Premier League Preview 2011-12: Manchester United

Best title odds: 7/4 - PaddyPower
Best Champions League odds: 8/1 - StanJames
Last Season: 1st
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

Good news:

Barcelona can’t stop you winning the Premier League. Still good enough to win a record-breaking 19th title last time, United have strengthened again. Ashley Young is the best English midfielder that Fergie’s bought for a while and his versatility should be a real asset, not to mention the set-pieces. The £16.5m spent on Phil Jones is a punt on another impressive youngster, and if he can ever fill the boots of Rio Ferdinand he will be worth every penny. As always, the best news of all is that they still have the best manager in the history of the British game.

Bad news:

The old guys can’t stop the passage of time, though several have tried manfully. Giggs perseveres, but Scholes and Edwin van der Sar have called it a day. In many ways the latter will be the tougher to replace, if only because he was still a regular starter for the entirety of last season. David de Gea arrives with a decent reputation and a hefty price tag, but it’s always tough for keepers to follow greatness, especially in a new country. Also, the away form better improve because even United can’t win at home every match, every season.

Remember when:

Alex Ferguson announced he was retiring? Hard to believe now but the season 2001-02 was going to be last. Five more titles and another Champions League trophy have followed. Any regrets on the u-turn Sir Alex?

Verdict:

Four league wins in five seasons will always make you the team to beat. Three Champions League finals in four seasons prove that you are even great by European standards. If Rooney and Hernandez pick up where they left off in the second half of the season, there will only be one winner. Chelsea will run them close, but United know how to seal the deal.

Prediction: 1st