Tev gives Alex firepower of '99 CARLOS TEVEZ will make Manchester United unstoppable.
That is the view of Treble winner Dwight Yorke, who believes his old club have assembled one of football’s most exciting squads ever.
Yorke was the 29-goal top scorer in the historic Red Devils side that won the title, FA Cup and Champions League in the 1998-99 season.
The Old Trafford outfit have not reproduced the same excitement, glory and goals since that amazing campaign.
But with the signing of West Ham’s Argentinian star Tevez on top of the arsenal of frightening firepower United already have, Yorke believes they are ready to do so again.
Tevez, 23, sparkled in a struggling Hammers side last season and kept them in the top flight with seven goals in the last 10 games — including the only goal against United on the final day.
But Yorke believes English football has not seen anything yet from Tevez, who will sign on at Old Trafford in a five-year, £38million deal.
The Sunderland striker, 35, said: “You look what he did last season. He almost single-handedly kept West Ham up with some incredible performances.
“Now imagine what he can do playing with better players at United.”
Yorke reckons Tevez will blow away the myth that South American players cannot cope with the Premier League.
After all it was United who got their fingers burnt with the £28.1m acquisition of Argie Juan Veron.
Yorke said: “There is a lot of scepticism over South American players in England.
“I was at United when they signed Veron and there is no doubt he was an exceptional player but it just did not work out for him.
“The difference with Tevez is we have already seen what he can do in this league and in a very difficult situation.
“He produced the performances when they were really needed. He will love it at Old Trafford. He is a typical United player, full of flair and goals.”
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Tevez will join Alex Ferguson’s other summer signings Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani at the Theatre of Dreams.
Yorke said: “Sir Alex has put together an incredible set of players this time.
“I know since the 1999 team began to break up he has been looking to assemble a squad with the same attacking quality and firepower we had.
“It looks like he has got it now and it could be an even more exciting group when you look at the squad.
“When you consider their ages too he looks like he is building something to dominate for some time to come.”
United were packed full of goals last season with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing 23 each.
That was the highest of any United pair since Yorke and Andy Cole hit 53 between them in that Treble year.
Fergie has added vibrant young attacking midfielders in Anderson, 19, and 20-year-old Nani, plus the defensive qualities of Hargreaves, 26, in midfield.
And the fiery Scot has sent further shudders through football by capturing Tevez.
Black Cats star Yorke said: “It really looks unstoppable. Last season United played some of their best football in about five years. Ronaldo and Rooney put pace back in the team.
“And you still had the wise old heads of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes there too. It proved too much for anyone in the Premiership — and now they have made these signings.
“From what I know about Nani and Anderson it looks like they have another two exciting players.”
United fell short of their Treble dreams last season.
Tired legs failed to lift them over the semi-final hurdle in the Champions League against eventual winners AC Milan.
They also looked dead on their feet as injuries and fatigue took their toll in a dour 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
That is why Fergie has bolstered the attacking side of his squad.
In ’99 he could call on two from Yorke, Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham to grab the goals.
Yorke added: “I think Sir Alex has always been trying to get back to that stage again.
“A situation where he can swap the side around, give players a rest but not lose any of its effectiveness.
“It’s so hard to win a Treble. It was unique and magical when we did it.
“But we did not have many injuries then which helped us.
“Last season United had the quality to win a Treble but when the injuries kicked in there was not enough strength in depth to make up for it.
“As well as they did, they just ran out of players and energy at the end.
“The league is always important to United but I know how special the Champions League is to everyone there — Sir Alex would love to win another one.”
United have certainly stolen a march on their domestic competitors.
HAMMER TIME ... Tevez saved West Ham from the drop
HAMMER TIME ... Tevez saved
West Ham from the drop
As it stands, Chelsea will still look to Didier Drogba to carry them alongside the misfiring Andriy Shevchenko.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are reeling from the departure of superstar Thierry Henry to Barcelona.
Liverpool have at least pulled out an ace in the signing of Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.
But they will all need to go some to match the power of United.
After three barren years, they hit back in style with the title last year.
And without a ball being kicked yet they have signalled their intent for the upcoming campaign.
Yorke said: “When they failed to win the league for three years there were plenty of doubters as to whether things were crumbling at United.
“It looked like first Arsenal and then Chelsea were going to dominate.
“But I didn’t doubt them. Sir Alex and the lads really hit back in style.
“Now with these signings they look ready to reinforce their position and get back to the top in Europe again.”
Yorke will face them when he returns to Old Trafford with Roy Keane’s newly-promoted Sunderland.
He added: “It’s an exciting prospect and the sort of challenge you look forward to."
n.custis@the-sun.co.uk
How Dwight rates big fourARSENAL
THE Gunners will struggle to fill the void left by Thierry Henry.
He is still one of the best strikers in the world but it is Barcelona who will benefit now.
One player who could really shine is Robin van Persie. He is one of the best players in the league.
His partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor up front could surprise a lot of people next season.
CHELSEA
BLUES striker Didier Drogba had an incredible impact last season.
He had a difficult time settling in at Stamford Bridge, but when he did we saw he was world-class.
But there was a massive reliance on him last season as he waded in with 33 goals in all competitions.
Andriy Shevchenko is really going to have to step up to the plate to support him.
LIVERPOOL
FERNANDO TORRES has impressed me every time I have seen him play. He is a great signing for Liverpool.
Dirk Kuyt had a promising first season at Anfield — even if he did not grab as many goals as he would have liked.
But players with his ability always tend to shine in their second season in this league — just as Drogba did at Chelsea.
MAN UNITED
EVERYONE is wondering where boss Alex Ferguson will fit in all his new arrivals.
But I can see Manchester United playing an impressive three-man front line of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
They can all play through the middle, drop in behind one another or go out wide.
Opponents will not know how to mark them — once they get over the shock of facing such a quality line-up!
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