Based on what? We have lost an attacker and a midfielder. Our defence is decent to be fair, but it will need to be as our midfield will get dominated more often than not.
We have an attack that doesn’t score enough goals - hasn’t for 3 or 4 years.
Based on the fact everyone is massively over reacting because they haven't got their shiny new toy.
A starting XI of...
DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
McTominay Pogba
? ? Rashford
Martial
The 2 question marks are likely to be filled by James/Lingard and Mata/Pereira to start the season. But we've got a bunch of promising kids coming through that may or may not make the step up this year.
So comparing to last season (when Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea all just about finished above us) we've got...
A settled DDG
A much improved defence, which whilst improving on individual quality should also increase in stability which would make it even stronger.
Pogba/McTominay at the base of midfield. McTominay looks more than ready to step up and fill Herrera's shoes (whose injury coincided with our dramatic downturn in form)
Rashford/Mata/Lingard (I'm using our most experienced here for argument's sake) It's not perfect, but Lingard and Rashford suit OGS style well, and Mata adds the creativity everyone is moaning about us missing and usually plays well when central.
Martial up top, back where he has always wanted to play, and personally I believe his best position. I back him to provide a lot of goals, after seeing how he has bought into what Ole wants.
Then we've got the kids; Tuanzabe, Garner, Chong, Gomes, Greenwood. All looked impressive throughout the youth/loan last year and impressed once again on tour. We've also got a manager that appears to have a lot of hope and faith in them. They will chip in at times this year.
Sure I'd like to replace Mata with someone a bit more mobile and of a better quality, but we're certainly not doomed when you consider Chelsea are definitely worse off than last season, and Arsenal arguably are as well despite everyone gushing over Pepe (forgetting they've lost their captain and most important midfielder)
I think you'll agree we had 2 disastrous spells last season, before OGS with the annoyed one, and the end of season collapse (where it's well documented the players had nothing left in the tank) despite those 2 massive patches of terrible form the we finished 6th only just behind 3 teams by a few points.