The Community Shield is not the most reliable guide as to who will win the title however as a day out it certainly looked splendid from my vantage point – and thankfully the two teams, Chelsea and Manchester United replaced the bore fest that was served up at the FA Cup Final 79 days earlier with something resembling a game of football.
Over ninety minutes there was very little to choose between the teams but I think a couple of markers were laid down for the coming campaign. In no particular order here are ten things that caught my attention, wetted my appetite or left me scratching my head.
Cristiano Ronaldo: After being anonymous during the FA Cup Final, Ronaldo showed up on the wide expanse of Wembley and showed just why he is rightly considered the world’s best player. I thought his desire, decision making and attitude were spot on especially as he took some tasty hammerings. The highlight was the pass to Patrice Evra for the goal by Ryan Giggs. Played with backspin, Evra did not have to change stride.
Wayne Rooney & Tal Ben Haim: I would love to see what would happen if these two ran into each other after a few beers on a Saturday night. The animosity is so apparent I’m surprised it didn’t kick off into something else. Watch out for this match-up when they meet at Old Trafford in September. Rooney has the temper while Ben Haim takes no prisoners.
Florent Malouda: Playing in a Lyon team that has strolled six consecutive league titles, Malouda sometimes struck me as a player who didn’t really fancy it ‘up him’. His 51 minute performance today certainly dispelled that thought. He took his goal so well but more importantly showed how brave he is. At 6’5’ Edwin van der Sar is a big lad, however Malouda never took his eye of the ball even though he knew he’d pay a price. Arjen Robben, if you were watching, you can see why Mourinho brought him!
Ryan Giggs: It’s hard to believe that this will be Giggsy’s 17th year as a Manchester United player. I remember asking him during the summer of 2003 when United were here in the US whether he could keep going for another two years at this level! I’m not surprised he gave me a dirty look as he put in another vintage performance.
Petr Cech: For my money Petr Cech continues to prove that he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Sure, he didn’t come up trumps in the shoot-out but throughout the game he is such a presence. In a way he reminds of the great Peter Shilton who according to his dearly departed old manager, Brian Clough, was worth ten points a season (2 points for a win back in those days).
Rio Ferdinand: As well as Malouda took his goal I can’t help but feel Mr. Casual should’ve done better. The ball over the top by Ashley Cole was a bread and butter delivery but Ferdinand was slightly wrong footed then didn’t have the strength to keep up with the Frenchman despite wanting to swap jerseys. Rio wait until the match is over next time.
John Obi Mikel: There is no doubting the skill of the twenty-year-old but boy has he got a temper. I don’t know if I was imaging it but I’m sure that on two occasions he was on the verge of man handling referee, Mark Halsey. You can’t touch a ref son and I’m sure it has been noted by Halsey’s colleagues. In 25 appearances for the Blues he already has nine yellows and two red cards – that is too many.
It meant something: Regardless of the fact that this match carried zero points you could see by the intensity of the tackling and the reaction of the United players as Rooney finished the job that it meant something. These two teams will meet up at least another two times this season and who’d bet against them tangling in the latter stages of any of the cup competitions. Players like to win whether its tiddly-winks or on penalties and every extra edge counts.
Ricardo Carvalho: They call Mourinho the ‘Portugezzer’ but it should be his countryman. If there is a player I love to hate it is Carvalho. He just knows all the tricks, the tugs, the pushes, the trips and he does them all so subtly. In my humble estimation he is the best defender in the Premiership by a country mile – it’s so annoying!
Nothing between them: Chelsea was missing the big guns of John Terry, Michael Ballack, Andry Shevchenko and Didier Drogba. United were short of Paul Scholes, Luis Saha, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves to name a few. There is nothing between these two teams and unless the chasing pack comes out flying, it will be Mourinho and Ferguson battling for the title once again.
Enjoy the season and don’t forget to check out my predictions.
It is notoriously difficult to read anything into pre-season matches even when they carry the additional motivation of silverware but on Sunday at the Millennium Stadium there can be no doubt that a marker of sorts was laid down by Liverpool.
In the 11th meeting in just two and a bit seasons between Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho we saw a new look Reds team that seems more than capable of finally of giving two-time English Premier League Champions, Chelsea, a run for their money.
The difference in the Merseysiders from their previous two campaigns under the Spaniard was obvious from the opening whistle in Cardiff and that difference was pace of an electrifying nature. With a starting line up that included new signings Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez, Liverpool took the game to Chelsea from the off instead of sitting back and looking to strike on the counter attack as they have done in previous seasons under Benitez.
The mentality of this decision had the Blues constantly on the back foot and maybe it is a lesson that the rest of the Premier League can pick up on. For too long we have seen teams approach Chelsea cautiously, which has allowed Mourinho’s club to dictate matches. Ironically though the opening goal of the game did spring from a counterattack as John Arne Riise was allowed to pick up a Blues corner, run the length of the field unmolested before smacking a 25-yard drive past Carlo Cudicini. Replays suggest that the Italian should’ve done better and I would agree as Cudicini seemed to dive in installments. Perhaps not the best way to win the starting job from an absent Petr Cech!
With this high octane pressure style of football, Chelsea’s two new stars had very different beginnings to their Stamford Bridge careers. Michael Ballack was a non factor before departing with a hip injury after 26 minutes, his one contribution picking up a yellow card for a spiteful hack on man-of-the-match, Mohammed Sissoko. $56 million dollar striker Andriy Shevchenko on the other hand made quite an impression on me. His pace and control when he found space was outstanding while his equalizing goal was a thing of beauty as he expertly controlled a Frank Lampard pass 1st time on the chest before coolly slotting past, ‘Pepe’ Reina.
On the subject of Lampard his involvement was reminiscent of his World Cup displays for England and I think he’ll admit that he was lucky to survive the 90 minutes after taking a wild swing at Bolo Zenden. Match official, Martin Atkinson obviously deciding that Lampard was going for the ball(s) however the match ball was nowhere to be seen as he clattered the Dutchman from behind.
The 1-1 score-line after 45 minutes certainly flattered Chelsea but to their credit they showed greater invention and desire as the 2nd period got under way. Shevchenko again showing what a versatile and complete striker he is with a smart near post header that brought out the best in Reina nearly gave Chelsea the lead but that would be that in terms of really putting the Liverpool back four under pressure.
With Sissoko dominating his more illustrious opposite number, Michael Essien, Liverpool slowly began to stamp their authority on the game and use their new found weapon…pace effectively - especially so when Craig Bellamy entered the fray.
I for one was a little suspect when Benitez brought this at times troubled young man. No one doubts his talent but on and off the field incidents have followed the Welshman from club-to-club. It appears though that Benitez is confident that he has the man management skills to bring out the best of this exciting and unpredictable player and to date you’d have to give him an ‘A’ in that department.
Bellamy skinned, John Terry, forcing the new England skipper into a crude obstruction foul and then minutes later took Ricardo Carvahllo to the cleaners with a game winning cross that Peter Crouch put away although you’d have to ask where ‘JT was. The Chelsea defender was a good 3 yards away from his international teammate – one hopes that the England captaincy hasn’t already dulled his competitive edge.
A competitive edge definitely wasn’t missing from Jamie Carragher and 2nd half substitute, Steven Gerrard though as they lifted the Community Shield Trophy for the 15th time in club history giving Benitez only his 3rd win against his Iberian neighbor.
Mourinho bemoaned the lack of a deep bench in his post match comments saying that, “today our bench was not very good, with some kids". He also said that a lack of match practice was also responsible for Liverpool’s victory. Either way there is work to be done back at the Bridge before Sunday’s opener against Manchester City.
Benitez will also feel the same way as his club has shown inconsistency leading up to this victory. However the gauntlet has been thrown down and the Spaniard will deservedly claim victory in the 1st of many psychological battles that are surely going to occur during the next nine months between these two proud and great clubs
In the big picture nothing but it is a slight chink in the Blues armour. Congrats to Liverpool, you just about deserved it. See you all next week for the start of the Premiership.
somehow escapes JT's attention and nods home Bellamy's cross however how did the Blues skipper lose a 6'7' monster. Maybe he was thinking about leading England on Wednesday. All the same, terrible defending. The 'Special One' will be doing his nut.
It looks like Liverpool for the CS for the 1st time since 2001 unless, Chelsea can summon something out of nothing.
The 'Special One' must've been chucking the tea cups around the dressing room because the Blues have a lot more purpose about them in the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd half.
$60 million and worth every penny. One chance and boom, Chelsea who've been spanked for 40 odd minutes are back in the game. A quality finish from a quality player, although Liverpool did look a tad square.
Roman is pleased as punch but Rafa is more than irked.
25 minutes at $200,000 grand a week. What a waste of money. Bummer to see him go off, I'd have loved to see what he can do. Liverpool are still well in control, Chelsea have yet to get out of the blocks.
Who will break into the 'B4' and who will avoid the drop. So many questions will be answered over the next nine months because it's back - the greatest show on earth - The Barclays Premier League.
