Manchester United 1-0 Wigan

It wasn't a vintage performance, and it came at a cost but the 3 points were just as vital as Sunday's. A year ago who could have predicted that Giggs and Fletcher would be the first choice pairing against Chelsea and that Scholes and Carrick would be in the role the following Wednesday at home to Wigan. I think even fewer people would have guessed that the former combination would put in the better performance. Rafael came in for Nevillewhilst Nani was chosen on the left ahead of Park with Rooney and Berbatov carrying on up front.
It took just one minute for United to open up the visitors defence as a fine move ended with Ronaldo crossing for Rooney to score. I had hoped before the game that we might get a few and close the goal difference even more and after that start it looked on the cards. The away sides defending wasn't the greatest for the goal but that was the last time that United's forwards had an easy time of it. Unfortunately for United Rooney disappeared of the pitch almost completely unoticed by a lot of us and that was the end of his night. Not great news as the rest of the performance showed how we miss him and to have lost him and Evra over the last two matches and who knows how long we have lost Ferdinand for means we probably won't be seeing too much football that pleases the eye over the next few games.
I was surprised by Wigan's approach to the game as they lost no chance to get forward and yet worked extremely hard to close us down when they hadn't got it. But you have to hand it to them it worked up to a point. They did manage to get in reasonable positions once or twice in the match but were never able to produce a finish to trouble Van Der Sar. But they made it very hard for United to get any rhythm and the only real chance of note for the rest of the half came when Tevez was put clean through but his touch was poor as he took it round Kirkland and the defender was able to get back to force the ball out for a corner. Nani was Nani i'm afaraid one good moment followed by two bad ones and it didn't help our attacking prowess. Ronaldo wasn't on top form either it has to be said, Berbatov was the pick of the forwards on the night. Man of the match was easily Vidic who has had two stromers in a row and has helped Evans out massively in the process.
Decent chances were few and far between in the second half, Wigan were gifted a half chance after a bad throw form Van Der Sar but Figuero's shot went straight back into the big Dutch keepers hands. United's best chance of the second half fell to Berbatov who was just wide with his effort. Ronaldo had a couple of speculative shots that didn't trouble the goalie but United were just glad to get to the final whistle with 3 points that meant that we are now second above Chelsea and if we win on Saturday will go top for the first time this season if only for a couple of nights. Who knows maybe Everton will do us a favour on Monday night, let's face it they will be as desperate as us to stop them winning the title.

Rooney out for 3 weeks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7829836.stm

Fergie thinks Berbatov is settling in nicely
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/4248918/Best-of-Berbatov-is-still-to-come-says-Sir-Alex-Ferguson.html


Henry Winter on the massive clubs pursuit of Kaka
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/4238977/Kaka-cant-be-Manchester-Citys-enforcer.html
I don't want them to get him obviously but i wouldn't be devastated if he was nuts enough to accept the money and go to a club that would extend his champions league less years to at least three. It looks for all their talk of letting the manager get on with the job and of not knowing that much about football they will be as clueless as we could have hoped about what it takes to build a football team and club. If there is anything in this report in the Guardian the comedy club won't have stopped making us yet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/15/kaka-robinho-manchester-city-milan

James Lawton's take on the transfer
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-clueless-city-failing-to-pay-heed-to-the-first-rule-of-team-building-1366479.html