I scouted the net and found this video on Fliggo, posted by a user 'molzit'. It's the highlights of the West Ham game, and I thought I'll post it here for everyone to see the delightful piece of skill by Berbatov in creating the second goal. The video is not totally in English, but I'm too lazy to go looking for one so you'd have to make do with this one.
The second goal occurs around 57 seconds into the video. Watch and admire.
Manchester United 2 - West Ham 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (13, 30)
Team: Kuszczak, Rio, Vidic, Rafael (Neville 80), Evra, Fletcher (Carrick 70) , Anderson, Nani (Rooney 70), Tevez, Berbatov
Feguson rung in the changes, bringing in Kuszczak (damn...that's one of the hardest names to spell), Rafael, Anderson, Nani and Tevez into the starting lineup. Notthat the previous lineup in the weekend was playing poorly, it's just part of the rotation process to keep the players on their toes and keep them involved.
Before the game started, Ronaldo and Rio received their awards for being in FifPro's team of the year. Ronaldo was honoured with a ridiculously gleaming trophy for being the player of the year. I have to admit it's really a sweet piece of silverware and I couldn't take my eyes off it. I wonder if there's any place selling a replica of it.....
Anyway the newly crowned FifPro player of the year struck twice in the first half to give United the win. This time there was no let down in the second half.
Right from the off, Nani was proving himself a constant threat down the left flank. Everything good that came in the first half was provided by him.
He provided the telling pass to Ronaldo to open the scoring in the 13th minute.
Berbatov then created the second with a piece of outrageous magic, turning his defender on the byline, then flicking the ball past the same defender, before squaring it for Ronaldo to add the second. The goal was a simple tap in but the build up was simply marvelous.
As the story goes, it could have been more. Tevez was rusty as hell from sitting on the bench for the past few games, and it showed. He could have added a couple but lacked the sharpness. It may take a few games to regain it, but with Rooney, Ronaldo and Berbatov in splendid form, he might not have the time.
We did somewhat take the foot off the pedal in the second half. Partly was due to West Ham playing much better and partly was from complacency on our part. I was particularly disappointed with Anderson. He was sloppy with possession and gave the ball away a few times trying to pick teammates with difficult passes.
Nani too had faded after he switched flanks with Ronaldo and Tevez continued trying without really shaking the rust off. Despite all that, we were mostly coping with what West Ham could throw at us.
In the end it was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested. We had already won the game in the first half.
I expect the rotations to continue at the weekend when we entertain the surprise package Hull City. I fully expect another victory to leapfrog them.
Everton 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Everton: Fellaini (63)
Manchester United: Fletcher (21)
Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Fletcher (Tevez 78), Giggs, Park (Anderson 67), Ronaldo, Rooney (Nani 71), Berbatov
Stupid computer chose today to go down on me that's why I'm up at 3 freaking am, typing this. Good thing it's not something a good hard kick can't fix.
This was just an incredibly frustrating game to watch. I was literally foaming at the mouth by the end of the second half. There were so many stupid stupid decisions taken in the game that it's really mindboggling what goes on in Ferguson's mind when the match is being played.
We comprehensively dominated the first half and really should have put a miserable looking Everton to the sword. Giggs and Fletcher were outstanding, and it wasn't really much of a surprise that the two combined for the opener.
Giggs' thru ball was controlled expertly by Fletcher and his shot found the back of the net in the 21st minute. There was a touch of class and plenty to be admired in the way it was scored.
Everything was going our way and we really should have made the result beyond doubt. But the ball is round and it doesn't always go our way. That's really fine, and I wasn't complaining at that point. We were leading going into the half and it's been a stroll in the park so far.
'So far' were the key words. Everton came storming back in the second half. They got physical and we couldn't cope. Fletcher was literally overworked, doing the job of all four midfielders. Park and Giggs were outmuscled and Ronaldo was just shameful. He took every opportunity to dive, pout and whine. It seems like good Ronaldo is gone and we have to put up with this arsehole until he realises he's not bigger than the team or until Real Madrid grow some balls and actually pay some decent dough.
I was practically screaming at the wide screen TV in the coffeshop for a substitution. It was obvious after just only 10 minutes into the second half, things were falling apart, and falling apart fast!
Phil Neville then lost alot of my goodwill when he threatened to turn the game on its head by lunging in wildly at Ronaldo. True, it was a bad challenge but it didn't deserve the performance by Ronaldo, wringing on the ground as if he was shot by a sniper. And he wasn't even doing it right. I have a football mate who does it perfectly, maybe I should introduce them. Just awfully despicable of Ronaldo to try to make more of what it actually was. Both set of players came together and angry words were exchanged. Thankfully common sense prevailed and it stopped at that.
Everton took the lead shortly after. Phil Neville's cross was met by Fellaini and Everton equalized.
Everton almost took the lead a couple of times when Brown, Rio and Vidic played like nervous school girls going for their first prom. Rio and Brown gave the ball away in dangerous positions and if not for Van der Sar, we would have returned empty-handed instead of the solitary point.
Ferguson's decision making was pathetic. It was clear the direction the game was going and changes should and could have been made earlier instead of responding and reacting to what has already happened on the pitch. He brough on Anderson in response to the equalizer but didn't remove Giggs from the game. Giggs was practically a pedestrian. Whenever he got the ball, we were moving one step forward and two steps back.
Rooney then tried his hand at crowd control when he started kissing the United crest on his chest. Just quite what he was trying to achieve, besides inciting a riot, was totally beyond me. Totally stupid. If there was one thing Ferguson did right today, it was removing Rooney from the game immediately, before WWIII broke out.
As time started to whittle away, Tevez was brought on too late. What has Tevez done to get into Ferguson's doghouse is again beyond me. He should've at least been on at the same time with Anderson to have some impact.
All in all, this was a game we should have won comfortably. Instead of being proactive, we became reactive, and that resulted in a poor draw. The problem stemmed from management down to the players.
And Ronaldo needs to sit. He's getting too big for his boots.
Manchester United 3 - Celtic 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Berbatov (29, 51), Rooney (77)
Team: Van der Sar, Evanso, Vidic, Neville (Brown 60), O'Shea, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo(Park 82), Berbatov (Tevez 60), Rooney
Great result. We had a generous bit of help from the linesmen, but thoroughly deserved the victory.
McGready and Caldwell could've opened the scoring for Celtic in the opening moments of the game but Van der Sar was equal to their efforts. United started slowly, but gradually controlled the game and started to curve out chances to take the lead. Neville and Ronaldo found tonnes of space on the right but couldn't deliver the telling balls into the box.
Celtic failed to clear a corner from the left and O'Shea was first to the loose ball. His header back into the box eluded the Celtic defenders and found its way to Berbatov, who had incidentally strayed offside. The linesman on the farside stood static with his flag down, and Berbatov's deft touch directed the ball into the net. It was an untidy goal at best.
The goal brought out the best in us. At the start of the second half, we won a freekick in Ronaldo territory. His freekick was goalbound but Celtic keeper Boruc was only able to palm it down onto the path of Berbatov, who once again had strayed offside. And once again, the lineman did not flag. So with plenty of assistance from the assistant, we found ourselve two goals up.
A minute later, Rooney scored from an acute angle. This time the linesman flagged for offside although the Celtic defenders had played Rooney onside.
Rooney then curved out a chance from nothing, taking a speculative long shot that Boruc did well to palm over the bar. Either side of the Celtic keeper and we would have been celebrating a third.
Give his current form, Rooney was not to be denied. In a lightning counter-attack, Rooney finally added his name to the scoresheet. It was a sweet sweet goal to savour. It took about 10 seconds for the ball to leave Van der Sar's hands and end up in the opposing net.
We're currently sitting pretty on top of the group tables and a victory away from qualifying into the next round.
Just a couple of comments:
Nani - Has really improved in the last couple of games. His decision making is getting significantly better and he doesn't seem to lose the ball as much. And he doesn't try too hard to score, no longer taking wild shots from midfield. The kid is maturing before our eyes.
Fletcher - Superb job in midfield. He stamped the initial Celtic flurry. He's probably one of the reasons why we've been on this superb run of victories. It's no coincidence the moment he's playing over Carrick and Scholes, we've started to look like a team.
Brown - Can't help that he's being shafted by the return of Neville and the emergence of Rafael.
Evans - He's definitely a player. Did Rio's job extremely well today. No one got past him. The only reason why he's probably not been featured that much is probably because of the understanding between Rio and Vidic currently display.
Ferguson - Looks like he's gotten over losing Queiroz. We're back to playing 4-4-2, and playing Rooney in his favourite position. Continue to KISS (keep it simple, stupid) and the results will come.
Manchester United 4 - West Bromwich Albion 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Rooney (56), Ronaldo (69), Berbatov (70), Nani(90)
Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Rafael (Neville 66), Evra (O'Shea 36), Fletcher, Giggs, Park (Nani 69), Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney
Before I start, I promised to post a link here. It's some pictures of Old Trafford from a friend, Antonia. The commentaries are in German, but as they say, a picture paints a thousand words. Enjoy!
On to today's game, all I have to say is that when Rooney is on such form, he's simply irresistible (he's so fine, there's no tellin where the money went.....). If he can keep this up, he's going to give Ronaldo a serious run for his money in the Ballon d'Or next year. For the past 3 weeks, he's been making a mockery of the price tag we paid Everton.
The first half was nothing much to shout about. It was the usual 'pack the bus in front of goal' tactic that opposing teams use whenever they visit OT. We've gotten used to it and it's getting old.
We passed the ball well, controlled the play, but failed to find the breakthru. Rooney was outstanding and really should've had a goal to his name, but the referee ruled it out for an infringement.
The second half was much of the same except that the man with the redhot scoring touch seared a huge hole in the floodgates. Put thru by Ronaldo, Rooney feint his defender and scored with almost an hour on the clock.
The Baggies were stunned and it wasn't long before Rooney returned the favour, sending Ronaldo thru with only the keeper to beat. Ronaldo obliged the Old Trafford faithful with a cool finish.
Less than a minute later, Berbatov got on the act. Having been largely anonymous the entire game, he's instinctive strike from an unlikely chance added a third to the tally.
The game was won and won convincingly. And when Neville, on as a substitute, almost added another goal, you know that we were playing great football.
And no party would have been complete without a Nani special summersault. Again Rooney place the ball on a platter that Nani couldn't miss even if he tried.
4-0. Albion probably didn't deserve such a spanking, but on this day, they just couldn't stop Rooney. On this form, I can't see anyone who can.
Blackburn 0 - Manchester United 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Brown (30), Rooney (62)
Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Brown, Evra (O'Shea 71), Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs (Tevez 66), Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney (Park 78)
I'll probably go short tonight since I can hardly keep my eyes open. That's the problem with late kickoffs, it ends at about 2.30 am over here in Singapore.
The game came as a bit of a surprise to me. The result was probably expected, since we've been playing better lately, coupled with the scoring form of Rooney. But what surprised me is just how meek Blackburn were today. I don't know what Ince did to the Blackburn of the past, today it was like wolves playing against lambs. They simply couldn't cope with our pace and power, and for a good period of the game, couldn't even find a way out of their own half. It's shocking to see Blackburn play so poorly at Ewood.
United took the lead with an unlikely scorer, Brown, in the first half. There was a suspicion of a foul leading up to the goal, but it stood despite the vivid protestations of the Blackburn players. I don't really why they even bothered. If they had spent the same amount of energy on the game, they wouldn't have conceded.
In a classic United counter attack, Rooney added a stunning second in the second period of the game. We could have punished Blackburn further but good goalkeeping and the woodwork kept the score low.
It's a pity it's the international break next week, just when we're finding form. Our football in the past week has been pretty good, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. We're getting there slowly.
AaB Aalborg 0 - Manchester United 3
Scorers
Manchester United: Rooney (22), Berbatov (55, 78)
Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Rafael (Brown 66), O'Shea, Scholes (Giggs 16), Nani, Ronaldo, Rooney (Tevez 59), Berbatov
It probably could have been more, but a satisfactory result nonetheless. The only probable complaint is that we lost Scholes, Rooney and Rafael thru injuries.
It was a lively start with the visitors showing intent on scoring. Just as I started to get warmed up, my broadband went dead on me. It took a good frantic while to get it working again, having to restart the computer twice in the process (damn you Microsoft!). And I only just made it on time to catch Rooney score via a delightful thru ball from Giggs.
It did leave me scratching my head since I don't recall seeing Giggs in the starting lineup. It was only sometime later that I realised that Scholes had been scratchered off with knee problems.
Aalborg did give a good account of themselves and might have pulled level if not for some woeful crossing.
On 55 minutes, Aalborg's captain made a mess of a routine clearance, allowing Berbatov to score his first United goal. The screwed up clearance went high and Berbatov needed no invitation to volley the ball into the net.
In quick succession, both Rooney and Rafael indicated that they needed to be substituted. Rafael had by then firmly moved his way up the right-back packing order. I'm pretty sure, along with millions of other United fans, that he's the best right-back at the team. He's still a little inexperienced but that should eventually sort itself out with more games under his belt. If his brother is half as good as him (which all indications suggests he is and more), then we're in for an exciting future.
While I was salivating over the Da Silva twins, Berbatov sealed the game with his second and United's third of the evening. Ronaldo went down the byline and crossed the ball into the area to find Berbatov unmarked. After some contorting, he volleyed it home.
Tevez and Ronaldo had opportunities to punish Aalborg further but 3-0 was a fair result on tonight's display. We were not as efficient as I would have liked against a weak opponent, but anything more would have understated Aalborg's performance.
A few points to note about this game:
Nani is starting to wear my patience down. With all his god given skills, he seems too in love with his dribbling, holding it on for way too long at times. He reminds me of Ronaldo in his second year with us, too eager to please and not intune with the team concept. I'm sure, like Ronaldo, he'd eventually grow into it (just hopefully we don't have to wait 4 years for that to happen).
O'Shea is crap. His position today is to sit in front of the back four and not do anything too stupid. Unfortunately, he tried too hard to do too much today. When we were 2 up, he started to lose the ball in dangerous positions. Had we been up against a team that had a clue, we could have been punished.
I haven't finished gushing over Rafael. Outstanding going forward and pretty solid in defense. Could have had a couple of crackers. The only criticism is that he tends to lunge himself at the ball in defense instead of shadowing the winger. But like I mentioned earlier, he should grow out of it thru experience.
As much as I dislike Rio as a person, he's grown into an outstanding defender. Whether it's due to playing with Vidic along side him or not, it no longer significant. During this trying period, he's been our most consistent player by a long long shot.
