United On Fire (Manchester United 4 - Middlesbrough 1)

United just gets better and better. We scored another 4 goals, making it 4 in 4 games. Don't know about you guys, but it's fast becoming my favourite number. I hope I don't jinx team with the number four fetish.

Before I forget, this win takes us temporarily to the top of the table for a good 24hrs as Arsenal faces Liverpool on Sunday.

United started the game with a scintillating goal from Nani in the 3rd minute. From a midfield position, Nani wiggled his way to the edge of the penalty area and let fly a superb volley straight into the Boro net. Mark Schwarzer didn't have a chance in hell to even get near the ball. Nani's celebration, although probably frowned upon by Fergie, was just as spectacular as the goal scored.

Tevez had a chance to double United's lead a minute later but a superb tackle foiled the chance. Unfortunately, in the 6th minute, it was Boro that scored. Aliadiere got in between both Rio and Vidic and equalized with a header placed beyond the outstretched arms of EVS.

The goal dragged Boro back into the game. After looking like being over-run by United very early in the game, Boro's spirits were lifted. In truth, Boro's equalizer did shock us and the lads played poorly. Tevez, in particular, looked shakened by his earlier miss and made a number of terrible passes.

But United under Fergie is made of sterner stuff. Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves (who replaced the injured Scholes) ran the midfield and harassed the Boro players. On the half hour mark, Nani harassed Downing into giving the ball away to Rooney around the penalty area. Rooney didn't need a second invitation and scored his 8th in 7 games.

The second half gave more reason to cheer as United were rampant and it wasn't long before Rooney and Tevez combined to scored a wonderfully crafted goal. A lob from Tevez and a backheel return by Rooney exposed the entire Boro defence, leaving Tevez with the simple job of passing the ball into the Boro net. 3-1 up and Boro were truely dead and buried.

United could afford to shift a couple of gears down and contain a hapless Boro side that, quite frankly, never looked like scoring. It wasn't a surprise to anyone that United scored a 4th before the game was over. On a counter attack, Rooney found Tevez lurking on the left flank. Tevez's shot was deflected into the net.

It was a seriously another brilliant performance. Tevez and Rooney looked awesome going forward. Hargreaves and Anderson were pretty darn good in midfield, flanked by our two Portuguese wing wizards. Carrick is going to have a hard time getting his position in midfield back. Once Scholes returns, I can foresee Scholes and Hargreaves as Fergie's first choice partnership, and Anderson possibly cementing his place as the first option off the bench.

This all sets up nicely for our next game against Arsenal next week at the Emirates.

Superb Win (Dynamo Kiev 2 - Manchester United 4)

It was a superb display by the boys in red, and the scoreline did not do our performance any justice whatsoever. Rio, Rooney and Ronaldo(2) all got on the scoresheet, but it could and should have been so many more. The Dynamo defence didn't know what hit them, as we rained shot after shot on goal.

At times it almost seemed too easy and we often took an extra touch or dallied alittle too long. Such was our dominance that our defence went asleep and conceded two goals.

There were injury concerns before the game started when Scholes hurt his knee in the training session the previous day and Evra hurt his calf just before kickoff. O'Shea and Fletcher were called upon to replace them.

Rio opened the scoring early in the game when he rose unmarked to meet a Ronaldo freekick. Rooney added a second on 18 minutes to tap home a simple goal created by both Ronaldo and Brown. Dynamo's defence was in tatters as we ran and ripped them open time and time again.

Yet against the run of play, they pulled one back. Our defence was caught ball watching during a Dynamo corner and Rincon headed it beyond a flapping Van der Sar. I felt both EVS and our defenders should have done better.

In the larger scheme of things, it really didn't matter. We poured forward and literally camped in Dynamo's half. 40 minutes into the game, Giggs turned back the clock as he pushed the ball and ran past his marker down the left flank. He put in a superb cross right on the head of Ronaldo and Ronaldo had the simple task of heading it home. It was the best goal of the game and our cushion was restored.

The second half was more of the same magnificient stuff as we tore Dynamo apart without really adding to our advantage. Anderson, who's been sensational, struck the post.

After missing a hatful of chances, we took the foot off the pedal, probably eyeing the Saturday fixture against Boro. For a brief moment....just a brief moment, Dynamo showed that they belonged in this weight category and actually looked threatening.

Yet we were the ones who scored next. In a counter attack, Tevez's cross was handled by the defender in the box and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped our regular penalty-taker Ronaldo (God forbide Rooney from another penalty) and we were 4-1 up. The game was as good as wrapped up.

Dynamo rounded up the scoring by adding another consolation goal, after we went asleep again.

We probably could have ended the game with a flourish, but both Ronaldo and substitute, Nani, got abit too fanciful.

At the end of it, it was a great performance. We've been banging in the goals lately and the entire attack seems to have clicked. We look awesome going forward and everytime it seems like we're going to score.

Special mention must go to Anderson today. I know that in my private circle of friends, I've been extraordinarily harsh against Anderson, but with Scholes out of the game, Anderson probably had his best game in a United shirt. He was spraying passes left and right, long ones and short ones with great accuracy. And what was really great to see, was that he looked pretty good tackling too....at least he looks better than Scholes while doing it. The kid is maturing before my eyes. Now all that remains is for him to do it against some really opponents.

It's been a long time coming, but Giggs was simply awesome today. At times it was like watching a 17 year old Giggs against Arsenal again! I don't know what he had for lunch, but I'd like to have some of it too. Very simply, he was my man of the match today.

Despite the recent additions to our injury list, everyone had a pretty much great game today. We're sitting really pretty with 9 points on the table and progress to the next round almost confirmed. More importantly, we looked awesome getting them. Maybe, just maybe I've been too hasty writing our chances off a little too early. As long as we play like this, we have a great chance of beating anyone and actually winning the Holy Grail.

Bring on Southgate and his whiny bunch pussies this Saturday. I can't wait to see us cream them....and for Ronaldo to score another penalty.

The Swagger is Back (Aston Villa 1 - Manchester United 4)

I'll make this one short since the Rugby World Cup finals is just around the corner.

This was a convincing performance, and it was way before Villa were down to 9 men in the second half. Despite having Ronaldo on the bench, we started out strong and determined. But it was Villa who took a shock lead when Agbonlahor headed the ball into the net on the 13th minute. With Vidic out injured, Villa had their chances to test the defence marshalled by Rio and Pique, but they couldn't convert their chances.

It was a different story on the other end of the pitch. Tevez, Nani, Scholes and Rooney combined to great effect, occasionally showing signs of tearing the Villa defence apart with their passing.

Putting his midweek disappointment behind (England lost to Russia), Rooney helped himself to a couple of goals in the 35th and 44th minute when the Villa defence went to sleep. The first was a simple tap in when Rooney came from the blindside and stroked the ball into a wide open net. The entire Villa defense went to sleep and when they realised where Rooney was, it was too late.

The second goal resulted from a good pass by Tevez. He mesmerised the Villa defense with a jerky run and found Rooney with acres of space. Rooney promptly passed the ball into the net.

A minute later, Rio added his name to the scoresheet, scoring after Villa failed to clear a United corner.

United had complete control of the second half, thanks to the sending offs of Reo Coker and Scott Carson. Reo was sent off for a second bookable offense and Carson received his marching orders for bringing Tevez down in the area. Rooney stepped up to take the penalty and and complete his hat-trick, but he was too casual with it and the substitute Taylor saved it.

With over 20 minutes on the clock and Villa down to 9 men, it looked alot like a training exercise, with Villa concentrating on defense and United keeping possession. And it wasn't long before Giggs added a 4th. His shot was deflected twice into the net. Nothing more than United deserved. Even with the full compliment, we were heads and shoulders the better team on the pitch.

The rest of the game played out without anymore goals, although there were chances aplenty. What's more important is that you have the feeling that the swagger that has been missing since the season started is back. We finally look menacing going forward.

Tevez Leads Rout Against Latics (Manchester United 4 - Wigan 0)

United's already packed treatment table had to endure more load after today's game. Already losing Carrick to a mid-week elbow fracture, tissue-boy (Saha) did himself no favours when he hurt himself during the warm-up to today's game.

Once again in an absolutely crazy weekend where there was only one 3pm kickoff (and we're not on that list yet again), we had an early kickoff. And what it meant was that Kentona and I had to spend a mini-fortune bringing our better halves for another expensive prawning trip just to catch the game in peace.

In a first half plagued by injuries to both Vidic and O'Shea, we had little to show for. Their replacements Anderson and Danny Simpson showed what little depth and experience we had left in reserve. With further injury scares to both Evra and Pique, Kentona and I were left wondering what else we had to offer from the bench. Thankfully we were playing one of the worst away teams in the form of Wigan. Had the competition been any stiffer, we could have paid the price for our lack of imagination going forward.

Ferguson must have given the blow-dryer treatment during half time, coz when the teams returned in the second half, there was a determined attempt to blow the opponents away. Giggs hit the crossbar with a rasping shot that brought out the Oohs and Aahs from the crowd.

Then Anderson threaded a wonderful pass for Tevez to chase. Not known for his pace, Tevez shown strength holding Kilbane to get to the ball, guile to cut inside Bramble and skill to go around Kirkland before coolly firing the ball into the net. It was a goal to be behold. Classy.

With the first goal scored, the weight was lifted off the shoulders of the United players. Confidence was oozing back into the players and it wasn't long before the second goal was scored. Kirkland was only able to palm away a Giggs' shot onto the path of Ronaldo who was lurking in the far post. Ronaldo gleefully nodded it into an empty net.

The Latics were beaten and they knew it. Ronaldo added a third after Rooney beautifully crossed a ball from the left. It was set on a platter for Ronaldo.

Rooney finished off the rout when Simpson, who was largely ignored on the right, swung in an inch perfect cross for him to head home.

While I wouldn't exactly say that the free-scoring United of last season was back, but this is a good start. For large parts of the first half, we had trouble breaking down the opponents but once Tevez scored the first goal, there was going to be one outcome. All it needed was the confidence to return.

The good thing is that the next game is 2 weeks away. Hopefully some of the walking wounded will return before we face a tough Villa side away.

Just Enough (Manchester United 1 - Roma 0)

I'll make this one short since there isn't many positive things to talk about. Moreover it didn't help that I constantly nodded off while watching the game. Yup, that's right, we're turning into a boring team.

There was no repeat of April's 7-1 scoreline. It was a cautious and cagey affair and neither side were really looking to score for most parts of the game. Had it not been for Rooney taking a half chance in the 70th min, it would definitely have ended 0-0.

There was plenty of creativity and penetration from the Portuguese wingers, Nani and Ronaldo, but it was not matched by the other players on the pitch. As a result, both were cutting into the middle far too many times for my liking. Having Saha starting and spearheading the frontline, I was expecting a bombardment of crosses.

At least the midfield and defence stood firm. I have to say we're one helluva stingy team. Quite honestly, Roma never did look like scoring until the dying minutes when they failed to convert 2 absolute sitters.

Anyway we're sitting pretty on top of the group table having taken maximum points from 2 games. Next up would be a double header against bottom of table Dinamo Kiev, who we really ought to beat....twice.