Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City

At last United gave the derby the importance we fans attach to it, though given the circumstances there wasn't much chance they wouldn't. You could argue leaving Rooney out was taking it too lightly but when you remember the work he had put in at the Emirates and the fact they had said he was ill before the game then i thought that it was fair enough. And to be honest when he came in the second half he didn't quite look himself. The pairing of Berbatov and Tevez looked to be good enough to me and Fletcher paired by Giggs had a nice look about it. The omision of Ferdinand wasn't a big surprise, i would think he will be nursed through to the final in Rome now the league has virtually been won.
United started well but the game settled into a reasonably even affair, possession wise, for the first 20 minutes or so. Though saying that, City never really threatened Van Der Sar's goal, whereas Park went close for United and Ronaldo was given the opportunity to hit a couple of free kicks from distance. But when Ireland brought Berbatov down just outside the box he made no mistake this time. It took a slight deflection and wrong footed Given to go in off the post. From here United took control of the half and Tevez hit the post with a magnificent right footed shot. But the does he want away or doesn't he, made sure right on the stroke of half time after a brilliant piece of first time control from Berbatov saw him set Tevez up and he hit his right foot shot in off the post to send us in with a comfortable 2 goal cushion at half time.
The second half was a pretty forgettable affair as United settled to save their legs for Wednesday and City weren't able to seriously threaten the United goal apart from one great chance that Robinho criminally couldn't hit the target with at the start of the second half. And a great left foot shot from the one City player i would have at United tomorrow, Petrov, near the end of the game that was thwarted through a great flying save from Van Der Sar. The only real talking point was the reaction of Ronaldo to getting taken off with half an hour to go.. My take on it was that he was upset because he thought he might get another goal or even 2. I am afraid that is why he has not been and never will be as loved as the Eric's or Ole's of this world. At the end of the day he can give interviews bigging up the team performance but we all know all he is really thinking about is himself. I thought he looked a bit leggy in the first half so it seemed a sensible decision to me. I can't deny we would miss him as a player but i wouldn't miss anything else about him i'm afraid. When you look at what happened to Fletcher and then his reaction to it last week, can you just imagine what Ronaldo's reaction would have been, Gascoigne times 10 probably.

Fergie refuses to talk about Tevez's future
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8042344.stm

Fletcher definitely out of the final. To be honest and hard headed, with both Barca's players both out as well this must suit us really.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8037362.stm

A Guardian interview with Eric the king and director Ken Loach
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/09/looking-for-eric-cantona-ken-loach

The dream final according to the Spanish press
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2009/may/07/champions-league-final-barcelona-manchester-united

How long will Ronaldo get away with his rampant ego
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/markogden/blog/2009/05/11/ronaldo_lucky_to_escape_the_beckham_treatment

Will Hutton's latest column
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/10/green-shoots-economy-recession-intervention