Fulham 2-2 Manchester United

Well that wasn't supposed to be in the script, it's us that score in the last minute. To be honest i wasn't expecting an easy game, there was no way we were scoring six, that's for sure. I did expect us to win though, so yesterday, was disappointing.
There wasn't too much wrong with the team selected, once we learnt that Rooney hadn't travelled with the squad. I would have picked Hernandez over Owen and i would have played 4-4-2 though i would have preferred Cleverley over Park. I'm a bit disappointed that Cleverley has not even got on the bench yet. He is the type of player i would have thought you would really want on the bench, someone who has goals in him.
United started well enough and the opening goal was just pure class, and Vintage Paul Scholes. How many times have we seen him do that, i don't think it was a planned corner, it would have been perfection if it had of been. The one disappointment of the first half was the lack of link up play between Berbatov and Hernandez. In pre-season they had seemed to have hit a good rapport, linking up and seeming to read each others runs. But yesterday it was non existant. After the giddiness of our reaction to his displays in pre-season Hernandez's first two appearances in the premier league have been a bit of a reality check. Berbatov looked good again though, he has really started the season well.
Fulham weren't playing badly themselves but they weren't creating much end product until Van Der Sar was forced into making a brilliant double save from Etuhu. But United went into the half time break with a deserved one goal lead.
The second half was a much more even contest, Fergie said after the game that Fulham had the better of the second half. I think that would be going a bit too far, but they were at least the equal of us. There couldn't really be any complaints when they equalised through Simon Davies though Evra may not be too happy with the way he was beaten by Duff who fed Zamorra to cross for Davies. I think Zamorra is a good player and Fergie was right, he did cause us problems in the second half.
The way the match progressed after that, as good a game as we got, i just couldn't see us getting a second and when it did come, unsurprisingly it was an own goal. When we were gifted the penalty with just four minutes to go it seemed all over. But i suppose justice was done when the goalie saved it because i would have been livid if that had been given against us. Still the three points seemed to be ours until Hangeland popped up in the last minute to make up for his own goal when he rose highest to head home from the corner. I don't know if a fit Ferdinand would have been able to stop that, but it has to be admitted our defence isn't as strong nowadays .
So you can look at it as two points dropped, but after the last two seasons, maybe it was a point gained. If Fulham play like that against the Chelsea's of this world it may come to be seen as a good point.


Fergie admits that United didn't deserve to win and Fulham fully deserved the last minute equaliser.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/22/fulham-manchester-united

Vidic isn't a happy bunny atthe last minute equaliser.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1305354/Nemanja-Vidic-Manchester-United-improve.html

Ferguson admits that Anderson wanted to quit United last season.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/7957603/Anderson-nearly-quit-Manchester-United-says-Sir-Alex-Ferguson.html

It would seem he is in trouble for not talking to the BBC after the game.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1305363/Premier-League-discuss-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-sanctions-fresh-BBC-snub.html

United have upset Ajax with the poaching of their youngster Van Velzen. I have to admit this kind of thing doesn't really sit right with me. I can't remember who proposed that young players should not be allowed to move until they are 18, but i thought that was a fair and sensible proposal.
Though after watching Ajax on Saturday night i can see why he would want to come to United. The standard of play was not very high, i'm afraid.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/22/manchester-united-gyliano-van-velzen

Is Clegg's situation starting to get serious wonders Nigel Morris in the Independent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/remember-whose-side-youre-on-clegg-warned-by-allies-2059351.html

Sholto Byrnes gives 10 reasons why he thinks Charles Kennedy should not defect to the Labour party.
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/08/labour-party-kennedy-lib-iraq

Larry Elliot with an interesting piece on the end of the American century.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/aug/23/us-economy-unemployment-property-market

Mary Ann Sieghart asks where is the coalition's economic plan B
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mary-ann-sieghart/mary-ann-sieghart-cuts-are-one-thing-revenue-another-2059380.html

Ryan Adams and the cardinals