Community shield Countdown

With the English season’s curtain opener fast approaching, Football Fanzone’s Daniel Webster takes a look at the Community shield and the two teams that will be contesting for the victory.

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First off it is almost hard to believe that it is a year since we watched Liverpool and Chelsea step out for the last Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium. It has been a massive 12 months in the footballing world since then, from Reading’s climb up the premiership to the Carlos Tevez transfer saga it has been a truly enthralling season that has kept supporters, Chairman and Managers on the edge of their seat.

So onto the new season and we begin with a match which features the two teams which are the favourites to contend the title, most bookies can’t split Manchester Utd and Chelsea in the title race. However talk of the title race is for another day, as this article will be focused primarily on the Community Shield.

We start with the Premiership champions, Manchester United 12 months ago were regarding as a team on the decline, A Carling cup success against Wigan was scant consolation for the horror show in Europe where they finished bottom of the group, an FA cup exit at the home of their fierce rivals and a tame challenge to the title which saw them almost slip into third. The bookies rated Liverpool as the bigger threat and the 2006 win in the Shield over Chelsea with what was hardly a first team was meant to prove that they would be the challengers, how wrong many of us were to discount Manchester United, inspired by the genius of Ronaldo and good fortune of no major injuries in the midst of the season saw them romp to the title. A treble was close but they were outplayed comprehensively by Milan in the champions league and lost to an extra time goal against Chelsea in the FA cup, nonetheless the return of the league and a brand of entertaining football saw the Glazers reap the rewards of their takeover, this after only splashing out on Michael Carrick.

This summer the Glazers have certainly not held back and any talk of a transfer cap would seem unfounded, the first was the expected deal to sign Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich, it is expected he will be competing with the likes of Carrick, Fletcher and Scholes for a spot in the centre of midfield. Next was a more unexpected deal for the duo of Nani and Anderson, two players for a combined fee of £30million provides a massive gamble for Ferguson but if they live up to the hype then the foundations for their attack force are set for the next few years at least. The main stories have of course focused on Tevez and it remains to be seen if he will join before the deadline but it would appear that the dispute would be settled at some point.

With regard to formation and tactics I expect Manchester United to want to put on a show for their fans after a disappointing cup final where they failed to find a killer instinct. Ferguson could resort to his 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation with Rooney being supported on the wings by Ronaldo and Giggs, however it is to be expected that changes aplenty will be made so expect to see Anderson make his debut and Nani get a first taste of playing in a big match situation. The back five should be a tried and tested formula with Van Der Sar behind a back line of Neville-Rio-Vidic-Evra. While Man Utd will be focusing on far bigger competitions than the community shield this season they would certainly take a good performance and a victory to gain a mental victory over Mourinho’s men, but remember 12 months ago and the same feeling when Liverpool won, Ferguson will be more than aware that this match at the end of the season will be classed as meaningless if his side don’t deliver.


Next we move onto Chelsea, the dethroned premiership champions but still managed a domestic cup double. A fight on four fronts effectively took their toll and there is a feeling that if Cech and Terry were fit for the hectic Christmas period then the title would be still down the king’s road. Last season did herald the beginning of a boom for Didier Drogba whist Ukrainian striker Shevchenko was struggling despite opening his account in the community shield last season, further proof if it is needed that the community shield does not represent a reflection of how the season will eventually pan out. The main talking points of last season was the relationship between Mourinho and Roman Abramovich which eventually seems to have been sorted and the club have now moved on with Mourinho not leaving as some predicted.

This summer the strings have been tightened at Stamford Bridge and Mourinho has only splashed out on Florent Malouda from Lyon; this has been seen as the replacing of Dutch winger Arjen Robben who has been forever linked with Real Madrid. Whilst the cannibal has been the only confirmed outgoing player of note Mourinho has move to bolster his numbers with the acquisitions of Sidwell, Pizzaro and Ben Haim, none are expected to be sure of first team places but Ben Haim provides cover to prevent a situation like last season when midfield powerhouse Essien was pushed to CB, Pizzaro will get some playing time and is expected to play a large role depending on how Shevchenko gets on with his 2nd season. Sidwell joins a midfield already brimming with players and whilst Frank Lampard is yet to sign a new deal he remains very much a Chelsea player. As with Man Utd Chelsea are not yet finished in the transfer window with Alex seeking a work permit and a link to Daniel Alves consistently being made by media sources in Spain and England. The season may be upon us but Chelsea is still continuing their pursuit of players as others look to be on the way out.

To this end it is unlikely that Chelsea will have a completed squad for the Community shield. Predicting a line-up is difficult with several key players carrying injuries from the tour of America. A welcome boost was the return of Ashley Cole to action against Brondby; Chelsea played a 4-3-3 formation, which was the same formation, which fashioned the first two seasons of the Mourinho era. I expect this to be the formation to be used on Sunday although never put it past Mourinho to tinker and go to 4-4-2. Cech will start in goal behind a back four depending on the fitness of John Terry, if not then Ben Haim is poised to start alongside Carvalho. Diarra and Cole are likely to play RB and LB respectively with Essien, Lampard and Sidwell most likely in the midfield; a three-pronged attack with Malouda, Drogba and Shevchenko is being mooted although the Ukrainian could make way for Pizzaro. Mourinho 12 months ago might have said the shield was a pre season warm up following defeat last season he was quick to add it to his list of trophies when presenting his record to Abramovich at the end of the FA cup final.

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Prediction: With both teams having endured tough pre season tours I feel that this could be a game of attrition but I feel that Manchester Utd have the legs and talent to steal it 1-0.

Daniel Webster