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Having already claimed that he believes this to be the strongest of squads he has ever had at in his reign as Manchester United manager, Sir Alex may be offering the simple response to a debate that does not detract the speculation which links the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Dimitar Berbatov to the club on a constant basis.

Numerous factors have generated great levity to the argument perhaps most pertinently the necessity of a four-pronged attack line to enhance the chances of success on all domestic fronts. United owed their historic treble winning season greatly to the shared contribution of a strike force that carried the burden of a hectic domestic and European campaign. With the retirement of Solskjaer; Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha remain the three accomplished forwards at Ferguson's disposal and leads to much speculation if an injury crisis were to hit, would there still be sufficient firepower in reserve?

Louis Saha also serves as further ammunition to the potential recruit of another striker to the ranks at United. The French international has endured an injury-plagued career since his move from Fulham in 2004. When called upon in the recent absence of Wayne Rooney, Saha appeared to struggle to manifest himself on games where the stakes were relatively low, and the player himself must begin to doubt his role in a drastically changing side. Saha has however always received the public backing of his manager, despite his spate of injuries, with Ferguson recognising his undoubted quality and contribution typified by the destructive performance given against Reading in the FA Cup last year.

Ferguson will also point to the regular goal contribution of his midfield and in particular that of Cristiano Ronaldo. Having last season providing a consistent end product to his fine wing play he also won his wager with the manager to score over fifteen goals and looks set to more than match that total this campaign. Joined by new recruits Nani and Anderson, and the ever reliable Paul Scholes, the goal threat from midfield is as potent as those playing ahead of them and instils great comfort that the lack of a fourth striker is not a burden too greatly felt.

The Tevez-Rooney partnership myth evidently dispelled by their scintillating performances this season, served as the greatest fuel that Ferguson would warrant a forward who offered something distinctly different to the two talented but apparently too similar forwards. Berbatov and Anelka's name continuously enters the hat as potential recruits, but to look at the shape in which the attack is utilized, it may suggest otherwise.

The new found pace and flexibility in his side beautifully encompasses the functionality of the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo, and emphasises the great fluency from midfield through the likes of Nani and soon to return Park Ji Sung. Movement at frightening pace appears crucial to this newly formulated side by Ferguson as he shows a clear recognition of the games progressive state and would question whether the likes of those linked with moves to Old Trafford would prove effective in the teams' current style of play.

So as the wheels of the January rumour mill starts in motion, the manager's stance seems firm, along with his belief that this class of 2007/08 are more than capable of drawing fear from the meanest defences on both the domestic and the European front.

Learn more about this author, Michael Sawh.
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