On the FA Community Sheild: What we found out about Manchester United.

So today Manchester United won back the FA Community Shield from Chelsea 3-1. This was a huge match because it shows both teams where they are in comparison to one another, and Man U's win tips the balance in a big way. Let's look at all of the great (and perhaps not so great) things we learned from today's game about Man U:

1. Rooney's as hungry as ever. Though he didn't score today, and didn't even have a shot, Rooney was all over the field and looked as fiesty as he usually is. This was epitomized when he lost the ball cheaply and proceeded to chase down Nicolas Anelka and rip the ball away from him with a perfectly executed slide tackle.

He also set up United's first goal, slotting a ball perfectly across the six for Valencia to finish. Rooney hasn't found the goal for any side, Man U or England, since March, but something tells me that is going to change in the season opener against Newcastle.

2. Van Der Sar's still got it. Edwin Van Der Sar is the current 37 year old number one for Man U. Some were questioning his fitness this year and were calling on manager Sir Alex Ferguson to look for a new keeper, perhaps Federico Marchetti. But Alex waved his finger in front of all of us and pointed to Van Der Sar's performance today, showing his immense capabilities in both reflexes, reach, and skill on the ball.

Old Edwin is as adroit as ever, and he will certainly not be a problem for United this year.

3. Chicharito is a beast. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is the newest signing for Man U. He's a 22 year old Mexican (the first to play at Man U) who comes to Old Trafford from Chivas Guadalajara. So far, Chicharito ("The Little Pea") has played in four games sporting the Man U crest. He's obliged Sir Alex by scoring in all of those appearences.

Today, Chicharito recieved a ball fed low and hard with pace by Valencia in front of the gaping goal, flicked it up, and knocked it in off his face. This is a young man who literally cannot help scoring, it just comes naturally to him.

Another thing I love about Chicharito is the way he hugs the offside trap. This is a fad in Central and South America (currently practiced with great results by Diego Milito of Inter) and is a good sign of a great player. Even if he is called off once or twice in a game, this technique shows that Chicharito is absolutely salivating for goals and is also an intelligent footballer.

Chicharito is already winning comparisons to Hugo Sanchez, the legendary striker from Mexico. So that's awesome.

4. Michael Owen's out of gas. Poor Michael is a 30 year old legend for United and England and is a hometown favorite. Unfortunately today he showed his age in more than one way.

He simply wasn't thinking about scoring, he seemed to be in another place for the whole half he was in. John Terry threw him around like a rag doll and he could barely pass. I think we might be seeing the dying embers of Michael.

5. Berbatov is a great player. Dimitar Berbatov's chip to add the third goal for United and the final nail in Chelsea's coffin was simply immaculate. It's difficult to describe Berbatov's style of play, because everything is so percise and yet so off the cusp. He weighs every touch so perfectly, every minute detail of his play is so finely tuned. And yet, he's merely reacting to what's happening around him. Berbatov has scored four goals in six games, and I think we could be looking at his breakout year for United.

6. Man U will win the title. What we saw today from United was everything that a team needs to win the title in the Premiership. They have depth, class, competetive fire, the right mixture of inspired youth and experienced elders, and they've got a great manager to light the way. I think Man U's short hiatus away from number one will end this season.