The Scouting Report - Title Rivals

By Magnus Nordman

Introduction

Without making any predictions of possible winners and runners up, I wanted to give an overview of teams that I think will be challengers for the title during the 2011-2012 season. I therefore decided to take a look at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City and try to give a short overview of their 2010-2011 season.

Arsenal

Looking back at Arsenal's previous season noticeable are probably the victories at The Emirates against Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea. While on the other hand, significant lows were drawing against Newcastle at St. James Park after being up 4-0 and the Carling Cup Final loss against Birmingham City. Finishing fourth in the table with 67 points is something that the Gunners will look to improve upon.

Arsene Wenger has so far bought players like Alex Chamberlain, Gervinho, Carl Jenkinson and youth team players Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral Harper from Barcelona. On the other side of the squad Gael Clichy and Jay Emmanul-Thomas have been sold, while Kyle Bartley, Denilson and Wellington have all gone out on loan.

Looking at player performances from last season one notices the striking difference in the contribution of the Arsenal goalkeepers compared to those of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. Of the total 38 games that Arsenal played in the Premier League Szczesny started 15, Fabianski 14, Almunia 8 and Lehman 1.

Arsenal used a total of 21 players in their starting lineup with Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna with the most starts. Jack Wilshere took a big step forward and was rewarded with 31 starts. On the other side of the graph noticeable were the low number of games started by players like Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Kieran Gibbs, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela.

Arsenal's record of goals scored when winning or losing gives clear indications of them often doing so  by a one goal margin.  On the other hand, they also won 5 games with either a two or a three goal margin.

Of all the goals that they scored, most of them were hit in the following time zones, 0-15min, 46-60min and between the 76-90min. They conceded most goals just before half time and the final whistle.

Chelsea

With change of manager comes new ideas and new life. Andres Villas-Boas steps into the role of manager at Chelsea and will most certainly have his team firing on all cylinders by the first week of the season. After finishing the 2010-2011 on 71 points, nine behind United, Chelsea haven't so far made acquisitions that their fans will be impressed by.

Chelsea have so far only bought the Spanish teenager Oriol Romeu, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and agreed a deal for Romelu Lukaku with Michael Mancienne and Yuri Zhrikov leaving the squad still looks very capable of making a run for the Premier League title. Among others Jeffrey Bruma has gone out on loan to gain valuable playing experience.

Of Chelsea's three goalkeepers only Peter Cech managed starts in the Premier League, with Henrique Hilario and Ross Turnbull not starting a single game. Of the outfield players (not surprisingly) Ashley Cole started all 38 games. Chelsea also used a total of 21 players from start with (apart from Cole) Malouda, Terry, Ivanovic, Essien, Drogba, Mikel, Anelka and Lampard being the players with most starts. Players like Zhirkov and Yossi Benayoun must be really disappointed with their contribution. 

Chelsea won a total of 6 games by a one goal margin and 10 with a two goal margin, which is twice the amount Arsenal managed. Of the eight games that they lost, six of them were by one goal.

Liverpool

Liverpool's last season was really a tale of two stories. First there was the departure of Rafael Benitez and then there were the appointments of Roy Hodgson and later Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool managed to finish in top half of the table with the 58 points will most definitely look forward to the coming season with great promise. Dalglish has made a couple of additions to his squad during the summer by acquiring Charlie Adam, Alexander Doni, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. To clear space he sold Milan Jovanovic, Paul Konchesky and Nikola Saric. 

Similar to Chelsea's Peter Cech, Pepe Reina started all of Liverpool's games in the Premier League. Regarding their outfield players, Martin Skrtel was the one player that managed to start all 38 games. He was then followed by Dirk Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles, Glen Johnson and Maxi Rodriguez. In a injury plagued season, Steven Gerrard only managed 20 starts. I would assume that players like Christian Poulsen, David Ngog and Joe Cole will have spent the summer trying to figure out how to force their way into the managers starting eleven.

Liverpool won most of their games with margins of 1-3 goals, while losing games by 1-2 goals margin. Liverpool quite evenly managed to score throughout the games, with the 16-30min being the least productive period. Of all goals conceded, most happened just before and after half time and also between the 76-90min.

Manchester City

Manchester City will be seen as one of the teams making a push for the title this year. After Roberto Mancini's side made great progression during the 2010-2011 season they have now added a couple of players to their squad. Players bought are Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, while the manager regarded Jerome Boateng, Javier Garrido, Shay Given, Jo and Michael Johnson as surplus to requirements. On a side note Patrick Vieira decided to call time on his playing career.

Not surprisingly Joe Hart started every single game for Manchester City in the Premier League. Vincent Kompany was the outfield player making most starts with 37, tightly followed by Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Nigel de Jong. Players like Jo, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adam Johnson could be found at the other end of the table, making a less than the average amount of starts.

Manchester City won a total of 10 games by a one goal margin, 5 with a two goal margin and just the 4 with a three goal margin. Of the total amount of nine games that they lost, most were tightly contested affairs, hence six one goal margin losses. Roberto Mancini's team scored most of their goals during the 0-15min-, 16-30-, and the 61-75 minute periods. A total of eleven goals were conceded during the last fifteen minutes of their games, describing them as a team drawing back in front of their own penalty area and not being able to withstand the pressure. In other cases this could be a result of City marching forward to the very last minute in certain games.

What do you think of the teams mentioned above? Are they worthy contenders for the title?

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Preview & Predictions for the 2011/12 season

As the new season comes into view, I thought I would share some of my thoughts and predictions. There will also be the opportunity to send me your predictions which I will look back on once the season finishes in May to see how many got things correct or spectacularly wrong!

My Predictions:

Top 6 this season:
1) United
2) City
3) Chelsea
4) Arsenal
5) Spurs
6) Liverpool

Looking at the squads for the various teams, this is how I think the league will finish. United look strong in all departments and are well stocked in terms of quality and experience. The defence looks very solid with the youngest three able to deputise at full back when the need arises. As we all know, midfield needs attention and it looks like an attacking player may well arrive but I would like to see a defensive one too but clearly Ferguson thinks we are okay. Up front, it is difficult to see how Macheda and Diouf will get too many games if they remain at the club. In Europe, at the highest level, I feel we may fall a bit short even with the addition of a certain Dutchman. I would fully expect us to reach the semi finals at least.

City will be a threat but I feel they may struggle with Champions League commitments in the middle of the busy Premier League campaign. You also get the feeling that the squad could implode at any minute and that team spirit is not the highest. If Tevez leaves then it will be a big problem replacing his goals as expecting the same of new signing Aguero is a big ask.

Chelsea may struggle a little this season as age could catch up with them and they still seem no nearer to solving the Torres/Drogba situation. If, however, they manage to sign Modric (unlikely) then he will make a big difference to their pedestrian midfield. With Essien out for a while, keeping Lampard and Terry fit will be crucial. I would expect a good season from Daniel Sturridge who has been impressive in pre-season.

Arsenal look a squad in disarray at the moment with the uncertainty over the futures of Fabregas and Nasri. It may be for the best if they both depart and then use the money wisely on replacements. Defence looks a big weakness with no new signings as we stand but I would expect Ramsey and Wilshere to prosper if Fabregas departs. Keeping Van Persie fit and firing will also be important.

Spurs have a decent squad on paper and may surprise a few people without the distraction of Champions League football. Bale, Modric, Van der Vaart and Sandro are all top quality players and if Redknapp can bring in one or two new additions between now and September (especially up front) then they could be a real force. I would not be surprised to see Friedel take over in goal from the inconsistent Gomes while keeping Dawson and Gallas fit will be crucial.

Liverpool have spent a lot of money since January, mainly on English talent but I feel those predicting them for a top 4 finish are a touch over optimistic. They look slow in defence and lack depth in attack where Carroll's injury record may be a concern. Midfield looks over stocked in some respects and it could lead to some exits ahead of the transfer window closing in September. Gerrard and Carragher will once again be important but both look increasingly susceptible to injuries as their careers go on.

Three teams to be relegated:
Blackburn, Wigan and Swansea

Champions League Winners:
Real Madrid

Champions League Runners Up:
Barcelona

I just have a gut feeling that however good Barcelona are that they are not unbeatable and Real, under Mourinho may just edge past them in the final. If Barca start the season with both Fabregas and Sanchez then they look even stronger but fitting them all in and keeping them happy could be a problem. Of course, greater squad depth could mean that they are able to rest the likes of Xavi, Messi and Iniesta from time to time which could benefit them when it comes to the climax of the season. On paper, Real look an exciting attacking force with Ronaldo, Ozil, Benzema, Di Maria, Kaka, Higuain amongst others and with the possibility of Neymar joining in January they will continue to notch a multitude of goals but can they keep it tight at the back against the better teams?

FA Cup Winners:
Spurs

Carling Cup Winners:
United

Top Scorer in the Premier League:
Robin Van Persie

Best Signings:
N'Zogbia (Villa), Eagles (Bolton), Obertan (Newcastle), Woodgate (Stoke), O'Shea (Sunderland)

Worst Signings:
Adam, Henderson (both Liverpool)

United Player of the Season:
Rooney with Smalling 2nd and Nani 3rd

United Rant has a similar predictions post up at the moment as well so apologies to them as copying their idea was not my intention.

Now it is your turn to let me know your predictions for the new season. Fill out the boxes and click the submit button at the bottom. I will re-visit this post in May to see how accurate or otherwise we all were!



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Community Shield Post Match Post Mortem

"Never write United off". This is the mantra that we have all come to rely on as Manchester United fans. So many times in the club's rich and colourful history a situation has looked irretrievable before a resurgence of energy and an abundance of skill has seen the team rise, Lazarus like, back into the ascendency. And so it played out yesterday. After an enterprising first 30 minutes in which United looked threatening in attack while resolute and secure in defence, City struck twice in the lead up to the interval.

Whilst the wonderful David Silva's free kick was ideally floated into a dangerous area, Lescott was allowed to rise due to mistakes by both Vidic and Ferdinand (in front and behind) who combined to allow the Englishman an almost free run at the ball which he duly flicked past the helpless De Gea. While it would be harsh to criticise the young Spaniard for the first goal, he was slow to react for Dzeko's 30 yard strike moments before the break. He appeared to be adjusting his feet as the shot was fired towards goal but Vidic was equally culpable as, not for the first time in recent matches, an opponent was allowed a free opportunity to fire at goal.

The doom mongerers were out in force on Twitter at the break as the usual suspects (and some new ones) felt the full force of their uninformed bile. Misguided hearts sank still further when news filtered through that our experienced spine was to be replaced by youngsters deemed lacking in the necessary quality with which to turn the game around. Vidic, Ferdinand and Carrick were all replaced in a pre-planned move by the boss in order to expose the incoming trio of Evans, Jones and Cleverley to a game of high intensity.

What transpired over the next 45 minutes will gladden the hearts of those who feel youth is the way forward for United at the current time. With an average age of just 22 (Ashley Young being the "daddy" at 26), the turnaround was both instant and mesmeric. Smalling guided Young's teasing free kick past Hart and you could sense the surge of confidence and belief running through their veins. Before long, the Reds were level with a goal that will live long in the memory for its sheer beauty with the key quality of teamwork at the centre. It was reminiscent of the game "boxes" that can be seen in training and before matches where players work in a tight area and where one touch is the the order of the day. Nani, Welbeck, Rooney and Cleverley were all involved as they threaded an intricate route through the static City backline before Nani coolly chipped past Hart to send United fans and players into delirium.

The coup de grâce was applied in stoppage by the effervescent Nani who chased a hopeful punt from the back before robbing the usually reliable Kompany on his way towards goal. As the Portuguese flyer approached the box, he assessed the situation expertly by rounding the despairing Hart before slotting home on his way to the adulation of the welcoming United faithful. 

While the argument stands that the Community Shield is nothing more than a glorified friendly, it certainly puts a marker down for United's opponents to make a note of. For a team to wrestle the Premier League title from their grasp is going to take a monumental effort on their behalf bearing in mind the strength of squad that Sir Alex Ferguson has at his disposal to negotiate through the busy campaign ahead.

Talking Points from the match

The vibrancy of youth
It is often pointed out that youngsters have a habit of being fearless and so it proved yesterday. With the experienced trio of Vidic, Ferdinand and Carrick replaced at half time, few would have predicted the complete reversal of fortunes from the travails of the first period. Almost instantly, the shackles were off and subconsciously, our vibrant youth realised they had nothing to lose as they began the seemingly impossible task of over turning a two goal deficit against a City defence that pride themselves on clean sheets.

At the heart of all that was good about United in the second half was the centre midfield partnership of Anderson and Cleverley. As Ferguson acknowledged in his post match interview, these pair look ill equipped to deal with the hustle and bustle of the Premier League "but their ability does so we are happy with that". Pass and move (or even a version of Barcelona's famed tiki-taka) was at the forefront of the ethos these two exuded yesterday and to be frank, City's midfield looked ponderous in comparison. This in turn ignited the front four of Young, Welbeck, Rooney and Nani as they fluidly swapped positions and interchanged to perfection leaving the blue defence chasing shadows. Whilst the experienced members of the squad have a huge role to play this season, this was an exciting glimpse to the future for United fans who already cite the next generation of Pogba, Morrison and Tunnicliffe as further examples of players that can shine in the years to come.

Picture courtesy of the Telegraph

United goalkeeper - a poisoned chalice?
If David De Gea did not know the true extent of what it means to be the Manchester United custodian between the posts then he surely does now. With the responsibility comes intense scrutiny and often harsh, unjustified criticism. As mentioned earlier, he will be disappointed that he was caught flat footed for the City second goal yesterday and it was not long before statistics were dragged out to show he conceded 11 goals from outside the box in La Liga last season. Whether this is a weakness remains to be seen but it is unduly harsh to be overly critical of a 20 year debutant in what is effectively a friendly game as a precursor to the new season. This mistake aside, I thought he looked assured and made some good stops in the second period whilst impressing with his accurate and rapid delivery to set the team on the attack. He will be fully aware that he has massive gloves to fill and if allowed to settle, I have no doubts that he will be a commanding presence for United for many years to come.

Chris Smalling - a staggering rise to the top
For someone who was only relatively recently plying his trade in non league with Maidstone, Chris Smalling's ascent to the United first team is truly remarkable. He impressed everyone last season with his composure and confidence in the centre of defence and he has now added another string to his bow by slotting in at right back with similar ease and no little skill. Adept with the ball at his feet, Smalling showed yesterday why the manager has not chosen to strengthen in the full back department. He was a constant threat as an attacking force complimenting the skills of Nani whilst being well positioned from a defensive point of view when the need arose. His height also adds to the Reds defensive ability at set pieces but is also a useful weapon when at the other end of the pitch. His neat, cushioned finish had all the hallmarks of a seasoned penalty box predator when it would have been easy to blast over and it set United on the first rung of the ladder towards salvation at such a vital time.

Nani - Genius but unpredictable in equal measures!
It is fair to say that Nani can often split opinions amongst United fans who love his skill, speed and drive but also feel he can exasperate with a lack of a final ball or one trick too many. What we saw yesterday was much more of the same. At times, he undid a lot of solid approach work with a sloppy pass or the mis-reading of a team mate's run but still the threat was always there and opponents have to be on their guard with him on the pitch. He played a massive part in the equaliser by both starting and finishing it but also was alive to the fact that Kompany may make a mistake late on to seal the win. His ability when one-on-one with the keeper cannot be doubted as when faced with the barrier to goal, he assessed all options (including the chip) before having the presence of mind to waltz round Hart before calmly dispatching the winning strike. His assist and goal record was outstanding last season and although he failed to notch a goal after his fine run and shot in the derby back in February, he has returned from his summer break looking sharp and ready for the long season ahead.

Picture courtesy of the Independent

Other player thoughts
Ashley Young -  made a solid start to his United career but I wish he would learn to trust his left foot a little more as it would give both him and the team another dimension down that flank. With confidence and stability, it could well come very soon.
Jonny Evans - was impressive alongside Jones in the second half and showed a keenness to bring the ball out of defence at times
Danny Welbeck - worked really hard in the first half and got his reward in the second. Has clearly benefited from his loan spell and looks likely to have a fine season
Phil Jones - has slotted into the squad almost seamlessly and looks every inch a potential United and England captain of the future. Will get plenty of games at full back this season which will further his development still further.

Player Ratings
De Gea 6, Smalling 8, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 6, Evra 6, Nani 8, Anderson 8, Carrick 6, Young 7, Rooney 7, Welbeck 7. Subs - Jones 7, Evans 7, Cleverley 8, Rafael 6, Berbatov 6

Please leave your player ratings and comments below.

All eyes will now be on the start to the Premier League campaign with a visit to the Hawthornes next Sunday to take on West Brom. Hopefully, players away with their national sides will return fit and well as the opening fixtures look tough but a safe passage through them would see United well on their way towards a 20th league championship.

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United vs City Community Shield Preview

It is a new season on Written Offside and I am delighted to be back with my first preview of the campaign. This season I will be giving my readers the chance to predict the result of each game. Please see the end of this post for more details. I hope you enjoy the blog this season and as ever, I welcome your comments either via the website or via twitter.

Introduction
Manchester United end their pre-season build-up with the traditional curtain raiser to the season, the Community Shield at Wembley. This year's match is given extra spice by being against Manchester City who beat United in the FA Cup semi-final en route to their first piece of silverware for 35 years.

The Reds go into the game with a near perfect pre-season record following their US tour and a relatively clean bill of health. Only Javier Hernández looks to be definitely sidelined now that Valencia and Fletcher are back in training and Carrick's Achilles strain is not thought to be serious.The new signings have all bedded in well, getting plenty of minutes on the pitch and impressing all observers that they will be key components in the squad for the upcoming campaign. Phil Jones has played at either centre back or right back and looked composed and comfortable on the ball while sharp in the tackle when required. Ashley Young has primarily been stationed on the left wing and shown plenty of threat when cutting in, to either cross or shoot with his right foot. David De Gea will take time to adjust, not only to the physical nature of the English game but he has the language barrier to overcome. Everything he has shown thus far has been impressive but there will be bigger tests to come.

The Opposition

City have had a "quieter" pre-season than normal this year with the addition of Savic, Clichy and latterly Aguero to their squad but it leaves them with the headache of what to do with certain players that do not fit into Mancini's long term plans. Coupled with their high wages, moving on the likes of Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz and Bridge among others has proved a tough task for the Italian as he looks to trim his expensively assembled squad.

Without doubt, City will be a major threat this season although with the advent of Financial Fair Play, their aggressive transfer policy will have to be curbed from now on. Their solidity from last season with the likes of Hart, Kompany, De Jong and Yaya Touré has been augmented by the flair and imagination of Aguero and this coupled with the guile and movement of David Silva makes City look a potent force on paper. However, with Champions League qualification comes questions that have not had to be asked before. Such as whether they can cope with the regular, high intensity fixtures whilst testing Mancini's squad rotation skills to the limit. It will also be interesting to see how their squad harmony develops over the course of such a busy season as it does not take much to upset the loose cannons that exist within their playing staff.

No mention of City would be complete without a word about the footballing mercenary that is Carlitos Tevez. It is looking increasingly likely that the Argentinian will have to return to Manchester and its two restaurants for another period of time. His presence can only serve to destabilise the club still further which must be a worry to the hierarchy already on tenterhooks with the continuing antics of Mario Ballotelli.

United 

I have decided, somewhat reluctantly, to go for a 4-5-1 formation for tomorrow's game. The rationale for such a decision is based almost entirely on the predicted absence of Carrick and Fletcher in midfield which leaves the squad looking woefully short of players who can cover from a defensive point of view in that department. I have therefore plumped for a "safety in numbers" selection as going into the game weak in this vital area would be close to footballing suicide in my opinion. What is for certain is that Ferguson will have no intention of rolling over for the "noisy neighbours" and thus allow them any kind of psychological advantage, however minute.

I would expect De Gea to be given the unenviable task of replacing the great Edwin Van der Sar in goal for United this season and it is a perfect opportunity to give him a chance to feel a fraction of the pressure that comes with being the first choice custodian for the Reds. Although Anders Lindegaard has been mightily impressive in pre-season, the large outlay that United presented to Athletico Madrid for the young Spaniard indicates he will be given every opportunity to cement his place as he settles into the most intense scrutiny felt since the departure of Peter Schmeichel in 1999.

I have chosen Fábio and Evra as my full backs for no other reason than they ended last season as the men in possession. Rafael will no doubt be pressing his claims strongly and will be given plenty of opportunities as the season progresses. Despite competition from the array of young talent, the club now possesses, I would expect Ferdinand and Vidic to resume their solid centre back partnership. Jones, Smalling and Evans will get plenty of game time in their preferred position in the middle but in addition they are able to cover the full back area and thus further their education in the art of the defender.

As mentioned, I have selected a tight three man central midfield with Anderson, Giggs and Cleverley trusted to secure this vital area of the pitch. The latter has been prevalent in recent matches as the youngster looks to secure his place in the United squad. So far, Cleverley has done all that can be asked of him in terms of performance but it will be a big step up in class tomorrow and could well prove to be an accurate barometer as to his chances of competing with more physical opponents. After successfully competing his first pre-season, it will be an interesting campaign for Anderson as he looks to convince the United faithful that he can add the required consistency to his undoubted talent. Recent appearances have suggested that a goal threat could be a welcome addition to his armoury as he looks to support the front men with well timed runs from the centre.

The front three I have chosen are Park, Rooney and Nani but this will be very flexible. The South Korean will no doubt be instructed to assist where necessary in the centre as was demonstrated in the latter stages of last season to such good effect. Nani has done well in the build-up matches and was outstanding against Barcelona last Saturday. He will be tasked with causing trouble for debutant Clichy on City's left, a battle he will be confident of winning bearing in mind the history between the two whilst the Frenchman was at the Emirates. Although Rooney prefers the free role behind a main striker, needs must and he will be assigned the job of unsettling the excellent Kompany and his partner Lescott. If United go behind, it would be no surprise to see either Berbatov or Welbeck thrown on, allowing the Englishman to return to his role as conductor in chief. Welbeck in particular will be disappointed if he has to be content with a place on the bench after an excellent pre-season that has seen him exude confidence and look like a player that has clearly benefited from his time away at Sunderland. He has returned to his local club hungry and with the desire to succeed and coupled with his undoubted skill and strength, it could be a huge breakthrough season for the Englishman.

After being seen taking a full part in the open training session on Saturday morning, Darren Fletcher may have an outside chance of making the bench as he will need some games before he is ready to slot back into the centre of United's midfield. Also likely to have to be content with a place on the bench are Owen, Young, Smalling and Jones amongst others as the true depth of the playing staff is clearly demonstrated.

Score Prediction
All things considered, I will go for a 2-1 victory for United with Nani opening the scoring and then Rooney adding the winner after a Dzeko leveller. I think it will be a tight game with plenty of tackles being made due to no quarter being asked or given by these two teams.

Your Prediction
Now it is your chance to predict the scoreline and scorers by filling out the form below. If anyone gets the correct score and scorers they will get a shout-out on Twitter. Press submit to send your predictions to me:



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The Community Shield: ‘Glorified friendly’ or barometer for the season?

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 (1^st), Chelsea (2^nd)

2009 – CHELSEA v United           Chelsea (1^st), United (2^nd)

2008 – UNITED v Portsmouth       United (1^st), Portsmouth (14^th)

2007 – UNITED v Chelsea             United (1^st), Chelsea (2^nd)

2006 – LIVERPOOL v Chelsea     United (1^st), Chelsea (2^nd), Liverpool (3^rd)

2005 – CHELSEA v Arsenal         Chelsea (1^st), United (2^nd), Arsenal (4^th)

2004 – ARSENAL v United           Chelsea (1^st), Arsenal (2^nd), United (3^rd)

2003 – UNITED v Arsenal              Arsenal (1^st), United (3^rd)

2002 – ARSENAL v Liverpool       United (1^st), Arsenal (2^nd), Liverpool (5^th)

2001 – LIVERPOOL v United        Arsenal (1^st), Liverpool (2^nd), United (3^rd)

2000 – CHELSEA v United           United (1^st), Chelsea (6^th)

1999 – ARSENAL v United           United (1^st), Arsenal (2^nd)

1998 – ARSENAL v United           United (1^st), Arsenal (2^nd)

1997 – UNITED v Chelsea             Arsenal (1^st), United (2^nd), Chelsea (4^th)

1996 – UNITED v Newcastle         United (1^st), Newcastle (2^nd)

1995 – EVERTON v Blackburn     United (1^st), Everton (6^th), Blackburn (7^th)

1994 – UNITED v Blackburn          Blackburn (1^st), United (2^nd)

1993 – UNITED v Arsenal              United (1^st), Arsenal (4^th)

1992 – LEEDS v Liverpool            United (1^st), Liverpool (6^th), Leeds (17^th)

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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The Scouting Report - Phil Jones

Assessment of technical aspects during the games against the Chicago Fire and MLS All-Star teams

Player facts.

Born: 21.2.1992 (Preston, Lancashire)

Positions: Central defender, full back and defensive midfielder.

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jones: "We first identified the player when he played for Blackburn's youth team against us a couple of seasons ago when they beat us 3-0. He was absolutely magnificent. You might think he might not play, but the ability he's got and the determination he's got, he could quite easily play. He's the future obviously, but he could certainly come in right away (Manutd.com)."

I decided to follow Phil Jones during the pre-season games against Chicago Fire and the MLS All-Stars and was impressed by his overall talent. I will try to give a better explanation of what I mean by this in my post. I would also like to add that Jones is most definitely a player that in the future will challenge for a spot in the first team, maybe even this year. The stat-zones that I've used for this post are based on the following scheme:

Offensive principles

1. Offence

A) Support.

During the games against Chicago and MLS, Jones showed good co-operation with the nearest players to his position. He did, for example, give the other central back a decent passing option by dropping deep or moving out wide when playing right back.

B) Width.

I saw Jones use the full width of the pitch when it comes to moving without the ball. I noticed him plenty of times falling deep or moving wide to create space in either direction. He doesn't make that many moves before he gets the ball, but that could really be a result of him being a defensive player and therefore hasn't developed that pattern of movement.  One could also add that Jones didn't (in the two games that I followed) use the whole pitch for passing. This is certainly showed by statistics from the two games. The first picture below to the left shows his passes against Chicago Fire, with many of them being hit to United midfielders behind the opposition strikers. The same pattern continued during the game against the MLS All-Stars, seen in the picture to the right.

Picture below: Jones played right back for 62 minutes against Chicago and completed most of his passing in zones 5 and 6. Notable is the fact that he only played three passes in zone 9, while playing on the flank for a majority of minutes. Comparing his games as full back to that of Patrice Evra's would probably show two different types of players when it comes attacking. I decided to delete the unsuccessful passes from the diagram below, as there weren't almost any of them in these two matches.

C) Penetration.

Phil Jones isn't a player that concentrates on getting passes behind the opposition defense, not even as wingback. This can be seen from the picture above as most of his passes were between 0-10 meters. Of course his role as centre back doesn't really allow him to hit many penetrative passes behind the defensive line. Still he played a couple of passes behind the opponents first and second line of ball pressure.

F) Improvisation.

Not really one known for showing off flashy and making unexpected moves. On the other Phil Jones is a player that focuses on moving the ball simply, with speed and accuracy.

G) Mobility.

Jones didn't show many examples of making moves before receiving the ball. He did however contribute by offering teammates in possession a deep or wide option.

H) Technique.

Jones showed a positive first touch and clear intentions of passing the ball forward with his second. Didn't show many examples of running with the ball, as he prefers to move it with one or two touches.

2. Offensive transition

A) Transition passing.

As centre back Jones won't find himself in many counter attacking situations. Still he will make large contributions by e.g. transition movement. As the goalkeeper saves or collects a cross from the flank, it could prove important that defenders make themselves available for short opening passes and thereby creating another passing route for attacking players creating space by movement.

B) Transition movement.

Not a player that during these two matches contributed by making himself playable in transition. Jones was quite often in the position of marking an attacker when the transition started.

3. Defensive transition

A) Pressing in offensive zone.

When applying pressure in the offensive zone a team strives to win the ball as close to the opponent's goal as possible. This is based on the fact that the player pressured will have fewer useful or intelligent moves open to him. Therefore, any dribbling will become risky and something to be avoided. The player being put under pressure will avoid losing the ball, rather than set up attacking plays.

As a centre back, Jones won't do much pressing in the offensive zone. Still this phase of the game could be something to follow when he plays in midfield or as a full back. He did show good quality when contrasting (=moving in on the player in possession) the ball in both the offensive and defensive press zone. Showed on several occasions ability to cover deep passing options and did cut players options off by applying pressure in a certain direction. Below is a picture to clarify the defensive and offensive pressing zone:

4. Defence

A) Pressing in defensive zone

Pressuring the player on the ball in defensive press zone is based more on covering the spaces, rather than on aggressive play, on ability to tighten marking at the right moment rather than making risky moves.

I could see numerous occasions that Jones placed himself to see both the ball and the supporting players when defending in the defensive zone. Looking at stats of his headers, tackles and interceptions one notices him doing a lot of physical work. Notable was also that many of his six successful interceptions happened in the defensive press zone.

I thought Jones showed a good defensive press stance (below to the right) and did on several occasions use the winger to double up the player in possession (below to the left). When doubling up, Jones and his team mate often achieved the minimum aim, that is making it difficult for the player in possession to move the ball forward.  

Doubling up on the opponent                                                                    Defensive stance

B) Shifting.

Examples of Jones shifting could be found when moving in behind a pressing Ferdinand or Vidic, to cover up the deep space behind either of them. An effective shift involves the player in question moving away from his position to take up another that is more useful from a tactical point of view). When looking at press-oriented shifts Jones did on some occasions (in the offensive zone) put pressure on the player moving the ball forward, thereby asking the him questions about playing it safe or creating an attacking transition.

Other observations:

• Right footed, didn't use his left that much.
• Is a versatile player when it comes to either playing in defence or in midfield. Will still feel the urge to cement a place in the first eleven as either and not as stand in for others.
• Physically gifted (ball intercepting, tackling and heading).
• Defended corners by man marking opponent. Got forward on United's own corners.
•  Will be challenged to improve his penetrative and overall width of passing.

I would like to thank @TriciaRKG for providing the picture of Phil Jones shown in the beginning of the post.

What are your opinions on the acquisition of Phil Jones? How do you think that he can contribute to the team's success?

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Interview with Mark Ogden of the Telegraph

With the new season rapidly approaching, I caught up with Mark Ogden, the Daily Telegraph's Northern football correspondent to ask a few questions on various topics, ranging from the success of the US tour, the Sneijder saga, United's title rivals and much more.

You have just returned from the American tour, how did you feel it went both from a playing and a commercial point of view? Could the club learn some lessons from the way they interact with fans on tour as opposed to their behaviour in the UK?

In terms of playing, United won every game, including the big one against Barcelona, so it was obviously a success from that point of view. Michael Owen had a good tour, scoring three times, while Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck also stood out.

Commercially, it was obvious that United were pushing hard and paying lots of lip service to the main sponsors, Aon and Nike. I spoke to people from Aon and Nike and both were raving about the success of their tie-up with United, but it doesn’t mean that Aon will simply stump up the cash for another big deal in three years time. Their brand has already had a big lift from association with United, so no guarantee they will need that lift again at renewal time.

Interacting with fans? The twitter response to Fergie letting two Bulgarian fans onto the bus for autographs in Seattle said it all. It’s open house in the US, but much harder for domestic fans to get close.

David De Gea has been signed presumably as Edwin's replacement, how do you see him settling in at United bearing in mind his age and the language barrier? Lindegaard impressed on tour, is he a realistic challenger for the No 1 slot?

De Gea will take time. He looks hesitant when coming off his line, doesn’t have much physical presence and can’t speak English. Lindegaard looked much more impressive, but De Gea cost the big bucks, so he’ll be given time to settle and win his place.

In the coming season, do you feel United will miss the experience of those players that have left this summer?

Not as much as has been suggested. Neville was no more than a fringe player, Scholes admits himself that he wasn’t the player he was five years ago, while Van der Sar’s career was arguably extended two years by playing behind Nemanja Vidic. Time moves on and the younger players have to take their chance.

The midfield is the area of the squad that worries fans the most at the current time. How do you feel the Sneijder saga will conclude and could the likes of Modric and Nasri be viable alternatives or will the club look elsewhere?

My gut feeling is that Sneijder will end up at United before Aug 31. The last few weeks of United distancing themselves from the player has all been part of the game. Fergie really rates Nasri, but he seems destined for City. Same with Modric and Chelsea.

What are your thoughts on the new signings and how they will fit into the squad in the new season?

Jones is the one that has really impressed me. I think he’ll be a huge player for United over the next ten years. Not so sure about Young, but I felt the same about Dwight Yorke and he didn’t do too badly. De Gea is the one that could go either way. I’m still surprised United didn’t make more of a push for Manuel Neuer.

Looking at United's rivals for the Premier League title, do you see City as the main threat this season? How do you assess the summer has gone for Chelsea and Arsenal?

If Tevez leaves City, he will be missed an awful lot, despite all the nonsense that accompanies him. Aguero is a good signing, but he will do well to match Tevez’s contribution. Mancini also looks to be on collision course with the powers that be at Eastlands, so with all that, I think City will fall short of United and Chelsea.

They still have one season at least left in their main players and if Torres starts scoring, they will be a real threat.

Arsenal aren’t even a contender in my opinion. Too flaky and too worried about making 20 passes rather than scoring one goal. The rot has set in at the Emirates and they will do well to finish in the top four.

With Brown and O'Shea departing, do you feel United are a little light in the full back department considering the twins injury woes or can Jones/Smalling deputise adequately?

Phil Jones looked impressive at right-back against the MLS All-Stars, but that can’t be a gauge for the season ahead. Cover for both full-backs looks light, so I’m surprised that John O’Shea was allowed to go. To be honest, though, his injuries have started to catch up with him in recent seasons, so maybe the time was right.

It will be a big season for Hernández considering he will no longer be an unknown quantity, how do you assess his ability to overcome this obstacle?

Providing the concussion episode on tour was an isolated one-off, I don’t see any problem for Hernandez. He reminds me of a cross between Robbie Fowler and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and neither of those had any second-season syndrome problems.

Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley shone during their time on the US tour, do you feel that they will play a significant role in United's first team this season?

I’m not so sure about Cleverley. He’s a prospect, but midfield is quite well stocked, especially on the flanks. Welbeck looks to have developed physically during his year at Sunderland, though, and he looked sharp on tour, so he could be a surprise package.

At the current time, United have an embarrassment of riches up front with seven currently in the squad. Do you see a future at the club for Macheda and Diouf?

I can only see Diouf being the loser in this situation. He hardly set the world alight at Blackburn and did little on tour.

Macheda is still only 19 and I think his loan at Sampdoria made him realise what he has at United and what he could lose. He has a future, but it might be a frustrating one for the next couple of years.

Across the whole of the Premier League, who has been your signing of the summer?

It’s been a strange summer because the big deals haven’t really happened yet, with the exception of Aguero, so it’s early days to make a call on that.

What I will say is that Liverpool seem to have paid over the odds for all of their summer signings, particularly on Jordan Henderson.

The Glazers ownership is a continuing source of worry for Reds fans as we enter the new season. Do you feel they are in it for the long haul or could you see them relinquishing control any time soon?

They will be here for ages yet, but when they do sell, it will happen when nobody expects it.

After his much publicised troubles and poor form for much of last season, Rooney had a storming end to the season and a promising pre-season in America, how important is a fit and firing Rooney to United this season?

United with a fit and firing Rooney are a totally different team than one without, but the Champions League final against Barcelona showed that, even when he has on top form, he can’t carry United on his own.

The most important factor will be ensuring that Vidic and Hernandez avoid injury because they are just as crucial. De Gea needs to settle quickly too.

There are plenty of rumours about a departure for Berbatov with PSG linked this week, how do you assess his future with United?

If anybody offers £10m or more for Berbatov, United will let him go. He doesn’t want to leave, but he might change his mind if he starts the season on the bench.

Finally, Mark, what are your predictions for the finishing order for the top 4 this season?

1 – Man Utd; 2 – Chelsea; 3 – Man City; 4 – Liverpool

A huge thanks to Mark for taking the time to answer my questions bearing in mind he is just back from America and is busily preparing for the new season. You can follow him on Twitter by clicking the link below.

Thanks to TriciaRKG for the photos used in this post.

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