Is This Our Year?

As the new season approaches United fans around the World will be asking themselves, "Is this our year?"

Following pre-season there are reasons to be cheerful; Scholes, Heinzé, Giggs and Solskjaer are on form, Saha is fit, we're scoring goals, the youngsters are great, Ronaldo is thriving off the "rough treatment", positive results and apart from the departure of Van Nistelrooy we've kept our core players.

But as always it seems with United's pre-season injuries have struck. Carrick is out until the game versus Tottenham & Rooney, Neville and Ferdinand are all struggling to make the opening League showdown against Fulham at Old Trafford and there's also the FA decision to come on whether Scholes and Rooney will be banned for three matches after silly red cards in the Amsterdam tournament.

Last season United's hopes of challenging for the major honours were hit badly by injuries and inconsistency in selections and performances. Long term injuries occured with Heinzé, Giggs, Scholes, Saha, Keane, Neville & Solskjaer (any I've missed?) as well as Ronaldo taking time off due to the death of his father. Injuries to big players like that would cripple any side and United found themselves losing against inferior opposition at home and in Europe, falling behind in Europe and embarrasingly dropping out of the group stages of the Champions League.

As always Ferguson was told to step down by those in the media but as always he got the team playing football again. We finished second within 8 points of Chelsea, which is an achievment considering the points difference at Christmas and we won a piece of silverware, albeit the Carling Cup.

Now as we gear up for a new season the papers and pundits alike are claiming Liverpool are better than United because they've signed Bellamy, Pennant, Gonzales, Palletta & Aurelio. Players who in my opinion wouldn't make the United bench.

United have signed Michael Carrick and Tomasz Kusczak and are in the process of signing another midfielder and possibly a striker. With the high profile departures of Van Nistelrooy, Fortune, Howard (on loan), Foster (on loan) and Spector.

As it stands I think United can have a succesful season and these are the players I have earmarked as our key men:

Rio Ferdinand:
In my opinion the best defender in the World, cool, calm, elegant and makes defending look easy. If he can steer away from injury and maintain his form United's defence will be unbeatable, with Gabi and Nev on the flanks and Vidic or Wes partnering him we have one of the best defence's in the World, and he's the key component to that.

Cristiano Ronaldo:
If he can shrug off the boo boys and do his talking with his feet he'll be hard to handle. At the end of last season he found an end product and the World Cup has seen him progress as a player, it was vital United held onto him and he can lead United into a new era.

Paul Scholes:
United missed him sorely last season and his vision, goals, distribution and presence are what United need in the midfield. He has looked sharp in pre-season and if he can keep that up throughout the season we can expect a good goals return and he can have a big impact on the team.

Wayne Rooney:
With Van Nistelrooy now departed it is vital he doesn't pick up an injury or suspensions as he is now our key figure up front. Alongside Saha last season he was dangerous and if he and Saha can cover the goals Van Nistelrooy was scoring United will be taking steps closer to getting their trophy back!

Of course there are players such as Van Der Sar, Neville, Heinzé, Giggs, Carrick and Saha but if those players are on their game you can guarantee United are playing at the top of their game, exciting, flowing, beautiful football but also winning.

THE GAFFER:

If you believe the papers Sir Alex is under pressure this year and this is his "make or break" season, that's "bollocks" as the great man himself said after the Chelsea game last season. Of course he wants to knock Chelsea off their fuckin' perch but I don't think his job is under pressure.

Regardless of how many times you say it the last two seasons have been transitional and this summer it looks like United are finally becoming a unit, with top players in each position and look like a Championship winning side again.Which manager would have got United a trophy and a 2nd place position last season? Nobody but Fergie!

He's made moves into the transfer market already with the big signing of Carrick and a cover goalkeeper in young and talented Pole - Tomasz Kusczak.

He has also promised atleast one more midfielder and there is a possibility he could sign a striker with United being linked with Torres, Tevez & Adriano.He has also brought on the "reserves" and they look a promising bunch who can give United cover in case of serious injury problems, which is pleasing.

Fergie will be around for a while yet and I can't wait to see the man at his best this year!

VERDICTS:

Premier League:
United will be pushing the Russians this term all the way, an improved midfield with new boy Carrick and fit again Scholes and I can see United going all the way. It will be tight though and my verdict is... Winners/Runners Up by a couple of points.

Champions League:
I think United's focus on the Premier League may take an edge away from the Champions League although with players like Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs & Scholes you can never right us off. My verdict...Semi Finals.

FA Cup:
It's hard to make a verdict on the FA Cup as anyone can win it, I think United can win it and because of that I'll say they'll win it. My verdict...Winners.

Carling Cup:
Our youngsters are impressive and I can see Fergie fielding his fledglings in this tournament, maybe the latter stages for the Class of '06. My verdict...Quarter Finals.

Top Scorer:
Louis Saha - United need a big season from this man and if he can stay injury free we can expect a good return of 20 plus from him.

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