Mitch Freeley

Can Manchester United push cross-town rivals Man City all the way to the Premier League title this year? The Red Devils were second best to the Citizens last year, and the gulf in talent showed with a 19 point gap between the two sides. 

All doesn’t seem well at Old Trafford, as Jose Mourinho enters his third season the pressure will be on to deliver a first Premier League title since the 2012/2013 season. Traditionally, Jose tends to crack after the third season so expect fireworks from the “Special One” on and off the pitch this campaign. 

In terms of summer signings, Brazilian International midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk is the big name, for a reported £47 million fee. Whilst fans are patiently waiting to see if Mourinho can add some quality to his squad, before transfer deadline day. 

Paul Pogba is set for a key role in the side, after playing a pivotal role in leading France to the 2018 World Cup. Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has called for more consistency from the 25-year old. Should Pogba find his form, pitching in with goals along with commanding performances in the centre of the park, then United have a credible chance of overhauling Man City. 

Transfers

In- Fred [Shakhtar Donetsk] £47m, Diogo Dalot [Porto] £19m, Lee Grant [Stoke] Undisclosed 

Out- Joe Riley [Bradford] Undisclosed, Dean Henderson [Sheffield United] Loan, Daley Blind [Ajax] £14m, Sam Johnstone [West Brom] £6.5m, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson [Scunthorpe] Loan,  Joel Pereira [Vitoria Setubal] Loan

First Five Premier League Fixtures

10/08/18 Manchester United Vs Leicester City-22:00- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
19/08/18 Brighton Vs Manchester United-18:00- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
27/08/18 Manchester United Vs Tottenham-22:00- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
01/09/18 Burnley Vs Manchester United -17:00- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
15/09/18 Watford Vs Manchester United-17:00- beIN SPORTS CONNECT

Fan View- Jamie Reid- Twitter- @JamieRfootball 

How has the summer Transfer window been? Quiet. Very quiet. Mourinho has said he presented a list of five transfer targets to the powers that be at the start of the summer – and the latest line is he “may get one”. Whether or not he is referring to the only signing of note already, Fred is unclear – but it signals frustration and unrest, and will definitely be one to watch over the coming weeks and months. There’s still time, but with the window now closing earlier it’s fast running out and progress looks to be worryingly slow.
 
Player to watch? I’m hopeful that this can finally be the year Luke Shaw realises his abundant potential. He has the raw ability to go on to become one of the best left-backs in the world – but has lacked the confidence and, some may say, the dedication off the field to reach this potential. Before he broke his leg in September 2015 he was starting regularly for United and was performing exceptionally. However, since then he has struggled for form and fitness – and has irked more than one manager with his laid-back attitude. However, without a World Cup in his legs and coming into the new season off the back of an intensive individual fitness camp in Dubai he looks to be in the best shape he’s ever been. Add to that the possibility Ashley Young will likely to be eased back into action after a long summer away with England, Shaw should get his chance to impress in the early stages of the season. Time for him to step up and take it.
 
How’s the manager going to do? Mourinho continues to divide opinion among fans and media. It’s also his notorious third season – a mark he has only passed once in his managerial career (before leaving acrimoniously early into the fourth). It has to be said the noises from the US tour so far have been far from positive – and the standoff between the club and the manager over Anthony Martial – who the board clearly deem a better long-term prospect than Mourinho, is very interesting and one to keep an eye on.
 
While Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea fans will be heading into the new season looking forward to every game, there is a sense of trepidation around Old Trafford at the moment – with the tone set by a miserable manager. A pattern we have seen too many times before. He’s unlikely to be in charge this time next year, would be my prediction.
 
What would be a dream season for your team? Obviously bringing the title back to Old Trafford for the first time since Sir Alex’s retirement has to be the ambition – and with the squad assembled it should be an attainable goal, but unfortunately it just doesn’t feel like it is at the moment. Even before the start of the current window I would have said – as much as it pains me to do – that Liverpool seems to be better placed to challenge City for the title. As the season nears and given their business compared to United’s, that feeling is even stronger.
 
Premier League finish? Unless significant business is completed between now and 9 August, and the mood of the manager improves – I would struggle to see United finishing any higher than fourth. City, Liverpool and Chelsea - with a new manager – are all likely to be ahead of where United are currently, while Spurs and Arsenal will also be in the mix for Champions League spots.

beIN SPORTS Prediction- 3
(Note this is an average of the predictions from the beIN SPORTS team)

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