Mid Term Report Card

Firstly, Merry Christmas to everyone. We've reached the midway point of the League and that time of the year to give grades to everyone.

To be frank, I'm personally gratified that we're leading the pack (Chelsea) by 2 points after the first 19 games. Not even in my wildest dream, would I have expected such a lofty position. If anyone remembers, I had basically written United off in the preseason, and kinda worried that we would probably even be out of the races for a Champions League spot when the season end. Yet at the half way point, we're 14 points above Bolton, who are lying 5th. To make an entire mockery of my predictions, we probably out of reach for Liverpool (3rd) and Arsenal (4th), who are 13 and 14 points behind respectively. Only Chelsea is still hounding on our tails, and given their recent late late wins recently, are the only team able to overhaul us.

(Note to Leonard : You're absolutely right when you made your predictions at Cow's place.)

The other thing that has surprised me so far is the lack of injuries to the key players in the team. Given our waffle-thin squad, major injury problems would have decimated the team chemistry. While it remains to be seen if we do anything to strengthen in the coming transfer window to add to that department.

With nothing further ado, here are my grades:

Edwin Van der Sar (Grade A)
Solid solid performer week in week out. He didn't have to do as much as he did last season, but that's entirely due to the defenders in front of him. He's only weakness so far is still from freekicks, but that's mostly due to the brilliance of the freekick taker.

Gray Neville (Grade A)
What can I say about our captain? He's certainly played well this season. He doubles up as an extra winger whenever the opportunity arises.

Rio Ferdinand (Grade A)
I still can't bring myself to like Rio too much. Too much flash and too little substance. He's too incombustible for our own good, nothing seems to light a fire under his ass. But gotta give credit when it's due. This season he's been brilliant, forming a great partnership with Vidic. We have the meanest defense in the Premiership, a testiment to the great job Rio has done.

Nemanja Vidic (Grade A+)
Man mountain. I thought he was great last season with his no-nonsense style of defending, but this season he upped it a notch. Not to mention he's constantly banging in the goals from corners, something that has been lacking since Daisy and Dolly played for us.

Patrice Evra (Grade B-)
To be frank, I have no idea what to expect from Evra when he plays. Last season he was a disaster, and for the first few games this season, he kept to that form. However after the Spurs games, someone lit a torch under his butt. Since then, he's been playing out of his skin. Although it's not been as consistant as I would like it to be, he's improved leaps and bounds. Just to illustrate the progress he's made, he's no longer on my shit list to slag every week on this blog.

Gabriel Hienze (Grade B-)
Before I get crucified(it's Christmas, not Easter yet), I like to say that I love Hienze. But that being said, he seems to have regressed after a stellar performance last season where he was voted the supporters player of the year. I'm putting the blame on his injury at the beginning of the season and the lack of games played. Oh yah, and also the 'emergence' of Evra.

Paul Scholes (Grade A+)
Before his long hiatus due to vision problems last season, he played like shit. I had seriously feared the worst for him this season, but the Ginger Prince proved me wrong. Despite a 3 game ban in the beginning of the season, he's been one of our best performers this season. Everything in midfield went thru him. He even ended his scoring drought against Liverpool, and that's gotta count for something!

Ryan Giggs (Grade A)
Talk about turning back the years. He's been playing like an 18 year old again, with the flicks and tricks. Although the pace seems to have left him, he's added a good brain to his already impressive repertoire. Adding to that, he's already equalled his goals tally of last season in the EPL.

Christiano Ronaldo (Grade A+)
Without a doubt the performer of the season so far. Last season I was so pissed off with him, that at one point I was willing to let him go for a bag of chips. His immaturity and petulance was intolerable. Thankfully that spate with the English media during the World Cup somehow woke him up. He's returned this season a completely new player. He's taken on a personal responsibility to lead this team when the team is down. He's the reason why we are where we are today. For a number of games in the beginning of this season, he's been the only player carrying the team. Not to mention his 8 goals have been timely and crucial.

Michael Carrick (Grade C)
He's got a C and I'm being kind. I've seen nothing to justify his pricetag, absolutely nothing. Sure he makes pretty sideway passes. And when he does connect with the long passes, it results in an exciting attacking play, but the problem is that it seldom connects. On top of that, he's impersonation of the InvisibleMan is getting really tiresome. Only in the Chelsea game, he found a phone booth and transformed to Superman, but as we know, one swallow doesn't make a summer. The only reason keeping him from getting a D or F grade is that he's been our most consistent player....with that InvisibleMan act.

Wayne Rooney (Grade B+)
He's been brilliant for most parts this season. But I'm giving him a B for that lengthy goal drought and for flying off to America to catch a basketball game (albeit a Boston Celtic game). Moreover much more is expected of him to lead this team despite his young shoulders.

Louis Saha (Grade A)
He's continued with his good scoring form from last season. He's also shown he's a damn bloody good player. His mobility has been the reason why our attack is so potent. Opponents have trouble keeping up with him as he runs all over the pitch, allowing the others to get involved.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Grade B)
You couldn't ask anymore from him. He's always filled the gap when asked to do so and has scored 5 goals in all competitions this season so far, despite only playing 9 games. Can't wait for him to return from injury.

John O'Shea (Grade B-)
He's the perfect role player. Always called upon to do the dirty job. The unfortunate thing with O'Shea is that as a role player, he doesn't have a fixed role. I can see how utterly confusing it must be for him to play all across the midfield and defense his entire career, while excelling in none. The moment he shows promise in one area, he's shipped off to another to fill the gap.

Darren Fletcher (Grade B+)
Ok, I admit it, I have an unhealthy man-crush on him. Hey, anyone who plays well against Liverpool gets love from this man. But seriously, he's been playing really well this season.

Wes Brown (Grade B)
I pity Brown. He's always showed such promise, but injuries have always plagued him from getting a consistent run. And when he's finally healthy, Rio decides to play well and Vidic emerges.

Mikeal Silvestre (Grade C+)
Forgettable whenever he plays.

Tomas Kuszczak (Grade B+)
He's performed credibly whenever he's been called on. He's probably got a fight on his hands for the number 2 job, with Howard and Foster playing really well on loan.

Alan Smith (Incomplete)
He's been utterly awful, I'm giving him this because he's probably not match fit in the games where I saw him play.

Park Ji Sung (Incomplete)
Injuries have taken away most of his season. In the games he did play, he's done well. Nothing spectacular, just solid. But still not enough games to make any grades on him.

Alex Ferguson (A+)
Well, he still has that fire burning inside of him, and his players are responding. That's all that matters to me.