utd are utd TF   
When i look at the past 15-20 years at old trafford there is no real difference in style of play.  They get the ball and try to get it into the box, sometimes they pass their way through and others they will go for the flanks and cross into the box.   The overall style has not changed at all, get possession and hurt the opponents as soon as possible.  Ultimately aesthetics are just that for them, it just so happens that a winning mentality combined with technical ability and utter faith in the manager leads to football you want to watch a lot of the time.  They are the Germans of club football in so many ways and i have a lot of respect for that.   
Fergie's greatest ability for me is his ability to spot where teams weaknesses are, its the key to his success.  Most of the time, and with the right players available, it works.   Sometimes it lacks and they look hopeless but not very often.  The club debt has severely restricted their ambition over the past few years,  last really big signing was Berbatov which says it all.  Wage wise, at the moment, they are light years away from city and the spanish old firm. There is no other manager on the planet that would have them as title contenders, arguably favourites too, this season  if you ask me.