You couldn't fail to have been impressed by Manchester United's 6-0 demolition of Newcastle last Saturday, despite the visitors' obvious lack of confidence and morale.

The champions oozed class in the second half, none more so than Cristiano Ronaldo, who registered his first hat-trick for the Red Devils, but almost certainly not his last for the Premier League leaders. With 22 goals to his name already this campaign, this is set to be the United No.7's most prolific season to date and possibly his team’s most successful since 1998/9.

Despite fans and pundits being quick to say United could have scored double figures against the beleaguered Magpies (it was 0-0 at half-time, you know), perhaps a more pertinent question is to ask what the score would have been if the Portuguese wonderkid HADN'T been involved. Would Sir Alex Ferguson's men have still won so impressively if Ji-Sung Park or Darren Fletcher had started instead?

'With 22 goals to his name already this campaign, this is set to be the United No.7's most prolific season to date'


Indeed, despite the obvious attacking qualities of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, Manchester United are becoming increasingly dependent on Ronaldo when it comes to unlocking opposition defences and creating chances. The signs were there back in August, when he was sent off at Fratton Park for an alleged head butt on Portsmouth's Richard Hughes.

The following three matches saw the champions wobble, scoring just two goals in three matches. However, the problem wasn't somebody to convert the chances (in which case you could lament the loss of the then-injured Wayne Rooney), it was creating them in the first place. United huffed and puffed at the City of Manchester Stadium, they were second-best in their fortunate 1-0 win over Tottenham, before labouring to a slender 1-0 win over world-beaters, sorry, relegation contenders Sunderland at Old Trafford in the next fixture.

The same thing happened again when Sir Alex Ferguson rested Ronaldo for the trip to the Reebok Stadium in November. While young Cristiano undoubtedly benefited from not having lumps kicked out of him by the Trotters, United were bereft of ideas in attack – and this was against a Bolton team with just two clean sheets in the league to their name!

Indeed, whether you classify the Portuguese international as a forward or a winger, the remaining midfield members of the Manchester United squad are hardly a force to be reckoned with at the moment. Ryan Giggs may be a valuable squad member but the Welshman is no longer capable of the mazy dribbles which used to set games alight. Michael Carrick is neat and tidy but rarely a threat to opposition defences, while the Paul Scholes comeback continues to be delayed; it’s three months since he last featured.

While it’s hard not to be impressed by the contributions of Anderson in the past few weeks, it’s clear that the Brazilian is far from the finished article and the same can definitely be said about Nani, who has played a cameo role for the Red Devils this season. Therefore, where would Manchester United be without Cristiano Ronaldo?

Still at the top of the league or fighting it out with Liverpool for the minor Champions League places?

Are United a one-man band? Can they keep up the pace without Ronaldo? Post your comments below or submit an article to Spolrtingo.