Fergie believes the summer investment in Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez, added to the title-winning squad of last season, has created the most powerful outfit he's ever built in 21 years at Old Trafford.
England midfielder Hargreaves missed out on joining the successful bid for Ferguson's ninth crown last term as his move from Bayern Munich was blocked for 12 months by the Germans.
But the 26-year-old's arrival has added engine room security to United and is impressed with the Reds' all round adaptability.
"We can play any way," says Owen.
"We can go all out on the attack and play on the counter-attack. That was what our second goal against Blackburn was all about.
Great
"It was a great ball from Louis Saha to open things up. Carlos came around the back, and Cristiano Ronaldo finished it. It was a great goal all round.
"Everyone is looking good, from the back four, midfield and up front. We look quite confident. We defend as a unit and work as a group.
"The balance is definitely there. We can play any way because there are a lot of options.
"People won't get to play as many games as they would probably get somewhere else. But there is a bigger picture. It is not about one individual. We all understand that.
Special
"The feeling in the dressing room is very special. Everyone is pulling for everyone else to be successful. The boss is doing a good job."
Wes Brown is coming up to a decade of senior service with United since making his debut in 1998 and was involved in the Treble winning squad. The defender, who is currently deputising at right back for captain Gary Neville, agrees that United's current power ranks among the best he's been involved in.
"It is definitely up there," he said. "The senior players are doing excellent and the new lads coming in are all showing what they can do.
"That is what the gaffer wanted and he is getting it. But it is difficult for the manager."
The strength in depth has meant the youngsters knocking at the door like Danny Simpson, Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans have had limited opportunities.
But Brown believes the new breed understand that patience is the key.
"I am sure players will delighted to play the games they have been," he said.
"I am sure they understand they are just coming into the team and they are the future but at this moment the manager knows what he wants. He can see this squad going forward."
What is your first choice United side? Have your say.
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Frank Old Trafford (13/11/2007 at 10:08)
Ha Ha, treacherous Glazerite I hear you scream. Well go ahead and scream because deep down you that we wouldn't have this squad with the plc, they'd be too busy filling shareholders pockets with the ill gotten gains from ticket price rises.
Is it a mere coincidence that for the first time that we have a world class squad is now in the Glazer era? Make up your own minds.
Owen is going to be a great player for us, he may not be the most gifted but I suspect he is the most football savvy. If you watch him he's always watching; the flow of the game the position of his team-mates, where he can be most effective, etc. Very impressive.
mylifeinthemafia (13/11/2007 at 12:35)
SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (13/11/2007 at 12:40)
Duncan, London (13/11/2007 at 13:25)
Billy S (13/11/2007 at 13:31)
Birdy, Ireland (13/11/2007 at 13:35)
Also agree about Hargreaves. I've really impressed by him. His attitude is first class and he brings an energy that we lacked. Interested photo with his article with Carricks's head neatly framed behind Hargreaves, the man who i think will be the cause of Carrick spending manys a Saturday afternoon warming the bench
As regards the squad size, its encouraging to hear OH speak the way he does. When you look at Liverpool and their rotation for rotations sake, which seems to annoy the players, we seem to have got the balance right. If we had 1 more player in the squad, a striker, we'd be complete
Alias Smith, over the moon (13/11/2007 at 14:30)
bobbydazzler (13/11/2007 at 14:53)
Roy (13/11/2007 at 15:33)
That, and the man-management skills of Sir Alex in persuading Ronaldo to stay. Ronaldo at Man U is quite a pull for young aspiring footballers.
COLIN, CANADA, Canada (13/11/2007 at 15:39)
warlock, Toronto (13/11/2007 at 15:46)
Frank Old Trafford (13/11/2007 at 16:27)
However, whatever the reasons for the dramatic turnaround not only in the buying policy but also the style of play it cannot be denied there has been a massive change to the way things were going.
As to calling for SAF's head, well that was a direct result of the aforementioned policies which tried the patience of a lot of fans. No regrets at all, I felt that we were being betrayed and cheated, and with no indication that things would change.
Jesse Cole (13/11/2007 at 16:53)
For the Sporting game we should field a full strength squad, a victory will see us win the group with a game to spare and we can rest vital players and focus on domestic affairs until February, not to mention avoid the complications of coming up against the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the second round.
eddy01 (13/11/2007 at 17:12)
they wouldn't have forced every one on to the automatic cup ticket scheme if they thought they'd be able to keep raising prices and fill the stadium evey week.
they are pushing prices too far now and I just wonder when they will hold back.
another double digit % increase next season will be taking the pXss.
Alias Smith, over the moon (13/11/2007 at 20:19)
David Owen (14/11/2007 at 00:31)
46p for the whole day out...man, I'm feeling old right now!
TMUF, Manchester (14/11/2007 at 01:32)
pdxor, Portland, Oregon USA (14/11/2007 at 05:39)
Someone has already pointed out the draw of playing with players like Ronaldo, and I'd also give credit to Ferguson, Quieroz and their scouting staff for becoming far more savvy in terms of bringing in players who will succeed here. When was the last bad signing the club have made? Carrick was expensive, true, but that's what you get for buying English. But gone, it seems, are the days of Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, et al. Thank goodness.
Wunderkid (14/11/2007 at 05:42)
I am one of the most fanatical Reds supporters going around but I hate the Glazers as I think they only bought us to service their own debts.
I WASN'T one of the people burning effigies of him in the streets when he took over but I still hold these views.
There's nothing wrong with hating them either, I'm not gonna jump off the ship like others have done (I'm not sure how much United Free Red watches anymore), but I'm still a fanatical Man. U. supporter but I am and in my view others should be probably in favour of getting rid of this American family unless they really show that they're true Manchester United supporters themselves and that they will benefit the club in the bigger picture, which I'm sorry, but they haven't done yet.
Yes we did soooooo well last season but come on, are you gonna attribute that to the Glazers?
They bought us ONE player last summer, just one who's fallen below Anderson and Hargreaves in the pecking order IMO now anyway.
You can say that they and they alone have gotten us Anderson, Nani and Hargreaves but how do we know that that was done using money that they and they alone had actually brought to the club or whether they used money from the Sky bonus, or money from our "emergency funds" or whatever. And I know I sound like Free Red, but I don't care. These things have to be said.
Bobbydazzler I know we don't agree on Fletcher and O'Shea, but I'm 100% behind you on this.
And on Ronaldinho, didn't he not come to us because he preferred Barca, it's climate and it's culture to ours? Maybe you're right Frank, but how do we know how much of the money used to buy Carrick, Nani, Hargreaves and Anderson is actually the Glazers and how much is Sky money and money that we already had, hmmmmmm?
And until we do find out you can't go round attributing our success to the Yanks either.
Wunderkid (14/11/2007 at 05:48)
Come on guys, think a bit before you go all "USA! USA!" on us wearing your stars and stripes bandannas and drinking cans of Budweiser and eating McDonald's.
Wunderkid (14/11/2007 at 05:58)
If people were saying Fergie out it's because they were p...d off about the team at the time and fair enough too at times I've been one of them.
You've been rewarded for your steadfast loyalty though Alias that's for sure.
But you can't say that I'm not a loyal Man.U. fan either, as I just said I hate the owners of the club yet I'm still not jumping off the ship, now that's loyalty!
It's just that some of us have been p..d off with the way that we haven't bought better players at times after the treble.
Eric Djemba-Djemba was a good buy at the time though Frank because our scouts had identified him as an untapped "new Viera". So going by that he was a good buy at the time.
Yes those scouts probably should've been sacked but you get the picture.
TMUF, Manchester (14/11/2007 at 10:22)
Like Alias I supported him through thosetimes which have paid off but if the board had listened to people like you then maybe they would have had that same knee-jerk reaction.
I still think its unforgivable to call for fans to be so fickle that they couldnt see that it was the great achievements of the other clubs rather then Fergie's failures.
Its one of the biggest proble I have with most United fans, no patience and its win win win at all costs.
If Ronaldo had left the club,those same people that were calling for Fergie's head would have called him disloyal.
I am just glad that SAF proved how ridiculous and disloyal some people are. I am just hoping Giggs can do the same come the end of the season!
Thats only my opinion of some peoples opinions!
Frank Old Trafford (14/11/2007 at 12:01)
Steve, Glossop (14/11/2007 at 12:09)
Alias Smith, over the moon (14/11/2007 at 12:31)
The theory, that Fergie lost it for a few years and has somehow magically rediscovered it, is balderdash invented by and propogated only by those seeking to justify their regular calls for him to go - as recently as just over a year ago.