By Daniel Alston
Many dismiss the Community Shield as ‘just another pre-season friendly’, the first bit of football before the real thing resumes again. After another summer minus a major international tournament – or even just one without England’s involvement – it could be argued that us football fans are simply anxious for the next chapter of our romance with the top flight to commence.
Winners of the Premier League versus holders of the FA Cup (or league runners-up if the champions scoop a double). With proceeds and gate receipts going to community-based initiatives and all clubs that competed in the FA Cup, the glorification of a game between the two sides may be justifiable as a mere money-spinner for the greater good.
Yet for the fans of teams involved, the Community Shield isn’t just a friendly. Of course, where there’s a trophy, there’s an opportunity to win something. Arsenal supporters would surely love to play a part in the fixture – but their lack of recent silverware denies them even more, never mind how small.
This year’s Shield will have even greater significance for Manchester United however, not only because it is against their cross-city rivals, but perhaps also their toughest contenders for the league title.
United fans and players alike will no doubt still be smarting from the FA Cup semi-final defeat to the Blues in April – perhaps more so than losing to Barcelona in May. City’s 35-year wait for a trophy ended, partly thanks to the Red Devils being outmuscled by Mancini’s desire for glory.
But as well as attempting to right that wrong, Nemanja Vidic and co. will be addressing a vastly-improved unit that many pundits are tipping as the greatest threat to United’s crown. Another North West derby in the capital, this is not. A crystal ball as to how the 2011/12 campaign will play out? Possibly.
What does the Community Shield tell us? Is it a gauge to how each contesting side has prepared and strengthened over the summer since their league and cup successes? Does it offer a good hint at which team may prevail over the 9 months that follow? Can a victory and a ‘minor trophy’ in August propel and boost a side into scooping the larger prize?
Giver of momentum, or chance to assess the competition? A shot at gaining the upper hand or merely an opportunity to test new players and different tactics against a familiar foe before it truly counts?
Below is a list of Shield fixtures – winners in capitals – at the start of each Premiership campaign. The positions of the two participants (as well as United and/or the league winners, should they not feature) are listed adjacently.
2010 – UNITED v Chelsea United (1st), Chelsea (2nd)
2009 – CHELSEA v United Chelsea (1st), United (2nd)
2008 – UNITED v Portsmouth United (1st), Portsmouth (14th)
2007 – UNITED v Chelsea United (1st), Chelsea (2nd)
2006 – LIVERPOOL v Chelsea United (1st), Chelsea (2nd), Liverpool (3rd)
2005 – CHELSEA v Arsenal Chelsea (1st), United (2nd), Arsenal (4th)
2004 – ARSENAL v United Chelsea (1st), Arsenal (2nd), United (3rd)
2003 – UNITED v Arsenal Arsenal (1st), United (3rd)
2002 – ARSENAL v Liverpool United (1st), Arsenal (2nd), Liverpool (5th)
2001 – LIVERPOOL v United Arsenal (1st), Liverpool (2nd), United (3rd)
2000 – CHELSEA v United United (1st), Chelsea (6th)
1999 – ARSENAL v United United (1st), Arsenal (2nd)
1998 – ARSENAL v United United (1st), Arsenal (2nd)
1997 – UNITED v Chelsea Arsenal (1st), United (2nd), Chelsea (4th)
1996 – UNITED v Newcastle United (1st), Newcastle (2nd)
1995 – EVERTON v Blackburn United (1st), Everton (6th), Blackburn (7th)
1994 – UNITED v Blackburn Blackburn (1st), United (2nd)
1993 – UNITED v Arsenal United (1st), Arsenal (4th)
1992 – LEEDS v Liverpool United (1st), Liverpool (6th), Leeds (17th)
In Premiership years, the Charity/Community Shield victor has gone on to win the league 7 times out of 19 (United = 5). The loser has topped the table in May 5 times (United = 3). Non-Shield participants have won the Premiership on 7 occasions (United = 4).
The Shield victor has finished the season above the loser in 12 of the 19 years.
That last stat is perhaps the most telling. Albeit the FA Cup winners are occasionally not title contenders (Everton, Portsmouth), the usual suspects have dominated both competitions consistently over recent years – such is the emphasis on trophies and the money that follows.
Another point of note is that although Manchester United lost 4 Shields in a row (’98-’01), they topped the Premiership pile in three of those preceding seasons. Sir Alex Ferguson once said, “It’s always a game we never quite use as a do or die thing; we use it as a barometer for fitness.”
Perhaps that theory of United being slow starters to the campaign (to be addressed in my next post) includes the Shield. Furthermore, United’s general dominance of the Premiership over the past two decades may water down any findings from the above.
Nevertheless, it is sure to be a feisty affair. City have the growing belief, United the confidence as experienced champions. Both sides have been recruiting new blood in the transfer market, almost certainly with the other in mind. Anything can happen over 90 minutes, but with the first round of league fixtures the following weekend, local and national bragging rights and the kick-start of a win is what both will want.
Whatever you think of the Community Shield itself and whatever the result may be, the only thing certain between this meeting of Manchester’s two giants is that any significance will only be able to be calculated come May 2012.
Many thanks to Daniel for this post. He is a freelance, multimedia journalist based in Manchester. Be sure to follow him on Twitter by clicking the button below.
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