da gbg bet： After the noisy neighbours have just gone one better than last season and won the curtain opener for the Premier League, the Charity Shield, United fans are beginning to wonder just how well both they and City will do this season – yes City have not bought anyone, but in reality they did not really need to. Chelsea and Arsenal have spent big, yet United have not really been flashing the cash, despite promises to the contrary, with a failed attempt at a capture of Lucas Moura and the on-going battle for RVP. With only a week left until the start of the new season, just how will United fair in the Premier League?
da betsul： Signing of the Summer –
With very limited activity on that front, even Wayne Rooney could tell you that Kagawa wins this category hands down. For just under the £20 million mark, United have signed themselves a highly rated up and coming player who has made waves in Europe and deservedly caught the eye of Fergie and has not failed to deliver during a mightily impressive pre-season. Yes, Nick Powell also arrived from Crewe but is more one for the future than right now, with a period of adjustment required. Of course, United will hope to get a couple more players in before the window closes, so there may yet be a wold class arrival at Old Trafford, but for now it is the Japanese winger who most fans will be excited to see.
One to Watch – After a disappointing end to a season that looked like providing so much for Tom Cleverley last year, the midfielder will be looking to stay injury free this campaign and get the first team place he is more than capable of holding down. With an impressive Olympics and couple of pre-season games for United, the young player is showing exactly why fans missed him so much during his lengthy injury spells last season. With an injury free season this time round – not to mention having such experience and class around him to learn from, Cleverley is the one to keep an eye on this season.
Breakthrough Year –
Nick Powell may be the player that people point to here, and that is a more than valid assumption with the new signing looking to make his mark and wrestle his way into the first team, and it would certainly be slightly more of a competitive category had players such as Pogba and Fryers not made moves this summer to the annoyance of Fergie and the fans, yet there are still former youth team players such as defender Scott Wootton who will be looking to make their mark and try to step up to the first team – or at the very least make an impact on loan somewhere.
He Doesn’t Deserve To Wear The Shirt –
Whilst may felt that De Gea deserved time to bed in last season, with the massive adjustment from La Liga to the more physical Premier League, there will be little room for error this time out and if the Spaniard felt pressure last season it will be nothing compared to this time round, and from previous showings this is something he cannot deal with – couple this with a poor Olympics for Spain and the signs are not good for the keeper.
Prospects In Europe –
There are few United fans who will have been happy with last season’s showing in either of Europe’s cup competitions, and everyone associated with the club will want to show exactly who they feel United are made of this season on the biggest stage. If they can do this however, remains to be seen, with clubs like Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern worlds ahead of the club at the minute. Given the lack of arrivals at the club this summer thus far and the form of the other European giants, an appearance in the quarter finals would be a good achievement for United – and should the draw favour them, a run at the semis.
And Retaining The Title…
Whilst it does not seem that United will be in a battle for a Champions League spot, it cannot be ignored that Arsenal have bought well, as have Chelsea this summer, and with City looking that bit better after a year of experience and having the benefit of having done it once, it looks like a big ask for Fergie’s men to regain the title. Of course United fans will point to the fact it is harder for City to retain than get it a first time, not to mention the fact they only have themselves to blame for missing out last season, so it looks like a fight to the end yet again.
What Will They End Up With
Carling Cup – Usually not taken as seriously as the other competitions by United, a knock out in the quarter finals is the prediction here
FA Cup – Probably the most likely trophy for Fergie’s men to win – they will go all the way
Premier League – It will be a close race, but City will just pip them to the post and United will finish 2nd
Champions League – Depending on the draw, anything can happen but a scape through in the last 16 and then crashing out in the last 8 is what seems likely here.