Fergie's Dream Manchester United XI

Number 19 is officially in the bag for Manchester United and it is the 12th title that Sir Alex Ferguson has overseen. Many see this as his greatest achievement, winning the Premier League with a squad that was not exactly brimming with talent, but I still believe the Treble winner of 1999 is the greatest achievement of ANY British manager in the history of our game.

In saying that, I may just change my mind if Sir Alex can secure United's 4th, his own 3rd, Champions League title on the 28th May.

After guiding United to title Number 19, I thought it would be as good a time as any to determine his best eleven since first winning the title in 1993 until today. I will set the team up in a traditional 4-4-2 system that has been favoured by the manager since walking through the doors at Old Trafford.


Goalkeeper
It has perhaps become a tougher issue in the last couple of seasons, but for me you could not look beyond the Great Dane, Peter Schmeichel... He had presence and stature that few have come close to replicating, while being the first goalkeeper that would be the key to starting counter attacks.

I dont think I remember another keeper who could throw the ball as far as Schmeichel did, while that has become the norm in todays football, and who can forget some of his big performances for United.

The game at Newcastle in the 1995/96 season when Schemeichel seemed to single handedly thwart the Geordies time after time stands out, but the most endearing memory I have of the big man was the save against Rapid Vienna from under the bar in a Champions League game in 1996...  It definitately rivalled the famous Gordon Banks save, if not bettered it, and it was fitting he ended his United career with the Champions League trophy held aloft in 1999.

Honourable mention: Edwin Van der Sar


Defenders
Right Back: The right back position was owned for many seasons by Gary Neville and it is hard to look beyond him. Not the most talented individual, he worked hard and he partnership with David Beckham reaped plenty of rewards for the strikers. Has there been a better right back in the Premier League?

Left Back: Perhaps a little controversial, but I have picked the ever dependable Denis Irwin here ahead of Patrice Evra. Irwin was the master of performing at 7 or better in every game he pulled on the shirt, be it for Ireland or United. He also chipped in with a few goals from the position thanks to a lethal shot and I favour him here for his better defensive work than the Frenchman Evra.

Honourable mention: Patrice Evra

Centre Backs: This was a tough choice with United having some solid centre halves during their Premier League years. The likes of Ronny Johnson were underrated outside of the club, but injuries ultimately ended his time at United although he was solid in games he did start. United also had two solid partnerships in the last 18 years: the Bruce-Pallister tandem in 1993-95 and the Vidic-Ferdinand tandem we enjoy today. Out of those 4 players, I have picked solely Rio Ferdinand who has been a brilliant signing for United over the last 9 years.

I partnered him with Jaap Stam, an uncompromising defender who could physically dominate as well as having the pace to retrieve situations. It is testament to his ability that even Sir Alex admits he was the one player he feels he had sold too early and regrets that decision.

Honourable mentions: Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Nemanja Vidic


Midfielders
Right Wing: The obvious choice here initially was David Beckham who enjoyed his best professional seasons at United as a right winger with the capability to put the ball on any strikers head from anywhere with the magical right boot. However, it was ultimately the player signed following Beckham's departure that has made the most impact for United from this wing, Cristiano Ronaldo. While some would argue Ronaldo was a forward rather than a winger, he was regularly used from this flank with the guidelines and option to cut in field and attack the opposition down the middle.

The most exciting player at Old Trafford since George Best is an absolute shoo-in here.

Honourable mentions: Andrey Kanchelskis, David Beckham

Left Wing: It is the man who has been tearing teams apart since 1991, Ryan Giggs. He has made the position his own for most of his career at Old Trafford even if his legs no longer allow him to run up and down the wing as he used to. Giggs was well sought after around Europe in his earlier years, but the man loved United and didnt want to go anywhere else and is now the most decorated player in English football history... Maybe SIR Ryan is next?

Centre Midfield: As easy as it was picking a left winger, it was just as easy to pick Paul Scholes and Roy Keane as the centre midfield partnership. The players complemented each other fully and I dont believe there has been a better centre midfield pairing in the Premier League.

It is easy to forget that both players missed the Champions League Final of 1999, but Keane was the best midfield enforcer of his generation and Scholes the finest English footballer of his generation


Forwards
Perhaps the hardest decision of all is partnering two players up front as United have a history of strong forwards capable of changing games and scoring plenty of goals.

The two I have picked here are Eric Cantona and Ruud Van Nistelrooy... Cantona was the catalyst that sparked the United success in 1993 while also helping guide the younger players of Giggs, Beckham, Scholes and the Neville brothers in the 1996 title winning season.

Van Nistelrooy was as lethal as any striker in Europe during his seasons at Old Trafford, although he perhaps had some limitations to his overall game play that ended his time in Manchester a little prematurely. However, in saying all that, I dont think I remember another striker who literally needed just half a chance to score and was as dominant in the 6 yard area as the Dutchman.

Honourable mentions: Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Wayne Rooney


It is clear during Sir Alex's title winning time at United that there have been a number of exceptional players to play at this great club and it also telling how Fergie seems to know exactly when their 'best before' date comes up at the club (barring Jaap Stam).

Fergie can ruthlessly cut a player's time at Old Trafford but that has kept the team successful for such a long period. Hopefully in the next few seasons we can see some changes made to this 'Dream Team' as it will only mean more quality has walked through the doors and United remain the top dogs in Manchester, England and hopefully Europe too.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the One Manager to Rule Them All

The final whistle blew and Old Trafford exploded in a joyous atmosphere- it was finally true, United had all but overhauled Liverpool's 18 titles that had been used to beat the Red Army for a whole generation from those down the M62.

Sir Alex Ferguson was congratulated by his counterpart Carlo Ancelotti and then moved on to the pitch to congratulate some of his key players before striding towards the tunnel to take his exit.

About half way down, the walk slowed until Sir Alex paused and bowed to the Stretford End... Not once, but twice! There was something amiss- it was us who should have bowed to the grand old master, not the other way round.

It is easy to forget how different the landscape was at Old Trafford when Alex Ferguson, as he was simply known back then, walked through the doors to take over from Ron Atkinson. United had not enjoyed the success that was expected at the biggest club in the World at that point and had already seen 19 seasons rush by since they were last the Kings of England.

At the same time, Liverpool were continuing their recent dominance of the English game to such an extent that Ferguson famously remarked how he wanted to 'knock them off their fucking perch'.

Since winning his first trophy as United boss in 1990, Ferguson has overseen a period of almost continuous success at the club. A first major European trophy followed in the form of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991 and the first League title since 1967 was finally held high in 1993.

United have been the dominating force in the Premier League years, with this season being the 12th League title they would have picked up in 18 years. That is some feat, but the biggest testimony to Sir Alex is the unbelievable way he has adapted in that time to the new pressures faced by managers as wages spiralled upwards and new methods were required to keep players in line and focused on the task at hand.

Ferguson has created 3 very successful sides already at Old Trafford, with this new squad being 'under construction' as the Glaswegian creates a 4th new side. For much of this season we have been told it is the weakest United side since they first won the Premier League in 1993, but the will to win has come from the manager and all the plaudits must be given to him.

Yes, the likes of Ryan Giggs have been in fine form this season, but I dont think there are any managers out there that could have led this squad to the title and a place in the Champions League Final.

The biggest complement I can pay to Fergie is that this title is all down to him. I would put him in charge of any of the teams inside the top 4 and I would have backed them to win the title. Arguably, the 3 sides below United have better squads, but the desire of the manager is unmatched.

He handled the Wayne Rooney transfer request in the best possible manner, coaxing the best form out of the England international when it mattered most down the stretch. United have also missed Rio Ferdinand and Antonio Valencia for large chunks of the season, but Chris Smalling showed what an astute signing he was while Javier Hernandez has to be the best transfer of the season for a paltry £7 million.

Sir Alex often can baffle us fans with his team selections for games, but once again has proven that he gets it right far more often than he gets it wrong. How many other managers would have picked the Da Silva twins as wingers for an FA Cup tie with Arsenal? At the end of the day, it is impossible to argue with the selections as the results are there for all to see.

Is this the greatest achievement in Sir Alex's time at United? I would say no, but I am also certain that no other manager in the World would have got this squad to where it is today. In fact, this latest achievement makes it hard for me to believe that any other British manager ever could have achieved what he has, not just this year, but every year since he has been at Old Trafford.

Brian Clough used to taunt Fergie when always mentioning 'I have two of those (European Cups)', but Sir Alex has the chance to go one further than the legendary Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager on Saturday 28th May.

Bob Paisley may have won 3 European Cups, but he had joined an already successful club and built on its success. Sir Alex had to start from scratch and build United from the Academy upwards.

Sir Matt Busby will always be a legendary figure at Old Trafford having rebuilt the club after the disaster of Munich 1958, but Sir Alex has eclipsed his achievements on the field and is looking to leave United in a state where they can continue to enjoy success for many years after he decides to depart, a state that unfortunately Sir Matt did not leave the club.

Departs? When will that be? Rumours swirl that Sir Alex may decide to leave if United win the Champions League this season. As he said to Edwin Van der Sar, it's best to go out at the top... But I dont believe thats the case here. You only know that as soon as Fergie walked down the tunnel on Sunday afternoon, he was already thinking of how best to combat Barcelona and has already decided on which players he wants to bring in over the Summer to continue the success for next season.

And who would put it past the great man to be thinking about equalling Liverpool's 5 European Cups if United do indeed get to 4 on May 28th? What a way to unequivocally 'knock them off their fucking perch'...

Old Trafford, not so long ago, unveiled the Holy Trinity statue opposite Sir Matt in front of the East Stand. I think a few sculptures may be getting a call soon for a new statue to be commissioned, one to immortalise Sir Alex, the Greatest of them all.