Perhaps the message is getting through to Alex Ferguson, or perhaps we were just fortunate that the Manchester United manager needed to use this game as match practice for his rehabilitating players.
Whatever the reason for Ferguson's general controversial selection policy, for a few minutes either side of the interval, United provided an exquisite reminder of what a supremely gifted collection of footballers they have at their disposal.
Two months into the new season and the Premiership is the only domestic competition in which United still retain an interest, and any given fixture in that competition generally sees team selection dictated by the European or international club fixture lists.
United's shameful selection policy in the Worthington Cup last week will, as is often the case where Manchester United are concerned, pass without censure, so reluctant are its organisers to incite the club's ire.
The fielding of what was effectively a third team in their 3-0 defeat at Villa Park did a discredit to the competition and the fans who witnessed it, especially as the 55,000 who paid to watch Ferguson's testimonial two nights earlier saw every fit outfield United player in action.
Yet three days, and 10 team changes later, the fans were granted a look at the real, attacking, Manchester United.
Giggs marauded down the left, Beckham played intelligently and decisively on the opposite flank, Butt and Scholes drove forward from midfield and, above all, Cole and Yorke produced a quality display of finishing.
The proof of United's class came in a period that saw the champions score four goals in 11 minutes starting in the 39th minute with a scissor kick from Yorke, meeting a Butt cross, that carried so much power and spin that Alec Chamberlain could only fumble across the line.
Two minutes later, Cole scored with a stooping header from Giggs's cross before Beckham was brought down by Peter Kennedy, Denis Irwin converting the resulting penalty. Five minutes after the interval, Cole's spectacular offbalance volley completed the rout although Watford enjoyed an equally impressive strike from Richard Johnson to complete the scoring in the 67th minute.
After United's recent poor performances, it could not have been a better afternoon for Ferguson, who not only saw Giggs successfully return from injury but was able to bring on Roy Keane for the first time in a month as a second half substitute at centre-half.
"We are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel," said Ferguson of the injury problems that have plagued his team this season.
MANCHESTER UNITED: Bosnich, Irwin, Stam (Keane 64), Silvestre, Neville, Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Giggs (Greening 71), Cole (Solskjaer 67), Yorke. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Wallwork. Booked: Neville. Goals: Yorke 39, Cole 42, Irwin 44 pen, Cole 50.
WATFORD: Chamberlain, Gibbs, Page, Palmer (Smith 83), Robinson, Kennedy, Hyde (Wright 46), Johnson, Williams, Ngonge (Miller 61), Wooter. Subs Not Used: Day, Easton. Sent Off: Williams (88). Booked: Page, Kennedy, Miller, Robinson. Goals: Johnson 68.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
