FA Community Shield Recap

I tracked this game and will give you my thoughts. The number you see is the minute that the play occurred .

1- Malouda makes a nice hard tackle on Rooney. Aside from Carvalho, Terry and Essien, Chelsea needs some toughness to go with all their talent. Mouluda can hopefully do this for them.
6- Ronaldo tracking back deep into the defensive zone to defend Ashly Cole. Let’s see how long this will last. Not that Ronaldo can’t play defense, but do you really want him running around too much. It’s a long season and you do not want him wearing out like he did at the end of last year’s campaign.
10- The pace of Ronaldo is extreme. How many in the world are as fast as him with the ball at his feet. I would like to see him and Giggs switch positions in the 4-4-1-1 formation. Let Ronaldo play right behind Rooney and have Giggs stay on the outside. That’s assuming Tevez is not in the lineup. With Tevez in there, a standard 4-4-2 with Ronaldo on the right side is best.
30- Great pass from Rooney on the top left of the penalty box to a streaking Ronaldo. These two are a fantastic duo whose skills complement each other tremendously. Rooney a pittbull, Ronaldo being a greyhound.
35- Great goal. Class at every level. Beautifull pass from Ronaldo to Evra, good look from Evra to Giggs, and then a cool, calm finish from Giggs. Nearly two decades with United and Giggs remains vital to their success this season.
45- Malouda showing a strength and determination that Robben has continually failed to show with Chelsea. Ferdinand getting beat again in a big spot.
61- Ronaldo getting a Michael Jordan type call on Joe Cole. Why does Ronaldo always seem to whine after any foul, even in this case when he is getting the call? It’s a foul, part of the game.
70- Nani enters the game and his first two touches are awfull. On his second touch, with four Chelsea players around him, he simply pushes the ball forward a few yards into the middle of the four Chelsea players. He putts his head down and on replay, seems to say something to himself. Whatever he said worked because he played a quality 20 minutes the rest of the way. Did some damage on the left wing.
78- Sidwell comes in for Chelsea. Hope he gets some playing time for Chelsea this year.
84- Ronaldo gets a bit greedy coming down the left side. Seemed that he may have passed it off instead of going to goal on his own. Numbers were in United’s favor.


Great game to start the season off.