In under a weeks' time, Manchester United will kickoff their 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season, and they will be hungry to return the trophy to Old Trafford this season.
United have already captured the 2010 FA Community Shield with a thrilling 3-1 victory over last year's Premier League champion, Chelsea, which shows their intent to overturn their misfortunes from last season.
The Reds just lost out on retaining the title for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season by the slimmest of margins, so with more focus and a little bit of luck, they should be able to return the trophy to where it rightfully belongs.
Since the inception of the Premier League in the 1992/93 season, United have been the most successful club by winning 11 out of a previous 18, and if they add number 12, they will surpass their most-hated rival, Liverpool, as the most successful domestic club in English history.
Attack
Last season Wayne Rooney had a breakout year in terms of scoring as he finished second in the league in scoring to Chelsea's Didier Drogba with 26 goals in just 32 appearances.
More than likely Rooney will not replicate those numbers again this season, so it is vital for other players to contribute their fair share of goals.
Going into this season, Sir Alex Ferguson has five top-class strikers at his disposal - Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owem, Federico Macheda and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez.
In many of the supporters' eyes, Berbatov has not lived up to the expectations since his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2008. What those supporters fail to recognize is that Berbatov contributes more than just goals, because his languish-style portrays him as being lazy, but he is anything but as he gets other involved in the United attack.
The Bulgarian, who scored the final goal in the Community Shield, only chipped in with 12 goals in 33 appearances, so he must improve his goal return or he faces a long season on the bench.
Like Berbatov, Owen needs to remain fit or he too faces a long, cold season in the United dugout, because the likes of Chicharito and Macheda are out to prove themselves. The former Liverpool ace scored three vital goals in his 19 Premier League appearances, but to his dismay, his season ended prematurely when he went down during the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa in February.
Chicharito signed for the Reds in April, and has been a revelation in the build up to the start of the season by scoring in every game he has appeared in. The 22-year old Mexican international scored on his full-competitive debut for United against Chelsea - which will be perhaps his most unlikeliest of finishes.
To his credit, Macheda, who is still only 18, was vibrant in pre-season as well by capturing Man of the Match honors in the 5-2 win over the MLS All-Stars on the Tour 2010. As a 17-year old, Macheda's name became etched into United's folklore when he scored an incredible curling effort against Aston Villa on his first-team debut.
Defense
Last season to say that United endured an injury-hell would be the understatement of the century, because they faced the best-part of the month of December with only one fit defender.
Only Patrice Evra, who appeared in all of United's 38 matches last season, was fit and he forced to line-up along side center midfielders, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher in defense in two of the matches.
To help provide cover, Sir Alex purchased Chris Smalling from Fulham in January, but the tall center-back did not join up until July. The 6'4" defender is only 20-years old, but is seen as the long-term replacement for the often-injured Rio Ferdinand. Smalling is very skillful and composed on the ball, but he has had a very hit-and-miss pre-season.
Inactive
Sir Alex has opted not to delve into the transfer market, because he has said that there is not a player that excites him, which could either contain truth or be a bluff.
The one player that Sir Alex has yet to confirm or deny the rumors about Werder Bremen's Mesut Ozil. The young Turkish-born, German international was one of the hits at the 2010 FIFA World Cup this summer, but with only a year remaining on his contract, Ozil could remain at Werder until it expires next June.
Many United supporters would like to see the Gaffer add to the current squad, but as Ferguson said, he is not going to buy to appease them with squad player.
With Manchester City spending close to £200 million on just four players, so it has the red half of Manchester yearning for a marquee signing especially with no sight to when Owen Hargreaves will be returning from his injury lay-off.
Midfielders
Hargreaves has suffered yet another setback in his quest to return to the United line-up, and his future remains in doubt as his knees continue to give him problems.
With the leadership of the old gems, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, Ferguson does not need many additions to the center of United's midfield. The United boss also has the luxury of having players like Anderson, Darron Gibson, Carrick, Fletcher and young Tom Cleverley to fill in as well.
Cleverley was thought to be going out on loan to another Premier League club, but with the need to get goals from the midfielder Sir Alex has opted to keep the young midfielder.
Even though United does not have a true left-sided winger in their ranks, the likes of Ji-Sung Park, Gabriel Obertan and Nani will fill that void quite nicely.
Player
After showing his potential in the second-half of last season, Nani should continue to mature in grow in stature with the Old Trafford faithful.
When playing in his preferred position on the right wing, Nani torched some of the most consistent defenders with either his blinding pace and trickery or with his pinpoint crossing.
The Portuguese winger should face a stiff challenge from Rooney and Valencia for this season's player of the year as he begins to emerge from the shadows of his former club and country teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, and should dazzle in the Premier League this season.
With the capture of the FA Community Shield over their top league rival, the supporters of Manchester United are quite optimistic that the destination 2010/11 Barclays Premier League trophy will again be Old Trafford.
First XI (4-2-3-1)
E. van der Sar; J. O'Shea, R. Ferdinand, N. Vidic, P. Evra; D. Fletcher, P. Scholes; R. Giggs, A. Valencia, Nani; W. Rooney
Top Scorer Predictions
1 - W. Rooney
2 - J. Hernandez
3 - Nani
4 - D. Berbatov
5 - A. Valencia
Table Predictions
1 - Manchester United
2 - Chelsea
3 - Manchester City
4 - Arsenal
5 - Liverpool
6 - Tottenham Hotspur
7 - Everton
8 - Fulham FC
9 - Aston Villa
10 - Sunderland
11 - Birmingham City
12 - Newcastle United
13 - Blackburn Rovers
14 - Stoke City
15 - Bolton Wanderers
16 - West Ham United
17 - West Bromwich Albion
18 - Wolverhampton Wanderers
19 - Wigan Athletic
20 - Blackpool
Contributed by David Hammons / United View From Abroad
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