United Comes Up Tops In A Game Of Missed Chances

Manchester United 3 - Chelsea 1
Scorer
Manchester United: Smalling (8), Nani (37), Rooney (45)
Chelsea: Torres (46)


Team: Jones, Evans, Smalling (Valencia 62), Evra, Fletcher, Anderson (Carrick 62), Young, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov 79)

We won our 5th consecutive game and took the top spot in the table after Shitty dropped points despite being 2-0. This wasn't a classic encounter in the attacking sense, but it definitely was an exciting one with play switching from one end of the pitch to the other in the blink of an eye. What stood out were the extrodinary number of misses from point blank range from both sets of players.

We started off poorly, continuing our poor play in midweek against Benfica. Chelsea were all over us right from kickoff and were quite unlucky to be 1-0 down by the 8th minute. Young's freekick from the right found Smalling in an offside position. The linesman didn't flag and Smalling obliged the Old Trafford crowd by nodding it into the net.

It was follwed by intense pressure from Chelsea which De Gea acquitted himself well with a couple of great saves. It gave confidence to a shaky backline and we slowly but surely built on it. Nani doubled the lead with a stunning individual goal.

Rooney added a third at the death of the first half with an easy pass into the net. We were up and comfortable with a 3 goal lead going into the half. We didn't play particularly well, but we took our chances while Chelsea fluffed their lines in front of goal.

The second half started off with a bang when Torres collected Anelka's wonderful pass and lifted it over De Gea. For a moment it looked like the Torres from Liverpool had returned. He looked lively and was really giving our defense fits. He should have added a second when he rounded De Gea with the empty net to aim at, but he returned to form and inexplicably missed the open target.

At the other end, Rooney too fluffed his line from the spot. Instead of celebrating a second goal, he slipped at the last second and sent the penalty over and wide, ala Beckham.

Berbatov also got into the act as the game was winding down. One on one with the keeper, Rooney elected to pass to Berbatov in an open position. Thepass was wretched and Berbatov could only weakly poke it into Ashley Cole.

It was a game of very badly missed chance from both sides, but we came out top despite not looking anywhere near our best. Andy Cole would have been proud of the effort put in by both sides.

Benfica, United Share Points

Benfica 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Benfica: Cardozo (24)
Manchester United: Giggs (42)


Team: Lindegaad, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Fabio (Jones 78), Carrick, Fletcher (Hernandez 70), Park, Giggs, Valencia (Nani 70), Rooney

 Putrid display in midfield. Ferguson gave the old timers a run here and after the free-flowing football we've witnessed in the last month grinded to to a halt. There was precious little movement in the centre of the park. Carrick and Fletcher were non-entities. They moved like their feet were cast in cement.

With 7 changes to the one that played against Bolton, we certainly looked like strangers on the pitch. Rooney was starved of any supply and he had to constantly track back to get a touch of the ball, of course when he did that, there was no one up front when he did get the ball.

The only players who ran their socks off from the starting eleven were possibly Evra and Park down the left flank. Fabio and Valencia tried to put in a good shift but the quality was poor and eventually both were taken out before the 90.

Benfica's goal came from a superb goal from Cardozo. He spun beautifully around Evans and whipped a wonderful shot across Lindegaard and into the net. Our reply was a little against the run of play. We created little in the first half and were perhaps fortunate to draw level when Giggs was allowed to dance his way thru the Benfica midfield to lash home the equalizer.

The second half performance was much better from our point of view. We begun to string a couple of passes together but it wasn't enough to take the 3 points. Benfica, too, had their chances but Lindegaard is pressing hard for the no.1 spot. He made a couple of outstanding saves to save our blushes.

The game ended all square and probably the right result despite our putrid first half. Thankfully our group looks really weak with Basel and Otelul as our next oppoents, both of which we should deal with, barring an Inter-like collapse.

With our top players rested, I'm optimistic we should deal with Chelsea's slow legs in defense this weekend.

United Steamrolls Bolton Towards No. 20

Bolton 0 - Manchester United 5
Scorers
Manchester United: Hernandez (4, 58), Rooney (20, 25, 68)


Team: De Gea, Rio, Evans (Smalling 61), Jones, Evra, Anderson, Cleverley (Carrick 7), Young (Giggs 61), Nani, Rooney, Hernandez

I can't remember when United started a season this emphatically. As far as my memory can take recall, the only memorable start we had was in 86 when we won the first 10 games before drawing to Luton, who incidentically are no longer in the league, which only goes to show two things....it's damn long ago and I'm getting too damn old.

Like the previous fortnight, Shitty played earlier and stamped their authority on a wimpish Wigan and like the previous fortnight, we called their result and upped the stakes again, this time against a feisty Bolton. It was a robust challenge right from the kickoff and we lost Cleverley within minutes with a dreadful tackle by Kevin Davies. While Cleverley was taken out of the game for treatment, the ten men in red responded with a wonderful goal from Chicharito. He completely outsmarted Gary Cahill to find space and poked Nani's cross into the net.

Cleverley was replaced with Carrick, whom I'm actually beginning to hate, but today is a good day, so I'll just leave the ranting for another posting, if I get down to it.

Bolton's response was very positive and in the next quarter hour or so, they were easily the better team and really looked like equalising. In previous seasons, they might have, however the Manchester United in it's current form is a different animal and I almost felt sorry for Bolton. From a lightning quick attacks, Rooney scored twice in a space of 5 minutes to put the result beyond the Trotters. Both goals were supplied by Phil Jones who was making an appearance at right-back. I thought Rafael was filled with potential until Smalling came along. With his mature level of play, I thought the right-back role was Smalling's to lose, then Ferguson did what we never expected and pushed Jones to the position with Smalling starting from the bench instead. Jones responded with a man-of-the-match performance. Rooney may have scored a hattrick, but Jones stole the show and our hearts.

Chicharito made it 4 in the second half and Rooney completed his hattrick with over 20 minutes to spare. We could very well have equalled the margin against Arsenal, but the foot was significantly off the pedal. Chicarito could have added to the scoreline but was unselfish, instead passing the ball to get teammates involved.

It was a brilliant overall performance by everyone in a red shirt, including the 17 busloads of Norwegian fans who made their way down.