Captain Rooney Leads United to Victory (Manchester United 3 - FC Copenhagen 0)

Rooney captained the team to a 3-0 trumph in the absense of Giggs, who was not feeling well, and Rio, who somehow hurt his neck during the warm up. It was a scoreline predicted by most pundits, but to be honest, Copenhagen played really well.

Copenhagen impressed me with the way they approached the game, throwing players forward in attack and did make an impression on Van der Sar numberous times. However in throwing players forward, they were caught out at the back, and had it not been for keeper Christiansen's outstanding performance, they might have been dead and buried in the first half.

The game itself was played at a breakneck pace in the first half. Both sides played attractive attacking football with precision passing. But it was United who broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a Scholes scoring his first of the season with a trademark thunderbolt.

And right in the beginning of the second half, O'Shea, perhaps luckily knocked the ball into the net from a corner to give us a 2-0 lead. After that goal, we somewhat took the foot off the paddle. Christiansen then fumbled a Richardson shot from outside the box to undo his first half heroics and sealed the victory for us in the 83rd minute.

Rooney was once again outstanding for us in attack. He and Saha seemed to have developed a special chemistry between them and some of the passing between the two of them was simply exquisite. Vidic was also outstanding in defense, and together with Brown, formed a formidable partnership in the heart of the defense.

Special mention must also be given to Evra. He didn't make any noteworthy mistakes, nor give the ball away....too many times. However he did get booked for kicking the ball away (stupid fuck). Let's hope he steadily improves.

The stinkers today were Carrick and O'Shea. Besides a strike at goal, Carrick was largely anonymous, as usual. Kinda sad that we paid so much for so little (seems to be a recurring theme here).

As for O'Shea, he was simply awful in the first half, playing in right-back. I would be too harsh on him for a couple of reasons. Firstly, his performance improved greatly after scoring the second goal. Must have been a confidence thing. Secondly, the poor lad has been playing all over the park in his entire career, from left-back to midfield to right-back to left wing to central defence. I even remember him playing as an auxiliary striker at one point a couple of years back. No wonder he looks so lost on the pitch sometimes.

Alan Smith was also given a second half run out to the delight of the crowd. He showed plenty of willingness, but it was pretty obvious he was extremely rusty. His first touch was poor and he missed a tap in. I'm sure if given the games, he'd improve in time to come.

With this victory, we're pretty damn close to qualifying for the next stage in the Champions League.

I personally can't wait for this Sunday's clash with Liverfool. It would be exciting to see Rooney, Saha, Giggs, Ronaldo and Scholes all playing together in the same side, especially since most of them are peaking at the same time. I'm smelling blood!

Game of Two Halves (Wigan 1 - Manchester United 3)

After a terrible first half, a Rooney-inspired United scored thrice to pull clear at the top of the table in an early kickoff.

Wigan scored early in the first half and had United on the backpaddle. We obviously didn't help ourselves by playing some really uninspired football. There was no flair, no width and no idea in our play. Quite frankly when the half time whistle came, I was pretty much ready to call it a day and go to bed. Luckily my girlfriend was using it, if not I would have missed the second half. The only bright spark in that terrible first half was a determined effort by Rooney which struck the crossbar.

The second half started with Giggs replacing Wes Brown and inspiring some really sweet attacking play from United. It was literally a reverse from the way we played in the first half. Our attacking movement was crisp and quick, and we tore the Wigan defence apart, but failed to find the net.

However in the 60 odd minutes, we found the opening when Vidic scored from a corner. It's nice to see us actually threatening from corners since the days of Daisy and Dolly. A couple of minutes later, Saha fired us into the lead.

It was all United and by that time, Rooney had completely taken over the show. It's a pity he didn't annouce his return with a goal. He lead the team with his determined style of play, inspiring all around him to play above themselves.

Hell, even Evra had a good game. A far cry from the usual crap that comes from him. The disappointing player for me was once again Carrick. His impersonation of Invisible Man is wearing thin.

We rounded off the scoring in injury time with a really sweetly taken goal from fan favourite, Ole. Quite frankly, after looking at today's team sheet, with Heinez, Ronaldo, Fletcher and Neville missing from the starting lineup due to injury, I would have gladly taken a draw. Credit to the boys who rose above themselves with a come-from-behind performance.

It also marks the second time we've put three past a Liverpool keeper. We did it against Scott Carson at Charlton and today against Kirkland with Wigan. Let's hope I didn't jinx the team and we make it three times lucky next week against Reina next week when we face Liverpool.

Ole's Goals Takes United Back To The Top (Manchester United 2 - Newcastle 0)

When the teams trodded out with Ole replacing Saha in the starting lineup along side the out-of -form Rooney, I actually feared the worst. I'm ashamed to admit that my fears were unfounded as Ole scored twice to put a hopeless Newcastle out of their misery at Old Trafford.

After 5-6 uninspiring performances by the men in Red, we turned on the style today and practically outplayed Newcastle in every department on the pitch. Ronaldo and Fletcher were hardworking and utterly dominant playing on the flanks, giving Newcastle's full backs all sorts of problems. It's no surprise that Ronaldo hit the woodwork thrice and Fletcher once.

There was a brief moment of dispair when Heinze was taken off for an injury and replaced by the hopeless Evra. Thankfully post game reports stated that it was a hamstring strain and nothing serious. I would hate to see Evra start in left back by default, or anywhere on the pitch for that matter.

We bossed most of the game and Ole scored on either end of half time to give us a 2-0 lead. The first was from a rebound after Ronaldo had hit the post and the second from a Vidic volley that recocheted off Ole's knee. He probably knew little of both goals, but like in 99 Barcelona, he was once again the right man at the right place for us. That's why we love him, or at least I do (and not in a gay way).

Rooney was again a pale shadow of his usual self, but there are signs he's slowly but surely returning to form, and to the Rooney we have become used to. In defence, Vidic was outstanding, stopping anything that came his way.

As for the man of the match, Ronaldo was outstanding and would be anyone's choice for it. But personally, I'd give it to Ole, just for old times' sake.

There will be no games next week as it's the internationals. Let's hope most of our players return safe and sound for the meeting with Wigan on the 14th.