Fulham 0-3 Manchester United

This was just about the perfect preparation for Tuesday night, Rooney and Ronaldo rested on the bench, Scholes getting a 90 minutes that he needed and three points gained without ever getting out of second gear. Fulham are going down, there are no doubts about that, and they deserve to. Chris Coleman did a great job there as is now abundantly clear, and it was scandalous that Al Fayed got rid of him last season. And i have absolutely no time for clubs who appoint a new manager, give him money to buy new players and then don't let him see the season out. So whether Sanchez was doing a good job or not, Fulham are playing with the players he bought and he rated, so i don't really know how Hodgson can be expected to do any better. And so far he hasn't done any better. At least when Sanchez was there they were unlucky to lose a fair few of the games they lost, now they seem to be going down without a whimper. I don't blame Hodgson, like i said what is he suppose to do in this situation. Still with such a complete balloon as Al fayed, the fake sheik, in charge what can you expect. It wouldn't surprise me if he sells out when they are relegated, and in the current climate, they might be struggling to find a new owner with the deep pockets required to get them back in the premier league any time soon.
As widely trailed in all the papers by the amount of column inches telling us Fergie was glad to have him back, Saha started with Tevez just behind him and Nani and park on the flanks. Scholes partnered Hargreaves in central midfield, whilst O'Shea came in for Vidic with Brown reverting to centre half and O'Shea starting at right back. Right from the start United dominated the bulk of possession and one magnificent pass from Scholes put Saha clean through, he should of at least hit the target but managed to hit it horribly high and wide. I have to say i haven't been convinced by Saha when he has started games this season, and i wasn't that impressed yesterday. To be fair to him i suppose he just needs a run of games to get back his powerful best. Trouble is of course, we all know that isn't going to happen. It is alright starting him in a game like this against very poor opposition, but i wouldn't be starting him in too many games myself. Scholes though seemed to be somewhere near back to his best, against a poor team admittedly, but i think we have all expected too much from him since his two month lay off. That was probably because he was playing as well as ever just before the layoff, i don't go along with the opinion of others that the game has started to pass him by. With the emergence of Anderson and the re-found form of Carrick he may not be the automatic choice that he has been over the last few years, but i would still be happier when he is in the team than when he is not.
The first goal came after Tevez was manhandled on the edge of the box, with Scholes hovering behind Nani and Hargreaves we all wondered who would take it. I think Hargreaves took Fulham by surprise as much as us watching it, as they didn't seem to have set themselves properly as he coolly slotted over the corner of the wall into the back of the net. Shortly after a great move saw the ball crossed to an unmarked Scholes but it came at an awkward height and he put it just wide. Van Der Sar wasn't totally unemployed as Murphy did come close on two occasions, one with a header straight at the big Dutchman, and the other an excellent shot from outside the box that brought out a magnificent save as he parried the ball out for a corner. But that was as good as it got for Fulham in the United third of the pitch.
That man Scholes again found himself unmarked, this time from a corner and this time his header was on target but was cleared off the line. United eventually killed the game off right on the stroke of half time, as a superb run from Scholes was spotted by Nani who fed him the ball and an inch perfect cross landed on the forehead of Ji Sung Park who made no mistake. There was no comeback from that for Fulham especially when you looked at a United subs bench of Rooney, Ronaldo, Anderson and Pique.
The second half was just a training ground exercise for United and they went through the motions in the main, fortunately for Fulham. But when they saw Rooney and Ronaldo come on for the last 20 minutes their hearts must have sank, but luckily for them they must have been under orders to take it easy with Lyon in mind. They did concede another but from an unfortunate own goal as O'Shea crossed Davies sliced into his own net. It was telling that there were no United players busting a gut to get into the box. Ronaldo had a reasonable left foot shot saved by Niemi, but that was the end of the action as both sides were just happy to get out of the game without any injuries.
That was a great result from the Emirates as Villa took a well earned point from Arsenal. It was a pity about the last gasp equaliser, but it doesn't take anything away from the fact that it looks like they are beginning to choke. My only worry as far as the league title goes is the fact that if Milan knock them out in midweek, as i expect them to do, that will leave Arsenal with one trophy left and they will then be able to pick their best team for every game left. So although i obviously want them to go out as i do every other English team, there would be an upside for us if they did manage to get the result they need at the San Siro. It was a pity about the Chelsea result, but i wasn't expecting anything else, West Ham are playing terribly at the moment, they must save their good form for us. We better slaughter them at home, a nice 5 or 6 might go some way to putting the last 3 dismal results against them right.

Fergie would pick Scholes if we got to Moscow for sentimental reasons
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/fergie-id-pick-scholes-for-euro-final-on-sentiment-790268.html
There is time for him to rediscover his best form and then he would be in on merit anyway, he was class yesterday, admittedly against a poor Fulham side

Hicks struggling financially, as he tries to sell off parts of his US sporting portfolio,
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2261442,00.html
That's interesting news about share prices declining sharply in American sporting institutions, hopefully that applies to our unwanted owners.

You are going to have to be a learned Kremlinologist to understand whats going on at the Bridge soon
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2261443,00.html
To be honest, i suppose you have to give their players a lot of credit for maintaining a chance of silverware when all of that crap is going on in the background. As badly run as it all is, and as little time as i have for the Russian, and as much as i think John Terry is a good player, it does seem to me that the big centre half seems to have far more influence than is healthy for the good of the club in the long run.

The reality of war rather than PR bollocks according to Afghan veteran Leo Docherty
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/harrys-war-the-ugly-truth-790316.html

Geoffrey Wheatcroft has a go at Hilary Clinton, and i can't disagree with any of it. I don't expect Obama to be the Liberal hero some are undoubtedly expecting, in fact if he wins the presidency i fully expect to be very disappointed. But at the least, i feel sure it will be the end of the neocons stranglehold on foreign policy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/geoffrey-wheatcroft-the-clinton-bubble-has-burst-and-not-before-time-790219.html

Irwin Stelzer in the times is still optimistic about the American economy, as one of the neoliberal cheerleaders, he has got a vested interest.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article3465267.ece