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.

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Ah, it was very nice writing the title of this post.  I’ve been away for the long Easter weekend, checking out the excellent Eden Project.   I was actually driving during the first half of this game and it was very funny listening to Liverpool fans Alan Green and Mark Lawrenson on Five Live “enjoying” the first half.  We stopped off to see my aunt and therefore missed the second half and the subsequent Arsenal Chelsea match up.  Observing radio silence on the way home, I watched the second half “as live” via Sky + and then watched Match of the Day 2 to watch the highlights and see Chelsea winning.  Chelsea fans didn’t deserve to win that game with their “You don’t know what your doing” chant.

Key points from the game.

• An early booking for Mascherano for a poor tackle on Scholes.  Mascherano then proceeds to spend the rest of the half moaning at the ref.
• United carve up the Liverpool defence on a number of occasions but Rooney is no Van Nistelrooy and doesn’t take his chances.
• Wes Brown gets a  rush of blood to the head, stays up field after a pass, then heads into the penalty area after our lone striker is sent wide.  Rooney plays a great ball in and Brown heads the ball goalward.  Reina manages to punch Brown in the back and miss the ball. 1-0!
• Torres picks up a booking for complaining too much about Ferdinand not getting a booking for fouling him.  Mascherano marches 30 yards, shrugs of Alonso and “asks” the ref what the booking was for.  Referee Bennett, clearly of the show not tell school, shows Mascherano exactly why the Spaniard was booked and gives the Argentine a second yellow.
• Mascherano completely loses it and has to be “assisted” off the field.  Liverpool end the half in complete disarray and give United fans a special Easter comedy to watch.
• Liverpool actually have a spell in the second half of some good play, but Ferdinand and Vidic completely contain the Liverpool attack.
• Anderson blasts one wild shot over the bar too many, and Giggs runs into a Liverpool defender once too often and are replaced by Tevez and Nani (a bold substition; but Fergie “knows what he is doing”)
• Ronaldo, clearly thinking his is offside, tamely shoots when 1-1 on Reina.  From the resulting corner, Ronaldo beats his marker and heads home for his 34th of the season.  Once again Reina comes for the ball and misses.
• Rooney and Nani combine well and the young Portuguese star shows Anderson just how to lash home a ball.  The shot was so quick that Reina didn’t bother to move for it.

In the end, a very comfortable win and the main talking point is the sending off, which was just very silly and childish from Mascherano.  United would have won anyway.  Chelsea beat Arsenal so United are 5 points clear at the top.  Arsenal’s title hopes appear to be over after no wins in five games.  United still have to go to Stamford Bridge where a draw will probably be enough to bring United the title.

It was announced today that Rio Ferdinand has been named England captain for the upcoming France friendly.   Good news for the man.  Whether Fernando Torres will have been let out of the England captain’s pocket before the game kicks off is not certain.

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