Community Shield or Royal Rumble?

When the dust settles Sunday afternoon will Sir Alex have shut up his “noisy neighbors” or will Mancini’s men party till the cops come knockin. Both managers have reloaded their guns with high priced signings. We all know Sir Alex will have his boys playing his brand of football but Mancini showed last year that he is also capable of bringing together top talent.

Both teams finished last season with hardware. United won the league and lost out in the Champions League Final. While City won the FA Cup and snuck into the last champions league spot. The two sides met a total of three times last season with each side claiming one victory and sharing a draw at Eastlands. You could argue the one City victory was more important as they saw off United in the FA Cup Finals

I am seriously looking forward to the matchups in the one. City will be without Carlos Tevez and new boy Sergio Aguero, but they can still throw out Mario Balotelli, David Silva and Edin Dzeko. I am saying a prayer tonight that Sir Alex throws out new signing, 19 year old defender Phil Jones to match up against the size and strength of Dzeko and Balotelli. Phil Jones is as tough as they come and won’t take any of Balotelli’s diving whining crap. Rooney said that Jones was the toughest defender he faced last season when Jones was still at Blackburn. This kid could be the future United captain and possibly wear the armband for England as well.

This has all the makings of a street fight. One tough challenge early on from Dutch whack job Nigel De Jong (he is the guy that karate kicked Xabi Alonso in the world cup finals) could be the spark to light this fire.

 I am hoping for 1977 levels of Charity Sheild excitement, where Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan went toe to toe with Leeds hardman Billy Bremner.

Keegan Lands a right!!!!

My Call … United 3 – 1 City.

Fox Soccer Channel is showing the match live at 8:30am CST.