You should read Tom Bryant's awesome minute-by-minute report.
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Previous entry: Boy, do I hate penalty shootouts
Community Shield: Burning questions and one answer
Should play have been stopped before Frank Lampard scored the go-ahead for Chelsea? Was Wayne Rooney offsides when he tied it up the 92nd minute? Has Man U collectively adopted the "ZOMGHOWCOULDYOUDOTHATTOME?!" facial repertoire of the departed Ronaldo? Do Chelsea players look like half-footballer, half-bar-brawler monsters that score and beat you up along the way?
Does Drogba finally look badass now that he dropped that little circle thingy he wore on his head? Was Michael Owen's irrelevance a sign of things to come? Has Petr Cech laid early claim to the mantle of the EPL's best keeper? Does Ancelotti's diamond formation make Lampard a better fantasy pick than Gerrard? Why was Man U nudging pathetic dribblers during the shootout while Chelsea was bombing balls into the corner? Will Man U be rattled by the poor PKs or buoyed by Rooney's run? Will Chelsea have a habit of letting up a bit too early at the end of games?
The only thing of which I'm certain: this is going to be a barn-burner of a chase for all the silverware amongst the top teams in England.
You should read Tom Bryant's awesome minute-by-minute report.
You should read Tom Bryant's awesome minute-by-minute report.
Yeah, Evra’s kick was just so… impotent. You’d never know it was Chelsea who hadn’t won a PK shootout in like 10 years.
Something tells me Evra won’t be getting a chance to make up for that for quite some time. And why was he the one shooting at that point at all?
Comment #2: Marc on 08/09 at 02:10 PM
38 games in the Premier League. Not one will be decided on a penalty shoot out. More worrying for United will be Foster flapping like a decapitated chicken in goal, and Carrick’s inability to step up for big games. Chelsea should concern themselves with poor marking at the back, and (as usual) a toothless attack without Drogba. Cech, Fletcher and (I hate to admit it) Cole, emerged with credit from this warm up match, but you’d still think these two sides will scrap for the top spot.
Comment #3: rowinio on 08/09 at 06:29 PM
Anelka won the golden boot last season; don’t you think he adds some “teeth” to that attack? I realize he’s not an unreal striker, but he seems accurate and persistent.
Comment #4: Marc on 08/09 at 06:51 PM
To be fair, Anelka does get some goals.
But his tally of 19 last season to win the golden boot was the lowest to do so for 10 years, since a certain Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink bagged 18 for Leeds United in 1998/99, so hardly setting the world on fire. I won’t mention what division Leeds are playing in now, that would be over-labouring the point.
Good stats can be found here: http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/
And yes, Fat Frank bags so many from midfield that Chelsea don’t always need another striking option.
Comment #5: rowinio on 08/10 at 08:53 AM
Agree with rowinio. Community Shield never an indication of what’s to come. Hopefully. Because Foster was awful throughout the game. With Van der Sar injured, I fear the worst.
Comment #6: elena on 08/11 at 11:12 PM
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Nope. As for the rest of it, I’m not sure. I’m embarrassed to say that I apparently have to get back into GMT-delay shape again; I woke up with four minutes left in the first half; fell asleep again; woke up again with five minutes left in the second half.
But Rooney was on-side. And Evra’s penalty was the worst I can remember seeing.