Manchester United take-on Chelsea in Wembley on Sunday afternoon, as the games slowly start to become competitive once again. The Blues won on penalties last year, but with Didier Drogba and Petr Cech unfit - the chances are that they won't do it again...

  Report By: Ivann Venter, 6:55pm

For the first time in a couple of months, weekends hold more than walking the dogs, having to spend time with the wife and generally not looking forward to anything. It is that time again, time for United. This weekend the start of the season is singled by the Community Shield. 

United face Chelsea by way of finishing second in the League, the match-up in this game has been the same for the last 2 out of 3 years. There is perhaps a small omen for United in the outcome of the Community Shield - as the last two times we won the Shield, we went on to win the League.

The Community Shield is probably only an important game if we win it. If we don’t nobody will be to distraught. Most fans just want a good performance. The performance of United will most probably be determined from the line up chosen by Sir Alex. I don’t see why a team consisting of the players who played on American tour can’t give a good performance. They looked good on tour and should have decent fitness. 

The players coming back from their post World Cup holidays may not be as sharp. Players such as Dimitar Berbatov, Edwin Van Der Sar, Luis Nani and Darren Fletcher will most probably feature. The two big questions lie around the partnership at the back and front. With Rio Ferdinand still injured the most probably central defensive partnership is Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans, who can handle most strikers in the world.

Up front, we should see two strikers, with Sir Alex confirming Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen will play 45 minutes each. Chicharito or Dimitar Berbatov will likely be in the starting line-up, with Owen as a second half sub for Rooney. Put Kiko Macheda - who is going to be a big feature in the team this year - into the mix, and this gives the Manager a lot if possibilities. 

In the last couple of seasons it has been tough nailing the managers team before a game, there always seem to be a surprise or two. Expect the same on Sunday. And for once I hope some team wins it out rite, penalties are like kissing your slightly overweight redheaded cousin, fun but not really.

The one player I really hope finds some form is Micheal Carrick. Most United fans seem to love to criticise Berbatov for his lack of end product and endeavor. But Carrick should get just as much if not more criticism. He was culpable for United’s los against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, contributed little to nothing at either end of the pitch for United in 90% of the games he played in. 

Furthermore, his lack of form had a big impact on United’s need for the 4-5-1 formation. We don’t have two central midfielders capable of bossing a game against the top seven sides in the league, which forces Berbatov’s place to be taken by a midfielder. If we don’t dip into the transfer market, then Carrick really needs to find form to allow United to get their 11 best players, which includes Berbatov, on the pitch in the big games. 

If the midfield was good enough for 4-4-2 and Berbatov's form was the only reason he didn’t play in big games then why didn’t the gaffer select Owen ?

Carrick needs to find form, his class is permanent and proven. Although doubts remain over his fitness, after he picked-up a knock last Wednesday...