West Brom 1-2 Manchester United

If United end up winning the title this season, it will probably be the most uninspired title triumph under Fergie's reign. Our away form is truly woeful. Under Di Matteo, the baggies have toughened up their act and aren't a bad side, still trying to play attractive football, but grinding out results as well. But still, they are nothing out of the ordinary. So for United's midfield to be so thoroughly out played for the most part of the ninety minutes was pretty unforgivable.
Most United fans were concerned about our midfield in the summer and were hoping that if the Glazer's were going to cough up any money to Fergie that is where it would go. And all we got was Bebe, which was unbelievable at the time and still is. The midfield were truly awful yesterday, to not be able to go to West Brom and at least hold our own with a 4-4-2 says it all. It didn't make much difference when Fergie changed the formation to 4-3-3, if your passing and first touch is as poor as United's was for the most part yesterday it doesn't matter what formation you play.
Before the game i had thought that this was a big game for Obertan. With our dearth of wide players with Nani still out, Valencia still a couple of months away from returning and Park away with South Korea this was his big chance to show Fergie he could do a job for him. It would also be a chance for him to show Fergie he doesn't need to bring Cleverley back from his loan spell at Wigan. He blew it, i'm afraid he just doesn't seem cut out for United, he has all the skill in the world, but doesn't have the character, he just doesn't seem to want it enough. Yesterday must have surely told Fergie that it is time to bring Cleverley back, there is no doubting his character.
I suppose the one big plus was the form of Rooney yesterday, only he and Vidic played anywhere near their normal game yesterday. I just hope the injury that Rooney sustained near the end isn't going to keep him out of next weeks 3rd round tie against the dippers.
Even after the dream start of taking the lead after three minutes it was plain that United were going to struggle as we hardly created a thing in open play. And when they equalised with that screamer from Morrison i feared this might be one of those days. We are really mising Scholes at the moment, none of our midfield distinguished themselves with Carrick and Fletcher having off days and Anderson anonymous, we struggled all game to build up any pressure.
The one time we did manage to keep possession in the second half we managed to get the winner as the home team went to sleep and left Hernandez unmarked in the six yard box from a corner and paid the price as he did what he does, and buried the header into the back of the net. I couldn't have seen us coming away with all three points if Odemwingie had converted his earlier penalty chance, what a gift hat was for us.
If we are going to push on for that 19th title we have really got to get our act away from home. That game at Spurs is going to be a big test, if we put in the kind of performance we saw yesterday, they are capable of giving us the drubbing which our poor away form will eventually lead us to.

Ferdinand was honest enough to admit we weren't at our best but claims these are the type of results where titles are won. Ferguson described Rooney's performance as out of this world after the game, he was good, but not that good.

Rooney tells MUTV that he was wrong to challenge Fergie and seek assurances but denies that he would have ever have moved to the bitters. Not that everyone neccessarily belives him. Meanwhile Fergie has finally decided to let Macheda go out on loan, citing the experience of Wellbeck and his dramatic improvement at Sunderland as the reason why this will be a good idea for the young Italian. He needs to go to a club in this country, for me anyway, if he went back to Italy i could see another Pique or Rossi situation arising.

Fergie spat the dummy out over Preston's sacking of his son at the expense of the three youngsters. If it is true that all three would rather have stayed there and were enjoying the experience then he has gone way over the top. Their football education should have come before family vengence.

If you ever wondered where your hard earned season ticket money went apart from lining the pockets of players and agents Bryan Glazer has given us a glimpse, Sickening.

Shane Warne thinks patience and planning are the key to the future of Australian cricket and whilst James Lawton salutes Englands ashes success he is wise enough to acknowledge that test cricket needs a strong Australian test side.
Kevin Pietersen's ego gets the better of him as he suggests his rebellion that saw him lose the captaincy and Peter Moores lose the job of England coach were key moments in the forging of the present England set up under Strauss and Andy Flower. He may be right, but he could have left it for a biography in the future. Meanwhile Moores has only praise for the current England set up and in particularly for the improvement in Jimmy Anderson, who he suggests is on the way to becoming the best bowler in the world.

Peter Oborne predicts that the middle east is an issue with the capabilty to tear the coalition apart. James Forsyth looks at the House of lords and constitional reform as another coalition breaker, which Oborne claims is dangerous. Nick Cohen looks at the referendum on AV and predicts it's biggest weakness will be its own supporters, i can't really argue with that. I support proportional representation, which this isn't, and i don't know whether i will vote for AV or not.

Martin Kettle looks at the wisdom of Harold Macmillan and the lessons he carries for Cameron.

The New Statesman reports that Ofcom will propose a six month investigation of Murdoch's BSkyB bid by the competition commission. Could this be a coalition breaker?

The Chinese make Sype amongst other things illegal, weird.