th Premier League goal just after half-time as he made Queudrue pay for what Bruce term a "horrible mistake", said: "Both are fantastic players and I'm enjoying playing with them.
"Tevez is a new player and doing a fantastic job for us. Rooney has played all the time and everybody knows how he can play. They are both great players."
And Ferdinand agreed. "I am not leaving this club to go to any club to play against those two!" said the defender. "I play against them enough in training.
"Carlos got stronger as the game went on. He and Rooney are similar in that they work hard for the team.
"Carlos gets in the holes between their midfield and the defence and if he can keep doing that and slipping the ball through to Wayne, it will be a formidable pairing.
"If you add Louis Saha in there as well, I think we have got something really special if we can continue to keep everyone fit. They all offer different propositions."
The warning was unmissable. The message was clear: Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Want to know why the whole of the Premier League should start getting scared?
It isn't just because Manchester United are second, two points behind Arsenal after five straight wins.
Nor is it because they have conceded only two goals in their eight games, their best defensive start to a season since the establishment of the Premier League back in 1992-93.
No, the reason everybody should be really worried is that they haven't played even half-decently yet - except in the one game they lost!
Advertisement
As Cristiano Ronaldo picked Birmingham's pockets at St Andrews, leaving Steve Bruce heartbroken and poor Franck Queudrue rueing his moment of defensive aberration, the sheer efficiency of Sir Alex Ferguson's side was made clear.
United have scored just seven goals so far this season - only Derby, already doomed to an immediate return to the Championship, have notched fewer.
But those seven goals have netted 17 points, even though the strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez is still nowhere near fully-formed, even though Owen Hargreaves has played only three games, even though Gary Neville hasn't kicked a ball, and even though Nani and Anderson are still miles away from English football pace.
No wonder there is a mood of growing confidence in the United ranks.
Rio Ferdinand, whose shaky first half was followed by a far more convincing second period as United locked the door after Ronaldo's steely-eyed finish, summed up that feeling.
Ferdinand said: "Though we are near the top of the table, it is not too important at this stage of the season.
"But if after the Christmas and New Year period we are still up there, we can then start saying we are on the right track."
That was a comment right out of the Fergie mantra.
Blues boss Bruce, frustrated that all his side's first-half efforts were thwarted, bolstered the defender's view.
Bruce, who admitted he would pay to watch the "fantastic" Ronaldo, said: "With the array of talent they've got, you know it's only a matter of time before they start really playing well.
"Look at the top end of the pitch. Look at their movement, their ability. Rooney is coming back, Ronaldo is coming back - they're worldclass players.
"So it's only a matter of time. At the moment they're still getting the results even when they don't deserve them.
"They are so efficient at the moment. They are also rocksolid at the back.
"To win anything you need a decent defence. It's all right having fantastic players up the pitch, don't get me wrong, but you still have to have a sound base."
Ferguson conceded it was another three points stolen - like the wins over Tottenham and Everton.
Ironically, the only game in which they have really played the attacking football that is their hallmark came in the derby defeat at Manchester City.
While Tevez and Rooney are rare talents, they have not gelled yet. Even so, the United players feel it is only a matter of time.
Ronaldo, who marked his 100th league start with his 36th Premier League goal just after half-time as he made Queudrue pay for what Bruce term a "horrible mistake", said: "Both are fantastic players and I'm enjoying playing with them.
"Tevez is a new player and doing a fantastic job for us. Rooney has played all the time and everybody knows how he can play. They are both great players."
And Ferdinand agreed. "I am not leaving this club to go to any club to play against those two!" said the defender. "I play against them enough in training.
"Carlos got stronger as the game went on. He and Rooney are similar in that they work hard for the team.
"Carlos gets in the holes between their midfield and the defence and if he can keep doing that and slipping the ball through to Wayne, it will be a formidable pairing.
"If you add Louis Saha in there as well, I think we have got something really special if we can continue to keep everyone fit. They all offer different propositions."
The warning was unmissable. The message was clear: Be afraid. Be very afraid.