United Thrashes MLS Allstars

MLS Allstars 2 - Manchester United 5

As expected, there was a carnival atmosphere with the crowds packing in. And in the first minute, the MLS allstars gave Macheda a gift he gleefully accepted. The opener was well taken. Before the Allstars could get into gear, Macheda struck again with a centre forward's header from a corner. Fletcher could have made it 3 before half time, but his effort shook the crossbar.

A slew of substitutions in the second half galvanized the Allstars and after a few close brushes, pulled one back with Brian Ching's header. It didn't look good for United. Fergie sent on Chicharito for his debut. Hernandez got fouled in a dangerous position and Gibson hammered home the jambulani, slamming the door firmly shut in the faces of the Allstars.

Cleverley cleverly danced his way into the box and added the fourth (always wanted to write that). And Chicharito lobbed the keeper for United's fifth. The Allstars were outplayed by our kids most of the game and only in the dying minutes managed to take hold of the game but it was too little too late. They did however get another goal.

All in all, I was pleased with the way we played today. Especially pleased for Macheda and Rafael. In all honesty, both had a terrible preseason todate, but they managed to redeem themselves in a huge huge way with their performances.

Cleverley was fantastic too. He came on for Obertan who left the field injured in the middle of the first half. He was mainly anonymous until his absolutely brilliant goal. But after the goal, he just grew in stature and was probably the best player on the pitch by a far margin in the last 20 or so minutes. I think his problem in the initial preseason games is confidence. But once that goal went in, he just began to feel at ease and let his feet do the talking, the walking and the dancing. If he can keep that level of confidence, my word, he's going to be a player. To think I was almost writing him off. I supposed the problem with all these young players, as I've mentioned before, is consistency.

Lastly, Chicharito is brilliant. I'm really excited to see him play when the season starts. He's speedy Gonzalez wrapped in taco-flavoured kissed. The only foreseeable problem is how he's going to cope with the physical nature of the EPL.

Watching the youngsters play to their potential and more importantly, in the right spirit, albeit for one game, lifts my spirits for the upcoming season.