Is Manchester United’s current squad better than the class of 99?

The Premier League trophy looks to be heading to the Manchester United trophy room for record 20^th time after they went 12 points clear at the top of the table.

The Red Devils are on course for yet another successful season under Sir Alex Ferguson. They also moved one step closer to Wembley after defeating Reading in the FA Cup.

In the Champions League, they have drawn the first leg away to Real Madrid and are favourites to progress through.

Considering these facts some people have already started to compare the current United side with the treble winners of 1999, but the question arises whether this side is as good as the class of 1999 or is this just a premature comparison between the two?

Ferguson claims this side is definitely better than that of 99 and he also feels this squad has more depth than any of his other sides. But they still haven’t been tested in this area. While Robin van Persie has almost single handedly taken them forward in the league. If he were to get injured at this point, would they be able to cope?

In the middle of the park, Michael Carrick has had a great season, probably the best of his United career. If he were to get injured, United would struggle with Scholes past his prime and Anderson oft inconsistent. They have been lucky that these two have been playing almost every game this season.

But the 99 squad was tested to the limit with them winning the league on last day and their great FA cup winning triumph, and a memorable European season. The treble team from 99 had Roy Keane and a young Paul Scholes pulling the strings in the middle with Peter Schmeichel between he posts at the back. David De Gea is still struggling with the physical aspect of the game and United are lacking that combative enforcer in midfield and defenders leaking goals like never before. The current side has a lot to prove before matching the team of 99, which also went on a 33-game unbeaten run.

It is not appropriate to make an assessment solely on squad depth and quality. The argument is rather premature at the moment. The squad of 99 proved it’s worth in the long run and the current United side still has a long season to prove itself.

Can it be the greatest ever United side? We have to wait till the end of the season to answer that question.