Google+ PLANET FOOT 7: Van Persie leads Manchester United to win the FA shield.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Van Persie leads Manchester United to win the FA shield.

Robin van Persie restored order to Manchester United's troubled pre-season by grabbing the goals that brought David Moyes his first trophy as manager.

Van Persie struck early in each half to allow United to repel the threat of an enterprising Wigan outfit and claim the Community Shield for the 20th time.More importantly, it was silverware at the first available opportunity for Moyes, who has such a massive job on his hands after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson in May.

Such is the length of time Ferguson has dominated life at Old Trafford that six of Moyes' starting line-up were not even born the last time United played in this annual curtain-raiser without the Scot as manager, back in 1985, when Alan Brazil was among the substitutes.

Moyes will be grateful for the squad he has inherited though, particularly Van Persie, who did more than anyone to ensure Ferguson left centre stage as a championship winner.

He took only six minutes to get started today, superbly directing a header into the bottom corner from Patrice Evra's left-wing cross.

It needed a deflection off James Perch to bring United their second on the hour, although Van Persie will rightly be credited with the goal after cutting inside off a Danny Welbeck pass to drive an effort towards the target.

There was an injury scare for United though, with Rafael limping off in the opening stages, although the Brazilian is suspended anyway for next Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener at Swansea.

With only two wins in pre-season prior to this afternoon, no new signings of any significance and Wayne Rooney's situation uncertain to the extent he is considered fit enough to face Scotland on Wednesday, but not to even make the journey south for this fixture, Moyes' transition period has been anything but smooth.

Yet, with the exception of Paul Scholes, he retains the entire squad which won their 20th league championship by 11 points last May, plus Wilfried Zaha, who has finally switched clubs after spending the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace.

Zaha was included today, such has been the impact he has made on a journey that has seen United play seven matches in six countries prior to this afternoon's contest.

No comments:

Post a Comment