Aalborg 0-3 Manchester United

I think we are starting to see some signs that the form we are all looking for is not that far away. Although it's hard to know how well United played yesterday really, not knowing much about the opposition. They made two massive howlers one that should have resulted in the first goal for United by Dimitar Berbatov and the second that did result in his first goal in a red shirt.
The big surprise of the night was Da Silva starting at right back instead of Wes Brown. I can't argue with it personally, if a young player is good enough and confident enough in his own ability get him in there for me. And after seeing him in two games now he may well have a big future at United. I am just surprised he seems to have risen above Wes in the pecking order when i must admit i had expected him to be challening Gary Neville to be the reserve right back. I suppose O'Shea was a bit of a surprise in midfield alongside Scholes but that just shows how depleted we have become in this department which of course has got worse after last nights injury to Scholes.
United started well with plenty of pace and movement and had two great chances after next to no time. First Ronaldo semi blocked the goalies attempted clearance which ballooned in the air straight to Berbatov but he managed to hit the shot wide when really you have to say he should have scored. Next Ferdinand hit a screamer of a volley at the back post that was saved by either the goalie or blocked by a defender it was hard to say who got the touch. Rooney was looking sharp and right back to his best, Berbatov was making decent runs and Ronaldo was looking a bit more like the player we have seen for the last two seasons. Da silva was making some great overlapping runs and was not afraid to have a shot if thought he was in a position to. Although he wasn't found out too much in this game his defending isn't quite up to scatch yet but it looks like he is going to be some player going forward. Nani was Nani i'm afraid for me again last night, in fact i take that back. When i say that i mean he was exasparatingly inconsistent but last night he had one of those games where he just seemed to take the wrong option time after time.
The first blow of the night was the sight of Scholes being stretchered of after an innocuous looking tackle. You just knew by the look on his face that it wasn't good and after the match Fergie said it looked like knee ligament damage. Terrible news for United with all our midfield injuries but even worse for us who love watching the ginger prince stroking that ball about as he did when he came on as a sub on saturday and completely changed the game.
This brought on Giggs as his direct replacement as the creative central midfield player which whilst he is not as good as Scholes in the role he is still more than useful cover. As he showed after only a few minutes on the pitch as he put Rooney through with an exquisite pass and Rooney made no mistake dispatching past the goalie for the opening goal. Aalborg did have a couple of dangerous moments including one dangerous attack where a brilliant piece of defending by Ferdinand averted the danger. Ferdinand slipped into the form of the last two seasons straight from the off this season and i can't think of a better central defender in world football at the moment. A lot of pundits remarked that having Vidic next to him enhanced his game, but for me the reality is stick anybody next to Ferdinand, ie Brown or Evans and he looks the business whereas Vidic is not quite the same player without Rio next to him.
The second half was just completely all United although i suppose you have to give Aalborg credit they did try and have a go. Mind you them being the home side you should expect that, but it doesn't always happen as we have seen. Ten minutes into the second half a terrible mistake by the Danish teams captain offered Berbatov a great opportunity to put right his earlier miss and open his United account. Thankfully he made no mistake volleying it past the goalieto make it 2-0. Rooney had stumbled in the penalty area earlier and was now taken off. We don't know how serious it is yet, but typical Rooney to get injured when he starts to look like the real Wayne Rooney again and playing in his favourite position as well just behind the striker. Mind you it didn't upset the rhthym too much as Tevez came on slotted in straight away. It was intersting to watch Tevez marauding around the pitch next to Nani. When Tevez looks like he might lose it he somehow manages to keep hold of the ball either through skill strength or jsut the aggression to want to keep it. It was a bit disconcerting to see how easily Nani loses the ball alongside next to that.
The third goal was an excellent finish after a fine move that saw Ronaldo get to the byline and cut the ball back into the centre of the box where Berbatov was waiting to expertly volley it past the goalie on the bounce. Ronaldo was clearly tiring but he stayed on as all the substitutions had been made with Brown coming on for Da Silva taking a knock after another forward run. Berbatov later put Ronaldo through with a superb inch perfect pass with the outside of is boot but Ronaldo took it past the goalie but into the side netting. The lively Tevez saw a screaming shot go over the woodwork by inches and 3-0 it stayed.
So a good and bad night, the good the overall display and then at last we took some chances, th bad the injuries to Rooney but more especially Scholes. Let's hope Carrick is on schedule in coming back from his injury because we need him.

Scholes could be out for 10 weeks, bad, bad, bad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7642995.stm

Ronaldo admits not being up to speed yet but says he is not far away.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ronaldo-sets-recovery-timetable-following-united-injury-blows-947905.html

The Independent on last nights preceedings
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/berbatov-and-rooney-serve-up-a-taste-of-things-to-come-947235.html

Steve Coogan back on BBC next week in new comedy drama Sunshine written by Early Doors writers Craig Cash and Phil Mealey
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/steve-coogan-hes-back--funnier-than-ever-945956.html

Gerard Baker on the spectre of the 1930's
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4856477.ece

Anatole Kaletsky says don't blame it all on bankers
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article4856263.ece

Joseph Stiglitz a long time critic of the market fundamentalists argues that the bailout plan was good for Wall street but not for the wider economy and points to the lessons learnt from the Scandanavian banking crisis of the early 90's.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/30/marketturmoil.wallstreet

Steve Guess on the end of Laissez-faire capitalism, it's along time since i heard it called it that
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/sep/29/economy.wall.street.bailout

George Monibot on how the USA is really run, the military industrial complex and all that
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/30/marketturmoil.subprimecrisis