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- ⚽ Big ‘Derby’ Wins & Community Shield Preview 🛡️
⚽ Big ‘Derby’ Wins & Community Shield Preview 🛡️
With most teams on the way back from their pre-season tours, the wait for top-level club football is just about over...
Erik Jansson
August 07, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes
⚽ Big ‘Derby’ Wins & Community Shield Preview 🛡️
With most teams on the way back from their pre-season tours, the wait for top-level club football is just about over…
Hey there MVP,
With just a couple of weeks until Europe’s major football leagues get under way, most clubs are wrapping up their pre-season tours. One league that has kicked-off is the Scottish Premier League and on Sunday, Celtic began their title defence with a big 4-nil win over Kilmarnock. Nicolas Kühn was one of four on the scoresheet and it looks like he’s carrying his goal scoring form into the 2024/25 season proper.
Most big teams seem to be doing their pre-season tours in the US this year and there were big ‘derby’ wins for Liverpool and Barcelona. Liverpool’s new manager, Arne Slot, has overseen a 100% win record so far, and his young team secured a convincing 3-nil win over a wasteful and injury-hit Manchester United. The other big pre-season result saw Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a stormy El Clasico. This was our first chance to watch Brazilian youngster Endrick in a Madrid shirt —he looked sharp but certainly no-way-near the finished article.
This week we’re previewing the Community Shield as FA Cup winners Manchester United take on Premier League winners Manchester City. We’ve also got the latest transfer news and our goal of the week is a contender for FIFA’s Puskas award.
Today's game plan:
Man United vs Man City | Saturday | 15:00 BST
There are plenty of football fans who consider the Community Shield as the conclusion of pre-season and more of a friendly match rather than a high-octane, all or nothing final. It might be a corporate hospitality day out, but this is the game that signals the start of the season is near and brings the attention of the football world back to the Premier League.
Regardless of the questionable intensity of previous finals, this season’s Community Shield is a derby. Plus, last season’s FA Cup final will be fresh in the memory of Guardiola and his team, so we’re expecting a decent game.
Form & Team News
Man United go into this game after a positive off-season. Fans have got a glimpse of how a modern football club can operate when it instals competent football executives. New CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth have worked effectively, bringing in new coaching staff as well as a number of young and talented players in positions United needed to strengthen.
Club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has also returned as one of Erik Ten Hag’s assistant managers. Many United fans will see this as the biggest addition —van Nistelrooy brings a winning mentality and since getting into management he has made a name for himself as a master of developing young talent. Ruud will have plenty of opportunities to work with young talent, and we wonder if his return to the club influenced United’s transfer strategy.
The new signings include Leny Yoro, a ball-playing centre-half who has been compared to Rio Ferdinand, and Joshua Zirkzee a powerful centre-forward who is also comfortable playing as a second striker. There was also the signing of highly-rated prospect Chido Obi-Martin, who left Arsenal on expiry of his schoolboy contract. As well as the new players, United have also got around to trimming the squad of injury-prone players. The departure of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial significantly reduces the wage bill and should give younger players more opportunities.
United’s form over pre-season has been mixed, with individual performances getting more attention than the overall team cohesiveness. There were wins over Rangers and Real Betis, but losses to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool. The losses themselves weren’t overly worrying; what is alarming is the number of injuries United have picked up.
Aaron Wan‑Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans all missed pre-season games for various reasons. More consequential, are the losses of Rasmus Højlund who is set to be out for 6 weeks with a hamstring injury and new signing Leny Yoro who will be out for 3 months with a foot injury that required surgery.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s match, United will take confidence from last season’s FA Cup final win over Man City. Ten Hag will no doubt use the fact that the club hasn’t lifted the Community Shield since 2016 as motivation.
GR Manchester United predicted lineup | Onana, Dalot, Martinez, Evans, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford, Diallo
Gif by ManneNilsson on Giphy
In recent years, Manchester City have become very familiar with Wembley Stadium and the Community Shield. City have played in 15 Community Shield finals, including the last 3 seasons. Interestingly, Pep Guardiola’s team have lost these last 3 Community Shield finals, which probably reflects his attitude towards the Community Shield being more of a spectacle and an exercise in avoiding injuries, rather than a trophy that he covets. A loss on Saturday would see City equal United’s unfortunate record of 4 consecutive Community Shield final losses.
City’s pre-season has definitely been more strenuous than United’s. Also touring the US, City have played friendly matches against Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Chelsea. They lost three of these games with the one victory being their final pre-season friendly against Chelsea. The game against Chelsea was a strange one, as City went 4-nil up thanks to a goal from Oscar Bobb and a hat-trick from Erling Haaland, before Chelsea pulled back a few consolation goals.
Compared to previous seasons, this has been a quiet summer transfer window for City. The only addition to the squad has been the signing of Brazilian winger Savinho from Troyes. The other news is that City have let Julian Alvarez go to Atletico Madrid.
Guardiola will be relieved that his City squad have made it through some tough pre-season games without picking up any injuries. The squad is certainly in better shape than United’s. However, there is some uncertainty around Ederson’s availability for the Community Shield.
GR Manchester City predicted lineup | Ortega, Gvardiol, Ake, Stones, Walker, Kovacic, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Silva, Haaland
This Week’s Shocker…
France came back from 1-nil down to beat Egypt 3-1 in their Olympics semi-final, but questions are being asked of the French goalkeeper Obed Nkambadio.
Fortunately for Egypt , France's keeper was Huge Ter Stegen fan 👏
— ʀᴀ4 🎥 (@beastRaujo_)
8:29 PM • Aug 5, 2024
True, it is a powerful hit, but should a professional keeper be getting beaten like that? A large part of every goalkeeper’s training regime involves working on reaction speed. 21 year old Obed Nkambadio plays his football for Ligue 2 side Paris FC, so he’s still a work in progress. But still, should a pro keeper be getting beaten like that?
Around the world…
West Ham have completed the signing of Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug from Borussia Dortmund on a four year deal. The fee hasn’t been disclosed but this is good business from West Ham —Füllkrug scored 21 goals and recorded 11 assists in 54 games for club and country last season.
The fixture list for the RSL 2024/25 season has been confirmed and we’ve been taking a note of when the big stars will face off. The big derbies are scheduled for matchweek 9 (Al-Nassr vs Al-Hilal // Al-Ittihad vs Al-Ahli) and matchweek 29 (Al-Hilal vs Al-Shabab // Al-Taawoun vs Al-Raed).
PSG have reached an agreement with Benfica for highly rated holding midfielder João Neves. The 19 year old has signed a 5 year contract in a deal that amounts to a €60 million initial fee with a further €10m in add-ons, plus Renato Sanches joins Benfica on loan.
Manchester City have accepted an offer from Athletico Madrid for Argentinian striker Julian Alvarez. The deal for the 24 year old is said to be worth €95 million in total, with €75 million up front and a further €20 million in performance-based add-ons.
Xav Simons, the Dutch attacking midfielder and scorer of that quarter-final wonder goal against England at Euro 2024, has rejoined RB Leipzig for another loan spell. There were rumours that the Dutchman was either heading to German giants Bayern Munich or to the Premier League, but he has surprised everyone by going back to RB Leipzig, the club that he scored 8 goals for in 32 Bundesliga appearances.
Games to keep an eye on…
Dynamo Kyiv vs Rangers | Tuesday | 19:00 BST
Rangers have made it through to the third qualifying round of the Champions League, but they face a tough test in Dynamo Kyiv. The Ukrainian side smashed Partizan 9-2 on aggregate in the previous qualifying round.
France vs Spain | Friday | 17:00 BST
The final of the Olympics football will see hosts France face Spain in an all European affair. France made it through a nervy semi-final after they found an equaliser against Egypt in the 83rd minute. Spain also came from behind but looked in control after they equalised in the 66th minute. France are favourites to win, but will the pressure get to this young French team?
Millwall vs Watford | Saturday | 12:30 BST
A classic London match up on the opening day of the Championship season as Millwall host Watford at The Den. Both clubs had disappointing 2023/24 seasons with Millwall finishing 13th and Watford finishing 15th. Both clubs will be looking to get off to a positive start this time around.
Hibernian vs Celtic | Sunday | 12:30 BST
After their 4-nil demolition of Kilmarnock on matchday 1, Celtic will look to keep the momentum going against Hibs. In contrast, the Edinburgh team are looking to stabilise the ship after they went down 3-nil to St Mirren last weekend.
GOAT Trivia…
Say congrats to…
Happy birthday to Marcus Thuram [@MarcusThuram]! The France and Inter striker celebrates his 27th birthday today.
On this day in football…
On this day in 1983, legendary Dutch striker Robin van Persie was born. As well as being the all-time top scorer for the Netherlands, van Persie will be remembered and forever adored for his unreal technique and wand of a left foot. Here’s 5 minutes of van Persie’s best Premier League goals, including a bunch of beautifully-taken volleys.
Goal of the week…
Our goal of the week has to be this outrageous overhead kick from Walter Bou.
2-2 heading into the 90th minute when Bou sets the ball off his chest…incredible! More than a few people are saying this goal should win FIFA’s Puskas award.
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