Chris Smalling has arrived from Fulham, as well as Javier Hernandez, Marnick Vermijl and Bebe. Players that left old Trafford were Ben Foster, Zoran Tosic, Tom Heaton, Ron-Robert Zieler, David Gray and Craig Cathcart. This gives us a net spend this Summer of £10,350,000, contrasted with last season which was -£64,500,000, mainly down to the massive -£80,000,000 received from Real Madrid for Ronaldo.

The big question is: Has Sir Alex done enough?

The main area everybody seems to think we need to strengthen is our midfield. We’ve been linked with every man and his dog this Summer, and the preceding three Summers, but Sir Alex seems confident enough to stick with what he’s got. Anderson is coming back to fitness, Michael Carrick started well against Chelsea but has strangely remained on the sidelines since. Paul Scholes is showing us what we’ll miss when he retires and Darren Fletcher is keeping things ticking over, despite not being his usual self from last season. Owen Hargreaves is….Owen Hargreaves.

Would our squad have benefitted from a Sneidjer or an Ozil? Of course it would. That goes without saying. But it’s not in United’s nature to go out spending tens of millions of pounds on established players. of course there have been exceptions, like the £30M+ paid for Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, but on the whole we’ve kept a nice balance of bringing in good players as well as developing youngsters like Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans and of course the trio of Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

It would be great if I woke one morning to see we’d signed a star player, but I’m usually fairly sure that we won’t and if that does happen, I’m confident that Sir Alex knows exactly what he’s doing. When Chelsea bought the league when Abramovich took over, he didn’t respond by bringing in lots of star players to fight fire with fire. He signed Michael Carrick to partner Scholes in the middle and we proceeded to win the league three seasons in a row. And now that Manchester City are trying to buy the league, I don’t expect Sir Alex to go on a spending spree to keep us challenging for the title. And unless he’s got a secret stash of business credit cards he won’t be able to afford it anyway if the Glazer’s keep siphoning money from the club, but that’s another topic I’ll leave for another time.

The point is, as United fans, who have been spoilt with success for the last two decades, we should put our faith in the man that has made all of that success possible. It’s hard not to glance over with green eyes at City and their billions from time to time, but if there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the years it’s that money can’t buy class. Class that running all the way through Manchester United. If we win a trophy this year it will be through hard work, determination and the winning attitude that’s drilled into every player who steps out onto the Old Trafford pitch and it’ll be Sir Alex Ferguson who leads them there, without the help of a blank chequebook.

The home fans were treated to a masterful performance from midfield maestro Paul Scholes as he rolled back the years to give the Magpies a footballing lesson.

Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring for United, before Darren Fletcher doubled the lead just before half time. Second half substitute Ryan Giggs rounded off the scoring with a controlled volley after a brilliant chipped pass from Scholes.

Newcastle had their best chance of the game in the early exchanges after Andy Carroll’s clever run deceived Nemanja Vidic from a corner, but the giant striker headed wide of Edwin van der Sar’s post.

United quickly started to dominate possession and it was pretty much one way traffic from 20 minutes in.

Scholes picked up where he left off from last weekends man of the match performance against Chelsea and was again pulling the strings in United’s midfield.

The opening goal came after good tracking back from Antonio Valencia won the ball back inside Newcastle’s half. Darren Fletcher picked up the ball and threaded a pass through to Dimitar Berbatov who finished well from a tightening angle.

Nani was also in good form, with much of United’s attacking play coming from the left flank. It was his clever pass that sent Patrice Evra to the touchline to fire a cross into the six yard box where Wayne Rooney was able to touch the ball into Fletcher’s path. The Scot turned and shot low past the helpless Steve Harper to double United’s lead going into half time.

From then on it wasn’t a question of if United were going to win, it was just a matter of how many goals they were going to score in the process. As it happened, one more was all they could muster, but the scoreline flattered Newcastle and didn’t truly reflect United’s complete dominance of the match.

It was a combination of United’s old guard that sealed the win. Scholes the architect, Giggs the finisher, as has so often been the case over the years showed that there’s life in the old dogs yet.

Dimitar Berbatov could have scored a hat full of goals tonight, and while his finishing was poor at times, Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased that the Bulgarian striker is at least finding himself in goalscoring positions. It really could be a make or break season for him.

It may not have been a scoreline that matched Chelsea’s 6-0 win over West Brom at the weekend, but the performance was just as commanding and will act as a sign of intent from the deposed champions that they’ll be right up there at the top once again, looking to lift the Premiership trophy for a record 19th time.

The Manchester United midfielder rolled back the years this season and produced many dominating displays from his new new position in front of United’s defence.

Scholes had previously retired from international football, insisting that he wanted to spend more time with his family and prolong his club career, but the fact that he was often played on the left side of midfield to accommodate the troublesome central midfield pairing of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard is thought to have been a factor in his decision.

England manager Fabio Capello has been impressed with Scholes’ form this season and was hoping to coax the veteran out of retirement, but was quickly snubbed.

“We tried to convince him to come back for England, but he said no. He preferred to stay with his family. We tried,” the England manager said.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKlfY4sBUsg

1. Robbie Fowler celebrates in front of Manchester United fans, showing his  fingers to symbolize their success in Europe. No punishment. Gary Neville kisses the United badge on his shirt in front of Liverpool fans. Fined £5,000 and warned about his future conduct.

2. Steven Gerrard and Neil Mellor sent off in the 2003 Amsterdam tournament. No bans are handed out to the two Liverpool players. Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes are sent off in the 2006 Amsterdam tournament. Both players are forced to sit out the first 3 games of the Premier League season as the FA bans them for the red cards.

3. Javier Mascherano swings an arm at Leeds’ Jermaine Beckford, leaving the striker on the floor. No action was taken by the FA. Weeks later, Rio Ferdinand is involved in an identical incident with Hull’s Craig Fagan. He was banned for 3 games, which was extended to 4 games on appeal.

Today’s decision by the FA to let Steven Gerrard walk free just compounds the problem.

The FA have consistently shown that they’re completely incompetent and incapable of applying the rules properly. And that they continually like to ban Manchester United players while letting Liverpool players off with the exact same offences, and I haven’t even gone into his two fingered salute to the referee last week, another offence he got away with!

Is it so wrong to expect them to actually do their jobs and apply the rules?

The Welshman has long been one of United’s most exciting players, with blistering pace and fancy footwork.

He would reap the benefits of the passing ability of the likes of Paul Scholes and David Beckham, but now classes himself as a creator rather than a runner.

“I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded with good players throughout my career,” he told Esquire magazine.

“In my younger days when I was quicker, if Eric got the ball I’d make a run. If Scholesy got the ball, I’d make a run. If Becks got the ball, I’d make a run. I knew they could deliver a pass. Now, it’s the other way around because I deliver to the other players.”

Giggs also praised team mate Wayne Rooney who is currently in the form of his career.

“If Wayne makes a run, I know where he is going more often than not because he’s such an intelligent player. He shows me where to put the ball, rather than the other way round.

“He’s got unbelievable physical attributes. He’s strong, he’s quick but he’s also a very clever footballer.”

Results haven’t gone their way of late, but they’re still just a point off the top of the table, in the semi final of the Carling Cup and into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

“There is no disaster yet,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we were bullish. But we are a point behind Chelsea, which is not a bad position even though we have played a game more.

“We are also in the last 16 of the Champions League and have that important Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

“Okay, we had the disappointment of Leeds but every side has one of those every now and then.

“The fact is, we are still on the hunt for three major trophies. Hopefully we can win at least one.”

Pressure is nothing new to United players. They’re written off almost every season by one ABU journalist or another, but more often than not they respond by picking up the silverware at the end of the season.

Recent criticism of the team has not been helped by the run of poor results of late.

Losses to Aston Villa and Fulham in the Premier League, and Leeds in the FA Cup, followed by a draw to Birmingham have fulled the popular theory that United are in decline.

You thrive on adversity,” Scholes told the M.E.N. “The more it happens the better it is for us.

“We have probably been written off at some stage every season and this year is going to be no different.

“We just have to prove people wrong again.”

The ex United player admits Giggs is his hero and thinks young people should look to the Welshman as the perfect example of how to live your life as a footballer.

“Ryan Giggs. He’s my hero. I grew up loving Bryan Robson. Now I just look at Ryan Giggs and think he’s the greatest player ever to play for Man United. I know United have had some great players, but he’s won everything, he’s broken almost every record, so he stands alone now as probably one of the greatest players who has ever lived.

“And I was fortunate enough to play with him and fortunate enough to call him my friend.

“Even now, he is still putting in unbelievable performances. If young players need to know how to live their lives, they should look no further than Ryan Giggs.”

“He is the real football superstar.

“Ryan had personality in the dressing room – strength and mental toughness – but that and his skill on the pitch was even greater.

Neville also praised former team mates Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and brother Gary Neville, but insists that Giggs is the one who stands out on top as the greatest.

“The minute they went over that white line, they were all great players.

“Nicky Butt had the best temperament to play in any arena in the world. Scholesy has been one of the best midfield players in the world, Becks is just an absolute superstar, a phenomenon.

“Gary is, without doubt, one of the most consistent full-backs in world football. Those are the players I grew up with and the cherry on the cake is Ryan Giggs.

Giggs has been in fine form this season, scoring two goals and assisting eight others and has earned himself a nomination for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Scholes hasn’t been quite as impressive as his team mate, but it’s clear he still has much to offer the team.

“Ryan will be offered a new contract for next season, which is an indication of what we think of him coming up to 37 next season, and Paul knows he will be offered one as well,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“Ryan is an example to young people.

“He has humility and he has never changed and I think he is having his best years now.

“He has retained that amazing quality in his game and also an enthusiasm to play.”

Sir Alex believes they have to pick and choose which games to play Scholes in. The aging maestro can no longer play every week, so the manager must use his legs sparingly.

“I spoke to Paul and he said he didn’t actually say he was thinking of his future.

“When you get to that age every player starts to think about what the future holds for him.

“But when you see Paul’s performances at West Ham and in Wolfsburg last week there is no reason to think he can’t do it again next year again.

“Maybe he thinks he should be playing every game. That’s fine, but I know that’s not fair.

“We want the quality. We want to see Scholes perform like he did on Tuesday and the best way of doing that is to gauge the games we know he is going to dominate.”

If CSKA Moscow beat Besiktas tomorrow, United will be confirmed as group winners and Scholes believes that United have performed admirably against the odds.

“This was one of the toughest groups,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“We had to go to Moscow, which is always difficult, especially on a plastic pitch, and it is the same in Turkey, yet we managed to win both games.”

“CSKA and Besiktas went on to prove at Old Trafford that they are very capable teams and when you take into account Wolfsburg are the German champions, we did well to qualify as early as we did.”

Despite United’s mounting injury problems, Scholes still aims to win the final group game against Wolfsburg in Germany tomorrow.

“We want to win the game and finish top of the group,” he added.

“How much difference that makes to who we get in the next round I am not too sure.

“There are lots of good teams at that stage of the tournament.”

Anderson and Darron Gibson both played their part alongside Paul Scholes and Sir Alex believes both will become big stars at the club.

Special praise was reserved for Darron Gibson who fired in a rasping 25 yard shot past the helpless Robert Green to score United’s second. Sir Alex believes he could provide the goal threat from midfield that united have missed in recent seasons.

“Darron Gibson has that ability and power to score from outside the box which he did again today and throughout the game he tried to score from outside the box,” Sir Alex told the News of the World.

“That gives us an extra dimension to our game, we don’t normally have midfield players who can do that.

While acknowledging his ability, Sir Alex was also keen to point out that Gibson and Anderson must learn from Paul Scholes as much as they can, a man who has given so much to Manchester United over a trophy laden career.

“He and Anderson are young boys and are going to be great players. But they have to accept that in Paul Scholes they see the finished article, a man who has been doing it for 15 years at the highest level and it’s a great example to them. It will rub off I’m sure.”

The Manchester United midfielder believes there will be a special atmosphere for the two legged tie next month and Scholes is looking forward to them.

“These games are certainly something to look forward to,” he said.

“Both matches will have great atmospheres and it would be fantastic to get through to the final by beating City.

The ginger Prince added that it’ll take time for City to become a force in the league and in Europe, but f they keep spending at their current rate their time will eventually come.

“There is a bit of a way to go before you think of Manchester City as a main rival in terms of the league and the Champions League.

“But they are definitely going forward and with the players and money at their disposal, I am sure, given time, they will be right up there.”

Manchester United are five points adrift of Chelsea and will need to be at their best to eclipse an impressive looking Chelsea side and win an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.

‘It is vital we go on a long run, now. Chelsea are five points clear and we need something similar to last season’s long, unbeaten run to try to put some pressure on them,’ Scholes told the Daily Mail.

‘Chelsea do look a strong outfit, as they proved at Arsenal last week, and they do look a bit more determined than they have in recent seasons.’

The winning mentality at United has seen them pick up points in injury time already this season, and it’s the same spirit that’s needed in a title winning campaign that Scholes believes will need to be called upon if and when Chelsea drop points.

‘But the belief is always there at Manchester United. We think we can win every game.

‘It doesn’t always happen, but we know we need to go on a run now and hope they slip up.’

The Welshman has collect eleven Premier League winners medals and won the Champions League twice during the course of his career at Old Ttrafford, and Scholes believes his legend status will be unrivaled by anyone else who has played for the club.

‘When Ryan retires he won’t just be regarded as one of the greats – he’ll be the one and only,’ Scholes told the Daily Mail.

‘To be here 20 years and still going strong and playing as well as ever, I think that, when he retires, he will be the one who stands out.’

Giggs has always been known for keeping himself in shape and staying focused on training and that’s what Scholes believes has been the key to his lengthy career.

‘The secret of Ryan’s success is his sheer professionalism. He has been a top player for nearly 20 years,’ said Scholes.

‘I would have though he’s probably the best player this club has ever had. He just keeps going stronger and stronger. Each time he plays he seems to create a goal or score one himself.

‘He has just been fantastic to play with.’

The midfielder has become a bit-part player at Old Trafford this season and is disappointed with his own displays.

‘I wouldn’t say I am playing some of my best football,’ he told the Daily Mail.

‘I don’t always feel I am making as much of a contribution as I’d like to.

‘I always preferred it when I was playing regularly and scoring a lot more goals. Now, it’s different.

‘I play once every two or three weeks and I can only hope to do well when I get the chance. I don’t have a choice.

‘Obviously, every player wants to play every week but I know now it can’t always happen. I just have to be okay with that.’

Asked about his future, he admits that this season may be his last.

‘You do think about it. I’m not too sure.

‘I’ll just carry on with the way it it’s going at the moment and we’ll see what happens come the end of the season.’

After 23 years at the helm, the United boss shows no signs of slowing down and has refused to set a date for his retirement, but at 67 years of age he can’t go on forever. Nevertheless, Scholes thinks he can carry on for as long as he wants to.

“His record speaks for itself,” Scholes told the M.E.N. ” Twenty-three years is a long time and, hopefully, he can continue to be here and win trophies for a long time to come.

“Other teams don’t have the benefit of having a manager for so long.

“I think it goes to show what can be achieved if you have a manger for so long and the trophies they can win.

“I’ve known no different. When I played for England there was a change of manager from time to time and it probably didn’t seem to help most of the time. I’ve been lucky enough to play under one manager and it has been great.”

The midfielder’s existing deal runs out at the end of the season, and Sir Alex is keen to show Scholes that he’s still very much a part of his first team plans.

The Old Trafford legend – who celebrated his 35th birthday yesterday – has struck up a good partnership with Darren Fletcher in the centre of Manchester United’s midfield and will be looking to play a key role in Sir Alex’s hunt for silverware this season.