Community Shield: Glorified Pre-Season Friendly or Important Match?
6 Aug
City at Wembley. Three words that should set the pulse racing. And yet they don’t. In contrast to our recent pair of visits, I’m struggling to muster any excitement. In my opinion at least, this Community Shield match is a completely meaningless affair, devoid of any real substance and in basic terms, is a glorified, slightly feisty, pre-season friendly.
That’s not an opinion shared by many City fans, thrilled at the prospect of seeing the Blues grace Wembley once again, but I fail to see how this match is an important one. Criticise me if you so desire, but I’m keeping my excitement bottled up until we face Swansea in the first game of the new Premier League season. That match has something riding on it. This one doesn’t.
Imagine we were playing another side, not United. Would there be the same fervent build-up? I doubt it. Don’t get me wrong, any Manchester derby has a certain amount riding on it, but if you seriously believe that either side can lay down a marker for the season with a victory on Sunday, then I think you’re mistaken.
Both sides aren’t yet 100% match fit and so a number of changes during the match, in order to give as many players as possible match time, are likely, whilst City certainly, and most probably United, won’t have their first choice team out. In effect, this is the final pre-season friendly for both sides, but with added kick in that it’s a derby.
Winning the Community Shield isn’t exactly the most sought after trophy, and having won the FA Cup semi-final, the City players know that they are capable of beating their red counterparts in a meaningful game. Losing this match won’t change that belief, nor will winning give an extra confidence boost.
For the fans, I suppose a Manchester derby is an excuse to get excited, and I fully understand that, but no bragging rights will be decided by the result of this fixture. And I’m sure the players won’t be in the same mindset as they were for that pulsating semi-final. As long as we escape serious injuries, I’ll be happy.
Count me in. The game tomorrow is nothing more than just a show, though media puts a different spin to it and why wouldn’t they [this is what they are supposed to do]. Our true test starts when we face Swansea. And all the hype and noise on laying down a marker is pure absurdity.
What !!!!!! How can you be saying this. Perhaps you are just being truly pragmatic but the chance to see City at Wembley again against the old foe for what could be one of our finest seasons is an overdose of excitement. Part of the reason I am so looking forward to this game is that there is not that is not much at stake except sheer pride and we are already on a roll of good results which natutrally ensures confidence. This could be a beromater of the season ahead.