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Is Manchester United good enough to reclaim the Premier League crown?

Is Manchester United good enough to reclaim the Premier League crown?

For the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson walked off the sidelines at Old Trafford, Manchester United went top of the table in the Premier League last weekend. Being top of the league after seven rounds seemed stunning considering the turmoil and mud flung the way of Louis van Gaal and the Red Devils over the past couple seasons, but the manager is proving to be the right man for the job.

So, is 2015-16 the season that Manchester United reclaims the Premier League trophy?

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First of all, Van Gaal's Manchester United is getting results despite not consistently playing the most exciting, crisp or convincing brand of football. That is a skill and one that should be commended. Champions tend to pick up points when they shouldn't.

Over the first seven rounds, United won five and only lost one, and no team had more wins or fewer defeats. A defeat at Swansea City is hardly an unforgivable result, though a draw with Newcastle did cause a bit of head scratching. The Premier League regularly pulls out odd results, though, and even Jose Mourinho and Chelsea recently drew against Newcastle.

In truth, United's title mettle has not yet been tested. Beating Tottenham and Liverpool at Old Trafford may sound like notable victories, but Spurs had struggled to get Harry Kane scoring early in the season. Also, the Reds have been so dismal that Liverpool likely has the paperwork on Brendan Rodgers' dismissal sitting in the top drawer at the ready.

So far, Van Gaal has not exactly proven United's championship credentials, as Ferguson's Manchester United sides would have expected to win those two home games even in years when the title did not end up at Old Trafford.

Still, Manchester United does appear to have improved from the side that finished fourth a season ago. The Red Devils appear to have found a young star in 19-year-old Anthony Martial, who drew comparisons to Thierry Henry before arriving in England and has four goals in his first three Premier League games. The young French forward's smooth movements and clean finishing only prompt more comparisons to Henry. Right now, Martial looks like he may have been worth the absurd price United paid to get him.

United has earned a great deal of criticism for its summer spending spree, but the additions appear to all be paying off on the pitch. Beyond Martial, Memphis Depay appears to be the real deal and one of the first names on United's team sheet in any meaningful match. Matteo Darmain has helped bolster the backline, and the fullback should be even more vital with the severe injury recently sustained by Luke Shaw. Bastian Schweinsteiger came at a discount, and Morgan Schneiderlin was probably the most stable signing of the offseason.

United spent trucks full of cash, and over the first seven rounds of the Premier League, that massive investment best explains United's ascension to the top of the table.

United's biggest deal was the one it didn't make in sending David De Gea to Real Madrid. (AFP Photo)
United's biggest deal was the one it didn't make in sending David De Gea to Real Madrid. (AFP Photo)

Ironically, Man United's best bit of business may have actually been the transfer deadline day mess with Real Madrid. Keeping David De Gea for the remainder of the season quickly turned into extending the goalkeeper's contract. Sergio Romero, who joined the team over the summer, proved to be a worthy deputy while the Red Devils dealt with the De Gea drama, and the Argentine should make for a decent backup.

De Gea, however, is a cut above. His performance late against Southampton saved United two points, and the Spaniard provides the necessary class and stability potential champions need behind the backline.

Despite the strong start and the success of the summer signings, crowning United champion after seven rounds would have been severely sloppy. The next three rounds of the Premier League, though, should provide greater insight into whether United is for real or just lucky to be on top of a not so tall pile – at Arsenal, at Everton and then home against Manchester City.

If Manchester United stays top of the table after the aforementioned fixtures, it will go from a surprise team off to a strong start to a legitimate title contender with a view to the Premier League trophy.

Shahan Ahmed is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow Shahan on Twitter: @ShahanLA and @perfectpass