Transfer window outcome upsets United fans, but should it?

Fifteen hours after transfer window has closed, United fans are still in disbelief over its outcome. Being promised two world class midfielders, they will have to last more than half of a season with only Michael Carrick and second choice golkeeper who will most likely never make it into first team. Many of United's faithful don't believe in maintaining title challenge anymore, despite hundred percent start to a new season. But were they right to have lost last bit of faith?

After Roy Keane's departure David Gill officially confirmed that club was seeking a replacement and promised to buy at least one world class midfielder. Moreover, he clarified that in January arrival of a new midfielder was impossible due to fact that newcomers were playing in Champions League with their teams. Deals looked all but done, the only question for fans was whether it will be Diarra or some other Riquelme. Then, month before World Cup the same man said that club were looking forward to tying deals for those players before World Cup, so that new signings would have time to gel with current players.

First concerns among fans appeared when World Cup began and United were still without any new faces and only one confirmed bid, for Michael Carrick who hardly met description of promised world class midfielder. First explosion came when Fergie announced that he would be happy with no signings at all. Africa tournee, Gill's holiday, it all pushed some fans to the edge, but at last, at the end of July Manchester United confirmed arrival of Michael Carrick. The same day Carrick was presented, Ferguson openly said that club was about to seal deal for one or two more players, one of them being a hard-working midfielder.

Last day was hilarious with plenty of United faithful sitting in front of computers or TVs waiting for transfer news that didn't appear till midnight. Some of them still can't believe that United didn't sign a defensive midfielder that would've been a last piece of jigsaw.

But is the world going to end for United fans? Have their dreams collapsed along with transfer window's end?

Not necessarily. United are the only Premiership team that could boast of hundred percent start, and even though it's only three games from the beginning,it shows that players aren't as bad as some people make them out to be.

John O'Shea has done very well in midfield since Alan Smith broke his leg, while Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick are both established and respected Premiership players. Darren Fletcher has also improved and will become better and better surely, now that he got someone to learn from in Michael Carrick. That gives United four viable options in midfield with a few young players coming through the ranks.

Bear in mind, United fan, that your team's strength sticks in your offensive force and even Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure hasn't weakened it. Often in the past United used to dominate game in midfield but lacked killer's instinct, which led to being unable to score a goal. As start of current and finish of previous season have shown, that problem doesn't exist anymore. Given an opportunity to score, Louis Saha and Wayne Rooney seldom waste it. And their chances are certainly going to come with two most effective wingers of the league and amazing passer of the ball in Michael Carrick.

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are the brightest prospects of modern football, while Rio Ferdinand is regarded as one of top defenders around the world. Nemanja Vidic and Patrice attracted interest of host of European clubs, while Gabriel Heinze found himself at Fabio Capello's wish-list. Ji-Sung Park was a key member of PSV team that challenged AC Milan in Champions League, while Michael Carrick was so important for Tottenham that they failed to produce a good performance without him. Edwin van der Sar has already won Champions League, played in major competition and faced almost every better striker in the world. Is that really such a bad collection of players that United's transfer activity over last years could be called a failure?

United's finish to last season was very promising. In 2006 United have gathered more points than any other team so far, and all of them were gathered without Carrick's contribution. With proven Premiership midfielder and high team spirit, Manchester United players are capable of maintaining their good form, because if they do so, even Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal reinforcements might not be enough to end United title hopes.

Because it's score that matters at the end of the day, not names on team board nor fame they've earned so far.