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Silverware - Our 18th top flight trophy?
As another member has pointed out, Manchester United will be able to win a lot of trophies in the next 12 months. Clearly, our defence of the Premier League and Champions League titles will be of utmost importance with another domestic title putting us on par with Liverpool’s long-standing record of 18 top flight trophies, but every piece of Silverware is a welcome addition to the trophy cabinet(s) and means an extra entry in Man Utd’s Wikipedia page. Ian Rush had best ring John Terry for his left over boxes of Kleenex!
Retaining the UEFA Champions League will be a HUGE challenge. Something only a handful of clubs have achieved, including Nottingham Forest! If Sir Alex can mastermind back to back doubles, it will surely be considered one of the biggest achievements in club football history!
Trophies that are up for grabs:
Fifa World Club Cup
UEFA Super Cup
Community Shield
UEFA Champions League
Barclays Premier League
Carling Cup
FA Cup
Player Transfers
One of the most debated topics on the forum. Will we break the bank for a star signing or will we take a more sensible approach in lieu of our delicate financial situation?
In addition, United fans have not been able to agree on the positions that should be “restocked” by Fergie, so it will be interesting to see how our predictions will fare in comparison to the eventual outcome.
Benzema, Huntelaar, Alves or Fabiano? Whoever Fergie signs will be a breath of fresh air and the fans will eagerly anticipate every rumour and appearance of the newcomer(s).
Who will be leaving?
As with any big club, it is inevitable to avoid player departures – wanted on unwanted.
Will we be in for any shocks or will we see the manifestation of rumours that have already started to surface?
Players that the media is anticipating to leave:
Pique
Silvestre
Saha
Last, but not least, will Ronaldo stay, or will he go?
Who SHOULD be leaving?
- Dong, Pique, Fletcher, Saha
Crooney will give me an earful, but I believe it might be time for Fletcher to get some regular football. He will have a big decision to make this summer – stay on and be a bit-part player for the reigning England and European champs or make his name at a club where he can be a first team player. Is Scotland’s vice-captain willing to be a squad player?
Euro 2008 – will the tournament throw up any potential stars?
Football fans around the world will be heaving a huge sigh of relief as they will be able to partially satisfy their appetite for football with this summer’s EURO 2008 competition.
Many of Europe’s brightest stars will be on display and it is a brilliant opportunity for rising stars to confirm their reputations and for lesser known players to show their ability in Europe’s biggest shop window.
Will Fergie spot the next Solskjaer or will he sign another Poborsky?
Interesting player battles:
Established players will be looking to keep their spot in the starting line-up while the newer players will be vying to be amongst the first eleven.Goalkeepers
Foster – Will he usurp VDS?
Some fans have already called for reinforcements in the goalkeeping department.
With Heaton going out on a season long loan to Cardiff, it will be interesting to see if Kuszczak will follow suite or f he can give Ben Foster some competition to replace Edwin van der Sar as United’s custodian.
Defenders
Gazza and Brown - The battle for right back
Our club captain has supposedly been fit for the past 8 weeks, but has been kept out of the squad by Wes Brown’s good form. (Never thought I’d ever writ or say that).
Will Wes keep his place or will Fergie make good on his statement that Gary will start at right back next season?
Another point consider, if Evans and Pique are still around next season, will they be able to get some games while the Vidic and Ferdinand partnership reign supreme?
Midfielders
The rise of Nani and Anderson?
Boy, have the made a statement of intent in their debut season.
Anderson has been a revelation. Nani has made some very important contributions and while he still tries to hard to be like his hero Ronaldo, I have no problem if he turns out to be just as good. The red card against Wigan might have been a good wake up call for him and I cannot wait to see how Anderson and him progress next season.
Anderson has an amazing temperament and I have very big hopes for him. We all know what he can do to Fabregas. Will he be able to do that to the rest of our opponents?
Hargreaves – what is his best position and is he a future captain in the making?
Originally bought as a defensive midfielder, his ability on the right has been a very pleasant surprise. In truth, his ability to rule on the right has been more impressive than his displays in the middle of the pitch. His crosses have been sorely missed at Man Utd, so I wonder if we will see him boss the centre of the park like he did at Bayern or if he will continue to be a victim of his own versatility.
In addition, I think Owen Hargreaves has the temperament to be a great on-field leader. The debates have already been raging who our club captain should be for next season and Rio seems to get a lot of fans’ nods, but I think that Hargo might have a good chance of the captaincy or co-captaincy, if he has a solid season in 08/09.
Ronaldo – will he start BEHAVING like the world’s best player?
Brilliant players can be very eccentric, but I’m getting very tired of Ronaldo’s antics and I would be so happy for him, if he starts behaving like the world’s best player, since he already plays like the world’s best. A positive shift in his mindset will probably take him to yet another level and if it happens, the world had better watch out. And Real Madrid had better be prepared to write a fatter cheque!
Strikers
Tevez – Will he suffer from sophomore season syndrome?
Manucho and THE OTHER new striker
The highly anticipated arrival of Manucho and an additional striker will be a welcome boost to the attacking department. Will they flop or come out on top?
Rooney – Will Fergie figure out his best position and will he stop missing those sitters?
Young ‘uns
Simpson, Pique, Eagles, Campbell and Evans – Will they get a look in?
Wellbeck and Posseborn – younger, but possibly more talented, can they leap frog the above-mentioned?
*Edit - So, Pique has already left, giving even more chances for Jonny Evans to prove himself next season. I realy hope Fergie will give himse some chances and that he will take those chances.
Also, as of the 6th of July, Frazier Campbell has still not been sold and i wonder if he will be loaned out to Hull or if he will stay at United for back up.
It’s been a while since some academy players rose through the ranks and established themselves as first team players. Some 15 years, if I am not mistaken.
Will Fergie give them the chance and if so, will they step up?
It is very satisfying as a fan to watch young guns rise from obscurity to stardom and I really wish it for our academy players. It would increase the academy’s reputation and save the club lots of money.
The captaincy
Who will be wearing the captain's armband next season?
Will Gary Neville still be the club captain even though his fitness and form are big question marks?
Will Fergie decide to bestow the captaincy upon a younger fitter general like Rio Ferdinand?
Sir Alex has already stated that he will 'phase out' Scholes and Giggs and I doubt that Giggs will even be co-captain next season.
Maybe there will be a compromise, whereby Gazza and Rio are co-captains.