Manchester United 3-0 Celtic

A fairly straight forward three points, it's getting pretty easy to get a bit blase about everything at the moment. Saying that i couldn't really see any other result before last night's match even though we had two close games and actually managed to lose the game in Glasgow that we absolutely dominated. They huffed and puffed Celtic but i'm afraid they were pretty poor. I have Celtic a fair few times at Old Trafford and they always try and play the game the right way and usually have one or two players of quality but you couldn't pick out any of their team last night as anything out of the ordinary. In fact i'm not too sure how many of them are actually premier league quality in all honesty. Not a good time for them to have to face an in form United and a red hot Rooney.
When we first bought Rooney it has to be remembered that he carried us for the first couple of years, and it was Ronaldo who was the jekyll and hide player, brilliant at times and frustratingly inconsistent at others. Then Ronaldo suddenly transformed into the world beater of the last two seasons whilst Rooney suddenly became the understudy at times and started to come in for some criticsm. It's funny how seemingly out of nowhere it's Rooney rediscovering that imperious form helped with a couple years more experience and Ronaldo who doesn't quite seemed to have quite recaptured his zip after his injury lay off. I have got a feeling Ronaldo was probably rushed back a bit too quick for his own good really.
With no Evra, O'Shea came into the left back slot, Jonny Evans filled in for the slightly injured Ferdinand with Gary Neville at right back. I think that gives us some clue as to highly Fergie rated the threat from Celtic. He almost always tries to keep the same back four for the top games if he can, so to make those changes suggests he thought it would be a comfortable night, he wasn't wrong. Anderson came into midfield alongside Fletcher and Nani slotted onto the opposite flank to Ronaldo with Rooney and Berbatov partnering each other again.
United started well with some excellent passing and moving all over the pitch with Rooney in particular in the groove once more.
The first goal came on the half hour when Nani's corner reached the back post where John O'Shea prodded back into the six yard box where an unmarked Berbatov prodded it past the goalie. It looked offside it has to be said, and TV camera's showed it probably was, although not by as much as it had looked on the night at the game. Fletcher had a great chance to kill the game off just before half time but after doing everything right, keeping his head and cutting inside he blasted it over the bar instead of choosing his spot.
The second didn't take too long coming though, just six minutes into the second half a Ronaldo free kick was only parried out by Boric straight to the feet of Berbatov who again made no mistake. Apparently TV camera's showed that this was marginally offside too. Well the officials must have decided to even things out because moments later Rooney brilliantly rounded the goalie before rolling the ball into an empty net only for it to be disallowed. This time camera's bared out what a fair few at the gound had thought, there was nothing wrong with it. With half an hour to go Tevez and Brown came on for Berbatov and Neville and the one way traffic continued. Tevez carried on with his good form and almost scored straight away and was involved in everything. But it was that man Rooney again who would score the third and final goal. getting the ball just outside the area he made room for himself and sent a low shot into the corner of the net. United eased off after that and there was never any liklihood of another goal unfortunately, bu the job had been done. With Villreal wiing the other game 6-3 the group is almost over bar the shouting as far as qualification goes. I expect Evans, Nani and Da silva may get more game in the rest of the qualifying stages. Maybe Welbeck might get a chance for the bench who knows.

Fergie happy with Berbatov
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7683437.stm

Strachan impressed by United
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7683471.stm

Liverpool for sale ?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article4988378.ece

Martin Bell on the Osborne ( and Mandelson ) affair
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/22/georgeosborne-partyfunding
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-osborne-fights-for-political-life-968618.html
Wait until the next election when i am pretty sure the country is going to learn that those same hedge fund operators who almost plunged the world economy into the abyss are bankrolling the Tories

How much of a liberal will Obama be when he is actually in charge, my guess was not much, but that was before the economic implosion.
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5831/

Ernst Rohm ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_R%C3%B6hm would be proud
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/haiders-deputy-reveals-gay-affair-969492.html

Hamish McRae on the future for the US economy
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hamish-mcrae/hamish-mcrae-america-must-live-within-its-means-968552.html

A glimpse of the post Warne, Mcgrath world for the Aussies ?
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/australia-humbled-by-fiery-khan-968495.html

There's nothing new under the sun
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/10/20/201008_scuttlers_interview_feature.shtml

Music
Augustus Pablo - King Tubby's meets rockers: Absolute pearler of an album, great dub.
Bjork - Volta: I have always liked her stuff, but was pleasantly surprised how good this is.
Dr Feelgood - Malpractice: I always liked what i heard of these but never got round to getting any of their albums in the past. A mistake? on the result of listening to this yes quality rocking 12 bar blues.
Gillian Welch - Revival: I saw her on Jools Holland a couple of times and loved what i heard. so it's no surprise that i love this piece of folk/americana whatever you want to call it. The guitar playing of David Rawlings really lifts the album.
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless: I can't remember why i never listened to this indie rock classic, but i have should have done ages ago. It is superb, Bizzarely reminding me of the cocteau twins at times but with the volume set to 11