Sir Alex Ferguson has turned Manchester United in Premiership contenders again. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

Before a single ball was even kicked this season in the Premiership, soccer pundits all across England were already digging Manchester United's grave and writing its eulogy.

United was a team in crisis, they argued.

The club was still dealing with the departure of former captain Roy Keane, top striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was sold to Real Madrid, and major friction existed between Wayne Rooney and Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo following their infamous tête-à-tête this past summer at the World Cup.

United's days were supposedly numbered and there wasn't anything they could do to prevent Chelsea from wrapping up a third consecutive league title by Christmas.

Not for the first time, the majority of British soccer scribes appear to have got it spectacularly wrong.

Fresh off its pasting of archrivals Liverpool last week, United lead the Premiership standings going into this weekend's action with seven wins from nine games, and look every bit the team that dominated soccer in England by winning eight league titles in 11 seasons from 1992-2003.

If United continues at its current rate, this year's Premiership title will still be undecided come January - unlike last season - and Chelsea will have to endure a lengthy dogfight right down to the final weeks of the schedule in order to win the crown, if they manage to win it at all.

United have thrashed their opponents through the first nine games of the campaign with equal parts stylish panache, guile and workmanlike effort. The Red Devils boast the top offence (19 goals scored), sport one of the best defensive records (five goals against) in the league and have once again instilled fear into their opponents like the good ol' days.

So, how have United defied the critics and mounted a serious challenge to big-spending Chelsea? Three words: Sir Alex Ferguson.

About to celebrate his 20th anniversary as United's manager, Ferguson is the Scotty Bowman of English soccer. Ferguson has won more major trophies than any other manager in the history of the English game, but more important than that, he commands the respect and trust of his players.

Not for the first time in his career, Ferguson rallied his troops at the start of the campaign and, cognizant of the media gloom-and-doom predictions, instilled an "us versus them" mentality into his players.

When van Nistelrooy was shipped to Spain in the off-season, many predicted United's scoring would dry up this season, especially after Ferguson did not buy another marquee forward to replace the Dutch marksman.

United fans implored Ferguson to break the bank on new recruits, both up front and in midfield, but were baffled by his stand-pat posture, the purchase of midfielder Michael Carrick from Tottenham aside.

The Scottish manager's decision to stick with the players he had last season and not overhaul his roster has paid major dividends. The result has been a Manchester team that has played with real purpose, steel and unity for the first time since it last won the Premiership in 2003.

Ten different players have scored for United, a testament to the club's strength in getting secondary scoring from its midfielders and defenders.

French forward Luis Saha, free from van Nistelrooy's daunting shadow, has thrived as the club's forward, while Rooney has blossomed into an effective playmaker.

Ronaldo, the petulant Portuguese who has been prone to theatrically diving in the past, has shown great maturity while continuing to bamboozle opposing defenders with his exquisite combination of speed and deft ball control.

Serbian Nemanja Vidic has formed an impenetrable partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the centre of the defence in his first full season with the club and seems destined to establish himself as one of the world's best defenders.

Welsh winger Ryan Giggs, a player so silky smooth and graceful when he dribbles the ball he reminds you of Bobby Orr in his prime, has driven the United engine room in midfield with his piercing runs, sublime passing skills and creativity.

Midfield stalwart Paul Scholes is playing his best soccer in years, prompting England coach Steve McClaren to try to convince him - unsuccessfully - to come out of international retirement and play for the English national team.

And then there's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 33-year-old Norwegian forward, nicknamed the Baby-Faced Assassin, has rediscovered his scoring touch (he leads the club with four goals) after sitting out the better part of the past three seasons due to a series of debilitating knee injuries.

Manchester players, both young and old, have stood united under Sir Alex Ferguson, and that has made all the difference.