Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United

Though 0-0 is never a result to be sniffed at, and I would have took it before the game started, it ended up being a fairly disappointing day. You could look at Chelsea and City's results and say it wasn't too bad, but you can also look at it as a lost opportunity.
Whatever the result was, I didn't want to hear Van Gaal use the Christmas schedule as an excuse, but to an extent, he did, he couldn't stop himself. A lot of United fans seemed to rejoice when they saw an unchanged line, I wasn't sure why, if ever there was a day you didn't want to see that, it was yesterday. It seemed that maybe he had got things right as United followed the pattern of the Newcastle game by playing as well as we had all season in the first half. It wasn't perfect by any means, we still looked dodgy and far too open at the back. But we seemed to control the game for large parts and to create chances, not something we have managed too often, if ever away from home. It was certainly a far cry from the appalling performances at Arsenal and Southampton.
United managed to control the game in the middle whilst using the width of the full backs well, but it was only down the left hand side where we saw any kind of decent service into the box. Young continued on with his good form, Valencia meanwhile seemed to go into his shell, both of them usually had two men to beat, only Young had the confidence to attempt and  for a reasonable proportion of the time to achieve it. Mata had as good a game as he has had in an away game all season.
We really should have gone into the break at least a goal up, yes they had a couple of chances, but United had five or six guilt edged opportunities. Rooney's first touch let him down whilst clear through leading to him not even getting a shot away. Mata hit the post and Van Persie was unable to follow it up. Then Van Persie was put through into a one on one with the goalie, took a sublime first touch but managed to let Lloris make a fine save, when he probably should have buried it. Finally Falcao had two or three good opportunities, but looked miles off the pace with generally weak finishes. I don't get what some United fans seem to see in him, judge the player on his performances now, not on what he has done in the past. I refuse to believe James Wilson wouldn't have buried one of the chances the Colombian was presented with. It'll be interesting to see whether Van Gaal continues to give Falcao the extended run he seems to be giving him at Stoke on New Years day, in what will surely be a tough game.
And then we came to the second half, Tottenham started stronger pressing us where they had sat back in the first half. United never really deal that well with teams that do that. Couple that with United running out of legs and even though United passed up a couple of reasonable, if not quite as clear cut chances, the game ended with United holding on against the home team.
Van Gaal's substitutions didn't really help us get control of the game back, he's very hit and miss, for me in that regard. If you look at it logically, starting with McNair in an away game this season has generally meant that you will have to take him off at some stage of the game, so you're basically losing one offensive replacement straight away. Alright you can't blame him for Evans abject performance, but the way our defenders get injured, losing a centre half was always a possibility. Whilst Valencia was poor, Rafael didn't really do that much better, though he did set up Mata up with a good chance from a miscued centre. There are times when you can see Van Gaal taking his time to adapt to English football, almost as much time as the players are, in getting used to him.
Anyway as I said you can't grumble too much a point at White hart lane, a win in the potteries would leave us with seven from nine points over Christmas and that would be a decent festive spell. A draw wouldn't be the end of the world, though I would be slightly disappointed with it. A defeat would undo a lot of our recent good work though. As for what I expect, ain't got a clue mate

Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United

Three points and a first half performance that was as good as we've seen al season. Yet I came away from the game feeling a little flat, the players seemed to feel it was job done at half time. Despite a fine third goal, United never really came out for the second half. The passing was lazy and minds semed to already be focused on tomorrow's game at White hart lane.
It felt a little like a lost opportunity to me, Newcastle weren't really up to much and it seemed a god chance to make our goal difference a little more impressive. Of course if we take the three points tomorow, then full marks to the players, they read the script correctly.
The first half saw United dominate possession, the passing and movement was as good as it's been all season. Young had another excellent game, he's our most consistent performer at present. I'm a big fan of Shaw, but the way Young has taken to the left wing back role I'm not really sure a case can be made for dropping the ex Villa man. He's probably our most creative player at present, that's not saying much for our midfield, it's took Rooney going back to produce any creativity back there, especially given Di Maria's absence. Mata ended up having a reasonably good game yesterday, but for the those first twenty minutes before we scored he was almost invisible, again. Playing in central midfield  and seeing the game played all around you, contributing almost nothing, is not really good enough. But then he dug out the ball to Falcao, who laid it into Rooney's feet for the opening goal. There is quality there, you just don't see it enough for my liking.
The second goal was an even better goal, a quality move and Rooney's finish, superb. Despite being involved in each of the first two goals, overall I wasn't that impressed with Falcao's performance, his first touch was prety shabby all afternoon. He had one or two nearly moments, but always seemed to be flying by the seat of his pants to me. In time honoured fashion, by the time Wilson came on, United had settled for the three goals, and the service to fresh striker was non existant, the same has happened to Falcao when he's been brought on as a sub. It can't be much fun coming on as attacking substitute at United at the moment.
It's not an aspect of our game that that I've much time for, it's hard to see this side ever really putting a side to the sword, you couldn't see this lot hitting six, seven or even eight.
The final goal was completely out of kilter with the half it was played in, a sublime pass from Rooney and a fine finish from Van Persie, it was a harder chance than he made it look. It was a shame about their consolation penalty, but if you take your foot of the gas, these things will happen.
As to tomorrow, who knows what will happen there. I've not been that impressed with Tottenham under their new manager so far, But United away and with three at the back, it's just fingers crosed time!

Caribou - Our Love: His most dance friendly album yet, which would probably put me off the record a little. Problem is, it's a bit of a minor masterpice. His best album  so far!

FKA Twigs - LP1: I'd read a fair bit about this album over the year, without really getting it. But prlomged exposure has really enabled me to

Horsebeach - Horsebeaf:  One of Piccadilly records album of theyear and even if it's home ground favouritism, it is a cracking old school indie guitar album.

Lay Llamas - Ostro: Another Kraurock/pyschedelia indie debut, it's definitely worth a listen, though not at the top end of the spectrum.

Royal Blood - Royal Blood:I'd read differering reviews and heard different views on this two man indie/rock  debut, well it workd for me, a bit of a belting record, Bass and drum rock duo, whatever next.

The 1975 - The 1975: A manchester debut from last year that I never got around to hearing, torn on this one. It is a decent album with some very radio friendly tunes, it's just not really my cup of tea, a bit too 80's and nice.

The Bug - Angels & Devils: Another cracking album, I don't really know what it's categorised as as, but it's pretty darned good.

Ty Segall - Manipulator: Can this guy do know wrong, unbelievabley prolific, Mojo thought this was his best album yet and I can see why. I'm not sure it's his best yet, but he hasn't done anything better, that's for sure. I was going to say he was my favourite rock/indie act of this decade, but  I listened to Queens of the stone age yesterday, still toss up, you'd take that!

Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United

The run had to come to an end at some time, I have to admit I didn't think Saturday would be the day it happened. Aston Villa aren't much of a side, and there would seem a lot more to the resignation of Roy Keane than has come out so far. Although on that score, I suppose the players could feel liberated, it's pretty obvious Keano hasn't got the people skills to ever make a success of management or even coaching. Nevertheless, they are the type of team we should be going away to and taking all three points, that's if we want to secure a top four berth, never mind challenge for the title.
Yet again, Van Gaal started with three at the back, and again sacrificed Carrick from the middle of the park to do so. Needless to say it didn't work. We had plenty of the ball, but hardly threatened to do anything with it. Fletcher was given a start due to the absence of Fellaini and the withdrawal of Herrera. I was always a fan of the Scotsman, but I'm afraid it's been obvious for a long time that the illness has had a big effect on him. He's miles away from being of the required standard required to be putting on the red shirt any more. It could be that he just isn't playing enough football, who can say, but he can't expect to get the run of games needed to prove or disprove that theory at United any longer.
Anyhow, Fletcher was just part of the problem. Though I suppose United dominating possession could have been seen as improvement after the last couple of away games, apart from a couple of decent chances United just didn't hurt Villa at the back. It had started out differently as Young, having another good game at left wing back, beat his man, on the outside, no less, put in a super low cross that Van Persie should have done far better with.
And then with almost their first foray into our half Villa were ahead. A free kick from the right eluded Evans and Benteke eventually managed to hit a screamer into the corner of the net. Evans has taken some stick for the goal, I don't particularly blame him for allowing Benteke for getting his shot away, but he should have done far better with his attempted header. He has played poorly all season, pre lay off and post lay off, and for all the criticism of Jones and Smalling, he is the one centre half that has really struggled with the three at the back. He hasn't got age on his side, he has always been a confidence player, but he's at an age where that has to be left behind. Time may be running out for him.
Thankfully Van Gaal dispensed with the three at the back at the beginning of the second half, bringing Blacket on for Fletcher, moving Carrick into midfield and reverting to a back four. The difference was immediate as United started to look threatening, as well as dominating the ball. The goal took it's time in coming, but when it did, you had the feeling it was only a matter of time before a second arrived. But then Van Gaal changed it again, hooking Van Persie and bringing on Di Maria, it didn't work. Later Wilson was brought on for Valencia, and it's fair to say that didn't really work either. In fact after the substitutions it was Villa amazingly who came closest to regaining the lead.
The equaliser was a fine goal, Young again beating his man on the left and whipping in a fine cross, which Falcao nodded home with a fine header. It was hard to judge the Columbian's performance as he hardly had any service. But I have to say I don't really get some reds adulation of him, he's not looked anything like the player he was at Athletico whilst he's been at the club. It's hard to shake the suspicion, that he's come back to soon from that knee operation and will never be that player again. For myself, I would sooner see Wilson starting, he's hopefully the future, whereas it's hard to envision Falcao being here at the start of next season.
It's hard to complain at the dropped points after the luck we have the luck we have enjoyed recently, we couldn't keep on scraping results from nowhere. Hopefully the players will now drop all talk of a title challenge and try and concentrate on actually putting in some proper performance's, I'm not holding my breath.

Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool

Fantastic result, crazy game. On another day it could just as easily have been 3-0 to them. After last seasons disaster at home to them, it was very, very enjoyable. We beat them 3-0 and the man of the match was our goalie, which kind of says it all.
Van Gaal seems hell bent on persisting with three at the back, it just makes me scratch me head in bafflement. Have we played well once playing that system, if we have, I must have missed it. Carrick was superb, Jones not far behind him and yet we still managed to concede so many chances. The amount of times Liverpool players ran straight through the middle of us was embarrassing. We started slowly, hardly creating a thing, until Valencia remembered how to take a man on, and then finding the correct pass for Rooney to fire home. A cracking goal, totally out of keeping with our performance up to that point. To be fair to the system, Valencia and Young both had decent games. The less said about Fellaini the better, he made a few decent challenges, but he is part of the problem not part of the answer.
Van Persie seems to be a man rejuvenated, though during the first half, he and Wilson were living on scraps. Rooney was decent without being anywhere near his best. There was an element of luck about the second goal, as Van Persie's glance on Young's cross played Mata offside, fortunately the linesman didn't spot it and they didn't complain.
The second half was we attack, you attack, fortunately we got that all important third. I say all important, as the way we conceded chances we needed that cushion. In fact Sterling really should have scored just a minute before United swept down the other end for Mata to tee up Van Persie for the third.
It was a pity United seemed to wind it down after that, a fourth would have a good way to send them home, a club in crisis, funny how the tables have turned since we played them at our place last season.

Favourites?

The biggest game of the season and of course the biggest of the season usually comes to town on Sunday. Whether it's well timed or not as far as United fans are concerned, I wouldn't like to say. Of course most reds see Liverpool's current woes and our spurt up the table on the back of five victories on the trot as the best possible time to play them. I'll reserve judgement on that.
It could be the best possible game for them to try and turn their season around, they will presumably go back to basics and fight hard, maybe they'll be happy with a point. As for us, five victories on the bounce is wildly out of sync with how the team have actually performed. Should have lost away to Arsenal, should have lost to Southampton and scraped the win against Stoke. I seriously, seriously hope Van Gaal's seemingly egotistical perseverance with three at the back is not the order of the day on Sunday. If it is, all bets are off.




Music
Brian Eno & Karl Hyde - High Life: Their second offering as a collaboration in the same year, it's as good if not better, lengthier, and more experimental, but rewarding. Hope there's more to come.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Creedence Clearwater Revival: Until recently the only album of their's I had heard was Cosomo's Factory, which i loved. I'm onto my third offering with this debut album, they were a really great group, time seems to have not really given them their due.

Goat - Commune: The follow up album to their brilliant debut is another fine record, if maybe not quite the explosive package of the previous offering.

Jenny Lewis - The Voyager: I really liked this, I like her main group Rilo Kiley, but solo affair has more of laurel canyon type California west coast vibe, good stuff.

Paqua - Akaliko: This is one of my favourite albums of the year, up there with the War on Drugs album. It's been described as disco flavoured, I'm not sure I really see that. Yes it has a groove, but there's a lot more to it than that.

Royksopp - The Inevitable End: The last long player that the Norwegian duo will release if the media are to believed. And it really is a long player, you more than get your money's worth, full of collaboration's it is an excellent way to go out.

The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger - Midnight Sun: Sean Lennon's latest project is possibly the best work of his career. I had a lot of time for his mid noughties album Friendly Fire, which had a fair amount of his dad in it, but it was a good indie/pop album. This one goes further out, yet is still pretty radio friendly, very good album.

Southampton 1-2 Manchester United

I didn't see the game live last night, so my reading of the game is probably not as objective as I'd like it to be. A few weeks ago I thought this might turn out to be as hard a game, if not harder than the trip to the Emirates. But after Southampton's dip in form after their defeats to Arsenal and City, I thought it might be a good time to be playing them.
None of that takes into account Van Gaal's, brave, bull headed, take your pick, decision to continue with the three at the back that saw us perform like a shapeless rabble during the first half at Arsenal. And guess what, they played as if it was the first time they had met each other again, and that was despite being gifted the opening goal, as a careless back pass from Southampton defender Fonte was received gratefully by Van Persie and dispatched beautifully by the Dutchman who had his best game in a long, long time. He was probably our player of the match, there wasn't much competition though, Young had another reasonable game, after that?
Another defensive injury, Smalling went off after ten minutes, didn't help, but seeing as though we kept the same shape, I don't think that can be much of an excuse. Individual mistakes, all over the shop, Mata was invisible, Fellaini was the Belgian we saw under Moyes, Rooney tried hard, but he had nothing around him, no support. Herrera came on, but was no better, as Carrick was pushed back to centre half. It was interesting to note that when Southampton got their equaliser, Carrick was the United player closest trying to close him down. Trouble was, he was still playing in midfield at the time, where were three centre halves?
I'm not sure the second half was that much of an improvement, going forward United created absolutely nothing. The back three were still dicing with death at the back and there were still numerous sloppy passes in the middle of the park. But Southampton couldn't make the most of it, and when they threatened to, they found De Gea still on top form.
So third spot, it doesn't seem to matter how badly we play at the moment, it's onwards and upwards. With Liverpool on Sunday, long may that continue. Oh for a proper United performance though.

Manchester United 2- Stoke City

One step forward, two steps back, with United at the moment, It's getting to the point where you don't know what to think, from one game to to the next. No Di Maria and even no Rooney, can't believe I tyrped that, and we turned into the nothing team of Moyes infamy.
And yet under Van Gaal we won, still not sure what that means, does it mean Van Gaal is a lucky manager and Moyes wasn't. There would be something in that, after watching that tonight, it was as poor as the crap we saw under Moyes. Seeing the team selected ahead of the game, you had to wonder where the vision was going to come from. Well after suffering that 90 minutes, and speaking as one who had started to come round to had started to believing Van Gaal had started to turn the corner, tonight had me lost.
We started reasonably enough, which I suppose is an improvement over the previous manager, but not the kind of standard that will have the top sides of Europe fretting about United any time soon. But the thing about English football is, the opposition will not roll over an die, whatever the rest of the right and wrongs of the rest of the premier league. Don't start me on the best league in the world, I haven't the foggiest.
The opening goal came out of nothing really, but credit to Fellaini, I thought he showed his limitations as a Utd player tonight, but it was a fantastic run and header for the opening goal. I'm Not sure it was really deserved for the play that had gone before. But saying that, you can't really say any more about Stoke's equalier, which itslef came out of nowhere. Fellaini lost the ball far too easily, showing he's not really United quality, which we already knew. It was a fantastic shot for the equaliser, but it should have never have been allowed to happen.
I can't say I was thrilled by our second half perforance or by Van Gaal's late, late substitutions. I couldn't see that winning goal coming, and when it did, it was a total freak really, happy freak obviously. But those late ten nail biting ten minutes were totally predictable and the answer to it was not to sit back and let it come. We got through it, but against a team of a better quality than Stoke and who knows!

Manchester United 3-0 Hull City

Given our record against Hull, this seemed to be a good time for this particular fixture to come around. Three victories on the bounce, four if we can Beat Stoke tomorrow night, was just what the doctor ordered after our indifferent start to the season. The sooner we can start to pull away from the teams immediately below us, the sooner I will start to believe that that all important top four spot and Champions league football next season is likely rather than possible.
I don't know what it is about United, but that 5-3 aside, Hull City have never really turned up at United. They seem to occasionally give the big boys a bit of fight, but they offered nothing last season and offered even less on Saturday. Once United took the lead, it was only ever a question of how many goals United would score, not whether we'd bag the three points.
Once again Van Gaal surprised us with his selection, bringing Rojo back, deploying two wingers as full backs and in seemingly starting Van Persie behind Rooney and Di Maria. The Van Persie positional switch didn't really have time to prove worthwhile or not, as Di Maria's injury and replacement saw the Dutchman revert to the number 9 spot I'm sure he'd much rather start the game in.
Carrick's return to the team and United's improved form, or at least our improved run of results, is not an accident. It would seem the Geordie's poor form of last season is yet another black mark to be put at the door of ex manager Moyes. Since coming back from his enforced lay off, he has shown how much United have missed him. The quality of his passing, both simple and the adventurous, as with the ball that saw van Persie's header brilliantly saved by the opposition keeper, have been badly missed. I'd rather not see him move back to centre half for the last quarter of an hour as he has been for the last couple of home games, but even that shows how highly Van Gaal rates him.
I suppose I better remark on Rooney's vastly improved form over the last month. He is playing miles better that's for sure, it's still not the level I'd ideally want from the number ten, but it's a massive improvement on what we've had to endure over the last couple of seasons. The question for me, is where has it come from, can we chalk this Loony Van Gaal and the coaching staff or has it come from within.
It was nice to see Van Persie rediscover his scoring boots, that was a quality goal. Though if truth be told, his play in general was pretty much where it's been so far this season. He did improve in the second half, but he has a fair way to go to get back to the form we saw in the first six months of his United career.
I can see tomorrow's match against Mark Hughes Stoke being a far tougher proposition. For one, whilst I don't think they have too much craft in midfield, they have pace and do possess a goal threat going forward as well as being well organised as Hughes teams generally are. Losing Di Maria will make us a little less direct, I wouldn't mind seeing Wilson getting a start tomorrow, if fit, his pace would come in handy. Looking forward to it anyhow, you didn't say that too often last season.