Manchester United: Where It Went Wrong and How To Put It Right

Upsetting?

Yes, but you would think losing the league by a mere two points gives a manager little to fret about concerning the state of his team, right?

But of course you already know I'm talking about a team and a boss that believes the Premier League crown is theirs and theirs only.

Each of the three points needed to reclaim the title for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time could have come against the eventual winners—a team with special forwards.

Chronic injury to the back-line proved to be United's Achilles' heel.

Nemanja Vidić’s mid-season walkouts from games angered Sir Alex Ferguson to the point where the Serb looks likely to be either the first big name out the door or "rested" during the season to make way for Jonny Evans.

Rio Ferdinand has been injured on and off for the past two and a half seasons.

Each season the lay-off is longer and more serious. The chronic back problem—which is believed to be the major source of all the other injuries—may prematurely halt his career.

The only ever-present in defence was the rebellious Frenchmen Patrice Evra—United's best player last term. Of course, if there wasn't a young Scouse lad by the name of Wayne Rooney playing alongside him.

Over-reliance on key members of the squad opposed to the brittle nature of the back-line was the biggest problem last term.

The aforementioned Rooney was both brilliant and overplayed, as was Evra and the evergreen Ryan Giggs.

Sir Alex needed more from fringe players to mount a challenge worthy of a typical United squad, and although the points tally won't show it, they were well behind in the chase.

In his previous three championship winning seasons, Michael Carrick's contribution was highly underrated.

The 2009-10 campaign proved some of his doubters correct; he had an appalling season, exemplified by dismal displays against Bayern Munich.

If this current crop of stars is to continue the tradition of winning, then performances like that Carrick's cannot be repeated, same can be said of Dimitar Berbatov.

So bad were his contributions that he was jeered and booed towards the latter part of the season by the Stretford End faithful.

May 2010 saw fans calling for his head. AC Milan came sniffing, according to the papers, but Berbatov moped around and eventually told the fans he wanted to stay.

Fast forward to July 2010 and Berbatov is looking leaner and fully energised as he desperately needs to impress. If he doesn't cut the mustard during the first half of this coming season, then it will certainly be sayonara and Sir Alex's worse signing ever.

Surpassing the record held by Liverpool as the most successful team in the country is Fergie's last mission.

And to do that, he will need to blood the crop of young exciting talent he has at his disposal ready for the task of becoming an established part of United's first team.

Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley are mooted to be days away from securing loan deals, which will be good experience for the future.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær's reserve team is packed with talent in all areas, with particular focus on Corrie Evans, Mame Diouf, Ritchie De Laet, and Federico Macheda.

Exciting new editions in Mexican Javier " Chícharito " Hernández and Fulham's Chris Smalling could prove to make the difference, along with a fully fit squad, in what promises to be a multi-horse race separated by a nose.

* Contract news sees Nemanja Vidić verbally sign a new four-year contract with the club, ending all speculation of the Serb's future.