Barnsley 0-2 Manchester United

A pretty encouraging performance by our Carling cup team, it's a pity about the Neville sending off as that meant Fergie wasn't able to give Josh King a run out for the last 15 minutes. But we got a frist glimpse of Obertan in the first team and he certainly showed a lot of potential. Welbeck gave the performance in the first team that he has been capable of. Macheda and the Da Silva's did ok and we got the result, so it was a pretty good night.
The team looked pretty good on paper the only surprise being Rafael in central midfield. I say surprise, but i wouldn't be that surprised if neither him or his brother end up at full back to be honest. He did ok without really standing out, but he has good energy and he could end up being a decent option there.The game got off to a flying start for us as we scored from a corner after just 6 minutes. It was a pretty soft goal from Barnsley's point of view but Welbeck still had to put it in and that he did easily. Welbeck's record of goals scored from games played is more than decent for his age if you look at it. And he is definitely a big part of the future at United. He had a good first half and should hace done better with a chance shortly after when he shot straight at the goalie when he could have crossed for Owen. I can't blame him for having a go, after that brilliant first touch he was entitled to. But if he wasn't going to cross he should have hit it across the goalie as he did against Derby last year. He didn't link up as well with Macheda as he might have done but that was the fault of the pair of them as they both held onto it at times when they should have passed. But that is what these games are for, to learn their craft, before they hopefully become first squad regualars.
The other big plus point of the night was Obertan. He has come straight into the team and almost straight away looks a proper United player. He has a good first touch, pace, a good appreciation of his fellow players, an eye for a pass and the abilty to play the obvious pass that somehow eludes Nani. He was very promising indeed and if the future was him on one wing and Valencia on the other and they both live up to their potential we will see some exciting football. Worrying times for Nani i would think if he would like his future to be at Old Trafford.
Barnsley did come back at us in the first half and did have a few chances but mainly from corners. Considering the size of the side i suppose that shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.
The second half saw Barnsley come much more into it as the match became end to end.
Welbeck had to go off a few minutes into the second half with an injury and was replaced by Tosic on the left. Almost immediately he saw a shot go agonisingly wide after a great shot.
Owen then produced the moment of the match as he turned and beat a couple of defenders before hitting an early shot into the corner of the net to put us two up.
It looked like the rest of the night was going to be pretty easy until Gary Neville was sent off. I thought he was unlucky, even if he did follow through he didn't do it with much venom and he didn't hurt him. I thought it warranted a yellow at the most, but maybe we aren't going to get too much from ref's in the " current climate". Barnsley had a bit of a go at us now but due to some decent instinctive saves from Foster and some dodgy finishing from Barnsley we ended up with the two goal vitory.

FA to launch probe into crowd trouble
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8329580.stm

Oliver Holt is worried about the Glazers and the debt
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/oliver-holt/Beware-Manchester-United-fans-the-Glazers-are-happy-to-pass-the-buck-article202663.html
We are all worried about the debt, but i don't mind us buying players with potential and seeing them come on. After all that is what we did with Ronaldo. My problem with the debt is that is us poor fans that will end up paying for that debt as we are asked to buy ever dearer season tickets in a deteriorating economic climate. When proper United fans will get priced out of watching the club they love as has been happening since they appeared on the scene.

The Mirror appear to have forgot about the credit crunch and our debt with a story that is crap.
£40 million for the pair of them? Villa will probably cost that on his own and i still think he will end up at Barca or Real. Benzema hasn't been setting the world alight at Real, i never thought he was worth the money that they paid Lyon for him.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-United-close-in-on-50m-Spanish-transfer-targets-article202703.html

Nationalised banks to be broken up as Labour starts to get raidical, or is being pushed into by Europe.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/government-to-break-up-the-banks-1810494.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/sean-ogrady-first-the-16312-trillion-bailout-now-its-payback-time-1810497.html