For many Manchester United fans ahead of the new season, cautious optimism is the best they can do. 

They want the good times back and think new manager Louis van Gaal can give it to them — but the uncertainty will linger for a while yet. 

Having seen David Moyes take a title-winning side to seventh place, the club have realised that, indeed, it can also happen to them.

The early signs are good. Their tour of the US was as much a success as you can have in pre-season, with Van Gaal’s team winning five out of five — if you include the penalty shootout victory over Inter. 

The final game was the proverbial cherry on the top, as United beat rivals Liverpool 3-1 in an unusually intense friendly. 

It’s important to note that it is just pre-season, but the tour becomes more impressive as you break it down. 

It saw 16 goals scored and just four conceded — three of which were penalties — starting in Los Angeles, where United beat LA Galaxy 7-0. 

The hosts were midway through their season, their opposition barely starting theirs. Then there was the rather comfortable win over Real Madrid — the European champions were without a few stars, but still stocked. 

It was in stark contrast to Moyes’s set of friendlies a year previous, with the Scot’s side failing to win five times out of seven. 

Perhaps that could be used as a retort to those who say these games have no bearing on the important stuff. 

If results really don’t matter right now, there are other positives to be found. Van Gaal is keen to make United the fittest team in the Premier League and has praised the progress made by his players. 

The one exception could be £27 million signing Luke Shaw, with the left-back put on a special training regime. 

Arguably the biggest plus point is how quickly the Reds have taken to their new 3-5-2 formation. 

Players unfancied or just plain unlucky have made their case. Darren Fletcher has looked good next to new midfield player Ander Herrera, while Ashley Young has flourished in the wing-back role. Young’s performances have come as a surprise, but he might just have nailed down one of the two “specialist” roles.

It’s an area of concern simply for how unfamiliar it is. Antonio Valencia could see his attacking instincts curbed by the more defensive role, while Shaw might be too inexperienced to deal with the extra emphasis on attack. 

United’s biggest weakness though is a toss up between the centre of defence and midfield. Centre-backs Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans are all good players, but that’s three for three positions. 

The depth is non-existent, unless Van Gaal signs quickly or promotes Michael Keane and Tyler Blackett from the reserves. 

In midfield, the Dutchman has Herrera, Fletcher, Tom Cleverley, Marouane Fellaini, Anderson and Michael Carrick (currently injured). There are at least options in this area, but of what quality? Only Herrera has a claim of getting into another top European side. 

On the plus side, United do look good going forward. 

Their wingers, bar the supremely talented Adnan Januzaj, no longer excite but with a new system the type is possibly a thing of the past. Januzaj can compete with Juan Mata for the “number 10” role.  

Up top, United have Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. 

It’s said that the change in formation is to do with catering to the better players in the squad and it’s easy to see why.

Having two of those strikers with Mata playing off them can hide any shortcomings that exist down the pitch. The goalkeeper, David de Gea, can also spare his teammate’s blushes. 

United, for their attacking strength and a new, experienced manager, should finish fourth — at the very least.