1. The Community Shield is preparation for the season, it’s not a big deal. Had City won it, I’m side they’d refer to themselves as Community Shield champions but let’s not pretend it’s a big deal because we won. However, derby day is derby day and I’d enjoy watching our lads beat them at tiddlywinks so it’s nice to get a win against them at Wembley.

2. The average age of the team at the final whistle was just 23 years old, and this including late sub Berbatov who had replaced Welbeck. The young lads looked great. It is standard for the manager to put faith in youth but it was admirable to do it at Wembley against our rivals. It’s exciting to think of how good they could be even at 24 or 25. The papers and rival fans who are so keen to predict our decline might have to think twice after watching that.

3. Chris Smalling started the comeback with his goal, cushioning the ball past Joe Hart. City’s defending was poor but he was in the right place at the right time to show he isn’t a hoofer of a defender. Lovely feet. I was concerned about the damage to the squad when we sold O’Shea and Brown but Chris Smalling looked up to the task if we suffer our usual defensive injury crisis. He will probably have an eye of replacing Rio in our starting XI. I’m sure Jones, who was also spot on, will be thinking the same. If Rio is out injured for a while I really wouldn’t be surprised if he struggled to get his place back in the team.

4. If Manchester is blue, like those deluded knobs claim, why were there thousands of empty seats in their end? How can there be so many blues yet they struggle to sell tickets for a day out at Wembley? They’re not really here.

5. We’re going to have great competition for places on the wing this season and at the moment it’s advantage Nani. After being named the players’ player of the year but not ending the season too strongly, it’s great to see him starting the season well. His composure for the second goal was particularly impressive. It wasn’t just going forward though but the hard work he put in defensively too. Ashley Young assisted thedc first goal and after just signing a contract extension, Valencia will be keen to remind people what he is capable of too.

6. The manager said after the game we probably weren’t going to sign anyone else. I’ve heard ridiculous statements like “who needs Sneijder?” On the back of Tom Cleverley’s performance. He was spot on against Barca and it was more of the same against City. It’s a shame he snatched at the chances he did have. He’s better than that. But let’s not kid ourselves. If we aren’t able to sign a new midfielder, then I’m sure he’ll do a job for us, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. He seems to be a lad suited to the big stage and I hope to see a lot more of him this season.

7. The passing amazed me at times, with our pulling off accurate and quick first touch balls. The passing in the lead up to the second goal is probably the best example of this. Bar a period of about 20 minutes we were totally on top. The 3-2 scoreline flattered the blues after our dominance in the second half. No, the Community Shield isn’t a big deal, but I can’t deny I thoroughly enjoyed watching us totally outplay City!

Roll on 2011-2012…