United Keeps Pace With The Leaders

Aston Villa 0 - Manchester United 1
Scorer
Manchester United: Jones (20)


Team: Lindegaard, Rio (Giggs 64), Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Jones, Carrick, Young (Welbeck 79), Nani, Rooney, Hernandez (Valencia 12)

Strange game this. We dominated most of the possession and really kept Villa out of the game the entire time, yet despite our fine play, we hardly created any chances. For all our labours the past few weeks, or months indeed, we really came out and played some fine football and really should have hammered Villa, but we faltered at the end of almost every move.

We're desperately in need of some spark up front, or even some form of luck. The good thing is that our shyness in front of goal did not hurt us today. Villa are as incompetent as they come.

Besides the inability to score tonight, the other concern was the injury to Hernandez early in the game. He seemed to have hurt his ankle and the agony in his frantic waves for assistence probably doesn't bold well. With Owen already out, Berbatov injured in the last game, it seems our striking options are down to Rooney and Welbeck (Macheda and Diouf are just too raw). For a good bit, Nani was drafted upfront and did a credible job, he's too mercurial to be relied on fulltime in that position.

Jones was plied in midfield early on and he scored his first official United goal with a darting run into the box to connect with Nani's wonderful cross. He's partnership with Carrick was solid without giving up possession. It seems Ferguson is right in his assessment that Carrick seems to come alive at the end of the year. He's certainly put in a good shift. While not being spectacular, he's putting in a credible job while Cleverley and Anderson are on the injury table (who says I don't give Carrick any credit?).

This win allowed us to retain the 2nd spot, keeping pace with City, as Spurs and Chelsea look ominously on. Our next few Premiership fixtures look easy on paper, and we better take advantage of it to narrow the gap.

United's Carling Cup Adventure Ends

Manchester United 1 - Crystal Palace 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Macheda (pen 69)
Crystal Palace: Ambrose (65), Murray (98)


Team: Amos, Smalling, Evans, Rafael (Progba 64), Fabio (Fryers 37), Gibson, Park, Valencia, Diouf, Berbatov (Morrison 46), Macheda

We never really got into the game and Palace deserved the victory. A little more disconcerting for me were the injuries to the twins Fabio and Rafael. They never seem to get a break and were both replaced.

All in all, the youngsters didn't convince at all. There was too much glory hunting today. Everyone seemed to want to get their names on the scoresheet. There wasn't enough movement off the ball, and the attacks were very one dimensional, right down the middle of the park, making it extremely easy to defend. None of the reserve team players stood out.

Instead it was the Palace youngster, Zaha, who looked like a real winner. He's first half performance was really one to behold. He twisted and turned Fabio, and when Fabio was being replaced, I almost detected form rising from the mouth. He couldn't keep up the same level in the second half but it was enough to leave a deep deep impression from the 19yr old.

On our side, possibly the only player who was really outstanding was Smalling. He had a wildly impressive game, but was let down by his teammates on the other end. Macheda probably had the worst game I've seen since he's entered the scene against Villa a couple of years back, despite winning and scoring the second half penalty. I'm beginning to feel that he just might not make the cut on the big stage. Poor first touch, a seemingly bad attitude on the pitch and way too selfish. Then again, based on what Berbatov did today, the same can be said of him too.

Well, most of the players on show today probably wouldn't see action again this season with the first team unless something drastic happens. It really doesn't bold well for the team on the whole, especially in midfield where we so sorely need reinforcements. Still, heartiest congratulations to Palace and hopefully they go on to make more noisy in the competition.

Robbed By Mike Jones (Fuck You!)

Manchester United 1 - Newcastle 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Hernandez (49)
Newcastle: Ba (pen 64)


Red Card
Newcastle: Gutierrez (79)


Team: De Gea, Rio, Vidic, Fabio (Smalling 90), Evra (Macheda 88), Carrick, Giggs, Young, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez

I can't believe what I saw. Seriously, WTF!?! This has to be one of the worst piece of refereeings I've seen. Fuck you Mike Jones, seriously FUCK YOU!

I had intended to write some really complimentary things about Newcastle in this post, but that went flying out the window the moment Mike Jone (motherfucker!) gave the penalty to Newcastle while we were leading 1-0.

Rio had cleanly taken the ball of Ben Arfa with a beautiful challenge but instead of a corner, Mike Jones (motherfucker!) decided to make a name for himself and awarded the penalty to Newcastle.

The Barcode's goal led a charmed life after that with their back four making some incredible blocks and Tim Krul playing out of his skin. He was able to somehow put a body part between the ball and the goal line. And when he was beaten, his back four was in the way.

This was a disappointing draw as we were unable to beat the ten-men Magpies and unable to overcome a ridiculously rancid refereeing decision which will have real repercussions to the title race. Seriously....fuck you Mike Jones!