United Hangs On For Win

Manchester United 2 - Southampton 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Rooney (8, 27)
Southampton: Rodriguez (2)

Team: De Gea, Vidic, Smalling (Rio 63), Jones, Evra, Carrick, Anderson (Rafael 68), Kagawa (Nani 73), Welbeck, Rooney, Van Persie

Been a busy weekend, wildly celebrating a by-election result, and as a result really didn't catch the Fulham game. Did catch the second half of it and thought we were really really good, bar one defensive lapse.

Any thoughts of the same ease of victory today against a relegation-threatened Soton were quickly dismissed as early as the second minute of the game. In two moments of sheer madness, the first from Carrick's utterly unbelievable give-away and the second from De Gea's subsequent insanity, allowed Rodriguez a free run at goal and he only had the open goal to pass the ball into.

Thankfully by now we would have already gotten used to playing from behind and it was par for the course. We responded positively and surged forward, spending much of the first half camped inside the Saints' half. Good play from Kagawa released Rooney and the lead only lasted slightly more than 5 minutes.

Rooney tried to return the favour moments later but Kagawa's shot only hit the upright. With the way United were playing, it was just a matter of time before we scored another and we didn't have to wait long. Van Persie's freekick was headed across the box by Evra and Rooney was left with the job of poking the ball from less than a metre out. It was just deserves for the enterprising level of football we were playing.

A hiding had looked on the cards but Southampton came out in the second half a completely changed team. The role reversal here was stunning. We couldn't get a sniff of the ball, and in the rare event that we did, we couldn't keep it for more than 2 passes the entire half.

It gotten so bad at one stage that Ferguson had to send on Rio and Rafael to complete the first choice back 4. Carrick was putrid and De Gea did nothing to improve his already shattering reputation. It was only by sheer dumb luck that Southampton were unable to profit. Yet somehow, we scrapped out a victory and could breathe slightly easier when the final whistle blew.

The level of complacency in this team is really high. We were clearly the better team in the first half, but were completely out-worked by a Saints team that were hungrier. If we bring this attitude to Craven Cottage on the weekend, Fulham, especially after the smarting they got in the FA Cup, will tear us to shreds. While on paper looks like an easy game, it smells of a potential banana skin.

Some Random Thoughts
Looks like we signed Zaha from Palace. Frankly, I'm not a huge fan. At 20, he's young but not exactly a spring chicken either. By 20, you would expect him to be more polished, but he's still very raw. From the few clips I've seen of him, it doesn't excite me. Let's just say, it has alot of Ashley Young written all over him. Not to say it's bad, just not terribly exciting either.

Best wishes to Fletcher. I know it's been some time ago since he's had his operation, but better late than never. Hopefully he can resume his career at some point.

I'm sure there are a couple of things I left out. I'll get back to them at a later stage if my memory doesn't fail me then.

Dempsey Holds United

Tottenham 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Tottenham: Dempsey (90)
Manchester United: Van Persie (25)

Team: De Gea, Rio, Vidic, Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Cleverley (Valencia 65), Kagawa (Rooney 62), Welbeck, Van Persie

So that's how it feels like when the opponents snatches a late late goal. It was an utterly disappointing way to end the night, especially knowing how the teams below us have faired. At the same time, I can't really say that it was a surprise. We looked abit too comfortable for our own good and maybe this will be a kick up our arse. The gap is still significant and it's still our title to lose, but performances have to improve and the defense needs to be stronger and tighter.

First off, gotta say that I missed the FA Cup replay. 4am games are getting sightly more difficult to catch. While the mind is willing, the body is finding it increasingly difficult as I age. I just hope I can find the energy when Real Madrid comes along. On paper, those are games worthy for the finals.

I thought we did reasonably well against Spurs in the first half. Not that we contained them particularly well, but we did give as good as we got. That wonderful goal from Van Persie helped alot in that line of thinking as well.

It was yet another superb Van Persie goal, this time heading in Cleverley's cross into the near post. It was a goal worthy to win any game. Sadly this is the first time this season that Van Persie scores and we didn't win a league game. The record looked like continuing until Dempsey showed up.

Probably because of the lead, we were contented to sit tight in the second half and allowed Spurs alot more space and they dominated most of the half. Heroics from De Gea kept the lead intact. Our counter-attacking game just wasn't crisp enough and we simply weren't able to get the crucial cushion we needed to see off the game.

And 2 minutes into injury time, we paid the price.

United Downs Liverpool

Manchester United 2 - Liverpool 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Van Persie (19), Vidic (55)
Liverpool: Sturridge (57)

Team: De Gea, Vidic (Smalling 80), Rio, Evra, Rafael, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa (Jones 77), Young (Valencia 46), Welbeck, Van Persie

For most of the game we were clearly the better side. We created the clearer chances but were left to endure sustained Liverpool pressure in the final 15 or so minutes when Ferguson decided to play to our weakness instead of our strengths. We made two defensive substitutions and decided to park the bus to see out the victory. Despite some disorder, we managed to just see out the win and collect 3 points to move 10 points clear in the table.

The first half wasn't a classic, but we were pretty much comfortable keeping possession, stroking the ball around, while Liverpool were just content to allow us the freedom. While lulling Liverpool to sleep, Van Persie scored one of the most casual goals you'd ever come across. Evra's blind cross was turned in nonchalantly by the Dutch supremo.

He could have had a second but a combinaton of defender and keeper kept the ball out and Kagawa could only crash into Reina while trying to put the rebound in.

Welbeck had a slew of chances to put us two up, but for all his hardwork, could not find the target. As mentioned before, he does everything on the pitch so well, but his finishing is just atrocious. If only we can combine Hernandez's finishing with Welbeck's all round play, we would have the perfect striker on our hands. But then again, we already have on in Van Persie.

We got the cushion in the second half when Vidic and Evra combined to put Van Persie's freekick into the Liverpool net a second time. It was nothing more than we deserved for putting pressure on the Liverpool goal. Up till then, I can't remember Liverpool even having a shot at our goal.

As if reading my mind, we lost the ball in our half and Gerrard fired a low shot which De Gea barely kept out, only for Sturridge to tap the rebound home. We were caught napping and paid the price. The goal gave the opponents confidence that they could get back into the game, and the game became a more even contest. Even then, we were still clearly the better team, until the final 15 minutes.

Ferguson withdrew Kagawa and Vidic with defensive players in the form of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. The idea was simple, to hold on to the win at all costs. We nearly paid the price a second time. Instead of piling on the pressure and playing to the strength of our attack, we sat back and invited Liverpool to come at us. Our solution of pumping long balls from defense kept allowing Liverpool possession from which they used as a launchpad to attack us with.

To our credit, we carried out the gameplan to perfection. It wasn't ideal in my book, but Ferguson's faith in his players gave us a win against a bitter rival.

3 In 1 Post

Been a terribly busy couple of weeks and haven't really found the time to post my thoughts on the games that have been played. Hence I'll squeeze in the last 3 games into one post.

WBA 0 - Manchester United 2
Game of two halves. Water and oil, chalk and cheese. We probably play our best football in the first half, with plenty of pressure and missing loads of good opportunities, but somehow only managed to score one goal. And it was an own goal after good work from Young.

I missed about 20 minutes of the second half, but by the time I managed to get to a television set, what greeted me was some appalling football. We were absolutely getting murdered by WBA and there was nothing we could do about it. Total contrast from the football we played in the first half. The midfield was pushed back and the counter was never on with the midfield sinking so deep to protect an over-worked defence.

Only a brilliant individual goal from Van Persie brought sighs of relief.

Wigan 0 - Manchester United 4
This was probably the most controlled we've played all season. A very impressive display, especially from midfield, whom I've been very down on. We completely controlled the tempo of the game. It was a perfectly played game in the sense that we controlled every aspect. We threw people forward at the correct moments and held back when it looked like Wigan could counter. In short, it was almost a perfectly played game.

Of course doubles from Hernandez and Van Persie helped immensely to seal the victory.

West Ham 2 - Manchester United 2
I'm stating the obvious here, but Van Persie is god. We should have been sent packing from the FA Cup, but Van Persie single-handedly kept it alive.

We took the early lead but never really looked comfortable in the game. James Collins saw our goal and doubled it.

We struggled to make any impact after trailing. And as things looked pretty glum, Van Persie scored an incredible goal in injury time to make sure the teams meet again 10 days time.

As far as the season goes, it's increasingly looking likely that we're going to go as far as Van Persie is able to carry us. Ferguson pulled a rabbit out the hat with this transfer. We completely fleeced Arsenal.