Finally, finally, finally, the season is almost here – until 12pm next Saturday though, we’ll have to make do with the Community Shield.
Sunday, 1500 BST, Wembley – Sky Sports One/HD
First and foremost, there will be no Didier Drogba tomorrow – the Ivorian is ten days off surgery, and probably won’t be seen until the beginning of September. Secondly, and probably more importantly, Peter Cech has not fully-recovered from the injury sustained in the San Siro last season – and owing to Ross Turnbull’s awful pre-season, the world will get to laugh again at Hilario.
Chelsea: Hilario, Ivanovic, Terry, Ferreira, Cole, Essien, Lampard, Mikel, Kalou, Anelka, Malouda.
There’s no news yet of the Manchester United team, but expect something close to full strength – barring Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick. Whether Sir Alex Ferguson gives Chicarito his full-debut remains to be seen, but Rooney, Vidic, Fletcher, Evra, Giggs, and Scholes will all feature. Rumour does have it though that Tom Cleverley will start at Wembley, as having spent last-season on-loan at Watford the youngster has been pulling-up trees in pre-season.
Given Chelsea’s obvious deficiencies in goal, at centre-back, and up-front, Bet365′s 7/4 on the United win inside 90 mins is a little callous. Additionally, 3/1 on Luis Nani to score at any time is tempting – as is the 11/4 offered in the same market for Florent Malouda, if you’re simply unable to lay a pro-United wager.
