Manchester United are slowly starting to show that there is life in them long after Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club. United cantered to a 3-1 at Spurs over the weekend and played much of the game with ten men after Paul Scholes was booked twice and subsequently sent off.

The point is that even with ten men United completely dominated the game, leading many to perhaps be a little surprised or shocked at the way they are coping in the post-Ronaldo era. Many have already said that Sir Alex Ferguson is already being proved correct as his side are breathing down the neck of Chelsea at the top of the table.

Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, said: “They always have three or four options when they get the ball, there’s always movement. Every time they get the ball there is movement around them, someone’s popping off. \ Berbatov is coming short, \ Rooney’s pulling into a position, the wide man is coming off the line into holes. It’s fantastic.”

“Rooney has taken it on. He was the big star until Ronaldo came along and took over from him really, but now he’s back. Fletcher has made himself into a top player, wherever he plays. He has improved by working hard at his game. Look at his workrate, he never stops.”

“And when Rio \ plays, it makes such a massive difference. Without him they’re not the same. When he’s with \ Vidic it gives them so much at the back. I went in at half-time thinking, ‘Maybe that’s as good as they can play.’”

Some people are even saying that Manchester United look a more complete side now that Ronaldo has left. Wayne Rooney has now been released to play in the position that suits him the best and the talent of attacking players the club still has is tremendous.

United are now prearing for a Manchester derby against Manchester City that looks set to be the most intense of recent years. City will take with them to Old Trafford a betetr squad than ever before but what spices up the conforntation is the recent actions of many City players as well as the fact that any thing they now achieve is tainted by the virtue that were it not for an oil businessman, they would be lingering at the bottom of the table.

If United carry on playing how they did against Spurs then there will be no stopping them this season.