Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United

A game that definitely didn't go to plan, saw United have to fight hard to get a share of the points and lose Ferdinand half way through the second half. The 2 dropped points was bad enough, but to lose Ferdinand, and at the moment we still don't know how long he will be out, was even worse. It looks very likely we are going to be going into next weeks Arsenal game without both first choice centre halves. All of a sudden the title race is well and truly on again.
As for the game, United started like a house on fire and when Ronaldo put the first goal away it looked like one of those away days when we just blitz the opposition and the question is not will we win but how many will we score. Unfortunately when Boro did start to get their feet into the game, it was obvious that our defence minus Vidic was looking a lot less assured than we have been accustomed to. The decision to play O'Shea at centre half and Wes Brown at right back totally lost me. It was said that Browns pace was needed against Downing, well unfortunately it was needed in the middle against Aladiere and Alves as well. Their equaliser came out of nothing really, just a big punt up front that was headed on and Alves found himself alone with Carrick of all people trying but failing to get back in time to stop him as he beat Van Der Sar in the corner of the net. United suddenly looked very frail at the back and Van Der Sar had to be alert to keep a Downing effort out just before the break. United had a great shout for a penalty turned down around this time, it clearly hit a Boro hand but maybe it was too fast for the ref to see.
The second half started in a blizzard and the game carried on along the lines of the latter part of the first half with both teams going for it. Wes Brown reverted to centre half but his afternoon didn't get any better as his weak header rebounded of Aladiere and straight to the feet of Alves who finished clinically again to put Boro 2-1 up. Ferdinand had injured himself trying to get back to clear the mess up, and our weekend was going from bad to worse. Hargreaves now came on to replace O'Shea to give us some attacking impetus from right back and the unlucky Tevez was replaced by Park. Now United did start to exert some overdue pressure, which eventually paid off as Park beat his man superbly out wide before cutting in and delivering the perfect cross to the foot of Rooney who with the help of a deflection found the back of the net to put United level again.
Both teams created chances after that but neither could find the decisive winner. I really thought we would win this game easily the way we had been playing, but the way the game went you have got to be happy with the point. Next weeks game against Arsenal without both first choice centre backs has now taken on immense importance, at least we will have to really give it a go, with the defence we will have it's the only way to play that game. Of course Arsenal will now see this as a game where they may be able to rekindle their seemingly extinct title hopes.

No bone break for Ferdinand but no time scale for recovery either, or their not telling us
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2271697,00.html

Ronaldinho to city. Are season tickets about to go on sale by any chance?
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2271528,00.html

Chauffeur to blame for Di's death
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/07/diana.monarchy
As if anybody with half a brain didn't know, what a scandalous waste of money this has been

A modern day winter of discontent by Larry Elliot
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/larry_elliott/2008/04/econcris1.html
Asley Seager on the upcoming pain
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/07/economics.banking
Stephen King on market failiures
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-from-pope-pius-vii-to-the-credit-crunch-market-failure-lives-on-805422.html

Mugabe returns to tried and trusted methods
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/mugabe-demands-vote-recount-as-war-veterans-arm-for-battle-805403.html