The fact remains, though, that Alex Ferguson has never replaced Roy Keane or Ruud van Nistelrooy.
One a skipper in the true sense of the word, the other a focal-point centre-forward with an unerring propensity for putting the ball in the net.
What United missed more than anything in Rome’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night was a leader in the Keane mould.
Die Hard united fans must be asking some questions !!!!
- United's Central Midfield good enough to compete at highest level ?
- Are Park Ji Sung and Nani really good enough?
- And what of Anderson, who blows as cold as he does hot?
- And, surely, United cannot squander another £26million on Carlos Tevez?
- Yet the greatest conundrum of all is Dimitar Berbatov.
Perhaps they could call it “Looking for Eric, Roy and Robbo”.