The season begins and United win the Charity Shield
Sunday, 05 August 07, 11:27 AM · Comments (14)
I know it's called the Community Shield but I still call it the Charity Shield, much like I still call league one and two division three and four. Old habits and all that.
But it's when the season starts for me and I've just watched the game and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mostly because it was fun watching Shaun Wright Phillips; he didn't disappoint me.
I'm a big fan of football so watch a lot of it. I've never particularly rated Wright Phillips and on his performance today and on the performance yesterday of our very own Gabriel Agbonlahor I'd question anyone that says we need a player like that.
I didn't see him make one successful cross of the ball and for a player that plays that position and paid that amount of money if you've got five or six opportunities in a match you've got to factor in you're going to make three or four cutting crosses.
Anyway, to the match. It's wasn't ever going to be the greatest match and because of that it didn't disappoint. United scored early from a typical United attack; down the wing and brought back for someone, this time Ryan Giggs to shoot and score.
The Chelsea goal was more typical from a side that I think will struggle this season. I don't mean they'll struggle as in not finish top four, but I think Manchester United will kick on and Liverpool could, if things go well for them, catch Chelsea. It's not a prediction because Chelsea could even surprise me.
Chelsea still have a very impressive squad and I expect the likes of Andriy Shevchenko to flourish this season and new signing Steve Sidwell should fit in really well, but I think Liverpool will be better than last season and maybe more club shave figured out how to play against Chelsea.
The Chelsea goal came from new signing Florent Malouda who picked up on a long ball from, I think, Cashley Cole. He beat Rio Ferdinand and slotted home. It was well taken and someone I'll be looking out for next season.
The game ended 1-1 and went straight to penalties. I won a tenner on the back of predicting if Shaun Wright Phillips took a penalty he'd miss. It was more surprising to see Chelsea miss all three but not very surprising to see United score all three.
If you play five in midfield against Chelsea you can beat them if you get lucky. Play Chelsea thinking you are Manchester United and you'll likely get beat. I expect us to do well against one of these teams next season but I've got my cash on United to win the league and I just cant see anyone beating them to it.
Six days to go; bring on Liverpool. Up the Villa!
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14 Comments · Add yours
I agree, swp looked a good prospect couple of seasons ago, now he looks short af any ideas or good finishes whenever he is on the ball. gabby for golden boot!
Couldn't agree more Damien I watched the game as well and really enjoyed but I thought SWP was absolute pants. His touch was awful and he couldn't dribble the ball past anyone which is supposed to be his strength. I think it was a blessing in disguise that are approach for him was rebuffed in January. Can't wait for the coming week with the imminent signings and the game on Saturday. It's going to be a real occasion against Liverpool and if we sign a few players in the week I can see us beating Liverpool. If we don't sign them I think we can still beat Liverpool but we'll sign them anyway.
Hi every1 went the game sat well enjoyed, looking good going forwards just gotta get them signings in. one thing whats missing down the villa songs how about this 1 4 carew...
CHIM CHIMENEY CHIM CHIMENEY CHIM CAREW WHO NEEDS SCHEVCHENKO WHEN WE'VE GOT CAREW any1 else got any good chants let me kmow
what u think asbout this chant CHIM CHIMENEY CHIM CHIMENEY CHIM CAREW WHO NEEDS SCHEVCHENKO WHEN WE'VE GOT CAREW
I love the Carew chant!!!!
Jimmy D, what on earth are you on. Have you seen how much cash Liverpool have spunked on players in this trnasfer window, and MON's done sod all. We're going out there with a depleted and virtually identical squad to last season and Liverpool have a host of new faces. I hope we stick it to them, but I can't see it happening - even if we sign three players this week, what time will they have had to gel with the team - I would say not enough to have an impact. I hate to say it but while I think our season will be good, it will be a slow start and I hope we don't lose too many games at the start of the season, otherwise the rot could set it.
I'm predicting that this will be the only trophy won by manchester united this season. Chelsea will win the prem, Villa will win the carling cup beating tottenham!, fa cup will be won by arsenal and the champions league will be won by real madrid. it will probably be completely wrong, but i have a feeling that villa will win some silverware this season, but we must sign players to have any change of this becoming a reality. 8)
how about this for a chant (to the tune of old man river):
aston villa
oh aston villa
they must sign someone
but they sign noone
oh aston villa, they just keep rolling along.
they dont sign greatness
they dont sign rotten
if they sign someone soon, this'll all be forgotten
but aston villa, they just keep rolling along
terrible lol
I agree with Nick, i dont think Man Utd are as strong as chelsea, not even close. Chelsea's title easy this year.
I think Man U have improved their squad alot. Adding Hargreves who is a world class midfielder & also Tevez who is a really good striker. Nani & Anderson are supposed to be good aswell. Chelsea already had a really good squad and have just added a few new faces. That new french player who scored today looks top class. Sheva needs to score this season. I think that Man U will definatly win something major this year.
I cant wait for saturday to come now.
The atmosphere is gonna be electric, come on boys. We have genuine belief we can beat Liverpool.
Keep it tight at the back and with our midfield of pacey attack we will have scoring chances.
WE NEED A PROPER ANTHEM, THAT UNITES THE WHOLE CROWD LIKE AT ANFIELD.
I have a £200 bet with a friend of mine (liverpool fan) ive even gave him the draw im that confident, slightly brave/foolish i know lol
I thought the game was boring. It seems that when top sides play against each other, they look to sneak a goal then shut up shop. I hope we can continue our current form into the first game and not become too deflated if we get beat by Liverpool. Look what happened to United all those seasons ago when we cuffed them at VP on the opening day. The team will be good enough to beat ANYONE its all about self belief.
Changing the subject entirely, I just want to say how much Newcastle are pissing me off at the moment. That's twice they've pulled the plug on transferees. Who do they think they are? Allardyce gets on my tits, I expect he'll adopt the same dull approach as he did at BOLTON and look to win games by doing anything, except play attractive football. I hope we stuff them and MON agrees to sell them BARRY and GABBY, then at the last minute casually erect his middle finger at the chuddy chomping bulldog.
I may have fidured out mon's transfer thinking. if nobody bids for the players we want, then mon leaves it at the last minute so other teams don't have the money left to put a serious fight to sign the player. therefore we get the player without a fight. However if another team appears to place a bid for the player we want, then mon puts a bid in at that moment, this may have happened with bruno alves but failed.
An excellent game saturday from the villians, I hope we can really take the game to liverpool like we did to Inter.
Prem = Man u
Chamipons league = chelsea
Fa cup = Chelsea
Carling cup = Villa
Piss poor!