United - A Natural Evolution?

Last season, in a brilliant piece of mind-game propaganda, Sir Alex fired a broadside towards Stamford Bridge suggesting his ageing stars were fading preventing a serious title challenge.

As it turned out, United took the title with Chelsea trailing in after a mid-season slump that saw a managerial change.

Well this season, those same ageing Chelsea players appear, unless we can clutch those straws, to have defied those words uttered by Sir Alex.

Looking a tour own squad, it`s interesting to see that new contracts have been given to three of our oldest players in the squad, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Not wishing to question their ability to produce next season, it has to be asked whether United are on the verge of having to rebuild a team or whether the introduction of certain individuals has resulted I a natural replacement programme being put in place.

In a media interview, given recently, Sir Alex answers the above question quite well, ensuring everybody that the age problem is under control,

"What I have to do is make decisions on now is how to improve the team."

Are we ready to build a new team?"

"Because when you challenge for four titles in a row, two European Cups, League Cup Finals, and FA Cup Finals, there is a draining effect."

"You have to be aware of that and spot the moment when it`s time to freshen, time to change one or two players."

"It`s not a desire to do it; it`s a need to do it, simply because the demands and pressure on the players over a long period can be demanding."

"People don`t recognize that we`ve signed three players for £20 million already."

"Young Chris Smalling has signed for us, Mame Diouf has done well and Javier Hernandez, from Mexico, will join us after the World Cup."

"Those are three young players whose futures are guaranteed at this club."

"There are others who fall into this bracket like Jonny Evans, Federico Macheda, Gabriel Obertan, Danny Welbeck and Darron Gibson."

"So we have a good nucleus and foundation of players who can carry the club for a long time."

Interesting though, that the famous progression from our youth academy; highlighted by the natural progression of Beckham, Scholes, Giggs etc, doesn`t quite seem so productive this time around.

Anyone care to ponder why or is it early days with numerous youngsters set to burst onto the scene, given half a chance!

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