United View: Bring on the new season

I don’t think I’m alone in being hopeful for the new season. Roll on August 21st.

For the first time in quite a while, I cannot wait for the season to start, as I think United under Carrick will be competing for the top spots again. Especially as other top clubs around us are dealing with huge managerial changes. 

Will Maresca be able to continue where Guardiola left off and push for the title? He certainly has the players needed to do so, but Pep is also irreplaceable, the same way that Sir Alex has proven to be irreplaceable at United. Will Iraola be able to bring his obvious talents to bear at Liverpool, whose players will likely still be reeling from a frankly terrible season? Can United beat Arsenal under Arteta to the title? That remains a big doubt, but honestly, I think the Premier League will be closer than it has been for years. 

Carrick is far from perfect, but the start he made last season after United sacked Ruben Amorim is certainly enough to inspire hope. If the new players gel, and improve the team, I’m choosing to believe that the 26/27 season could be one to remember. 

Speaking of new players, I’m both impressed and unimpressed at the same time by the signings United has made. Youri Tielemans could prove to be a bargain at £35 million, and inspire the team in a similar way to Casemiro. He has masses of experience, but at 29, should still have the ambition and drive to want to get United across the line and win a trophy or two. However, I’m still hopeful of seeing some more signings made. They don’t have to be big names, but they should at least bolster the squad in a tangible way. 

One fear I have at the time of writing is how the United players who appeared at the World Cup will start the season, given the short turnaround time; especially those who made it to the latter stages. Lisandro Martinez made it all the way to the final, but then played as part of an Argentina side who barely even showed up against Spain. 

Will the Argentinian players, Martinez included, get a good reception next season given how Argentina played? Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, who scored the equaliser that kept Argentina in the semi-final against England, is unlikely to get a good reception anywhere else than at Stamford Bridge. And even there, he may hear some boos. 

On the other hand, the players who were left out of their respective squads (such as Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw), or who were picked but then didn’t play any part (such as Mainoo) may feel they have something to prove from the first game of the season.  

Tuchel made several mistakes when it came to the England squad (leaving game-changers such as Cole Palmer and Phil Foden out) and strategy (switching to a defensive structure with 20 minutes left on the clock when 1-0 up against Argentina). And not giving Mainoo a run-out as a sub for even a minute must count as another mistake.

Regardless of what happens between now and the start of the season, roll on August 21st. This United fan is choosing to believe that better days lie ahead under Carrick and co.