We were live at Villa Park for the Community Shield clash between Premier League champions Manchester City and FA Cup winners Chelsea.
Another season of domestic football in the highest echelons of the English game is upon us.
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Manchester City 3-2 Chelsea
Here we go again! Villa Park is playing host to today’s encounter following the Olympics Gold Medal match at Wembley Stadium yesterday. It will be interesting to see if Manchester City can get off to a rip-roaring start to the season, as they did last year.
City lost this fixture, 3-2, to Manchester United last season before going on an impressive run in the league that would eventually pay rich dividends in gaining the Premier League crown.
Here are the teams:
CHELSEA: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Mata, Hazard; Torres.
MAN CITY: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Kompany, Savic, Kolarov; De Jong, Y Toure; Milner, Aguero, Nasri; Tevez.
If today’s match is anything like last season’s curtain-raiser then we are in for a treat.
YouTube credit: fatv
Joe Hart misses out through injury so Costel Pantilimon takes over in goal for City. Mario Balotelli is in Villa Park but as a spectator. Roberto Mancini has been speaking to ITV about the purchase of Jack Rodwell from Everton. He said:
We consider Jack Rodwell to be a good, young player. He will be an important midfielder for the England national team and for us. We need to put into the team someone who wants to win, is good tactically and is a good player for the future.
Fernando Torres is the man in possession of the main striker’s role at Chelsea and he will be looking to get off to a flyer and prove he is the lethal finisher of old. He loses out in a tussle with Yaya Toure and City get a free after David Luiz takes down Sergio Aguero.
Carlos Tevez curls a decent free kick towards Petr Cech’s right but the Czech international palms it away.
Tevez runs afoul of John Terry but there is no free given. Stefan Savic earns his first yellow card of the season after welcoming Eden Hazard to England with a clattering tackle from behind.
Aguero inadvertently puts Nasri through on goal but there is no commitment to his poked effort and Cech blocks it for a corner. The French midfielder then fails to beat the Chelsea defender at the near post with his tame corner. City press and get another, which is taken by Koralov. Much more whip and pace but Cech claws it clear.
Kompany beats John Terry to another City corner but Cech does well to get well behind the headed effort.
BOTCHED BACK-HEEL ALERT! Eden Hazard fresh airs a back-heel attempt and ends up on the turf, much to the amusement of the City fans at Villa Park.
Great cross whipped in from James Milner on the right wing but Aguero can’t get enough purchase on his header, which skims well wide.
First shot on goal from Chelsea but Lampard can’t get a clean connection, hitting his shot into the ground on the charge, Pantilimon takes it at chest height.
Much better from Eden Hazard as he lets fly with an effort from 25 yards out. Pantilimon gets down quickly to snaffle it up.
Ramires gets a yellow card after lopping the ankles of a charging Nasri.
Here is that Hazard attempt at a back-heel:
YouTube credit: WhySoSeriousX92
John Obi Mikel caught in possession and David Luiz is forced to hack a through-ball clear as Aguero puts him under pressure. City having the better of the game with 37 minutes gone.
The ball is slid across the City box by Ramires and Torres keeps his composure to poke it past Pantilimon with the outside of his boot.
RED CARD! Ivanovic is given a straight red for a lunging tackle on Kolarov. He won the ball with one leg but planted his studs on Kolarov’s shin with the other. No arguments, from me at least, about that one. Milner fires his free to the left but it is an easy save for Cech.
It is all happening here!
Lampard goes in the book for a foul on Milner. Referee Kevin Friend has set the cautionary standards and must stay consistent now. What did you all make of that red card decision?
HALF-TIME.
So, Chelsea lead against the run of play but the red card for Ivanovic will make it a dicey second-half. They have backs-to-the-wall experience from last season and will be confident of shutting down the City attack after the break. JT will be rallying the troops in the Blues’ dressing room right now.
Here is that Ivanovic tackle:
YouTube credit: goal omcm
As Rory McIlroy leads by two shots at the PGA Championship, we get back underway at the Community Shield.
Torres’ blood is up as he shuns a pass to Ashley Cole and goes it alone. Touching the ball past Kompany and sprinting into the box. Kolarov comes sliding in to avert the danger and give Chelsea a corner.
Kompany then impedes Torres deliberately to earn himself a yellow card. The Spaniard has discovered the form that made Chelsea shell out £50m for him almost two years ago.
Fernando Torres makes it 1-0. (John Walton/EMPICS Sport)
GOAL! James Milner tries to whip in a cross but it is deflected. It drops to John Terry but his attempt at a sliding clearance is weak and falls to Yaya Toure. His first touch takes him wider than he would have liked but he slams a superb, low drive past Cech.
Ashley Cole does well to nip in ahead of Carlos Tevez, who was poised to connect with a dangerous cross.
Tevez takes possession of the ball on the lefthand side of the Chelsea box and dashes across its perimeter, leaving David Luiz in his wakes, before unleashing a drive that curls into the top corner. Petr Cech did not even move. Tevez unveils a ‘Fuerte Apache’ (Fort Apache) t-shirt under his jersey as he runs off in celebration.
GOAL! Kolarov cuts the ball back at the byline and Nasri ghosts in to volley it home. 3-1 to City now.
Here is that Toure equaliser.
YouTube credit: SoccerTVProd
Chelsea look out of ideas but di Matteo refusing to use his bench.
Another stunning goal, this time courtesy of Carlos Tevez, for your viewing pleasure:
YouTube credit: 10KingHighlights
Juan Mata is off too and Daniel Sturridge, a former City employee, is on the pitch. Cech does well to slide and cut out a dangerous cross into the box. It is looking like more silverware for Roberto Mancini’s men.
Nasri is replaced by David Silva.
GOAL! Not over just yet as Costel Pantilimon drops a clanger and spills a Sturridge shot. Ryan Bertrand nips in to slam the ball home. Bertrand and Pantilimon are both booked for some push and shove over the ball.
Five minutes to go and Tevez relieves some pressure by earning a free-kick high up the park. City are passing it about now in the hope of closing out the contest and wearing out 10-man Chelsea.
Aguero misses a sitter after Yaya Toure, then James Milner made David Luiz look ordinary. Milner cut it back for an unmarked Aguero but the Argentine’s side-foot went a couple of feet wide.
Edin Dzeko just did his best Tony Cascarino against Croatia (away) as he botched a one-on-one chance by doddering over the ball.
Please some one in the FAI sort this mess ,
Too late, the lunatics have taken over the asylum…
We need leadership now.
We need someone like Harry redknapp to manage the team and Niall Quinn on the fai board
Gibson always had an attitude. Don’t mind Ronaldo having an attitude but Gibson is not good enough to have one. Another Stephen Ireland is all we need.
With regards to Stephen Ireland, I say a prayer every night for his return
The FAI is the mess.
Just imagine if they fans had the same attitude.Darren needs to man up.
Trap has lost the players. Now keep an eye on the attendance figures for the home fixtures in the WCQ. If they’re lower than expected his time may be up
Amazed that he was able to convince Dunne to stay on – probably guilt tripped him into it. Dunne doesn’t owe us anything now.
I can see why he has made himself unavailable, but this is his big chance for him to become a part of the starting 11, it’s going to be interesting what happens when he does make himself available
Gibson is a loss. Trap is so conservative that he won’t give Gibson a game therefore Gibson wants to focus on his club. Fair enough. When a regular prem starter sits on the bench and sees Cox being played in midfield you can’t ble him for getting pissed off.
Don’t forget Green also got more game time than him in the euros and he didn’t even have a team, he’s right to do what he’s doing
Yes you can blame him. If you’re offered the green shirt you wear it with pride. He should never be allowed to sully it again.
Vincent, he was not getting his Green shirt in order to wear it with pride. Unless the training bid is green. He was being asked to turn up for a week, with no realistic opportunity of game time. He placed club commitments above that, sounds fair to me and certainly understandable. You can keep your simplistic views if you want but at least try to see bigger picture.
Aww. The poor little fella.
What a mess. Gibson to scared to ruin his confidence if he plays rubbish again for Ireland. More interested in playing for everton. Not that Gibson is much of a loss it’s a sure sign that Traps style of play is not popular with the players anymore. Delaney & Trap out now… You could not pay me to go watch an international match these days….disgusting dinosaur football. Delaney and his 400,000 a year OUT now that delaney is a Buffon and a sham looking Irish fool get him OUT now!
He’s struggling by on ?360,000 now poor mite.
Hard one to call, however I can see why he’s done it. For all the hype in qualifying for the Euro’s Ireland were awful. I don’t blame any of the players but the outdated negative system Trap insists on. To sit on the bench and watch that must be a killer.
We need a change of management from the top down and play a style of football that will bring the fans back.
You get offered the green shirt you wear it with pride. End of.
Traps man management skills have to be questioned at this stage!!!!
He needs to grow a set. Most people would love to be in his position and he refuses.
We need to sign Andy Carrol,
How would football work if every player who felt aggrieved at a Managers decision not to play him refused to line out. By the way, I challenge any of you defending Gibson so name a match where Gibson had a good game for Ireland.
I hope everyone who defended Roy Keane in Saipan recognise now that their tolerance of his treachery lay the foundations for the likes of Stephen Ireland and Darron Gibson to betray their country.
Troll! J’acuse
Disagreeing with you, Stephen does not constitute Trollery, I’m afraid. But while we’re accusing, I notice you are an Everton fan. Putting club before country, it would seem.
Bringing Roy Keane (whom I agreed with BTW) and Stephen Ireland (Whom I hate) is not helpful. Why not bring Collins and Dev while you are at it? And I think bringing Keane and Ireland into the argument is bordering on Trollery (If thats a word, maybe it demonstrates Trollish tendencies!)
Trap is an idiot. At the Euros we had the option of Gibson or Green to come on off the bench and he choses bloody Paul Green. That is ridiculous. Must be sickening to watch Paul Green play ahead of you. Feel sorry for Gibson
Gibson went to the Euros and had to sit on the bench and watch two lesser players getting picked ahead of him. I dont blame him for pulling out.
I didn’t realise players get to pick the team now. Interesting how the whole squad system works in that scenario.
if we had a no nonsense manager like Alex Ferguson he would never withdraw from a squad cos he knows he’d be finished.. wouldnt be surprised if he retires from international, who could blame em with a senile old man in charge
No loss
Sure he’s not even Irish so f@@@ him we don’t need him, onwards and upwards
I take it you dont want McClean then?
Silly comment, McLean and McGeady should be gone too so?
Not Irish Donal? How dare you? Who or what gives you the right to deny Darron Gibson his nationality? If there is one thing this country can do without is people like yourself spouting pro-British partitionist views. You really should try to avoid demonstrating your ignorance. Darron Gibson like everyone else born on this island is Irish. Now, we know there are some (kindred spirits of yours) who consider themselves British but Gibson is not one of them. You have no right to deny him his birthright. By your ignorant and twisted reckoning McLean and Wilson (also born in Ireland) are not Irish either, certainly you surely believe McCarthy, McGeady, Fox, Walters, St Leger are not Irish either. You in your exalted position would no doubt deny these members of the diaspora their right to be Irish. Obviously, you would also have been irritated in the past by the inclusion of non-Irish players such as Paul McGrath and David O’Leary (both born in England).
Be a man – apologise for, and retract your scurrilous statement. If you can’t or won’t might I suggest you take yourself off to an English and/or N. Ireland fan site where I am sure you will find others of a similar mindset to yourself. Shame on you!
Is he any good though? Looks like Trap hasnt him in his first 11 for the next games. Whelan, Andrews and McCarthy will fill the mid 3 for the Germany game if fit. Gibson obviously not happy. Is he doing anything at Everton? Took him a long time to realise he wasnt good enough for Utd. Pity to see players walking away though.
No he’s overrated always throwing his arms up like a spoilt child . Throws in the odd decent pass r shot.
He’s been a revelation since signing for Everton and become a key player and fan favourite try quickly. I was uncertain about him signing but he’s had a good attitude and good work ethic and fitted in well with the team.
You’d swear Gibson was Messi the way some people are going on. This is the same player who has struggled for fitness and consistency at United, Everton AND Ireland over the years. Don’t want to play? Then don’t. We’ll plough on and get behind the guys who actually want to play for their country. Not liking this prima donna nonsense from very average players.
Damn right
The move to Everton has done his career wonders, he’ll be a loss to Ireland. Odd attitude though after choosing to play for the Republic. He’s obviously lost faith in Trap, because I’d imagine he would have been a starter.
If you are blessed with enough football talent to be a professional footballer at this level , you should take pride in playing for your country. If you have some issues with the manager or team mates at international level you shouldn’t compare them to the day job where in this day and age you get very well paid.Throwing toys out of the pram smacks of primma donna which has been a noticeable bad trend from highly paid players when dealing with the various different challenges faced at international level , pity to see Gibson adding his name to the list.
Only positive about this is that Gibson was honest about it and said it straight, traps days are numbered! Bring back jacko
sorry pauli & donal,thumbed both of ye down in error.thought at first that u were referring to gibson and not that money grabbing chancer!
I blame both Trap and Gibson. Trap should expect people to walk out when he plays lesser championship standard players (cox, green ward) and doesnt even have certain personnel in the squad, (wilson, stokes, stephen reid,) It doesnt help when he continues to go with his unattractive football
But at the same time, Gibson and others should act like a professional and at least agree to play when selected.
The writings already on the wall for Trap in my book, expect HIM to walk out before the end of the qualifiers due to negative public pinion.
In my opinion Ireland has as large a pool of talent as its ever had at the moment with players like Robbie Brady about to come to prominence in the next year, so the next manager will have an exciting job on his hands.
If only Trap could see that and trust these irish players to play a style of football they can.
Gibson is silly in pulling out though. He needs as much exposure as he can get, as he’s still very unproven at the top level.
It won’t matter who will play’ they Have’nt got a chance ‘ and not one bit against GERMANY
Gibson was wrong to withdraw from the squad. Like many others commenting here, I believe a call up for your country is an honour not to be snubbed regardless of slight felt. However, he has every right to stage some form of protest. Just wish he had chosen a more appropriate one. I normally wouldn’t advocate mutiny but it is obvious that Trapattoni has lost the respect of many of the players, and judging by comments across many fora, the fans too. His latest incredulous statement re use of substitutes V the Italians demonstrates he has completely lost the plot. Too many players are falling out with him. Can they all be wrong? Time for his resignation.