Manchester United F.C. season 2007-08/Previous seasons layout

The 2007-08 season is Manchester United's 116th season in the Football League, and their 33nd consecutive season in the top division of English football.

Pre-season and Friendlies

United began their pre-season in July 2007 with A Tour of the Far East. The tour started slowly with a 1-1 draw against Urawa Red Diamonds, but picked up quickly with a 4-0 win against FC Seoul, a 6-0 thrashing of Shenzen FC and a 3-0 win at Guangzhou Pharmaceutical.

The team then took their pre-season preparations back home to Old Trafford, with a narrow 3-2 loss at the hands of Internazionale. This was followed by a 2-1 win against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium, and a 3-0 win away to Peterborough United, managed by Fergie's son Darren a day later on 4 August. The next two matches were played simultaneously four days later; first team coach Jimmy Ryan took one squad to Scotland to play Dunfermline, while assistant manager Carlos Queiroz took another group to play Glentoran. United won both matches comfortably, winning 4-0 and 3-0 respectively.

The start of August saw United take part in the Community Shield against Chelsea, the winners of the previous seasons' FA Cup. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, courtesy of goals from Ryan Giggs and Florent Malouda, forcing the game to a penalty shootout. United went on to win 3-0 with penalties converted by Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney. Edwin van der Sar was considered the hero of the shootout, however, having saved all three of Chelsea's kicks.

In total, Man Utd won seven of their nine pre-season games, with Wayne Rooney emerging as pre-season's highest goalscorer, scoring five goals.

Premier League

Manchester United's 2007-08 Premiership season got off to a slow start, with the club drawing their opening two games against Reading and Portsmouth. United lost Wayne Rooney to a foot injury picked up against Reading, and Cristiano Ronaldo to suspension after he was sent off for apparently headbutting Portsmouth's Richard Hughes, while a derby defeat to Manchester City saw the Reds slip into 17th place in the table. Results elsewhere pushed them into the relegation zone for the first time in years. However, pundits were quick to point out that the last time United were in the relegation zone after three games, in 1992, they went on to win their first title in 26 years.

The following week, in a match against Tottenham, Nani scored his first competitive goal for the club to give them their first win of the season. Two more 1-0 victories followed, first against Sunderland, where Louis Saha scored in his first game back from injury, and then against Everton. Next up were Chelsea, who had parted company with manager José Mourinho only two days before, following a run of poor form. Fortunately for United, this poor form continued into their next match, and the Reds were able to claim a 2-0 victory, goals from Carlos Tévez and Louis Saha coming at the end of each half.

One notable thing about United's season so far is the paucity of goals conceded, having let in only two goals in eight games. However, the team has also been unable to score many goals, only getting seven in eight games.

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