Manchester United must improve on an eighth-place finish from last season, with signs from pre-season being positive.
While Erik ten Hag has not managed to sweep everyone off their feet with results during pre-season, he has managed to make noticeable improvements in the way Manchester United are playing football.
Even despite defeat in the Community Shield last Saturday, there were several positives for United to take from the game, with one being that for large periods, City were on the ropes.
The double additions of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui this week from Bayern Munich means now United have brought in four new players this summer to bolster a fairly weak squad.
Now, the wait is over and United is about to start the season, and one BBC pundit thinks second place is where this new version of United will finish.
Steve Sidwell predicts second place for Manchester United
With the new season hours away, BBC pundit Steve Sidwell has issued a surprising prediction on where United will finish this season, going against every other pundit on the platform.
Sidwell put Ten Hag’s United in second place for his top-four prediction, just behind Man City – a spot which we imagine the club would take in a heartbeat with few thinking United will be anywhere near the top of the pile.
“United are a big shout for second but they could surprise a few people”, the former Aston Villa midfielder explained, before continuing to praise the transfer business being done by those at the helm of the Red Devils.
“At times it was a hard watch under Erik ten Hag last season but I feel this squad has grown, and with some shrewd signings like Matthijs de Ligt it propels them higher.”
Sidwell was not done here though as he also tipped one player to impress if given the chance.
“Watch out for 20-year-old midfielder Toby Collyer – if given a chance he could be a shining star just like Kobbie Mainoo.”
Sidwell was at Brighton for two years when Collyer would have been around the U13s to U15s, so there is a chance he has known of the midfielder’s talent for years.
Manchester United will do better than many people think
After the horror show that was last season, it is easy to understand why people have little faith in United this coming season, but so much has changed and things look significantly better already.
For a start, the coaching staff has all changed along with the hierarchy and the general feeling around the football club.
It is not just off the pitch that things have been levelled up though, with United impressing through pre-season with impressive performances which deserved wins – including the Community Shield in which City were lucky it went to penalties.
This is why we reckon that a top-four finish could quietly be nailed on for United this season – but so many tangibles could change that so we need to wait and see.
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