I admit, I had very strong reservations when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to sell Ruud Van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid. I was thinking that Fergie has finally made that fatal mistake that could well have very negative implications on ManUtd�s performance this season, if not for the next couple more years until they find a striker of Van Nistelrooy�s caliber. I honestly thought that Fergie has lost it.

Flash forward to this week and looking at the Premiership League standings we see that Manchester United is leading the pack, but more telling than this, is the fact that � despite two slips against Arsenal and Reading � the guys at Old Trafford are in top form. And this observation is not limited to ManUtd diehards, football fans are also seeing the same thing! So what has happened? We thought that Van Nistelrooy�s departure would be doom, right? And he was never even replaced by another high caliber acquisition (Torres, Ronaldo and Trezeguet were names being thrown as possible replacements but Fergie didn�t budge).

Well, we thought wrong. And Fergie was right all along.

Playing without a goal machine like Van Nistelrooy has forced the team to play differently and allow their individual strengths to shine. During the last few seasons with Van Nistelrooy the team started to rely heavily on his ability to score that whenever he was injured or had an off day the team was basically screwed. But looking at the Red Devils now you see that they are more cohesive and playing off each other�s strengths. They have started to step up to the plate, so to speak, now that they are not being overshadowed by Van Nistelrooy. We are seeing Saha regain his form, Ronaldo proving that he is in a league of his own, and Giggs finding a renewed spirit and determination that defies his age.

To Fergie, we are sorry for ever doubting you.