Farewell David Beckham, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Seaman.
Welcome Tim Howard, Eric Djemba Djemba and Jens Lehmann.
Perennial rivals Manchester United and Arsenal meet in the season curtain raiser, the Community Shield, tomorrow with some familiar stars no longer around.
Some lesser names have taken their place and want to show English soccer why the Premier League's two most successful clubs have hired them.
They should get their chance at Cardiff's Millennium stadium when league champion United faces FA Cup winner Arsenal a week before the start of the Premier League campaign.
Howard, an American `keeper signed from MetroStars, is expected to keep French World Cup star Fabien Barthez off the starting lineup and face up to Gunners forwards Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires.
Cameroon midfielder Djemba Djemba, hired from French club Nantes, could well get his chance after the departures of Beckham to Real Madrid and Veron to Chelsea.
With veteran England goalkeeper Seaman now at Manchester City, German goalkeeper Lehmann, hired by Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund, will be out to stop Ruud Van Nistelrooy, scorer of 44 league and cup games last term, hitting the target again.
Seaman, who turns 40 next month, had been Arsenal's first choice `keeper since 1990, playing 563 games in 13 seasons.
"It is difficult to follow David Seaman but I think we have made the right choice with Jens," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "What I like is that, when in difficult situations with five or 10 minutes to go, he comes for a cross and anticipates well."
Lehmann twice faced Arsenal in the Champions Cup last season and has won 16 caps for Germany.
"I don't know if I can get as good as David Seaman, but I will try my best," he said. "Ten years ago, I had to do a harder job as I was inexperienced. Now, I have experience in the Champions Cup and the national team, so that should help me."
Howard played for United on its tour of the US last month, making 12 stops on his debut in a 4-1 beating of Champions Cup finalist Juventus at Giants Stadium and eight more in a 3-1 beating of Barcelona at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.
When Barthez replaced him for another friendly at Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday, United lost 3-1.
Djemba Djemba and another new signing, David Bellion from Sunderland, will have to fight for places in a crowded midfield despite the departures of Beckham and Veron.
United manager Alex Ferguson also has Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Roy Keane, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Quinton Fortune and young star Kieran Richardson to choose from. Next week, he hopes that Brazilian World Cup player Kleberson will receive a work permit to join the club.
Ferguson was pleased with Djemba Djemba's contribution in the loss in Lisbon.
"He played very well in first half and, although he was weaker after the break, I'm satisfied," said the Scot.
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