Villareal 0-0 Manchester United

The fourth scoreless draw in a row against the Spaniards didn't really come as much of a shock did it. Both teams needed just the point to be sure of going through to the next round. For Villareal that was crucial as if Celtic had won in Denmark as they had every chance of doing that would left them with an unenviable trip to Glasgow where they would have had to get a point. I think they would have done that but you can't blame them for wanting to make sure last night. As for us we have got a derby coming up on sunday where our players might actually put in as much effort as their lot usually do. I know i see Liverpool as a bigger game than the Derby but it is still a massive game! This season with them doing the double over us last year and now having untold riches i think we can expect our lot to treat it with the respect it warrants. Besides all that we have to get on a winning streak and soon because we still don't seem to have clicked this season.
I have to admit being surprised by the starting line up, i wasn't that surprised that Nani started but i expected it to be at the expense of Ronaldo not Tevez. Fergie said Ronaldo was desperate to play, well it's not too hard to guess why. This is after all the country where he had his heart set on in the summer. I think we can safely say he might have wanted to remind Real he is still out there should they want next season, which of course they do whatever they say.
As for the game the first half was a complete damp squib as they got everybody behind the ball and although United had a lot of possession it took until the last couple of minutes for them to create a really worth while chance. A great ball from Anderson found Rooney in the middle just outside the penalty area who touched it expertly into the path of Ronaldo who let rip first time and hit a venomous shot that took a slight deflection forcing the goalie into a fingertip save forcing it onto the cross bar. Just before half time A free kick from just ouside the area saw another fine strike from Ronaldo which brought out another impressive save from their number 1 Lopez.
The second hald was a better specatcle and saw United really gain control of the match and this time create more chances. But we couldn't really open them up and we didn't really create any guilt edge chances to be honest. Carrick and Fletcher bossed the midfield, Rooney tried hard to create room up front, Evra tried to get forward with negligible help from Nani who once again was very disappointing, not so much as he played badly as being anonnymous. Jonny Evans partnered Ferdinand and had a decent game though to be fair he didn't have too much to do. By the 65th minute they had lost both Senna and Pires and after that they rarely ventured over the half way line. It was disappointing to see Rooney stoop to some of Ronaldo's lesser traits though i have to admit i was willing the ref to give a penalty as that would have netted me a tidy sum even though i knew he hadn't beeen touched.
Rooney was involved in most of our best moments in the second half with a chip that he rushed a fine first time left foot volley that unfortunately straight at the goalie and lastly a run and centre that was almost deflected into the back of the net. I'm not a fan of the amount of times Ronaldo goes to ground but the Villareal defender Capdevila can have no complaints about the red card as it was a nasty foul that would have wrecked.
So through to the next round, it maybe a bit presumptious but it will be surely as group winners with Aalborg at home in the last game. Now for the game of the week.

Rooney says sorry
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/26/manchester-united-villarreal-champions-league1

MP backs MUST's campaign against United's price ticketing policy, the more supporters the better.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1081788_mp_backs_ticket_campaign

The credit crunch even affecting Dubai apparently
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article5233280.ece

The economy still going from bad to worse, the tactic of having Gordon Brown being the supposed hero saving thw world's economies might not look too clever when the jobs really start to go, as it looks like they are staring to
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article5236433.ece
Woolies to go into administration
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/woolworths-stores-set-for-administration-1035497.html