Everton 3-3 Manchester United

Well that was one of those draws that felt more like a defeat. I would have probably taken a point if you had offered it me before the game, but not like that. Two away game and four points needlessly dropped. They have been two of the harder games away from old trafford and we haven't played that well in either but in both we seemed like we had done the hard work only to blow it at the death.
I had a sneaking feeling that Fergiw wouldn't start with Rooney but i didn't epect him to leave him out altogether. But i was non plussed to read that O'Shea had been picked in central midfield. I'm not one of those reds who has no time for the Irishman, i think he is a good utility man and vital to the squad, a decent, but no more than that, full back. One thing he isn't though, is a central midfielder, or should i say he shouldn't be starting there. It's not exactly a vote of confidence in Darron Gibson, if Trappatoni did tell the press that he thought a move would be the best thing he could do for his career, it would be hard to disagree with him after yesterday. I'm not exactly a big fan of Gibson, but i would have stuck him in midfield before O'Shea.
United started slowly as Everton came out all guns blazing but after they had rode out the opening blitz where we could have easily conceded a goal, United started to put one or two nice moves going. Ironically enough it was O'Shea who came closest with a piledriver of a shot that had Howard beaten all ends up only to strike the outside of the post. Berbatov was up front on his own and was carrying on the imperious form he has shown so far this season. Giggs was the next man to come close but this time Howard forced a fine save as the Welshman bore down on him.
But then just five minutes from time and with United seemingly on top it was the home side who took the lead when a long ball was missed by Evra and and the Everton move finally finished off by Piennar to give them a one goal lead. I don't know whether Evra has been distracted by the French ban, but it has to be said he hasn't started the season that well. He should have stopped that ball from getting through to Arteta and looked a bit dodgy all afternoon.
Thankfully their lead didn't last long as a superb cross from Nani was sweetly vollied home by Fletcher with just two minutes to go to half time. We went in level at half time and it was the least that we had deserved.
We made a better start to the second half and poor Everton marking allowed Vidic to head home unmarked from another Nani cross. Without being brilliant United were now the better team and the third goal when it came was a peach. Our two in form players of the season combined as a beautifully weighted pass cut out Distin to put Berbatov through and he finished it superbly with the outside of his right foot. It seemed to me now that it was how many more goals we could get as they seemed down and out. And in fact Scholes did have a great chance but his finish was wild.
And then came that disastrous couple of minutes. When the first goal went in my initial reaction was that was a goal wiped out of our goal difference rather than they might actually go and equalise. Well United's defence turned out to be as complascent as my thinking had been when it went to sleep again to allow Arteta time to shoot from the edge of the box and score via a defelection off Scholes.
The day went from bad to worse when watching Preston on the Beeb and both our loanee's had to go off and i read this morning they are both having X-rays to see if they have broken ankles. The tackle on King was a disgrace.

Fergie said the decision to leave Rooney out of yesterday's squad was to save him from the terrible abuse he usually receives at Goodison. It's a fair enough that he left him out, but that is a pretty lame reason. Paul Hayward thinks Fergie was showing Rooney that everyone is expendable.

Paul Scholes was named as the premier league player of the month, Berbatov has probably run him as close as anybody.

The Indy reveals more murky goings on at the News of the world and at News International. Whilst yesterday it was alleged that MP's were warned the private lives would be investigated if they recalled Rebekah Brooks to thecross party comittee investigating the news of the world phone tapping affair.

Hopi Sen discusse the rich and their attitude to cuts

Robert Plan't new album Band of joy is reviewed in the Guardian and the song doesn't remain the same. His last two albums have been superb, so i'm looking forward to hearing this one.