For the first time since 1996 the annual curtain raiser to the English season, the Community Shield, will welcome an interloper. Usually this showpiece event is the exclusive domain of the ‘B4’ - thankfully that domination has finally ended as we welcome Portsmouth FC back to the scene of their May triumph, Wembley Stadium. So just who will win?

Goalkeepers:

Edwin van der Sar has been at Old Trafford for 2+ seasons. In that time United have won back-to-back Premier League titles and a Champions League…coincidence, I think not! The Dutchman has nothing more to prove having won everything that the domestic game has to offer and without the distraction of international football this season, he can devote everything to what potentially is his last Red Devil campaign. 

If goalkeepers are like fine wine and improve with age, David James must be nearing vintage stage. The 38-year-old had a sensational campaign last term and forced his way back into the England reckoning. In my mind there is not a better shot stopper in the English ranks but he still has these momentary lapses of reason which generally produce howlers.

Advantage: United

Back Line:

Pompey’s regular starting back four is one of the best outside of the ‘B4’. Sol Campbell, Slyvain Distin, Hermann Hreidarsson and Glen Johnson are a fearsome, highly experienced unit that does not ship lots of goals – excellent in the air, rugged in the challenge, they relish a physical battle however they can be outdone by pace and trickery.

Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra along with Rio Ferdinand were the heart, soul and culture of a United back line that was the meanest in the Premiership last term despite not having a steady right back. I can’t see anything changing this year except they might get even better with the addition of young Brazilian, Rafael da Silva or the return of Gary Neville.

Advantage: United

Midfield:

With Anderson away on Olympic duty, Ferguson will be missing his pit bull and heir apparent to Paul Scholes. The ‘Ginger Prince’ has stated that he’ll play two more years with United so expect him to leave everything on the pitch in every single match this season. Michael Carrick will also continue to blossom along with Ji-Sung Park. The one question mark for me is Owen Hargreaves. His versatility could be his undoing as I think he’ll want to make the holding role his own but he’ll be press ganged into other positions frequently.

Other than Niko Kranjcar, no other Pompey midfielder made over 30+ appearances last term and that must be a concern for Redknapp as he strives for consistency. His other options include Pedro Mendes who is wonderfully talented but as brittle as china, Sean Davis who doesn’t have the creativity while Pape Diop has yet to find his best form. The key could be Lassana Diarra who carries on his shoulder the biggest chip in the Premier League.

Advantage: United

Forwards:

Although Portsmouth did not score enough goals last season, I love their new forward line. It’s the classic ‘big man-little man’ partnership – Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe. Crouch knows all about Fratton Park and did well in his first spell on the South coast while Defoe is a proven commodity who scores goals. Once these two begin to understand one another, this could be one of the best partnerships in the Premiership.

No Cristiano Ronaldo, no Wayne Rooney equals no goals right? With Luis Saha easily claiming the ‘sick note’ tag all of the responsibility will fall on Carlos Tevez. I have no doubt he’s up for it but when he looks around he just might feel lonely. Supposedly Ferguson is hot on young Fraizer Campbell who did well at Hull City but he is untested at this level.

Advantage: Portsmouth

Managers:

Sir Alex Ferguson has the longevity, the trophies, the knighthood, the t-shirt plus six Shields and the hunger for seven is certainly not diminished. In fact it’s truly amazing how much stamina the Scotsman possesses as he enters his 22nd season at the helm. It’ll be interesting to see how he copes without his right hand man Carlos Queiroz though as the Portuguese coach wasn’t given enough credit during his time in Manchester.

The crafty cockney, Harry Redknapp must be relishing this challenge as he’s made a habit of beating SAF and United in one-off matches. As the gaffer of Bournemouth, West Ham and now Pompey somehow despite the odds he has raised his team, ridden his luck and come out on top after ninety minutes.

Advantage: Portsmouth

Finally we have to ask what does winning the Community Shield mean: Judging by the last ten years not a lot should be read into the result as Chelsea in ’05 and United in ‘07 are the only teams to have gone on to win the Premiership. That being the case and with Pompey rank outsiders (250-1) to win the Prem, I can’t help but feel Portsmouth could nick this one by the odd goal in three.

Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.