United On Fire

AaB Aalborg 0 Manchester United 3 (Rooney 22, Berbatov 55, 79)

United win away in the Champions League three goals to nil and was a very comfortable win.  With Rooney in spectacular form and Dmitar Berbatov getting his first two goals for United, this win was overshadowed by injuries to Scholes, Rooney and new right back sensation Rafael.

Gary Neville picked up a slight knock and 18 year Brazillian youngster Rafael was preferred to Wes Brown.  Berbatov and Rooney started at the expense of Tevez and John O’Shea was the runner for Paul Scholes in central midfield.  Nani and Ronaldo provided a dual Iberian wing attack.

What was immediately apparent was Rafael Da Silva.  What a confident display from a youngster.  Pace, skill going forward, slightly worrying defensively (with one very rash challenge that lead to a booking).  A great prospect and when he was later replaced by Wes Brown it was immediate to see why Sir Alex had chosen him.

After watching the first 15 minutes, it really did seem to be a case of wondering how many United would score.  Which lead you to immediately wonder if it was going to be one of those 0-0 nightmares when United create and then fail to put away about 123 chances.

Then Paul Scholes got kicked in the knee from a very poor challenge and had to be replaced.  It looks like a serious injury, but did produce some comedy gold when the ITV commentator stated that he was back on his feet “gingerly”.  He was replaced by Ryan Giggs, thus reproducing the central midfield partnership from a few years back of Giggs and O’Shea.  For some reason, they do seem to play well together in the middle of midfield, the left back and the left winger.

A few minutes after coming on Giggs produced a wonder pass that was Scholeseque.  The Aalborg defence was split wide open and Rooney slipped through and slotted the ball perfectly into the corner.

Wayne really was the star player today, running with purpose and working the team from the front.  Unfortunately, he picked up an injury.  Hopefully that wasn’t too serious.  Less impressive was Nani who combined skill with overhit crosses with equal enthusiasm.  Must keep thinking, one for next season, one for next season.  I’d have played Park today.  I was also less than impressed by Ronaldo’s impression of Jonny Wilkinson trying to put a freekick into the net from 40 yards and being lucky to keep it in the ground.

Final mention, must surely go to Dmitar Berbatov.  Started the game as if he really couldn’t be bothered.  Missed a sitter on 6 minutes and didn’t look much like he cared.  Was gifted the ball for his first goal; honestly the Aalborg could not have sat the ball up better if he’d tried.  Dmitar couldn’t really raise a smile.

Then Ronaldo skins his defender and lays the ball back.  It picks up a deflection and bounces into the air.  Berbatov performs an admiral impression of Mark Hughes’s wonder goal for Wales against Spain and volley’s the ball home and sort of smiled and half raised his hand in celebration.  Good job he didn’t get a hattrick; he might have exploded into a grin.

The guy is pure skill, his pass late in the game; outside of the right foot straight into Ronaldo’s path was just fantastic, but he really has to learn the United way.  You have to be more than just skillful.  You have to have passion, determination and purpose.  I do think that Fergie will bring this to his game and make him one of the very best.  That, or we’ve just signed the new Veron.

Popularity: 69% [?]

Manchester United 2 (Ronaldo 60p, Rooney 77) Bolton Wanderers 0

There was no controversy over Manchester United’s decisive penalty,  it wasn’t one.  Rob Styles gave United the game on a plate, but Wayne Rooney was given a cake by a Ronaldo back heel, stuck some icing on it and stuck on the plate to give United a 2-0 win.

Rob Styles gave United the penalty after it started to look like United were going to have one of those days when the ball just wouldn’t go in.  A lovely cross field pass gave Ronaldo some space on the right, and he was able to pick up some speed and travel into the box.  As he went inside he showed too much of the ball to the Bolton defender, J Lloyd Samuel, who timed his tackle perfectly and stopped the ball.  Ronaldo fell over his leg and used his hands to protect his very expensive face from hitting the ground.  Even he couldn’t be bothered to try to claim a penalty because it was a good tackle.  But Styles, who isn’t inexperienced in the art of giving penalties where no exist, pointed to the spot.

Ronaldo duly put the penalty away with minimum of celebration and the game was more or less sealed in that moment.  Rooney, who had been rested ahead of another Champions League clash, came off the bench and linked up well with Ronaldo and scored a peach of a second.  Who knows whether it would have been the decisive moment.

If you ignore the penalty, this was a routine victory for United, if slightly laboured.  United are slowly moving through the gears and back up the table.

Popularity: 81% [?]

Chelsea 1 (Kalou 80) Manchester United 1 (Park 18)

United eventually folded under pressure from Chelsea after taking an early lead.  Kalou’s goal preserved Chelsea’s unbeaten run at home.

Once again, United took the lead against a Big Four team away from home, gave away possession and eventually conceded.  This time United managed a respectable draw, but a win would have dented Chelsea’s season and kick started United’s.

United started brightly and were clearly on top.  Eventually a beautiful move brought a goal, with Cech saving Berbatov’s shot, but only palming it to the oncoming Park.

United’s goalkeeper, Van der Sar wasn’t doing much better and continued his early season poor form by not holding shots and crosses.  He was replaced by Kuszczak after was injured in a clash with Malouda, which Chelsea claimed as a penalty.

Chelsea dominated possession from then on in, but United defence were keeping them at arm’s length, ably covered by Park and Hargreaves on the flanks.  Alex Ferguson made a big decision and played both Neville and Jonny Evans, leaving poor Wes Brown on the bench.  It is hard to understand why Neville was chosen over Brown, because whilst Neville but his heart and body into the game as usual, he wasn’t up to the pace of the game, and it was often last ditch interceptions that saved the day.

This was ever more evident when Scholes was replaced by Ronaldo.  Hargreaves moved into the middle, whilst Ronaldo was supposed to replace Hargreaves, but the Portugese player had other ideas.   It was down to the ever committed and team man, Wayne Rooney to fill in on the right.  I’m ever more impressed by the young England man’s commitment to the team, something that appears to be lacking in Ronaldo after this summer.

The equaliser could have come sooner.  Joe Cole put in an excellent cross and Nicholas Anelka managed to miss from two yards.  Surely, he must be on his way out of the team now that Drogba is fit.  Speaking of which, whilst he came on in the second half, I didn’t really notice him that much.  Whilst there were some misunderstandings between Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans, in general the young defender had a good game, and proved to be an able deputy for Vidic.

Sadly Van der Sar’s deputy, Kuszczak was at fault for the equaliser.  The Chelsea freekick came in and made it to the 6-yard box before Kalou was allowed to head home.  Whilst he wasn’t marked well, at that angle it is hard to defend, as the defender has to come backwards.  In truth, the keeper could and should have claimed the ball.

In the end, the United of last season would have beaten Chelsea today, and that side needs to come forward soon otherwise United will be out of the title race before it begins.

Popularity: 32% [?]

Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 21 September
Kick-off: 1400 BST

Last time we played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge we lost 2-1 but it turned out not to matter.  We did was was required in the remaining games in the season and won the league.  If we were to lose tomorrow, it could be a bit more of a problem.  For a start we’d be 9 points behind the second richest team in the world, and we’d struggle to get back from that (although Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Stoke proves that no wins are certain in the Premier League)

Fergie has many selection problems for the game, one forced by the suspension of Vidic.  Either Jonny Evans will continue in central defence, a gamble on the young man’s ability to handle the big game, or Wes Brown will move into the centre and Gary Neville will continue at right back, a gamble of Neville’s ability to continue at the highest level.

The other major problem is up front.  Which two (or three) strikers should he play.  Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez or Berbatov?  Controvercially, playing against the United forwards, will be John Terry.  Let’s make sure there is a rounding chorus of “She fell over” to welcome him.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Despite the scoreline and the ending of the 12 game winning run at Old Trafford this was a pretty resonable result and display from United.

It was quite a modified side that took the field with Nani and Park on the wings, Jonny Evans and Gary Neville coming back in as captain and right-back.  Park and Nani looked bright and inventive in the opening third of the game, with Nani showing great skill but not quite finding the final ball.  Park was showing his usual enthusiastic play and could, no should, have got two penalties in the first half.  He had his foot stood on which the ref ignored, and then was brought down when the player got non of the ball.  The ref even gave a goalkick so he knew that the Villareal player hadn’t got a touch.

Hargreaves was back from injury and put in a wonderful corner.  Shame it was Rio Ferdinand on the end of it.  The keeper flapped and missed and Rio, showing the preditory instinct of a brontosaurus only managed to connect with his heel and send the ball back across the goal instead of into the net.

Whilst we showed much promise and good play in the first half, we did not kick on in the second and Villareal got back into the game.  With their one true, flowing move they cut open the United team but Guille Franco tried a fancy flick to score and put the shot onto the post.

This woke United up and in response, Christiano Ronaldo made his return to the team, much to the delight of the crowd.   Whilst not completely match fit, he did lift the side and United create two futher great chances to win the match.  Firstly Rooney put in Tevez for a great chance, but it was saved off the line.  Then, Ronaldo crossed and Jonny Evans managed to hit the post with a header.  The game eventually petered out and finished 0-0.

On another day, the ref would have give one of the two penalties and we’d have taken one of the two great chances and the game would have been a 2-1 win.  Fergie must now ponder on what can change his fortune against Chelsea on Sunday.

Popularity: 27% [?]