Manchester United 2-1 Wolsburg

We ended up with the three points but we we had to work hard for them at the end. Not that we didn't deserve the three points, just with us not finishing off our moves with the same panache some of them had been created with, things had looked a little ropey when they took the lead. But that's six points out of six and hopefully we will get qualification out of the way as soon as possible.
After seeing the second half of the other game in our group in Moscow in the pub before the game you would have to say Wolsburg look like they will provide us with our strongest test away from home in this group.
Fergie showed he must have rated their front line as he picked what i would say is currently strongest defence with Ferdinand playing two games on the trot and O'Shea at right back. It will be interesting to see if Ferdinand plays on Saturday. The engine room in midfield was a bit second string as far as this season goes with the below par Carrick alongside the improving Anderson. With Giggs on the left, Valencia on the right and Owen coming in to partner Rooney it looked like a pretty attacking 4-4-2 line up, rare for Fergie nowadays in Europe. But it was a like for like as that is the way they won the Bundesliga last season, although they didn't particularly play like in this match.
Right from the start they made their intention known taking every chance to get forward and attack and they should probably have scored after a couple of minutes but for a very weak shot after some indesicive defending from United. United took there time to get into the game, and by the time they did Owen had already had to go off. The word is that he had a groin problem before the game so why he was started, i don't know. Anyway it worked to our advantage as Berbatov came on and gave his best performance so far this season. But for all the nice approach play we weren't quite creating the openings that i thought our creative play had deserved. When we did, either the goalie was in good form as a great save from Carrick showed or the linesman gave them the benefit of the doubt on the offside as he gave Rooney offside when he wasn't but O'Shea was.
The second half saw the game kept the same pattern as the last twenty five minutes of the first half. But their twin strike was always a threat and 10 minutes into the second half they managed to get the six foot Bosnian Dzeko against Evra at the back post in the air. Kusczcak had no chance with the header and we had a game on our hands. Thankfully, we didn't take long to equalise as Giggs saw his free kick take a big deflection and wrong foot the goalie just three minutes later. Now we saw United play their best football of the night which saw us start to create real chances. Giggs had a goal ruled out for offside that should have been given as it had hit two pair of Wolfsburg legs before reaching him in the box. With thirteen minutes left United hit the winner when Carrick finished off a move that saw three people have the chance to shoot before he eventually buried it. It was a nice goal and maybe it will boost his confidence. His was an improved performance but still nowhere near what he is capable off. The rest of the game was end to end with both sides having chances, Wolsburg having one chance where i have to say from where i sit i thought they had scored.
But our good start to the season continues and looks like the qualifying phase is not going to cause us too many upsets, unlike Liverpool who have a tough group to get out off after their defeat the night before. They won't even be in the hunt for honours this season with the defence they have got, great.

Owen injury not as bad as feared
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8286580.stm

Steve Bruce on Giggs the superstar
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/01/ryan-giggs-greatest-manchester-united-steve-bruce

Carrick happy at United, but not with his form, you would hope
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/carrick-content-to-bide-time-at-manchester-united-1796531.html

Berbatov admits first season not up to scratch
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footballleagues/premierleague/manutd/6253643/Manchester-United-striker-Dimitar-Berbatov-admits-to-failure-last-season.html
I think he has played reasonably well so far this season, but Wednesday we how we want to see him every game

Portsmouth in real trouble as Premier league prepares to take control,
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-ready-to-take-control-as-penniless-pompey-crash-1796230.html
this will be interesting

Johann Hari on the Tory plans for the BBC
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-if-we-care-about-the-bbc-we-must-fight-to-defend-it-1796270.html

I hope that BAE are prosecuted but i'm not holding my breath
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/bae-serious-fraud-office1

Strange times for Europe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/02/ireland-referendum-lisbon-treaty
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6857807.ece
As a pro European the last thing i want to see is a Prseident Blair, the prime minister was bad enough than you.

More ammunition, unfortunately for Umberto Bossi and the northern league
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/mafia-influence-hovers-over-italians