Ok, so the new season is just around the corner. The first hurdle of the season (the transfer window) is about to be passed and things are looking quite good. We go into next season with Wan-Bissaka and Maguire transforming our defence and the strong possibility that De Gea will sign a new contract and recover his imperious form. Elsewhere, there is a good chance that Paul Pogba will stay and the chance that we might yet get either or both Dybala and Fernandez. If you are a United fan, all of a sudden, there are real reasons to be cheerful.
That said, we all know that football matches are not won or lost in the transfer market, nor are any trophies handed out in pre-season. Yes, there are many reasons to be optimistic by like so many United fans I also recognise that we have been here before with United, only to be disappointed.
So, against the backdrop of what promises to be a very good transfer window, here are my best hopes and fears for the season ahead.
Best hopes
1. United outperform expectations - in other words, against all the odds, United put in a genuine and credible title bid. Unlikely though it may seem, I cannot help but think that if we add Dybala and Fernandez and keep Pogba and De Gea, playing at its best, this United side should be competitive.
2. Champions League qualification - to be honest, this is the absolute minimum that I would expect and not as fourth, I would expect third. In terms of personnel, if we can get Dybala and or Fernandez, I would say that we would have improved enough to make top four. The idea that we would have spent £150m to finish outside the top four again would simply be unacceptable to me.
3. The defensive problems are solved - if our back four stay fit I would reasonably expect United to ship half the goals that we did last season. The benefit of having Wan-Bissaka and Maguire at the heart of our defence should produce an instant dividend. We could even rival Liverpool and City for the best defence in the Premier League.
4. Exciting football and consistent performances - I am really hoping that we can deliver the sorts of performances that we did in Ole's first 11 games, when we looked like a team transformed. Players played to their fullest potential and the fetters came off. My best hope is that we can have a couple of incredible runs like that next season.
5. A trophy - I see absolutely no reason why United should not be winning a trophy this season. Again, injuries permitting United should be a completely different proposition this season compared to last.
My worst fears
1. We improve, but the other top six teams improve even more - this is a real worry and to be honest I expect all the top six sides that have done business to improve. For those that haven't, that Liverpool side is still in its absolute prime and Chelsea will be drawing heavily on a number of players who, with the transfer ban, will feel that they have one season to play for their futures.
2. It turns out that Ole really doesn't have a clue - the end of last season should haunt any true United fan. It was utterly shambolic. I am hoping that it was simply an aberration, something that was down to tired players and a lingering hang-over from the Mourinho era, but what if it wasn't? What if Ole really cannot rouse this group over a full Premier League campaign? Well we are about to find out?
3. Major injuries - to be honest, the loss of either Maguire or Wan-Bissaka would be disastrous for us. We have absolutely no real depth of quality in either position. The drop off if we were to see an injury to either plyer, would simply be too great.
4. The return of player power - as it stands it looks like the players want to play for Ole, which is exactly how it should be. However, I am far from convinced that if the going gets tough they won't just down tools again just like they did last season. There are players at United who are angling for moves away and others who are sitting on fat contracts, whilst using United as a retirement home. There are players in the United dressing room who know perfectly well that if push comes to shove Ole will go before they do.
Ok those are my best hopes and worst fears. What do others think?
That said, we all know that football matches are not won or lost in the transfer market, nor are any trophies handed out in pre-season. Yes, there are many reasons to be optimistic by like so many United fans I also recognise that we have been here before with United, only to be disappointed.
So, against the backdrop of what promises to be a very good transfer window, here are my best hopes and fears for the season ahead.
Best hopes
1. United outperform expectations - in other words, against all the odds, United put in a genuine and credible title bid. Unlikely though it may seem, I cannot help but think that if we add Dybala and Fernandez and keep Pogba and De Gea, playing at its best, this United side should be competitive.
2. Champions League qualification - to be honest, this is the absolute minimum that I would expect and not as fourth, I would expect third. In terms of personnel, if we can get Dybala and or Fernandez, I would say that we would have improved enough to make top four. The idea that we would have spent £150m to finish outside the top four again would simply be unacceptable to me.
3. The defensive problems are solved - if our back four stay fit I would reasonably expect United to ship half the goals that we did last season. The benefit of having Wan-Bissaka and Maguire at the heart of our defence should produce an instant dividend. We could even rival Liverpool and City for the best defence in the Premier League.
4. Exciting football and consistent performances - I am really hoping that we can deliver the sorts of performances that we did in Ole's first 11 games, when we looked like a team transformed. Players played to their fullest potential and the fetters came off. My best hope is that we can have a couple of incredible runs like that next season.
5. A trophy - I see absolutely no reason why United should not be winning a trophy this season. Again, injuries permitting United should be a completely different proposition this season compared to last.
My worst fears
1. We improve, but the other top six teams improve even more - this is a real worry and to be honest I expect all the top six sides that have done business to improve. For those that haven't, that Liverpool side is still in its absolute prime and Chelsea will be drawing heavily on a number of players who, with the transfer ban, will feel that they have one season to play for their futures.
2. It turns out that Ole really doesn't have a clue - the end of last season should haunt any true United fan. It was utterly shambolic. I am hoping that it was simply an aberration, something that was down to tired players and a lingering hang-over from the Mourinho era, but what if it wasn't? What if Ole really cannot rouse this group over a full Premier League campaign? Well we are about to find out?
3. Major injuries - to be honest, the loss of either Maguire or Wan-Bissaka would be disastrous for us. We have absolutely no real depth of quality in either position. The drop off if we were to see an injury to either plyer, would simply be too great.
4. The return of player power - as it stands it looks like the players want to play for Ole, which is exactly how it should be. However, I am far from convinced that if the going gets tough they won't just down tools again just like they did last season. There are players at United who are angling for moves away and others who are sitting on fat contracts, whilst using United as a retirement home. There are players in the United dressing room who know perfectly well that if push comes to shove Ole will go before they do.
Ok those are my best hopes and worst fears. What do others think?