Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

I had been feeling pretty positive before this game thinking that our outstanding home form and the two champions league victories over the rent boys augured well. But even i wasn't dreaming we would put on such a storming performance, how we only managed to win by the single goal is still baffling me this morning, that scoreline was a travesty. If we had won 4-0 Chelsea could have had no complaints.
The line up was as expected, with the exception of the absence of Evra at left back. And the reason why Fergie didn't flood the midfield and play safe was answered after just 36 seconds as Park put Hernandez through and the Mexican made no mistake. Old trafford went wild, as that 19th, that special 19th got that little bit nearer.
The early goal was no fluke either as United really ripped into that Chelsea defence and when the second came via Giggs rolling back the years on the left hand side and Vidic providing the coup de grace it was no more than we deserved. Chelsea had a couple of half chances and Van Der Sar made one outstanding save but we were well and truly worth a two goal lead going into the interval.
The vistors came back into it a bit in the second half as at first United tried to play the killer ball a bit too often and ended up giving Chelsea enough possession for the away team to mount a little sustained pressure. But the fact that Chelsea had to try and chase the game left them susceptible at the back and with Park and Valencia both on top form the chances started to come for Hernandez and Rooney. We really should have had a third before the consolation goal scored by Lampard that gave them a little hope. But that just seemed to spur United even more as we threatened to score almost every time was counter attacked. It didn't seem to be Rooney's day in front of goal, on another day he might have had a hatrick. But when the final whistle went it mattered not a jot. That 19th title, hopefully gained next week ahead of the berties big day, is going to be so so sweet.
It wasn't really the day for picking players out because they were all absolutley outstanding, even the subs as Jonny Evans did a sterling job when he replaced O'Shea at left back at half time. But Park, Valencia and Vidic were magnificent and how on earth are we going to replace Giggs when the dreaded time comes for him to hang up his boots.

The BBC 's Phil McNulty feels that this title belongs to Fergie as much as it does to the players as he has expertly guided a less than stellar squad to another title. After yesterday's performance that sounds a little churlish, but then you think of last week and you realise that there is something in that. Daniel Taylor writes of Fergie basking in the euphoria of that 19th title and also writes correctly that you can't contrive an atmosphere as yesterday's scenes reminded him why Bobby Charlton had described Old trafford as the theatre of dreams.
James Lawton describes how United, once again, delivered when it mattered most and marvels at the extraordinary self belief installed by the man at the top.

Fergie admits that when he spoke of knocking Liverpool off their perch he never believed he would be standing there needing just one more point from two games away from making it 19 titles and making United the most successful domestic club in the country. Alan Hansen describes the pain that will be felt at Anfield at watching yesterday's events, i typed that with an enormous smile on my face, can't think why.
I love this picture of Ferdinand and Van Der Sar at the final whistle yesterday.

Dwight Yorke, king of pornography, believes Fergie wil go on and on, he knows nothing else and is still the master. Merseyside won't like reading that either. Denis Law is no fan of Mourinho and believes that the United faithful wouldn't put up with his style of football. I know where he is coming from and agree that Mourinho is not a "United style manager", but i'm not sure that half the glory hunting day tripper type fans we have nowadays would understand that.

I thought this was quite a good article from Alistair Campbell on the recent drama United about the events of the Munich air disaster. And it toally agree, that whilst it may well have been factually inaccurate at times, the overall tone of it was excellent and evoked the events superbly.

The tributes have flooded in for Seve over the weekend, Ian Ladyman reveals why we all loved Seve. Sam Torrance describes why he was an inspiration for all, whilst James Lawton talks of his fierce commitment. Compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal said no tribute could do justice to all he has done for us and golf. Colin Montgomerie spoke of him being golf's Muhammad Ali, Senna and Pele.