After just two home fixtures, Elland Road attendance's are already down by 8,637 on the same stage last season, a worrying trend with the club's finances in need of a boost.
The opening game of the season against Newcastle attracted a crowd of 36,766 compared with the 40,195 who turned up for the opener against Manchester City last year.
The turnout of 34,721 for the last home game, against Southampton, was the lowest league crowd at Elland Road since September 1999, when 34,122 turned up against Middlesbrough.
United were at home to Sunderland in the second home fixture last season and on that occasion the crowd was 39,929.
With no European games to look forward to this season, it is vital that league gates at least keep pace with last term when the average was 39,128.
How can they expect bumper crowds though when the team has been ripped apart in the last year with so many top draw players leaving?
If, and only if, things improve on the pitch straight away, then the 3,000 or so fans that we have lost may start coming back slowly but surely.
Hopefully the new recruits may make the difference.