United do just fine without Beckham

THE B-word might be a sensitive subject around Old Trafford but if Manchester United produce many more performances like the one which skittled Celtic in Seattle on Tuesday night their fans will soon forget David Beckham ever existed.

Just as Alex Ferguson thought, but has been careful not to say, United seem capable of managing just fine without the England captain.

For if their squad no longer has the movie-star quality Beckham brings, it is still sprinkled with the kind of ability fans crave.

There may have been plenty of novices in the near 67,000 crowd at the Seahawks Stadium for United’s 4-0 win, but you did not need a vast bank of knowledge to work out that in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ferguson has a devastating pairing.

“Ruud is getting better every time he plays,” said Ryan Giggs, who scored United’s second from the Dutchman’s lay off.

“His scoring record is unbelievable but it’s not just that, his all-round play is improving as well.

“He is bringing other people into the game more often now and his work-rate up front is amazing.”

With Giggs and Solskjaer floating behind, opposition defences are faced with a three-pronged threat which is not easily deflected.

It was certainly a task well beyond a woeful Celtic defence in which only the physical presence of Bobo Balde proved any kind of deterrent.

With 90 goals in his first two seasons at Old Trafford and another again on Tuesday night, it is understandable van Nistelrooy has been hoisted into Beckham’s position as United’s biggest star.

Unlike his former team-mate though, the accolades are all achieved through footballing skills, just as they are with Solskjaer.

The Norwegian’s performance impressed to such an extent at the back end of last season that when he was chosen for Beckham’s right-sided midfield role in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, there were few dissenting voices.

“Some of Ole’s movement and vision was magnificent,” said Ferguson. “His pass to Ruud for Ryan’s goal was really special.

“When he first came to the club, he was always treated as a substitute because he was so good in that role and I admit I looked upon him in that way as well.

“It is difficult for players in that position but once we gave him a run in the team he has improved.

“He now has more strength and more consistency and in the games that really mattered last season against Newcastle and Arsenal, he was a revelation.

“We have never regarded him as a natural wide player but he has proved his adaptability by performing in both wide positions.

“Maybe that is an example of the experience he has gained at the club. You are seeing a far more rounded and mature player now.”

David Bellion, the only one of three new arrivals to be involved on Tuesday, capped an excellent debut with a goal and while the Frenchman is earmarked as one for the future, he possesses the kind of pace even top-class defenders dread.

United must have headed back to their Portland training base in good heart, although they should face a sterner test in the second game of their four-match US tour against top Mexican outfit Club America in Los Angeles on Sunday.