There is so much to admire about Alex Ferguson’s current Manchester United team. Blessed with pace and power, refreshed with young faces and playing without fear, the Red Devils deserve all the praise coming their way.
They have won five out of five in the Premiership, scored 21 goals and blitzed two of their traditional rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea, along the way.
This is United’s best run since the 1985-86 season when they won their first 10 league matches under Ron Atkinson.
If United fans are struggling to keep their feet on the ground right now, if they need reminding no trophies are handed out in September, then they should revisit that campaign 25 years ago, when the team eventually finished fourth and Liverpool claimed the title.
It heralded Atkinson’s departure and Ferguson’s appointment, and as they say, the rest is history.
But the collapse 25 years ago was epic, and a harrowing experience for the Red Army all over the world.
When “Captain Marvel” Bryan Robson’s shoulder came out of its socket after he crashed into an advertising board, so went any hope United had of winning the championship for the first time since 1967.
Form, injuries and exhaustion are all decisive factors in any title race, and United’s manager Alex Ferguson will obviously know this so he won’t be getting carried away.
Wayne Rooney looked fatigued against Chelsea after his exertions in the Champions League midweek at Benfica, having also played for England in recent weeks.
With Champions League commitments over the new few weeks, Ferguson’s ability to juggle his squad will once again be crucial, as he strives to keep his starting XI fresh and eager.
At least United have got the Scot in their corner, with all his experience Ferguson is best suited to guiding the young stars in his new-look team when they inevitably hit a rough patch.
I think the time for United fans to really get excited will be if they match the feat of Atkinson’s team and go on and win their next five league encounters.
That would mean they would have beaten Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester City at Old Trafford.
By then, they would have almost certainly also secured passage into the next round of the Champions League.
With a run of games against lesser lights in the Premiership due after that, the Red Devils can gorge themselves on the points available, and set themselves up perfectly for the busy Christmas period.
Even then, they will have to contemplate away fixtures at Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and City, plus a blood-and-thunder contest with Liverpool at Old Trafford in the first half of next year.
There are signs this could be a special season for United, but right now, the likes of City and Chelsea are far from out of it.
Even Tottenham and Liverpool remain in the hunt.
It’s still early days, even if United are playing like champions.
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