Manchester United 3-0 Wolves

Most of the talk in the papers after this match were about McCarthy resting the ten oufield players who had gained the surprise victory at white hart lane on Saturday. It has to be said it was a piece of good fortune for us as we coasted to the three points without playing particularly well. But if Wolves get a result against Burnley he would have done the right thing for Wolves as far as i am concerened. I am not that sure their first choice eleven would have done that much better against us from what i have seen of them this season anyway and perhaps that is what he thought.
United started with another patched up defence with De Laet coming in at right back and having a decent game. Carrick dropped back to centre half again as Wes Brown was missing but at least he had Vidic alongside him this time. Well for an hour before Vidic went off anyway. Scholes came back into central midfield as did ex ex Wolves loanee Gibson. Berbatov started up front alongside Rooney whilst Obertan came in for Park.
United started off in reasonable form with some reasonable chances, Rooney's one on one with Hahnneman being the best. But for some reason about half way into the half they went right off the boil and the penalty came along at just the right time. It was a really soft penalty to give away and Rooney did not waste the chance blasting it right into the roof off the net. United clicked into form again with Obertan looking far more useful going forward than Park has. De Laet got forward at right back to good efect a couple of times and Evra was his excellent self. The second goal just before half time was a real bonus with Vidic meeting Gibson's corner so powerfully Hahnneman couldn't keep out. Obertan had one great run towards the end of the half where he cut in and should have probably set up Rooney in the centre of the penalty area but chose to shoot instead without hitting the target. Rooney wasn't a happy bunny but i don't mind Obertan being greedy now and then. It's better to have players who are happy to shoot that those who are always looking to offload the responsibilty. Let's hope it will be a case of just like a young Ronaldo the more he plays the more he will pick the right option. Let's face it three years into Nani's united career he is still nowhere nearer to knowing the right ball than on his first game. It also took Ronaldo three seasons before we saw the finished product so here's hoping.
The second half was a stroll in the park really as United didn't really go looking to kill them off. United did have chances but they didn't really push the boat out for more goals. Vidic came off after an hour for Fletcher to come on at right back with De Laet going to centre half. I hope it was precautionary because this defensive injury problem is going to cost us if we don't get men back. Saying that De Laet looked more convincing at centre half to me than he has at right back and as Fergie said after the game that is his natural position. Five minutes later the best move of the night saw a superbly inventive flick from Berbatov find Valencia burst into the box and despatch with the outside of his right foot to make it 3-0. Berbatov has been coming for some stick again but he showed some class touches on Tuesday. Granted he isn't showing enough but yet again it has been a stop start season for him. I had thought when he had a good run of matches at the start of the season he had started to look the real deal so it would be nice for him to get a run of games. He offers more to United than Owen so i can see him getting that run of games. We are not in the business of getting Owen to the world cup we are in the business of Manchester United trying to win trophies.
Owen came on for Rooney who as usual was reluctant to go off, i suspect because he thought he might be in for more goals but it was the right decision with Fulham away on Saturday. Welbeck came on for Obertan and had a handful of chances but almost invarably hit every shot straight at the keeper. So no more goals were scored but i would have been more than happy with three before the game so despite the missed chances i was happy enough.

Fedinand thinks his reappearance isn't far away and hopeful his injury problems are behind him. If we are going to have a chance of a third European final we are going to need him back and fit. Not patched up as he obviously was against Barca in Rome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8418152.stm

A great column by Jonathan Wilson on the tactical changes that Ferguson initiated at the beginning of this decade after the home defeat to Real in the champions league quater final in 2000. The one charge that is always laid against Ferguson is that he is a great manager, as in man management but no tactician. Not long ago i read Wlison's book about the history of football tactics and right at the end of the book he alluded to this but in just a paragraph or two. So this was very interesting. It is a brilliant book by the way.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/dec/17/the-question-football-tactics-noughties
What can't be denied is that we had to endure some pretty awful football on the way to the promised land of the last three seasons. And in my opinion it was Ronaldo that made it work. We haven't looked the same team when we have played with this formation this season. Or should i say when we have played the formation at home against teams prepared to get men behind the ball and counter us on the break.

Rory Smith in the Telegraph on the English hypocrisy as far as diving in football goes. I can't argue with that, Rooney's dive against Villa was embarrasing and the only people seemingly not have noted Gerrard's propensity to fall over in the box sit and get paid to analyse football on the TV.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rorysmith/100004421/hypocrisy-on-diving-is-english-footballs-downfall/

Are Liverpool's debt ridden owners going to get some new investors
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6820120/Liverpool-co-owners-George-Gillett-and-Tom-Hicks-to-gain-124m-from-potential-share-deal.html

Jonathan Pearce joins in the accolades for Giggs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8413846.stm

Who rattled her cage, Wenger attacks McCarthy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/17/arsene-wenger-mick-mccarthy-wolves

Julian Baggini on the fairy tale monarchy. I'm a republican but i can't understand why monarchists don't try putting a stop to Charles meddling. He is abigger threat to the monarchy that all the republicans in the country put together.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/15/fairytale-farce-monarchy-royal