Manchester United Transfers: No Deadline Day Deals, Still Strongest

Manchester United ended their transfer activity for the summer without their ritual deadline day purchases.

Sir Alex Ferguson is known for his 11th-hour deals and has handed out large sacks of dough on deadline day in the past for players such as Wayne Rooney (£27 million in 2004) and Dimitar Berbatov (£30 million in 2008).

But on this year's deadline day, Sir Alex was probably sitting on a beach, basking in the glory of the phenomenal start provided to him by his youthful team.

Sir Alex was quick to do his transfer business this summer, and acquired the services of Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea before other clubs had even thought of dipping into the transfer pool.

Judging by their performances so far, you can't help but think that Sir Alex has done the best bit of transfer business this summer, having stood firm on the club's policy of buying young.

Phil Jones, at just 19, is showing the maturity of a 29-year-old. He looks organized and composed in the back four, and is defensively solid. The pundits are already touting him to be the future England captain.

Ashley Young has taken to the Manchester United style of football like a pig to mud! Having easily adapted to United's wing-attack style, Young brings balance and a superb delivery from the left wing.

The 26-year-old flies down his flank with lightening speed, he tracks back, he tackles, he dribbles and he always makes himself available. Not only does he have a good composure with the ball, he's also a bloody good crosser. His two screamers against Arsenal proves his finishing abilities.

David de Gea was always going to have it tough stepping into the enormous boots of Edwin van der Sar.

He showed nerves in his first two games for United and sent the alarm bells ringing among the fans, but de Gea hit back with a solid display in the clashes against Tottenham and Arsenal, and finally showed Old Trafford why the gaffer put so much faith in him.

Given the time to settle into the new country, new language and new league, the 20-year-old definitely has the potential to be one of the world's best keepers in a few years' time.

Other young players such as Tom Cleverley, Chris Smalling, Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans and Javier Hernandez have brought down the average age of United's squad by leaps and bounds. More importantly, the quality of football expected from Manchester United hasn't been compromised.

If you followed United's preseason, you would have been impressed with the way this young team is progressing. 

After the retirement of veterans Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, Sir Alex fielded an array of combinations during the tour to the United States and finally seems to have solved the jigsaw.

More importantly, he has given his newbies enough playing time before the start of the season for them to settle in and adapt to their new roles.

United's team is a perfect melange of youth and experience.

The teams Sir Alex has fielded so far this season had an average age of 23. They come from a squad oozing with youthful vibrancy and the vintage United never-say-die attitude, which was evident in the Community Shield against rivals Manchester City.

To aid this young side are players such as Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs, who are now among the senior-most members of the squad.

Even players such as Wayne Rooney and Nani, who are in their mid-twenties but with ample experience, are shouldering the responsibility of leading this young side forward and are thriving in it. 

What seems the most frightening aspect for rival teams is the immense depth in the squad. 

United were missing three first-choice defenders in their games against Spurs and Arsenal, including stalwarts such as Ferdinand and Vidic.

But, amazingly, the young defenders such as Smalling, Jones and Evans stepped into their roles with consummate ease and ensured that United's famed impregnable defense remained intact.

The young players seem to have given United a new lease of life. It's just delightful to see how these guys understand each other and play as a team.

United's current squad definitely looks the strongest in England and appear more than capable of retaining their Premier League title.

But questions have been raised as to whether this squad is still good enough challenge teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

This summer, Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder was involved in the club's biggest transfer saga since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.

After being humiliated by Barcelona twice in the last three years in the Champions League, popular opinion was that Sneijder is the only player who can jump United across their final hurdle.

Fans saw him as the last and most vital piece to the jigsaw that would help United become the undisputed best club in the world.

With all due credit to Sneijder, I have always been one to oppose this standpoint.

Wesley Sneijder is an outstanding player, there's no doubt about that. But he is no magician. He will not guarantee a win against Barcelona. 

Sneijder can't be considered as a necessity; he is more of a luxury.

Barcelona have themselves never had to buy glory. They have built their team over years and years through their magnificent youth setup.

Home-grown players such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Pedro and Victor Valdes form the core of the team and have been patiently moulded into the world-beaters that they are today.

United are also going along the same lines and need to patiently wait for their young side to reach their full potential. With the performances they are putting in already, their fans will not have to wait long for that day to come.

The void left behind by Paul Scholes in the midfield seems to be the biggest concern going into Europe. This was the reason behind the whole Sneijder ruckus—because the Dutchman is technically comparable to United's Ginger Ninja.

However, recent performances of the odd pairing of Anderson and Tom Cleverley in the center of the midfield have definitely delighted the fans and given them a lot of hope for the future.

One of the first things you will notice about them is how well they complement each other.

Both lads are attacking midfielders by profession. But Anderson has the shown the energy and the strength to play a more defensive role, while Cleverley plays in a more advanced position. One goes forward while the other covers; and the best part about it is that they can switch their roles with ease.

Their performance in the three league matches has been impressive, more so in the Community Shield against Manchester City. They did not allow the Citizens to bully them, and showed a good mix of aggression and composure.

Both players thrive on the touch-and-go style of passing and there seems to be a good understanding between the two. Being attack-minded, they show the urge to go forward with the ball but, at the same time, ensure that the defense isn't exposed by regularly tracking back.

The Anderson-Cleverley partnership looks promising. It looks to have brought the fluency factor into the United midfield that was lacking before.

United's young players have given the club a new lease of life. They understand each other well and are extremely exciting to watch. 

They may not be able to beat Barcelona this season, or even the next. But they are heading in the right direction.