Styles Spoils Perfectly Good Game

Manchester United 2 - Bolton 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (pen 60), Rooney (77)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Neville, Fletcher, Anderson (Scholes 71), Park, Ronaldo (Nani 81), Babertov, Tevez (Rooney 71)

We beat our favourite whipping boy for the past few seasons but the mood was somewhat spoilt by the worst referee in the EPL.

For a huge portion of the game, we were left frustrated, firing blanks in front of goal. Bolton had come with a game plan and it was to park the entire bus in front of the goal. Our ridiculously expensive strikeforce on show did very little to justify their pricetag. The only threat came from the one-man demolition crew, Ronaldo. He was probably the only person actually taking on the responsibility of taking shots, but Jaaskelainen was simply a man mountain today.

That's not to say we didn't play hard. We played extremely hard, but just couldn't find a way past 11 men in the penalty box. But you knew that it was just a matter of time before we find the back of the net.

Rob Styles decided to make amends for his past transgressions against us and awarded us a supremely weak penalty when Ronaldo was brought down in the box. No, actually it didn't even look like a penalty no matter how many times you look at it. And from the way we were playing, we didn't need that kind of help.

Anyway, Ronaldo made it one up for us. We probably deserved the lead at that point, but the occasion had a sour feel to it.

At least the second was a thing of beauty. Ronaldo laid the ball to Rooney and he fired it in from an acute angle giving us a comfortable cushion. There probably could have been more had we been more prolific, but I think at the end of the day it was a fair result. Bolton would probably have been hard done by had it been more.

The FA needs to really do something about the piss poor quality of refereeing in the English game. The phantom goal last week between Watford and Reading should have been a wake up call for them. Oh, and they should never let Styles referee another top-flight game again. He's utterly useless.

Experience And Youth Sees United Thru

Manchester United 3 - Middlesbrough 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (25), Giggs (79), Nani (90+5)
Middlesbrough: Johnson (56)

Red Card: Pogatetz (67)

Team: Amos, Brown, Vidic, Rafael, O'Shea, Possebon (Gibson 72), Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo (Tevez 60), Giggs (Manucho 85), Welbeck

It was a well-earned and morale boosting victory which was unfortunately tarnished by the injury to Possebon who left the pitch with a suspected broken foot.

We controlled the first half, missing numerous chances. Welbeck, Rafael and Possebon stood out from the crowd with briiliant touches. Welbeck was particularly impressive with his awareness, picking out players around him in the attacking third. Rafael didn't miss a foot in defence and was a pocket dynamo joining in the attack whenever the opportunity presented itself. Possebon is just such a joy to watch in midfield. He's a classy player, even when under pressure.

The scorer in the first half was a headed goal by Ronaldo from a Giggs corner. It really should have been more had we not wasted so much possession. Nani, Giggs and O'Shea were the main culprits giving it away cheaply. Whenver the ball went to the left side of the pitch, the trio somehow managed to either lose the ball or make passes to phantom teammates.

Immediately after the break, Welbeck found himself in a one on one situation but couldn't convert. Then the game swung to Boro. It wasn't long before Boro found the back of the net with a long range effort which deflected slightly past Amos.

Boro's ascendency was shortlived. Shortly after equalizing, Pogatetz lunged into a high two footed challenge that brought Possebon down. It looked like an innocent challenge but after numerous replays, it just looked worse with every showing. Possebon was left on the ground with a wide gash on his right leg and a suspected broken bone. The medical team took a good 10 minutes to stretcher him off, indicating just how serious the injury was. Up to that point, he was easily the best player on the pitch. Pogatetz got a deserved straight red for dangerous play.

Perhaps affected by the injury, struggled to make our advantage count. Boro should have easily held on to extra time except for a couple of suicidal defensive errors. The first by substitute Chris Riggott allowed Giggs a one on one chance and he coolly stuck the ball into the net.

Then David Wheater shortchanged his keeper deep into injury time with a back pass that allowed Nani all the time and space in the world to round the keeper and slot it home.

Repeating what was mentioned earlier, it could have been more.

Given the state the first team is playing, maybe it's time to blood some of our youngsters. Rafael, Welbeck and Possebon had a stellar game today and they should start featuring in the first team, especially if this 'blip' continues. FWIW, it's going to give them valuable experience for future campaigns.

United Lets Lead Slip....Again

Chelsea 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Chelsea: Kalou (80)
Manchester United: Park (19)

Team: Van der Sar (Kuszczak 33), Rio, Evans, Neville, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes (Ronaldo 55), Park (O'Shea 75), Hargreaves, Rooney, Berbatov

We are a frustrating team to watch. This game was almost a carbon copy of the one at Anfield a week ago. The only saving grace was that the team put out today had alot more fight in them and we came away with something.

We started the game well and shackled a poor Chelsea team. It helped tremendously that Deco was pulled out of the starting lineup and replaced by Michael 'always the bridesmaid but never the bride' Ballack. We deservedly went into the lead after some strong running by Evra. His cut back found Babertov and his weak shot was spilled by Cech, only for Park to put us in the lead with a tap in. It was a lead we thoroughly deserved.

Yet instead of building on it, we allowed Chelsea to come into the game. It didn't help when Van der Sar was a bundle of nerves again, spilling the ball whenever it came to him. The entire team, fed on the frailties from the back, started to play tentative football. It was only by a stroke of luck that Van der Sar was replaced on the half hour by an injury. Kuszczak, though not the best keeper around, was a world and a half better than Van der Sar. At least we kept Chelsea at bay till half time, better than we fared a week earlier.

The second half was all Chelsea, as we tried to hold on to the lead. We looked half the team that was in the first half. Berbatov completely disappeared from the game and Scholes was giving the ball away in midfield. In short, we were baring our butts for the rentboys.

On the 80th minute, the inevitable happened. Rooney gave away a needless freekick in midfield and the resultant kick allowed Chelsea to equalize. Our defence was caught napping and Kalou was left totally unmarked to head the ball home.

It was a disappointing result, but nonetheless expected given how we played after taking the lead. We were probably even lucky to escape with a point.

On Tuesday, we should be fielding our kids against Boro in the Mickey Mouse Cup. Maybe the kids would perform better than their more senior counterparts.

European Champions Draw Blank

Manchester United 0 - Villarreal 0

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Evans, Neville, Evra, Fletcher, Hargreaves (Anderson 62), Park (Roanldo 62), Nani, Rooney, Tevez (Giggs 80)

As expected, Fergie rang in the changes from Saturday's shameful performance. It was a much better and more spirited performance, but the quality in front of goal is still a worry. Even the return of Ronaldo for a half an hour runout didn't help. Although the play significantly got much better.

Villarreal, plagued with injuries problems upfront, came to defence resolutely and went away with a point. They frustrated us with some dogged defending.

I don't really have much to say about this game. I'm pretty sure if this carries on, we're going to get absolutely murdered against Chelsea this weekend. I can't see us scoring against the rentboys, let alone beat them.

This is going to be one long season. I'm sure we're not going to repeat what we did in Europe (too much luck needed there and we used a good amount of it last season). It's probably going to be ridiculously hard to go for a hattrick in the EPL either. Firstly, there's no Africa Cup of Nations. Secondly, we have to trot half way across the globe to Japan for a couple of World Club Cup games in December. Long season ahead.

Piss Poor United Loses

Liverpool 2 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Liverpool: Brown (26 og), Babel (76)
Manchester United: Tevez (3)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Scholes (Hargreaves 66), Anderson (Nani 78), Carrick (Giggs 45), Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov

Awful doesn't even come close to describing our play today. It was absolutely disgusting the way we fell apart under the slightest pressure from Liverpool. We showed no passion and no pride. They players should be ashamed of themselves for even donning the jersey today. Every single one of them should take a good long look at the mirror.

The day started with a bang with new boy Berbatov providing an inch perfect cut back for Tevez to power United into the lead with less than 3 minutes on the game clock. We were controlling the midfield and giving Liverpool fits. For a good 20 or so minutes, we were the better and more confident team on the pitch. We missed a couple of good chances to increase the lead, then it all fell apart as we got too comfortable with the lead.

It didn't help that Edwin Van der Sar decided to flap at a loose ball which was Wes Brown's to clear. It was a moment of ludicrous defending on the part of our keeper and all he could do was to palm the ball onto a surprised Brown. The ball ended in the back of his own net off Brown.

From then on it all crumbled. We lost possession easily, we stopped fighting for the ball and everyone's nerves were on the edge. It allowed Liverpool the room and space to come forward and create chances, although it needs to be said that Liverpool never really looked like scoring.

A second moment of madness allowed Liverpool a come-from-behind victory. This time Giggs tried to be too clever with Mascherano and lost possession in his own penalty area. The loose ball fell to Kuyt who squared it to Babel for Liverpool's second.

What made it so bad was that we didn't react to going behind. Everyone was playing scared and Liverpool could and really should have added a couple more to compound our misery.

In all my life watching United play, this was one of the worst displays I've seen. Tactically we were poor, playing without wings and concentrating too much in the middle. But that was not the reason for our demise, it was our distinct lack of pride and fighting spirit that did us in. We just didn't want to play today. It was downright shameful.

I'd be damn disappointed if Ferguson is not pissed at the way we played today. There'd better be more than a few smashed teapots in the Liverpool locker room.

To add to our woes, Vidic was sent off, meaning we'd be missing him for next week's showdown with Chelsea.

I thought I'd never say this, but we desperately need Ronaldo back. It's as if the team is just trying not to lose games until he returns.

United Gets Fleeced

We just spent a fortune getting Dimitar Berbatov. Let's hope he's better than the last recruit we got from Spurs.

The amount we spent, £30.75million, smacks of desperation and utterly cluelessness our board has exhibited once again in the transfer market.

A few weeks ago, we refused to match Spurs valuation of around the same price, hoping to negotiate a better deal. Instead of having the player signed in the summer, join in the training camp, get used to Ferguson's style and gel with the players, the board decided to show just how good they are in the boardroom. So fast forward to today, we meet Spurs' original asking price and the player is a good few weeks behind in the program. Absolutely brilliant. I'm left speechless.

I can only hope Berbatov is the answer to all our woes in front of goal.

The deal also sees Campbell go the opposite direction in a loan deal.