Manchester United Resting for Long Road Ahead - a Fan's Take

Posted Tuesday, September 11, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Manchester United is enjoying a break before the real hustle and bustle of playing in two leagues starts to hit high gear. According to ManUtd.com, the squad will play two Premier League matches against Wigan on September 15 and against Liverpool on September 23 sandwiched around a Champions League clash with Galatasaray on September 19. The busy time of year has arrived and Sir Alex Ferguson needs to weigh his player selection carefully as players start to pile on the minutes.

According to The Independent, last season was the first time since 2005 that United failed to add any silverware to the cabinet at Old Trafford. Of course, the transfers completed over the summer should help the squad out on both fronts.

Robin van Persie gives Manchester United a lot of room at the front of the attack, and combined with Danny Welbeck, Chicarito Hernandez, or Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex should have enough talent to rotate through some impressive options even without Dimitar Berbatov. Shinji Kagawa has been a pleasant surprise with his ability to adapt quickly to life on the pitch with his new teammates, and he gives some depth at midfield. The backline remains something of an issue, but when all the players are healthy, there are more than a few great combinations that can be played.

All things considered, some time off should benefit the Red Devils for the immediate future. As far as long-term goes, the typical wear and tear of the season will play out just like it always does. Manchester United have improved their personnel from a year ago, and have certainly increased the depth of quality players on the squad. I think it has improved enough to avoid a repeat of the European failures of last season and certainly is improved enough to perform a bit better in the Premier League.

Success is really what it is all about, at every level of professional sports, but especially at the bigger clubs like Manchester United. I believe that Sir Alex and the rest of the management team have put together a strong side that has a chance to win the Premier League and the Champions League, because just having a string of strong performances is not enough. United has the tools to make this a memorable season, and a little rest before things get interesting could be just enough to get everyone healthy and ready for the long road ahead.