And so here we are. Just under 14 weeks since we ended last season with a final day victory at Sunderland we start against the same opponents that we started against last season but this time we have to hope for a different result.

Twelve months ago it was slightly different. We were the holders of the Capital One Cup, we were at home and it was David Moyes first league game in charge. We were in front of the Sky TV cameras.

This time around it is BT sport that we find providing the live coverage and we are at Old Trafford for Louis Van Gaal's first league game in charge. We have no trophy in the cabinet to defend this season.

But put that to one side, the opponents are the same, the competition is the same and the prize on offer is the same as we look to win a league game at Old Trafford for the first time ever. The Premier League is back!!

The other noticeable difference for me this time around is in the mood. Twelve months ago there was - probably laughable - predictions of us being a top 6 side and we almost went into that season opener with a viewpoint that we could - and some would almost say should - win. This time around the mood is not the same in some sections and - as the prediction league tells you - most people are expecting us to return from Old Trafford empty handed as we have done on three previous Premier League visits.

Swansea City are back to being the underdog again and to be honest I am quite happy with that. Nobody thought we would come through League One, we did. Nobody thought we would come through the Championship, we did. Nobody thought we would stay in the Premier League and here we are for a 4th season. Being the underdog suits us and that is not to say that I think we will win but I certainly don't worry about being the one not expected to do anything.

Tomorrow will be tough. No, let me start this paragraph again, tomorrow will be super tough! Van Gaal appears - on the basis of their pre-season - instilled the form back into Manchester United and he will have the expectations of the home fans on his shoulders tomorrow as they all expect him to deliver them the first three points of the season.

And based on our defensive form from last Saturday I would suggest that Mr Fabianski takes some spare gloves as the ones he has may well wear thin quickly from all the action he sees. We were woeful almost in defence last Saturday but that was then and this is know and it doesn't necessarily mean that one performance will automatically lead to another one of the same level.

The manager himself admitted last week that we need to see a big step up in form on last week's performance and having had a week to prepare we hope that it to be the case that the performance level does indeed step up a notch (or several for that matter) ahead of the game.

I posted a team selection earlier this week detailing how I see the team line up and I am not sure my view has changed. We didn't get Fernandez signed in time for the game so in my head it has to be Bartley to start alongside Williams. I can see all the arguments for Amat but Bartley started last weekend against Villarreal and I think that means he is seen to be ahead of Jordi for the starting spot.

The only slight doubt I have now is whether Routs will replace Montero in the line up below. Montero impressed me last week and he will take on a defender with pace which I think could be valuable at Old Trafford but I do wonder whether the tried and tested Routledge will just get the nod ahead of him for the match.

And for me it has to be Wilf up front on his own - Gomis will be a great signing for us but for now he - I think - will start his Premier League career for us on the bench.

The Swans will be backed once again by our brilliant travelling support who have ignored the high prices and backed their team again in numbers which should lead to a sell out crowd to open the season. No travelling for me this time but I remember our last opening day on the road - two years ago at QPR - and I wonder what odds you could get on a similar scoreline tomorrow in favour of the away team??

The close season has been an interesting one as a Swans fan with many departures from the club but as the manager and chairman explained at the fans forum last night - the players coming in are quality first team players and that means that we have a decent line up ahead of us tomorrow and I don't think we should be written off just as easily as we have been by many people.

One thing I do know is that this time tomorrow football will be back and the next ten months of your life starts now...

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