Stoke City 0-1 Manchester United

Not the best performance but after coming back from an unnseeded trip half way around the world, the result was all that mattered. I've got to admit it looked like it was going to be one of those days as in some of our other away day we had loads of possession but couldn't seem to create many chances and when we did we couldn't take them. We'll never know for sure of course but the sending off seemed to me to be the turning point.
Losing Ferdinand was a bit off a blow just before kick off but if we are honest it wasn't the worst game in the world for this to happen. And this what the big squad is for and this is when youngsters like Evans must come in and show us what they are worth. And apart from an almost catastrophic misunderstanding between Evans and Van Der Sar in the very first minute he didn't let us down. Surprisingly Fergie elected to play Scholes, Giggs and Gary Neville, this must have been the first time and it may well be the only time he does it this season. None of them let us down but Scholes was unsurprisingly the pick of the class of 92.
Tevez came in for Berbatov to partner Rooney with Giggs picked to play on the left with Ronaldo on the right. It was a surprise to see Giggs on the elft as Fergie has said he would play the rest of his career through the middle. Whilst Giggs didn't stand out at all he was the equal of Ronaldo who once again didn't turn up away from home. In fact Ronaldo's main contribution was to wind up his full back into getting him sent off. To say he is not the player of last season would be some understatement. I don't know if Nani is injured but if he is rated by Fergie you would have thought he would play over the christmas period.
Chances were few and far between the whole game, but fortunately for us Tevez who had been one of our underperformers on the day took his chance after a smart piece of play from the substitute Berbatov. I would like to see Welbeck given a game wide on the right over the next month either coming off the bench or in the starting line up. We know he is skillful, he has got pace, he is pretty good in the air and he scores goals. And that is what we have got to start doing in our remaining away games.

Rooney thinks he is in control
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/3997418/Wayne-Rooney-defends-his-conduct.html

Australian cricket woes continue as Steyn scores 76 for South Africa as he shares in a 9th wicket stand of 180
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/australia/3997288/Duminy-stuns-Australia.html

Ex Aussie captain Ian Chappell thinks Englad must have a good chance in next summers ashes series, pity they won't be playing at Old Trafford when they have such a good record over the last few summers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/3981824/England-will-never-have-a-better-chance-of-winning-back-the-Ashes.html

Britain falling behind in the rush for faster broadband access
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/dec/28/broadband-uk-ri-christmas-lectures

Will Hutton on the state of the British economy and the future of capitalism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/28/economy-banking

Maddoff may have hidden his ill gotten gains in offshore tax havens. Ironic and fitting that something they all use to hide their money and pay as little tax as possible should come back to bite them on the arse.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/28/bernard-madoff-fraud-investigation-offshore