That was more like it, the first half in particular was the best football we have seen from United in quite a while. Though Villa probably had their best moment and possibly their best chance in the very first minute, it ended with a tame shot straight at De Gea. United started at a higher tempo, Welbeck for one seemed to have whatever shackles had been on him removed, it makes a big difference to United when he plays well. The only thing missing from his game was any luck in front of goal until a minute from half time anyway. Every time he was in, a defender would make a great block or Given would make a fantastic save as when the cross from the right hit Welbeck more than Welbeck hit the ball.
Of course it always helps to get an early goal, and that we got through a contentious incident involving Ashley Young for the second week running. I haven't seen it again yet and even though it was right in front of me, i don't know whether it was or wasn't. I do know he went down like he had been shot which didn't look too good it has to be said. Rooney made no mistake and any nerves quickly dissipated as United looked for the second, attacking more fluently than we have seen in weeks. Scholes was in imperious form and hit a couple of long range shots from corners that reminded us of his real glory days.
For all United's pressure the second goal wouldn't come, until Villa switched off at the back as Evra attacked put in a cracking cross from the left low acroos the six yard box. It should have been cleared but the Villa defender Baker left the ball, probably fearing he'd score an own goal only to see it fall to Welbeck who made no mistake. Just what the doctor ordered a second goal before half time.
United slackened off for some reason at the beginning of the second half, when a quick third was surely the game plan to take players off and give Cleverley and Nani to name two some minutes on the pitch. I have been saying it for a bit, but even though Rooney has been amongst the goals, his actual play has been very in and out. Yesterday despite the two goals it was a lot more out than in, his first touch and passing got worse the longer the game went on. He nearly managed to make a mess of his second goal.
It was nice to see Nani back in the team and even though he wasn't at the top of his game, understandably, he still showed why he offers far more than Young on the left, cutting inside and taking his man on, on the outside. In the short time that he was on the pitch he put one on a plate for Berbatov who should have done better and then added the fourth in the dying minutes.
So we cut City's goal difference to a more tolerable level, but the big plus on the day for me was that we actually scored a few goals and that we created more chances than we have for quite a time. A performance like that next week against Everton should insure we got the boo camp with the five point lead intact and give us that nice little cushion. I won't tempt fate by mentioning what else it means.
Fergie admits that Ashley young overdid the fall but is adamant that it was a penalty. He was none too pleased with Rooney's performance and said that Rooney needs to play on the edge, well he should be up for the day out at the council house then.
Meanwhile Fergie is already planning ahead for next season and he has told Fabio that he needs regular football next season and is sending him out on loan to make sure that this happens. The Telegraph report that it will be for one season at Benfica as part of a transfer deal that will see Macheda also go to Lisbon and see Gaitan come to United. The part about Fabio going there makes sense with him speaking Portugese, but as to the Gaitan part who knows, it's been reported and rubbished too many times to be sure what's going on there. I will say from what little i have seen off him, i like him and would welcome the move if true.
'
Weekend reports that the Glazer's Singapore IPO is to be re-launched this summer are wide of the mark according to a gimps spokesman the MEN claim today.
Lancashire didn't have the best start to the defence of their county championship title, the ten wicket defeat was a bit of a mauling to say the least.
Larry Elliott writes that the Eurzone single currency has arrived at a three pronged fork in the road.
Reuters Nick Edwards claims that China's weekend currency reforms means that fears of a hard landing for the Chinese economy can be discounted. Will Hutton isn't as sanguine about the long term prospects for the Chinese state never mind the economy warning, beyond the scandal lies a crisis at the heart of China's legitimacy.
Of course it always helps to get an early goal, and that we got through a contentious incident involving Ashley Young for the second week running. I haven't seen it again yet and even though it was right in front of me, i don't know whether it was or wasn't. I do know he went down like he had been shot which didn't look too good it has to be said. Rooney made no mistake and any nerves quickly dissipated as United looked for the second, attacking more fluently than we have seen in weeks. Scholes was in imperious form and hit a couple of long range shots from corners that reminded us of his real glory days.
For all United's pressure the second goal wouldn't come, until Villa switched off at the back as Evra attacked put in a cracking cross from the left low acroos the six yard box. It should have been cleared but the Villa defender Baker left the ball, probably fearing he'd score an own goal only to see it fall to Welbeck who made no mistake. Just what the doctor ordered a second goal before half time.
United slackened off for some reason at the beginning of the second half, when a quick third was surely the game plan to take players off and give Cleverley and Nani to name two some minutes on the pitch. I have been saying it for a bit, but even though Rooney has been amongst the goals, his actual play has been very in and out. Yesterday despite the two goals it was a lot more out than in, his first touch and passing got worse the longer the game went on. He nearly managed to make a mess of his second goal.
It was nice to see Nani back in the team and even though he wasn't at the top of his game, understandably, he still showed why he offers far more than Young on the left, cutting inside and taking his man on, on the outside. In the short time that he was on the pitch he put one on a plate for Berbatov who should have done better and then added the fourth in the dying minutes.
So we cut City's goal difference to a more tolerable level, but the big plus on the day for me was that we actually scored a few goals and that we created more chances than we have for quite a time. A performance like that next week against Everton should insure we got the boo camp with the five point lead intact and give us that nice little cushion. I won't tempt fate by mentioning what else it means.
Fergie admits that Ashley young overdid the fall but is adamant that it was a penalty. He was none too pleased with Rooney's performance and said that Rooney needs to play on the edge, well he should be up for the day out at the council house then.
Meanwhile Fergie is already planning ahead for next season and he has told Fabio that he needs regular football next season and is sending him out on loan to make sure that this happens. The Telegraph report that it will be for one season at Benfica as part of a transfer deal that will see Macheda also go to Lisbon and see Gaitan come to United. The part about Fabio going there makes sense with him speaking Portugese, but as to the Gaitan part who knows, it's been reported and rubbished too many times to be sure what's going on there. I will say from what little i have seen off him, i like him and would welcome the move if true.
'
Weekend reports that the Glazer's Singapore IPO is to be re-launched this summer are wide of the mark according to a gimps spokesman the MEN claim today.
Lancashire didn't have the best start to the defence of their county championship title, the ten wicket defeat was a bit of a mauling to say the least.
Larry Elliott writes that the Eurzone single currency has arrived at a three pronged fork in the road.
Reuters Nick Edwards claims that China's weekend currency reforms means that fears of a hard landing for the Chinese economy can be discounted. Will Hutton isn't as sanguine about the long term prospects for the Chinese state never mind the economy warning, beyond the scandal lies a crisis at the heart of China's legitimacy.
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