Manchester United: 7 Reasons They'll Be Stronger Than City This Season

Writing an article like this is like putting jam down with wasps around. Like writing about the Glazers with bitter United supporters. Like writing about Luis Suarez at all; or indeed anything about Liverpool when you're a Red to the core United fan...

So here goes. Some of you might think it would be hard to be convincing. Let's hope by the time you've read this, you'll be chuckling with glee at the discomfiture of the Bitters...

Shinji Kagawa is just one reason. I don't normally get carried away. There was the day we signed Cristiano Ronaldo, shortly after I'd watched the wiry 17-year-old destroy United single-handedly in a preseason.

There was the time I was on assignment and, having watched the transfer rumours minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day...as you do...., that I read the unimaginable words that Sir Alex had signed Michael Owen! Whaaatttt? I ran round the office until people thought I should be locked away.

So to pick Shinji after just five competitive games (he only had two minutes in the sixth) is on calm reflection. Sir Alex has a track record of taking promise and turning it into greatness. Look at the Class of 92, for example.

This lad is a gem. I am coming round to the view that he can indeed be the new Paul Scholes, which is an albatross to hang round anyone's neck. But just one thing that I have heard over and over stands out and that is the word "intelligent." He is an absolute steal at £12 million plus add-ons.

Forget Lucas Moura, or even Sami Nasri. Kagawa and a rejuvenated Anderson/Cleverley could save United another £30 million. And having watched Oscar in all his Olympic matches, I can see the talent, but he looks a little frail for the robust away days in the Premier League.

Strength in Depth

This is what I'm talking about. Those of you who read my articles regularly know that I have crowed about the Keane twins. It's such a tragedy that Will had the knee injury on England duty because he was ready to rock. Like him, his brother Michael was likely to go into the First Team squad this season.

Will Keane will be an England striker for years, and I've likened him to Denis Bergkamp or Teddy Sheringham.

But I'm scared by how fast Michael Keane is maturing. If you were mean, you could pan him for missing two sitters against Hannover, BUT he was playing right back! What was he doing there? This lad has a goal sense like his brother. But he can play left-back, center-back and against the German side was drafted in at right-back!

No, this is not all about Michael Keane, but he's a very good example. Ahead of him in defence are: Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Rafael, Evans, Smalling, Jones and Fabio, when he returns. There are also Wootton, Fornasier, Blackett, Thorpe, Vermijl, James, McGinty, Brown, etc. Get the picture?

Oh, and there's a certain Freddy Veseli, the former Switzerland U17 captain who is now 19 and released six months ago by....Manchester City.

And we haven't even discussed midfield or strikers...

Giving Youth a Chance

If you're good enough, you'll get your chance, and the money will follow you at United.

Those words fell on deaf ears with Paul Pogba and Zeki Fryers. Why? Sheer greed. Oh, and by the way, Fryers is neither listed as a transfer out by United, nor a transfer in by Spurs yet. Watch this space...

Ravel Morrison was a waste of space, yet another outrageous talent wasted. He didn't play a single match for West Ham last year and has now gone on loan to Birmingham. Great business for £1 million. Not.

Tyler Blackett (above) was one of only five defenders taken by United to South Africa and China. He looks a star of the future and on that showing comfortably ahead of Robby Brady for left back.

So what about Freddy Veseli? City supporters will tell you he just wasn't good enough. You mean like Danny Sturridge wasn't; Micah Richards isn't good enough to hold down a regular place, despite being Team GB's standout in the Olympic Games.

What must Dedryck Boyata or Abdul Razak think when City go out and spend £15 million on Jack Rodwell and Mancini says he'll take another two years to mature?

When you look at the appearance record for City last year, two things stand out: their astonishing luck in not having many injuries (less than 170 player days missed) and how thinly the appearances were spread. 

They only used 22 players in total in the EPL and ECL;  two of those, Razak and Onuoha got one substitute appearance each! Only 17 players got at least 10 starts.

In comparison, United used 29 players in the EPL and Europe, and 22 got at least 10 starts.

In all competitions, United called on 35 different players, of whom 13 were 21 or under.

Some people have cited United's dependence on younger players this season and an aging Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as a sign of weakness, but remember Fergie's Fledglings. 

Meanwhile, young master Veseli was also one of only five defenders to go on the three match first leg of the tour, and there's a bundle of youngsters who will get their chance at United this season and next including at least half a dozen who will go on loan this year.

Strength in Midfield

Remember him? He may not be ahead of Carrick in the selection stakes this season, but he is starting to look back to his best—the way he did against City in the Community Shield with Tom Cleverley a year ago—and that could save Sir Alex a bundle of money.

Now let's be honest. David Silva is simply world class, as is Yaya Toure; one day Sami Nasri may also be. But Gareth Barry, James Milner and Adam Johnson aren't.

City have added Jack Rodwell, who is two years away from being a first team certainty. Unless they sign other players, they will again have to pick from Silva, Toure, Milner, Nasri, Barry, De Jong and Johnson this time around; and the last two are rumoured for the exit.

Meanwhile United can pick from: Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Anderson, Cleverley, Nani, Valencia, Young, Kagawa and Powell.

In addition, they can call on Tunnicliffe, Lingard, Bebe, Brady, Cole and Petrucci, all of whom will get a chance.

And then of course if they are desperate, they can draft Wayne Rooney into midfield, especially if Robin Van Persie comes...

Tactical Flexibility

This is England's strike force for years to come. Get used to it.

And yet both of them played on the wing last season. Why? Tactical flexibility and because they are delighted to do what the Boss asks, as is Michael Carrick and unlike Messrs Tevez and Balotelli last year...

Ferguson has been criticised for tactical rigidity and lack of imagination in the past, relying too much on 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. We must of course keep in mind that there is a tradition of attacking football at Old Trafford, built on 4-4-2.

But United have already used 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 in pre-season. And it's not just about formations, because you will see even more role interchange this season, with pacy, slick, free-flowing, bamboozling football. In a way, a bit like how Barcelona play, but more like the "total football" of the Dutch and Brazilians in the past.

That may also lead to 3-5-2 being tried, which would surely be the way forward in Europe, but don't hold your breath.

Valencia has already been used as a wing back in preseason; and everybody who has played full-back has been encouraged to break forward. This will suit Rafael's style and Fabio when he returns in the second half of the season.

Michael Carrick is unlikely to be a regular at centre-back except if there's another injury crisis, but if Berbatov stays, don't be surprised to see him used as a creative playmaker. He was exceptional in that role in South Africa.

Scoring More Goals

Chicharito had a tough second season last year, mainly due to injuries, ad as a result he lost his form.

He showed signs at last in the Hannover match that this was coming back. It's a big season for him and that is why Sir Alex kept him out of the Mexican Olympic squad.

Last season United scored 89 goals in the Premier League, but only one player, Wayne Rooney, scored more than 10.

That will change dramatically this year. Nani and Valencia spent time out injured; it was Danny Welbeck's first season; and Chicharito only made18 starts because of injury.

This year, you can confidently expect that Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez, Nani, Valencia, Kagawa and maybe Young, will get into double figures. 

And then there is Robin Van Persie...

The bulk of City's 90 goals came from three players (Aguero, Dzeko and Balotelli) with 48. While Tevez can expect more than four if he survives a whole season, Dzeko may be gone by September.

United have a habit going back several years of scoring goals from all over the squad. For example it's about time Evra and Ferdinand scored again.

Robin Van Persie

I remember the day Sergio Aguero made his first appearance for City. That's when I knew the title was going blue.

Last season, RVP was Premier League top scorer. He is a very clever player who will love playing for United if he comes. You can drool at the Rooney/RVP partnership.

But also, he'll get more and better service from the wings and through midfield. He'll score bucket-loads and the title will come back home.

Even if he doesn't, Ferguson will add another striker; if not now, then in January it could be Lewandowski. Llorente is available too and would be perfect as target man to receive and to score.

Hernandez, Welbeck and Henriquez are young and will get plenty of chances going forward. Rooney can stay at the top for another five or six years at least.

But Robin Van Persie? If he comes, that could scare City supporters as much as Aguero worried me.

Second-Season Syndrome

Count the number of times that United have lost the title only to bounce back the following season.

Under Ferguson it is already four times.

That is United's version of "Second-Season Syndrome."

City's will be how they cope when everyone is gunning for them. 

It is often said that you don't know how to win a major trophy at anything until you've done it. Then you can go on and do it again. 

But it was 44 years since City's previous top-tier title. And they've only ever won three—yes, three—to United's 19.

Chelsea have spent a fortune; United may have five new signings by the time the window closes; City have one so far. Arsenal are splurging and Villas-Boas hasn't finished at Tottenham.

City have to unload players before they can buy. They have Dzeko, Santa Cruz and Adebayor to get rid of before they can buy a striker. Last season, they tried and failed to sell Carlos Tevez. There are players surplus to requirements across the squad. How unsettling must that be?

Mancini has already started playing mind games by making United favourites. Or maybe he's being realistic because he knows how tough it will be this time around?