...You Can't Buy Class

Against City last week United finally provided hard evidence to that old adage ‘you can’t buy class’.

While City admittedly played well over the two legs and pushed us all the way, United exhibited a couple of reasons as to why we have enjoyed such a prolonged period of success and at least a couple that suggest we will continue to do so.

Money can’t buy Ryan Giggs, who was again the difference between a draw and a win, as he was back in September. When a high-octane game goes to the wire, it is expected that the younger, fresher legs will prevail. Instead Giggs’ cool head and quick thinking came to the fore. Under such pressure he provided four key passes in the final ten minutes, the last of these landing square on the bonce of Wayne Rooney.

From the moment he scored the winner against City nineteen years ago on his full debut to the assist for the winner on Monday, Giggs has been feared by the blues. They will surely be as glad as any when he finally hangs up his boots but, given the evidence of Wednesday, that won’t be for some time yet.

Money can’t buy the passing range of Paul Scholes. Few players in the world rival Scholesy’s passing (Xavi, Iniesta and the like) and they are very much not for sale. Although Scholes is showing his age more than Giggs, he rolled back the years against City and hit some of the laser-guided long passes that we have been spoilt with over the years.

Of course United cannot keep relying on the aging legs of these two servants to the club. Although both Giggs and Scholes had superb games against City there were two players who eclipsed them in terms of performance. It is to their mental strength that United will look when the old guard finally retire.

City can’t buy a player of Rooney’s ilk. The spud-faced nipper upped his game once again from his four-goal man-of-the-match performance against Hull to lead the line superbly, a persistent menace and a reliable outlet for his team-mates. The complete forward.

City can buy all the spineless, money-grabbing Robinho’s they want but money alone won’t buy you a world-beater like Rooney. Only trophies will turn the head of players of his ability. City, in their 34-year barren spell, are stuck in a vicious circle for this reason. That United were the team that prevented them from breaking it when they were within touching distance must really sting. The heart bleeds…

Money can’t buy the determination of Darren Fletcher. Such devotion is borne from years of passion for a club. Although Carlos Tevez undoubtedly gives his all on the pitch and swears his allegiance to each club he plays for, he cannot honestly feel the same as a man like Fletcher, who has battled his way from also-ran to key player through years of grit and mental resolve. Crucially he has done this at one club.

Money can buy an over-the-hill Patrick Vieira, who was injured on Wednesday, but do you honestly think Vieira, pulling on a shirt of the second-rate club which he surely sees as a nice little pension, would have over-run Fletcher, bursting every sinew for the club he loves so much? If Phil Neville could do it…

The red flag remains high. A close second in the league with fourteen games to play and in a cup final. A club in crisis? This club is bigger than Ronaldo, bigger than the Glazers and, as we saw last Wednesday, definitely bigger than Manchester City.