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Manchester United head into the 2019-2020 season with renewed expectations. The team now believes it can finally extinguish the dark cloud that has lingered since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Ole Gunnar Solsksjaer will lead the side in his first full season after taking over from Jose Mourinho. During his first stint as the United manager, he got the traditional attacking mentality back in the side. To some extent, United fans started believing again after winning 11 out of Solskjaer's first 12 matches in charge.
However, the final push to the end of the season saw United's weaknesses exposed. That was simply down to personnel; United did not quality players who deserved to wear that prestigious jersey.
Apart from Paul Pogba and David de Gea, very few others could even be considered as genuine world class talent.
It was clear that some piece of transfer business had to be done this summer. There was belief that players such as Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Phil Jones and Matteo Darmian would be first out of the door for various reasons. But shockingly, it was Ander Herrera that United failed to hold on to.
The Red Devils have made some signings in a bid to strength the defence and attacking areas. The right wing and overall defence needed some boost, and the midfield and central defence are still areas of concern for Solskjaer.
The start of the Premier League is less than two weeks away, with United set to host Chelsea first up. Given the nature of the slow transfer business, if Solskjaer was to work with what he has today, this would probably be his strongest lineup for the opener against The Blues.
(As with last season, the ideal formation is 4-3-3 to ensure that there are some bodies in central midfield, utilising the pace of what is potentially an exciting and fast front line).
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
There are reports that De Gea has agreed a bumper new contract to remain at Old Trafford. This is good for stability, as the Spaniard has proven his worth in the last five seasons.
Despite his dip in form last season, he still remains United's top shot-stopper. Having a backup such as Sergio Romero isn't too bad either, is it?
Defenders: Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The defence has received a huge boost with the addition of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The right back offers a solid option and creates that competitive edge to Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot. His pre-season showings - including a 100% tackle success rate - show that he can replicate his Crystal Palace form at United.
Central defence is still an issue for United. If the Harry Maguire deal does not fall through then on their best day, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are the starters in this setup.
When fit, the Ivorian can produce a solid performance. Lindelof on the other hand really stepped up his game last season to become the first defensive name on the team sheet.
Shaw also proved to be a nightmare with his speed and even scored his first goal for the club against Leicester City. He has steadily grown into that left back position; barring an injury, he should be the first choice left back.
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay
If the season was to start today, Solskjaer would use this giant of a midfield in the wake of Ander Herrera leaving for France. Despite speculation over his future, Pogba has shown great professionalism by reporting for pre-season duty. He and David de Gea remain the two most irresistible talents in the side.
Nemanja Matic is an experienced midfielder who can provide cover for the back four. Due to his advancing age, his contribution to the attack may be limited to set pieces and long forward balls.
Scott McTominay has come of age in the United shirt. Solskjaer's vision is to build a team around youthful players who can serve the club for years to come. And the Scot's rise to the first team has been a significant step in that direction.
McTominay put in a decent shift against Barcelona when they lost 1-0 last season. This season will be crucial in his development given that starting slots are up for grabs due to the departures and Solskjaer's policy of giving all players a chance to prove themselves.
Attackers: Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Daniel James
The United front line reads like this: youth, pace and the potential to torment defenders. Solskjaer has taken the route of building a team around youthful players, and pre-season has shown that he is not afraid to throw the youngsters into the deep end.
Daniel James has already shown his high fitness levels and is no doubt one of the fastest players on the pitch. His pace will be pivotal, especially when United are building from the back or ultimately in full counter-attacking mode.
Marcus Rashford has been Solskjaer's trusted man to lead the attack and that is set to be replicated this season. Anthony Martial on the other hand is set to be given another chance to prove his worth.
We all know what he did to Liverpool on his debut a couple of seasons ago. The French forward could get chances on both the left wing and in the central attacking role, depending on tactics.
On paper, the prospect of the trio flourishing under Solskjaer is very much possible. Will the Norwegian's project succeed? Only time will tell, starting with the opening game against Chelsea in under two weeks' time.
