VIEW: Community Shield. Chelsea 1 - 3 United

Well my
fellow pathetically besotted reds? The time has finally come.

After 98 days/14 weeks of waiting patiently for the start of the new
season (being slightly distracted for a month as we watched the worlds best
players embarrass themselves in some international tournament)…the Premier League has officially kicked off in the form of the typically
disappointing Charitable for the Community Shield.

A good game and even better individual performances from the young (Rooney, Fabio, Hernandez) and old (Scholes and Van der saar) of United sealed a usually amazing result against the 'best team in England'.

However it’s hard to analyse yesterdays game and in turn almost pointless getting excited over the result (even if it did bring home this season's first piece of silverware) because of the constant levels of realism that overpower it.

In any tournament that the two biggest teams in the country meet – whether it be in the early
stages of the Carling Cup or in the Champions League Final where we beat them on
penalties after Terry slips and weeps for days (…what?) – this tie would hold
some sort of esteem and meaning.

Annoyingly, the Italian Super Cup (this year between Inter and Roma) and
the Supercopa de Espana (Barcelona
vs. Sevilla) are highly regarded. And unfortunately, even though our version is arguably a more juicy one contested by two of the biggest giants of the game, the Community Shield is still deemed the 'final' pre-season friendly. So any immediate excitement that beating your biggest rivals provides is just as quickly dismissed due to the fact that, apparently, no one cares.

But enough of that.

Because we won – and because I write my own blog so I can say whatever I want – I’m going to conveniently ignore the insignificant nature of it all and draw whatever overly excitable and inaccurate conclusions based on the match. Why? BECAUSE THE F**KING NEW SEASON HAS STARTED!!!

1. We beat Chelsea
therefore we’re going to win the League…right? Well at the end of the day, this
was pretty much each team’s first choice XI playing against one another. I accept
that they may have appeared slightly more weakened than us, but a 3-1 victory
over a nearly fully fit Chelsea
side is convincing and surely a tiny bit impressive?

So of course nothing as definite can be claimed at this stupidly early
stage, but I don't think anyone can deny that we have shown - with our mildly and oh so lightly enhanced team - that we can beat Chelsea. And assuming they remain our biggest obstacle to reclaiming the League, then we shouldn't fear them.

2. The psychological advantage is in out favour. I have to say,
this one might actually be true. Deviating from the match itself, we have won
six of our seven pre-season games…while Chelsea
have now lost four in a row. Apart from the instant satisfaction that comes
with scoring three past your closest rivals to title at Wembley, we are now surely firmly ready for the
new season, whereas Ancelotti must be gutted at how shite his team’s preparation
has gone.

3. We are ready for our trophy back, please. Following on from the previous point, Ferguson has got to be a little pleased with what he's seen so far this summer. Ok, Anderson and Rooney have had a large one and he will no doubt be whacking out the infamous bathroom appliance in time to get them right back on the straight and narrow; but generally, the squad have worked hard during pre-season and look ready. The likes of Valencia, Nani and the ever reliable Van der saar look set to carry on from where they left off from, and even Fabio and Sheasy (both players who had very little game time last season) look raring to fight for their right to start. The verdict is still understandably out on new boys Hernandez and Smalling, but the overall fitness and determination levels are certainly inert as we enter this challenging new season.

4. Chicharito = real deal. Umm no. especially not after that sort of hilarious finish! But on a serious note, as we have seen already this pre-season, his
positioning as an out and out centre forward is half decent. With Rooney
forever roaming, Hernandez could be the perfect complement to his energetic, free-sprited nature.

5. Rooney is only shit for England.
Pretty much 100% true. The way he a) ran into space, b) collected the ball, and
c) slotted his first time pass so beautifully into the path of Valencia for
the opener (completely clearing the approaching Cole) was truly genius. Add to
that his typically relentless work ethic – storming up the entire length of the
pitch to swipe the ball away from Kalou in his own penalty area – and you have
to feel that Rooney has completely gotten South Africa out of his system.

6. Berbs is class – this will be his season. He IS world class. There is
surely no doubting that. And as brilliant as his finish was yesterday to wrap
up the win, there should again have been no doubt whatsoever that he could
produce something so beautiful. But will this, his third season at United, be
the one to combine class and skill with heightened levels of effort and
consistency? Judging by the team spirit within the squad, with every outfield
player running to give him a snog when he made it 3-1, his teammates definitely
believe he can be a great.

7. Paul Scholes is better than Gerrard, Lampard and Fabregas. Fact. A
genius through and through. Lets see what any of them lot can do at the age of
35.