Transfer stories have dominated the headlines, the odd saga has caught the media's attention, pre-season has been cycled through and completed, and the first round of manager press conferences are done and dusted. That can only mean that the Premier League season is upon us.
A double-header against Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano last weekend gave final pre-season minutes to Manachester United players while offering Erik ten Hag his last chance to assess the squad at his disposal. And it has certainly been fascinating evaluating the new manager's use of his players across the preparation matches.
So how is the make-up of the squad looking as we head into the campaign?
With Dean Henderson having joined Nottingham Forest on loan, David de Gea has been the nailed-on number one goalkeeper, showing some positive adaptations despite a couple of lapses in terms of claiming crosses.
Tom Heaton has appeared the second-choice to De Gea, with things having quietened in terms of signing a goalkeeper to jump ahead of Heaton in the pecking order. For Nathan Bishop and Matej Kovar, who both embarked on the club's tour of Thailand and Australia, loan moves away look most likely.
The addition of Lisandro Martinez at centre-back has made that particular position one that has gained a fair amount attention due to the amount of competition for places.
Harry Maguire has been re-named the club's captain, suggesting that he could be a mainstay in the back line, especially if he maintains the form shown over pre-season in the alternative right centre-back role. His switch to the right has opened a left-sided vacancy for Martinez, with Ten Hag having spoken about the need for a left-footed centre-back.
Victor Lindelof has still seemed ahead of Martinez in pre-season as the latter gets integrated, though Ten Hag had made sure to note that the Argentinian has been behind on minutes. But now it would appear that, based off Ten Hag's pre-match press conference comments, Martinez could be in contention to start United's season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion; he played an hour (and impressed) against Vallecano following facing Wrexham in a behind-closed-doors match during the week prior. There is no doubt that Martinez should become a significant feature when he is entirely up to speed.
Raphael Varane is a slightly unknown quantity given that he suffered from an injury on tour following the first match of the trip. He would be the pick of many as the club's best centre-back, though he seems to be starting the season on the back foot, especially shown by the fact that he featured with the more second-string side against Vallecano last weekend.
Meanwhile, Eric Bailly, who had some high moments in pre-season, for example an assist for Marcus Rashford against Perth Glory, seems as though he could drop as low as the club's fifth-choice in the centre-back department. Both Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe could be in contention for moves away.
Moving the attention to right-back, and Diogo Dalot is the player completely in favour and set to start the season as the number one option. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was restricted to second half spells within a more alternative side, not even facing Vallecano one day after Dalot completed the meeting with Atletico in Oslo. It seems, based off reports, that Wan-Bissaka could yet leave the club this summer
For Ethan Laird, who caught the eye against Vallecano with a strong display in both defensive and attacking regards, there could be scope for a rotational role if Wan-Bissaka departs and no replacement is signed. But it would seem that Laird could be in line for an upper-end Championship loan again, though his showing last weekend suggested that a temporary Premier League move guaranteeing regular game-time wouldn't be too far-fetched a prospect.
On the opposite side of the defence, Luke Shaw's omission from the strong travelling squad to face Atletico in Oslo raised questions as to where he ranks relative to summer signing left-back Tyrell Malacia. It transpired that Shaw was ill so couldn't feature against either La Liga side, though Malacia - secure defensively and a threat going forward - stated a claim that he is going to be competing for a place in the starting side rather than settling as a back-up.
Brandon Williams is another option, though he has been injured and will most likely not be at the club during the season (whether he leaves permanently or on loan again). Alvaro Fernandez has already joined Championship outfit Preston North End on loan, while it has been officially announced that Alex Telles will spend the season at Sevilla in La Liga.
Prior to finally playing at left-back against Vallecano, Telles was used as both a left centre-back - possibly simulating Martinez's prospective role - and even a defensive midfielder. And playing Telles as a deep-lying midfielder massively emphasised the lack of options in terms of players in that profile.
Young Charlie Savage did an excellent job when used as a deeper midfielder, though he remains young and inexperienced, thus a loan seems the most viable option. Fred has appeared the favoured option in that anchoring role - which Ten Hag describes as the 'connector' - despite lacking masses of experience in such position alone.
James Garner is another that falls into the slightly unknown quantity bracket given that he unfortunately spent most of the club's pre-season tour injured. Though against Vallecano, he started and proved a refreshing presence, willing to get on the ball and adept at orchestrating play from a deeper midfield role.
But there still, in spite of Savage and Garner's potential and Fred's promising developments, remains a glaring vacancy for Frenkie de Jong. The issue is that, as time goes on, it seems more and more unlikely that Ten Hag will get the player that he values so highly and views so pivotal to his project at United.
Depth does come in greater abundance in the less defensive midfield roles, which is an area where Scott McTominay's services have been used from the start amongst the seeming first-choice XI when he has been fit. Donny van de Beek has appeared one alternative to McTominay in that role, while new addition Christian Eriksen has seemingly proved himself as an option as the midfielder accompanying the so-called 'number six'.
Eriksen, who has been heavily involved in United's post-tour matches, proved his aptitude in a free 'number eight' role where he often dropped deep and acted as a playmaker with notable avail; he played in a midfield trio consisting of Van de Beek during his substitute appearance against Atletico and start against Vallecano only one day later - both times often operating deeper than his Dutch partner.
Zidane Iqbal was another young midfielder to impress over the club's tour - more advanced in his role than close friend Savage. But, as with others of a similar profile such as Hannibal Mejbri, first team minutes could be sparse and a loan could be more feasible for the gaining of experience. In terms of an attacking midfielder, which you could classify both Iqbal and Mejbri as, nobody has really seemed close to touching Fernandes' starting place.
Fernandes is secure in his position behind the attacking three, which has seemed pretty set in stone. But that has is now very much a had given that Anthony Martial, who has had an impressive pre-season through the middle between Jadon Sancho and Rashford in Cristiano Ronaldo's absence, has picked up a hamstring injury. Martial may still regain his place, though his chance to lead the line to start the season has been scuppered.
Sancho, aside from missing the Atletico match through illness, has very much been a mainstay on his more natural right, where he has looked more comfortable and has built a connection with Dalot that has also benefitted the right-back. In the meantime, Rashford has looked refreshed to the left of the front line, while also slotting in up front on the odd occasion.
Ronaldo, as aforementioned, is behind in his pre-season preparations having only rejoined the squad within the last two weeks so completion of a full match seems a slight long shot. He only played one half in pre-season before controversially departing the stadium before full-time alongside some others (admittedly not in the match-day squad); Ten Hag rendered the early leaving "unacceptable", but it would appear the necessary telling-offs have been administered and the incident is in the past.
Still, there is plenty to be sorted surrounding Ronaldo's future. Whether he stays or not, it does seem that United will have to pursue more attacking players.
Anthony Elanga offers ready depth and can be threatening, but there are signs that, while he works hard, he isn't the most complete of attackers yet. After all, Ralf Rangnick almost threw him in at the deep end after promoting him from the youth teams during a tough patch for the first team.
Alejandro Garnacho is arguably the most exciting alternative option, offering promise through his confidence to run at defenders. But minutes across pre-season have been at a premium. No matter though, he possesses an air of fearlessness at a still-young age and is playing under a manager that is excellent at dealing with very young talents.
Facundo Pellistri is another that is a good prospect that could offer strong depth, but his agent has been vocal about his desire for his player to have regular minutes somewhere - whether it is at United or not. Amad is one more at Ten Hag's disposal, and he contributed with goals against Wrexham at Carrington and Vallecano at Old Trafford, but he is yet to, even on loan at Rangers, justify why United paid £30million for him two years ago. Tahith Chong has been used too, though he has proved slightly below the desire level.
It is an issue that, while there appears to be depth on the face of things, many of United's options may be best-suited to loan switches away. Quality, ready depth is required beyond just those who are in contention for loans or even permanent departures. With Martial unavailable and Ronaldo behind schedule, the Brighton match could expose United's lack of capable depth.
So, when it comes to Sunday afternoon against Brighton, what could United look like?
You can say with confidence that De Gea, Maguire and Dalot will probably start unless for unforseen circumstances. But the rest of the defence is a relative unknown, with Lindelof expected to start until Ten Hag made his claim that Martinez is now ready.
At left-back, Shaw would be the obvious pick having started more often than Malacia over pre-season, though a bout of illness last weekend means Shaw, while now recovered, is behind by way of not playing a full 90-minute match and not having played a match at all in around two weeks.
Fred was one of the more resounding positives by way of an individual across pre-season, so a start for him is expected in the holding role. McTominay has regularly played with Fred in midfield across the last month, though Eriksen now has enough minutes in the tank to contend for a starting spot.
Fernandes and Rashford will likely start based off their heavy pre-season involvement. And, especially with Martial absent, Sancho, despite not having completed a full match during his preparations for the season, would be expected to return on the right after also recovering from illness. There have also been hints from Ten Hag that Ronaldo could start as a direct replacement for the injury-stricken Martial.
There were early indications against Vallecano that Ronaldo isn't quite the hindrance to Ten Hag's desired fluidity that many perceive. He showed signs of sharpness but did lack a clinical edge compared to many others. Hereby, while a serious contender that seemingly can carry out the basics of Ten Hag's philosophy, it would be a risk for him to be Martial's replacement against Brighton.
And it must be added that starting a player that has been pushing to exit the club all summer could set a bad precedent.
Alternative to Ronaldo, there is a chance that Rashford could play through the middle, with Elanga or Fernandes the most realistic options to complete the attacking line on the left.
There is also scope that Rashford could play on the left while Fernandes operates a false-nine role, which Ten Hag has been known to like in previous jobs. In either eventuality involving Fernandes, Eriksen could then start in the attacking midfield position that he has been renowned for excelling in throughout his career, or also interchange with Fernandes in the wide left area.
It is now pretty well-known how Ten Hag wants his side to play, but his use of personnel throughout a season that necessitates depth more than any other will be fascinating to watch unfold.
And it all gets underway on Sunday afternoon.
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