Observations on the Community Shield

Starting Line-ups

If this is any indicator of starting line-ups - minus injuries (Rafael/Chicharito) or late returnees from tournaments (Aguero) - then we might make the following assessments about both teams:

• Micah Richards started at RB and is priced very reasonably at 7.35 in the Yahoo game - not bad for a starting RB for a top 4 team.  Especially a team starting at home against a newly promoted team.  Just saying.
• Anderson looks like he'll finally get his chance to shine and prove Jeremy right (or horribly wrong) once and for all.  Jeremy has been holding out hope that the Brazilian will make the big step up for a few seasons now and with Scholes gone he seems to have his chance. 
• Welbeck has apparently earned a promotion up into consideration for serious playing time.  With Chicharito out, I have to admit I was surprised that he got the start over Berbs who doesn't appear on any injury reports.  With Chicharito likely out for a while longer, you'd think this would be SAF's chance to get the first team playing together - you don't think that means Welbeck has moved past Berbs, do you?
• Looks like all of the "DDG is not necessarily our #1" talk from Ferguson was just a motivational tactic to make sure that the kid kept playing and training hard.  I can't think of a single reason they'd start him in this match and then not do it again when the curtain raises for real.

Set Pieces

• United: They seemed to go mostly to Ashley Young with Nani taking the occasional attempt - particularly the direct kick from about 25 or 30 yards in the middle of the first half that deflected off Dzeko and ended up going just a shade wide.  
• City: Silva and Kolarov split duty with Silva taking most of the attempts from the right side of the field and Kolarov from the left. Silva's cross for Lescott's opener was very nice. 

Manchester United Sets Line-Up for Blackpool

English roundup-Ferguson set to ring the changes - Yahoo! Eurosport

"There are players who need a game anyway. Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Anderson will all play. So will (Dimitar) Berbatov, (Patrice) Evra and (Edwin) Van der Sar."

Other news at the link. And do yourself a favor and read, and follow, Fantasy Football Scout on Twitter. They're killing it today!

Ferguson tips Anderson for goals

Something to think about.

Just as long as Anderson is on the field, Ferguson admitted he is one of the options for free-kicks and penalties.

"I have been thinking about this for two weeks now and I have no definite answer to it. I think it depends on what 11 players are playing in a particular game. I think we have two or three players who are natural to take responsibility," said Ferguson.

"(Patrice) Evra, (Michael) Carrick, Anderson and (Ryan) Giggs are all natural choices to take penalty kicks, but when I choose my 11 on a particular day, then I will make my mind up on that day."

Interesting that Evra made the list, but Nani didn't.

Premier League trio called up to Brazil Olympic side

Premier League trio Anderson, Lucas and Jo have all been named in Brazil's 18-man Olympic squad.

All three - of Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City - are named as regular Under-23 players and therefore clubs cannot refuse to release them.

Something to keep in mind when the season starts as these players won't have been with their teams in pre-season. That will be especially detrimental to Jo, whose side can least afford to be without him for any length of time.

United set to stop splashing cash

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has indicated the Red Devils' triple transfer swoop could mark the end of their summer spending.United have confirmed England international Owen Hargreaves will join them from Bayern Munich on July 1, with only the 25-year-old's signature required to complete a £17million deal.

Neither Anderson nor Nani can expect to play as many games as their fellow new arrival, although if either man shows the type of form Ronaldo produced when he first landed at Old Trafford four years ago, it will not be long before they are providing stiff competition for the likes of Ryan Giggs, who has quit international football in order to prolong his United career.

Queiroz said: "It is really worth stopping to imagine what an attack formed by Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson could do.

On that note, time for a bit of the old blog roundtable:

Jeremy: anderson won't get a work permit and will be loaned back to porto

Jeremy: at least that's my baseless speculation

Neal: don't know how much he's played with the BNT

Neal: will probably be more after Copa this summer

Jeremy: i think he just got his first senior call up

Neal: hard to believe that SAF would spend huge for someone who isn't going to contribute this year

Neal: wonder if he has a Euro passport from his time in Portugal

Neal: regardless of Anderson status - ManYoo looking pretty strong

Neal: Giggs replacement

Neal: done

Neal: Scholes replacement

Neal: done

Neal: two holding midfielders

Neal: done

Jeremy: just a matter of aligning the pieces

Neal: one striker left

Jeremy: no room on the pitch for that striker

Neal: no?

Jeremy: if you figure scholes, carrick, and owen in the center

Neal: Nani the 2nd striker for now?

Jeremy: giggs, probably

Jeremy: nani and cron on the wings

Jeremy: SAF creating his version of AC Milan

Neal: I'd be surprised if Scholes keeps his spot

Neal: he's done

Jeremy: for pirlo/gattuso read carrick/hargreaves

Neal: w/ Giggs playing the Kaka role?

Jeremy: seedorf/kaka read giggs/cron

Neal: so, essentially 4-5-1?

Jeremy: scholes as ambrosini?

Jeremy: basically

Jeremy: keep saha and smith as rooney's cover

Neal: I'm guessing Saha is gone to Lyon based on the rumor mill

Neal: sell him for 6-8M and then pay out for Huntelaar

Jeremy: probably

Jeremy: rossi ;-)

Neal: hasn't rossi already been sold?

Neal: or is he on loan?

Jeremy: loan to parma

Neal: got it

Manchester United announce Portuguese swoop

Manchester United have swooped on Portugal's Superliga to capture exciting young duo Nani and Anderson.

[Anderson] can play on the wing or as a playmaker and has spent the last two seasons at Porto after joining from Gremio - Ronaldinho's former club - after the 2005 youth tournament.

...

United have also agreed to sign Portugal international Nani, who is 20 and is a winger-cum-striker who had been interesting Spurs.

Depth and youth in a single double move. After losing out to Chelsea and Roman's billions for several years, on players like Robben and Mikel, are ManU back?