Sir Alex Ferguson knows how to win a major and he warmed up for the champions’ return to pre-season training next week by turning out at the United Association of Former Players’ golf day, sponsored by BetFred.

The Reds Old Boys celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and their charity golf day at Northenden Golf Club is a highlight of the calendar.

An evening at Old Trafford last night, with its biggest-ever turnout, raised £15,000 to add to the £500,000-plus the association has brought in over a quarter of a century.

MEN Sport’s Reds reporter Stuart Mathieson was on the course canvassing opinion.

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David Sadler

Can United win 20th title this season? I don’t see any reason why not. United have stolen a march in the transfer market and got some early business done while most of the challengers have yet to show their hand. I am sure by the time the Premier League kicks off United’s rivals will have been in the market.

Can the Reds catch Barcelona? It is an enormous task when you consider what they did to us at Wembley. They built on Rome in 2009 and then hammered United in May. It was an up-close-and- personal, sobering experience but that is the marker. There are two options and they are, you take on the challenge or you accept you are not going to overtake them. For United the latter is not an option at all.

Are you happy with the summer transfer business? I think it has been excellent business so far. If you think of English talent available this summer then Ashley Young and Phil Jones would have been high on the list of a number of clubs. Filling Edwin Van der Sar’s boots is key but if David de Gea is the one then everything I have seen of him fills me with optimism. He has the key elements required.

Is there another signing you would like to see arrive? The outstanding new player required is, as every United fan would agree, a top midfield player. A strong character with the ability to take on Paul Scholes’ mantle is imperative. Availability is also a problem but Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder is the one I’d like.

Alex Stepney:

Can United win 20th title this season? I don’t think United got enough credit for finishing as champions with a nine-point gap. That is a remarkable statistic. It is a lot for the others to make up. Nobody would have predicted that with two months to go but it shows the character and capability of the squad. They can certainly do it again.

Can the Reds catch Barcelona? I’d like to see Barcelona in the Premier League going to places like QPR and Norwich and playing so many games! But in the Champions League it Is different and they are fantastic. But Sir Alex Ferguson never gives up on anything.

Are you happy with the summer transfer business? We have excellent cover for the back four now Phil Jones has arrived with Chris Smalling already proving himself.
Ashley Young is another I am happy with. He’s got the ability and confidence to improve himself and the team. But I think there are also a lot of younger lads coming through who could fight for a place. I am interested to see how Tom Cleverley does. Danny Welbeck had a good time at Sunderland and then there are the likes of Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba from the reserves.

Is there another signing you would like to see arrive? If United could get Wesley Sneijder then I think that would top off a very good bit of summer business.

Andy Ritchie:

Can United win 20th title this season? I don’t think there is any doubt United can win it again. Everybody tried to throw the title away last season and even the Reds did at times but by the end United were the strongest and going away from the field. Obviously, Sir Alex Ferguson will have to address the away form. I am not sure you can get away with it twice.

Can the Reds catch Barcelona? Barcelona are the best team in the world at the moment. They have three absolute stars in midfield with Lionel Messi the best on the planet. Football is a cyclical game and they are in a fantastic cycle. But everybody has blips and everybody can be caught. It is going to be a very hard task but great teams have been overtaken in the past.

Are you happy with the summer transfer business? I was on TV saying United probably wouldn’t buy Ashley Young because I couldn’t see where he’d fit, so I have had my backside smacked on that one. But I do think the manager is buying well and going for value for money with players who are young and, obviously apart from the keeper David de Gea, can play in different positions. Longevity and adaptability seem to be the watchwords and that’s great. Young and Phil Jones tick the boxes on those counts.

Is there another signing you would like to see arrive? Wesley Sneijder is without doubt the one for me. I am not sure of his situation but I have in the past seen him say he wouldn’t come to United while Paul Scholes was here. Now Paul has retired he’s the perfect successor. He is a massive player and it would be a magnificent addition.

Frank Stapleton:

Can United win 20th title this season? I don’t think United could have won it again with the same squad. There were a number of factors that worked last year but I think the challengers are going to get stronger. City and Chelsea will buy. Arsenal will recruit, no doubt. Liverpool have bought after Dalglish came back and will buy again. But Sir Alex’s transfer business has been crucial and because of that and the changes he’s made they will be the side to stop again.

Can the Reds catch Barcelona? It is not an impossible task. Everybody has to look at the way they play. After Messi I don’t think their top players are better than United’s or others but they play without fear. They take chances at the back but get away with it because of what they do attack-wise. I think there is too much fear in the Premier League but Barca are never going to be relegated from La Liga so they can play without fear. United can do the same.

Are you happy with the summer transfer business? The manager has made good acquisitions. I don’t think anybody could argue with them. The prices look good as well when you consider what others are paying. He doesn’t often buy the finished product, he always looks for someone who can progress and the three he’s bought so far Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea can all do that. I like the look of Jones. He doesn’t play with any fear.

Is there another signing you’d like to see arrive?There is one very obvious one but Lionel Messi won’t be available! There are a lot of playmakers being mentioned and someone like Wesley Sneijder would be great but why would Inter Milan let him go?

Wilf McGuinness:

Can United win 20th title this season? Considering our away record last season and the fact that I think that will definitely improve then there is every chance they’ll win it again. I have so much faith in the manager and admiration for his achievements I am convinced he has more titles in him.

Can the Reds catch Barcelona? If anybody can catch them then United can with the manager we have. They are starting to look like Real Madrid looked in my day. They were the greatest club side I have ever seen. Barcelona are looking like that. They play a great way and we have to play that way.

Are you happy with the summer transfer business? Sir Alex is very good at signing good young players. Those who can develop and stay here a long time. I believe a certain amount of players should come from the country you play in and I like the fact there has been emphasis on English arrivals. You want to see the best and you’d like some of the best foreign players but there has to be a balance. I do like the look of David de Gea. I took a lot of notice of him when his name first got mentioned and he doesn’t look a good prospect – he looks a great prospect.

Is there another signing you would like to see arrive? Roy Keane or Bryan Robson as 17-year-olds would be great! I would love to see a player arrive who plays like they played.

Jimmy Greenhoff:

Can United win 20th title this season? Things didn’t always go well last season but United were able to grind out results when the chips were down. I think that is a brilliant psychological plus to have in their locker now. Things won’t always go smoothly but they know they have been in desperate positions in the past and can get out of them.

Can the Reds catch Barcelona? They are an extraordinary team but, as good as they are, they are also fantastic at winning the ball. They are superb at hunting together and if you want to get close to them you have to copy what they do.

Are you happy with the summer transfer business? I like the look of all the three signings the manager has made. I think they are definitely going to be Manchester United players. I would always back the business the manager does because he’s proved it on so many occasions.

Is there another signing you would like to see arrive? Whoever the manager chooses will be OK by me.

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