Number 20 Calling?

As week one of the Premier League commences this Saturday, last season’s top five and this summer’s major transfer indulgers promise us yet another season of unpredictability and entertainment.

Manchester United have looked very sharp in pre-season and although the real challenge lies ahead, they will be buoyed by the fact that none of their players picked up injuries and showed few signs of exhaust. If anything, they looked hungrier than last year.

Now that United have knocked Liverpool of their perch, Sir Alex will certainly be gunning for more European success. Although they have been very consistent in Europe reaching three finals in four seasons, his priority has always been to win the Premiership.

Community Shield Hero

The Youth injected into the squad by Sir Alex Ferguson after five players in their thirties and one in his forties retired, seems to working well for them given their recent Community Shield win over Manchester City. Although, only time will tell whether Ferguson has got it his recruitments right and recent evidence suggests that he has.

Big City Slickers Manchester City and Liverpool have shown that they mean business by roping in several players while Chelsea have been rather quiet adding only two players to their squad and, Surprise! Surprise! – A new coach. Arsenal themselves have added two more to their team.

Threat

United have more to be worried about this season than last if they are to retain their title. Chelsea can be assured of the fact that their experience and a charismatic young coach makes them United’s strongest challengers again. In any case, over the last seven or eight years, they’ve never been taken for granted.

City showed tremendous character to not only leapfrog Tottenham Hotspurs last year, but also to oust Arsenal from an automatic qualification berth for the Champions League that will see the latter playing a few more games in qualifiers than they’d like to. Suddenly all those millions are starting to find Manchester City’s rub of the green.

The North London outfit have challenged in the past but Arsenal’s greatest hurdle seems to be the second-half of the season syndrome which hits them hard as their lack of energy and experience are exposed year after year. While Wenger, it looks more than likely, will take forever or more than six years to address that problem, it may take a while for them to challenge United in the domestic competitions. Still, it would be unwise to rule them out completely.

Liverpool have found new lease life under Kenny Dalglish and the players he has acquired albeit questionable given the Merseyside’s rich history state that they are here and ready for the challenge. Knocked off their own perch wouldn’t sit really well with the former Liverpudlian player turned manager but his passion for his beloved will drive his players to re-establish themselves as the League’s all time winners. But first they’ll have to get to 19. A timely intervention some would say.

Tottenham Hotspurs are just three weeks away from learning whether Luka Modric will be stay or leaving. The strains of the Champions League caught up with them last year and they could actually consider themselves lucky that they barely just managed a Europa League spot ahead of a rejuvenated Liverpool.  They’ll want to enter Europe’s top competition once more and having plenty to fight for will see them fight at any cost to get there.

United Road

Manchester United are aware of who’s lurking behind them but they won’t pay much attention to it.  Last season, they didn’t have the best away form and dropped just two points at home. Yet, they emerged Champions. In a season where the top 5 were disappointing - unthinkable how they would lose points to the bottom-half teams, United were the best of the worst. It was the closest a season had been in years.

Teams will be tougher to break down and Manchester United will need to keep their heads above water at all times. They’ve got a fairly young squad now – only second to Arsenal. But they also have the experience of winning the League, a drive in their manager, and the legs to carry them well over the finish line.

With a never say die attitude and the belief that is instilled within the history of the club and under it’s crest, United have little to worry about. All their main players have signed contracts or will do so in the coming weeks. It bodes well for the youth at the club that they will have senior figures to learn from while feeling secure.

Carry on…

If there’s anything United can take from last season, it’s their will to finish of teams at home and let’s not forget - a relatively injury free season to all their main players. Rio Ferdinand came back at a crucial time towards the end of the season but when the younger players were called upon, they delivered.

On the contrary, if there’s anything that they should be learning from, then it’s their exasperating ability to throw away leads when not at home. It is something that prompted pundits and people alike to favour Chelsea’s chances of silverware rather than United’s. It just so happened that while United were faulting away from home, others weren’t having the best of barbeques in their own backyard – as Chelsea and Arsenal will testify to that.

The two areas of concern to United this summer were to find an exceptional midfielder and goalkeeper for two legends who until very recently hung up their boots and gloves respectively. Ever since Scholes called it a day, many teams would be aware of United’s susceptibility in midfield.

With Anderson now having to step up to the plate, who partners him for the near future remains to be seen. Michael Carrick seems to be the given choice but Tom Cleverley who recently earned a call up to the National side is proving to be healthy competition for the senior England midfielder.

David De Gea is a terrific stopper no doubt, but one area of concern is the language. While his abilities to be a top keeper for United are there to be seen and further developed, communicating with his teammates will take some time. He and his defenders will need to sort themselves out as quick as possible because it looks like it’s going to be a tough start of the season for them; and not to mention a long one.

After Ferguson recently revealed he is likely to be their number one choice between the sticks, and with qualities that tick off most boxes on United’s paper, he will get the backing of the gaffer himself, his staff and the team. Its not easy being called in to replace a great goalkeeper especially if is at Manchester United and for the sum that you were originally bought for, but he looks like he has the character to succeed in the long run.

Let the games begin

Like any team, United will want to keep their squad as fit as possible for yet another grueling Premier league season that beckons. They used their squad with care last year making sure players were available when they needed them. There’ll be no doubt that they’ll try to accomplish last year’s feat in maintaining energy and fitness levels for the long road ahead. 20 teams and 380 league games. That’s plenty of football.

Nevertheless, this season is new. And while the bridge between the top four may have extended to a further two teams, it gives fans a lot more to be worried about – which makes great for entertainment on the other hand. Every year, when one season concludes, we look forward to the next almost impatiently. Well, it’s here.

Manchester United will want to carry on their pre-season form into the League and with just 5 goals conceded in 5 games which consisted of only victories and 23 goals for, they’ll fancy their chances at retaining the Premier League crown.