Manchester United 4-0 Dynamo Kiev

Four goals again, and it could have been double that, entertaining football seems to be back on tap at Old Trafford. It has to be said though, Kiev are a very poor team. Before we all get carried away with thoughts of champions league glory again, we will have to be teams far far tougher than Dynamo Kiev. It doesn't seem that many years ago that we nearly played them in the nou camp and not Bayern Munich, how far have they fallen. I was hoping he would take this opportunity to blood some of our youngsters as this was a better chance to blood a couple together than the next two games. As it was , he took the chance to really freshen things up, bringing in Simpson at right back, Pique to partner Vidic at centre back, Carrick and Fletcher into central midfield and Nani on the flank.
For the first half it was a bit of struggle to be honest, Kiev showed absolutely no ambition, leaving one man up front with no support coming from midfield at all leaving him totally stranded. Almost total domination of possession ensued for United, but the cutting edge of recent weeks seemed to be missing. Eventually the goal that was needed to bring the game to life was scored on the half hour. The ball eventually reaching the head of Pique following a couple of deflections from a Ronaldo free kick, he still had a bit to do, and towering over his opponent with a great leap he powered it into the corner of the net. The second goal followed Tevez recovering the ball on the half way line, running forward towards the area and after playing a neat one two with Rooney blasting it into the back of the net, the goalie only managing to get a touch when it seemed he probably should have saved it.
The second half was a totally different game, Kiev brought on two attacking players and decided to give it a go. This led to a more open entertaining spectacle. In fact Kiev managed to get the first decent chance, with Rincon forcing substitute Kuszczak into making the first save of the second half. Shots from Nani and Simpson both decent chances followed, before eventually United forced the third goal. A superb cross from Nani found Rooney on the edge of the six yard box, and he made no mistake. United now became a bit guilty of trying to walk the ball in the net, i don't mind that as long as the game is already wrapped up. It was like exhibition football really, With Evra in particular weaving one superb piece of magic on the edge of the box, that screamed out for him to provide the coup de grace, but instead he squared it to Tevez and the goalie saved it. Tevez made way for Saha, and though he played reasonably well, i did notice that he never threatened to run flat out, which would have been interesting the way the game became stretched. I don't know whether he was just taking it easy, but he won't be half the player he was, if we don't see that burst of pace that he possesses ( possessed ?). Just before the final whistle Ronaldo finally received a pass that his runs had bee meriting for the last ten minutes, and he beautifully cut inside the defender and struck a low hard shot into the corner of the net to make it four, and put a smile back on his face. It had been another one of those games for him, he had nearly fell over the ball a couple of times trying his tricks in the first half. The TV had shown some of the crowd laughing, but he wasn't, it was a sign he still hasn't regained the majestic form of last season and he knows it.
With Roma equalising in the last minute in Lisbon, qualification is now assured, so i would like to see one or more of Pique Simpson or Evans given another opportunity in the next two games.

The Guardians take on last night
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2207140,00.html


Nemanja signs new deal, and gets a big pay rise. Great news, when you think how he and Evra started at United and look at them now. It reminds us, you always have to give new players time, which was something i always followed myself, but i have to admit i seemed to forget that earlier in the season, not giving Tevez and Nani enough time to adapt to a new club.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/08/uvidic108.xml

Ferguson may regret his bleating
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/08/sfnhen108.xml
Somehow i doubt it, it wouldn't exactly be in character would it. Don't get me wrong he does overdo the complaining at times. I could do without the ongoing feud with the BBC as well. As much as he may be right about the BBC being up it's own arse, the subject matter of the documentary into football agents and his son was fair enough, he isn't one now is he. Still that's what makes him the winner that he is.

Fletcher blows his chance of a job in county cricket,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/counties/article2827407.ece
Good, the guy is a two faced plonker with a massively over inflated opinion of himself, mainly living of that 2005 ashes triumph. And to my mind as much credit for that should go to Troy Cooley and that brilliant four man pace attack.


Hamish McRae continues his column on the changing world economy
http://news.independent.co.uk/business/comment/article3138392.ece

Now it's good to be a little bit overweight, what will the next report say.
http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article3138352.ece
Does anybody take any notice of these any more, if one report tells you that something you like eating is bad for you, you only have to wait for the next report to tell you that it is good again.
The main thing is surely to exercise reasonably regularly, and don't eat loads of junk food.