Manchester United 4-1 Derby County

On the face of it this looked a run of the mill victory over a piss poor team at the foot of the table, a team probably doomed for the drop already. But taking the conditions into consideration, the rain making it almost impossible for United to play their normal passing game, it was a really good performance and three points.
United never strayed from trying to play football the right way, you can't always play the beautiful game, especially in conditions like yesterday's, so i would have had no complaints if they had brought Saha on as soon as possible and hit long balls either over the top for him to run after or for him to nod down. But you have to give the team full marks, despite the terrible conditions, they never stopped passing and probing and working hard to try and overcome both the opposition and the elements.
Anderson had another tremendous game, not everything he tried came off, it couldn't in those conditions but he never stopped working, looking for the ball and making himself available. He even tried to get on the end of things as if he had taken to heart what Ferguson had said about him having to score more goals if he is to be able to emulate the career Paul Scholes has had for us. Unfortunately that is still one area of his game that we have still not seen the best of, there is plenty of time to improve, look at Fabregas this season.
There were far too many fans getting anxious and not allowing for the pitch conditions in the first half an hour. But i can't say i am surprised, i don't think anybody can claim we have a more clued up support than everybody else any more.The small repertoire of songs is a far cry from years gone by. That is when there is any singing at all of course, not that United are any worse than anyone else, you can virtually predict every chant that will be sung be the opposition fans. Shall we sing a song for you, 60,000 cockneys or 1-0 and you still don't sing, you can almost set your clock by them. And they always seem so pleased with themselves, they just don't know how sad they seem to us
The first half saw United struggling to come to grips with the conditions for the half an hour or so. But once they had acclimatised themselves, the Derby penalty area started to see some action, Rooney in particular stopped by a brilliant last gasp tackle by McEverley that denied him what seemed him a certain goal. But United were not to be denied for too long, and it was that man Ronaldo who did the hard work, cutting back inside the area and producing a powerful shot that Bywater could only parry to the feet of Giggs who made no mistake in putting away his 100Th league goal for Manchester United. A magnificent achievement for a great servant to this club. Then once again Rooney had bad luck in front of goal, after receiving a superb defence splitting pass from Giggs he closed in on the goalie, drew him out and then chipped him for what looked like an excellent finish only to see it come back of the post as Derby then cleared the danger. He seems to be going through one of those little spells where it won't go in for him. Next week at Anfield will be a good time for that to come to an end.
Then just on the stroke of half time, Ronaldo fooled us and the Derby defence, and instead of hitting one of his trademark shots from a free kick, he played a cute little chip pass in to the penalty area, that after a fresh air shot Tevez managed to put away at the second attempt. So United went into the break 2-0 up and seemingly in a comfortable position.
The United performance in the second half was even more impressive for me as the conditions deteriorated, United still passed it around, when it would have been easy to just starting to hoof it forward.
Wes Brown starred in the best two moments of the second half, first sending a long far post cross that found Giggs who struck it beautifully on the volley only to see it come back off the far post. Next he found Tevez in the box with a cute little pass that took two defenders out of the frame, but he still seemed to have plenty to do, but he quickly took one touch and got his shot away straight into the far corner of the net to make it 3-0 and definitely game over. For the first time in the game United started to take it easy. With the game seemingly won Anderson and Giggs were replaced by Saha and Fletcher. Saha seemed to be sharper than in the last couple of games, and there were promising signs he might be finding a bit more form and fitness. But it was Derby who scored the next goal, their first away goal this season. It was a bit of a desperate scramble that Vidic almost cleared of the line. But the three goal lead was restored as Ronaldo was awarded a bit of a dubious penalty in the last minute. The crowd made it clear that they wanted Tevez to take it, but Ronaldo was adamant that it was his penalty to take, and he duly despatched it to make the final score 4-1. Although i would not have minded Tevez taking it, Ronaldo taking it, was the professional thing to do, goal difference can matter and Ronaldo's spot kick record is excellent. Events at Reading later on put the icing on the cake for a pretty good day.

Giggs is underrated says Ferdinand
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7134842.stm
He is right, and he is underrated at United as much as anywhere.

Mayweather defeats Hatton in the 10Th http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/09/uoboxxquotes109.xml
I haven't seen it yet, so i can't say much, apart from not being too bothered. He has made to much out of being a blue for me to really give a shit. It seems like it must have been a decent fight though.

Good article about the now failed drug tested Kieren Fallon by Scott Brough
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/09/shbrou109.xml


What some of the Thai population think of
Thaksin Shinawatra
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3004757.ece
If he isn't a fit and proper person to run one of our football clubs then who is?

Henry porter writes about the lack of accountability of those in charge of our democracy
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2224560,00.html
Do as say, not as i do