Beginning of a New Era for Reds?

Coming into last season there was very little optimism amongst United fans that we'd win the title after three seasons of 'rebuilding' for a new era.

I though, as the eternal optimist, predicted in this blog that United would win the league for a sixteenth time as I've always believed that Sir Alex would turn around the club's fortunes and that with the Reds in his hands success would return.

There was the departure of our most influential player and captain, Roy Keane, the exit of our goal machine and fan favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid and being without Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to name but two for long periods of time through injury.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher & John O'Shea were all a year older and had all gained more experience and last season was an indication that these four players were coming along nicely especially the explosive pairing of Wazza & Ronnie that along with veterans Scholes and Giggs were influential as United claimed a NINTH Premier League title.

Our football was breathtaking, goals from every position and our back four were water tight - with the second strongest defence in the league and the best attack in the country United were rightly Champions.

Unlike the summer prior United have splashed the cash on players and have strengthened in the midfield and attacking positions. Deals have been struck for Owen Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez who come in to give United, on paper, one of the best squads in the world.

The players that have come in will have to work hard to break into the team but are players who will bring with them different things and blend in with playing football 'the United way'.

There has also been returns to the United squad for Ben Foster, Jonny Evans, Danny Simpson, Phil Bardsley and Gerard Piqué who will all be vying for a first team position this season.

The amount of talent at United is obvious, we now have a squad capable of challenging on all four fronts and a squad which will be one of, if not the, favourites to win any competition we play in.

There have been a few exits though. Kieran Richardson failed to live up to his potential and was snapped up by ex-United player Roy Keane, Guiseppe Rossi has made a permanent move to Villareal (although we could see Joe Red back at United) and Alan Smith has also signed for Big Sam's Newcastle - expect Gabriel 'I want to be a Dipper' Heinze to be added to that list of high profile United exits any time soon too!

Still with those exits we have a squad capable of dominating English and European football again.

Last season's success in the league was great but the defeats in the Cup Final and to AC Milan in the Champions League semi final still haunt some of the players and fans and rightly so, we were in a position to do a Double atleast but squad fatigue and injuries hit us hard especially in the San Siro.

With our squad now I see United pushing on in all competitions and with a squad that potentially could repeat the heroics of 1999.

Predictions

Barclays Premiership
Last Season: Champions

United's football was too much last season for any one to handle, we got off to a great start and never looked back, bouncing back from defeats emphatically and having players like Cristiano Ronaldo who could pull a victory out of the bag when it seemed unlikely.

We all know how difficult it is to win the title consecutively but with the experience of the manager and players such as Neville, Giggs, Scholes and Solskjaer to aide the boys who have just won their first titles expect very little space for complacency add that to the new signings and the return of a few young stars bringing a fight for a start in the first XI, I expect United to retain the title - it won't be easy though with Chelsea sure to be snapping at our heels every inch of the way.

Prediction: Champions..again!

UEFA Champions League
Last Season: Semi Finalists

United played some great football in the Champions Leagues last season beating AC Milan and Roma (unforgettably!) making massive improvements on recent campaigns in Europe but come the second leg of the semi final fatigue, injuries and luck seemed to turn against us at the wrong time.

We still need to address our performances away from Old Trafford in Europe as we suffered FOUR defeats on the road last year but with new signings coming in, particularly with the pedigree and talents of Owen Hargreaves I expect that to change and United should see more success for it.

Prediction: Finalists

FA Cup
Last Season: Runners Up

We all know about the luck involved in winning the FA Cup but it's also about the hunger, desire and passion to win the famous competition. Last season we ran out of luck in the final with a penalty or goal being denied in one incident and the fact we were the first team to taste defeat in a FA Cup Final at the New Wembley will I'm sure provide enough incentive to the team this time around.

Prediction: Finalists

Carling Cup
Last Season: Fourth Round

With United having such a big squad now and with a lot of the loanees returning I see this competition being used as a chance to give those players first team football.

I know the players that we have brought back are very talented but with this being our fourth priority to the other competitions I see us having the same sort of impact on this competition as last season.

Saying that you never know with cup football and we have the talent there to win it, obviously.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

This may seem like a set of very biased predictions but honestly these are with my head as much as my heart and right now United are the team to beat and have the squad too which some say we haven't had before.

I'm always excited before a new season but even more so this time around. Sitting at Wembley for the Community Shield all I could think about was being at Old Trafford for the big kick off against Reading.

The acquisitions of Carlos Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson have bolstered United and have made us a promising outfit. Fergie has brought together players that will be around for a very long time and can stick together to allow us United fans to enjoy another period of domination.

Of course if you give me the option now I'd take league success on it's own in the blink of an eye but we now have the players and the squad to challenge on all four fronts and be favourites, or one of atleast, in any competition we enter.

The excitement is building and the curtain will raise at Old Trafford tomorrow on what will be I'm sure another successful year for Manchester United.