RED ARROWS
Rashford, Martial and Greenwood are nowhere near Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez… but Man Utd fans can dare to dream again
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THIRTEEN years ago Sir Alex Ferguson unleashed a Red Arrows strikeforce which fired Manchester United to glory in England and Europe.
The 2007-08 season, when Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez racked up a staggering 79 goals between them, and tortured defences from Lisbon to Liverpool.
It was an attacking trio to rival any in Fergie’s 26-year reign, even his 1999 treble winners, and certainly the current crop are footballing light years away as yet.
But when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer teamed up Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood against Sheffield United, there was a mouthwatering glimpse into the future.
And with Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba providing the ammunition – plus a few well aimed shots of their own – it is a future which is suddenly looking decidedly rosy again.
There hasn’t been a great deal for United fans to get worked up about in the six years since Fergie called it a day.
Yes, there have been flashes, and there have still been trophies. But for a club once so dominant they could have been hauled in front of the monopolies commission, not enough.
Now, though, there is genuine hope on the horizon. Genuine belief they can challenge. More to the point, there is excitement – a pre-requisite at Old Trafford.
Not even Ronaldo became a hero quite so immediately as Fernandes, already a cult figure to fans and still to taste defeat since his January arrival.
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He pulls the strings and calls the shots, but just needs the options ahead of him to turn that rapid eye for a gap into goals. Now he has it.
Behind him against the Blades was Pogba, on his day as gifted as there is, yet for so long without a partner to share the midfield governance. Now he has it.
To think there were some pompous, self-important chin-strokers convinced these two couldn’t play together.
And up top there is now an attacking triumvirate which is looking more and more potent by the week.
Of course there is a long, long way to go before Rashford, Martial and Greenwood come even remotely close to the Three Amigos of 2008 in terms of achievement.
Who knows, ultimately it may never happen. As yet, potential and prizes are a long way from sharing the same bed.
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And – as we saw at times against the Blades – there is still much work to be done in other areas, not least defence, before Old Trafford can even think of adding to their 20-title collection.
But after some of the dross they’ve witnessed in the post-Fergie era, United fans can dare to dream again.
No wonder most of the mug shots on that 40,000-strong mural at Old Trafford had smiles as broad as the Ship Canal.
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