Manchester United 2-0 WBA

From the memorable last minute win thriller to the more mundane 2-0 home win over West Brom, but this was equally the type of game you need to win championships. I wasn't expecting another 4-3 thriller and to be honest didn't really want another type of game, because i wasn't sure we would have been able to come back yet again. The way the game went, it was probably for the best that we scored first and reasonably early. If we'd had to have forced the game in the second half i don't think we'd have had the legs to get the result needed.
Saying that we played some pretty good football in the first half, it was good to see Kagawa back in the team and nice to see him in his best position. Watching him, it was noticeable how similar his game to Rooney can be, as he dropped to the halfway line at times to get the ball. He forged a decent understanding with Welbeck and it was pity we couldn't finish off some of the chances we created in that first period. It was good to see Welbeck back and i thought he did pretty well considering how little football he has had recently and for the fact a section of our fans can't wait for something not to come off for him to have a go at him. That situation is really getting on my tits, but he will have to big enough to get over it.
The first goal was a bit of a fluke, but once again it shows what can happen when Young gets to the bye line. The effort United took in getting the three points started to tell in the second half as United lost control of the game. I suppose the fact is was first game back for Kagawa had something to do with that as well and he completely dropped out of the game. In fact Welbeck was doing most of his running for him and did well to last the 90 minutes himself. For all their possession though the visitors hardly tested De Gea, Vidic's return may have had something to do with that, he really looked like the pre injury man of rock that we have missed.
The introduction of Van Persie prompted United to start to look dangerous and United had some good chances to get a second. Young should have done better than hit fresh air when in a great position and right near the end Welbeck forced Foster into his second great save of the day, the first being when he pushed Young's shot onto the crossbar in the first half. From the resulting pressure Van Persie sealed the game with a magnificent left foot curler. It's funny that it doesn't seem half as good a goal on TV as when seen live, it was really travelling. Now to Wigan, another tough game and the changes will surely be rung again, if we come away with all three points from that it will have been an excellent Christmas and new period for the reds.

Has Fergie lost the plot or not?

Not for me, though i can't really say i was thrilled with him calling the barcodes a wee club. To my mind it's the kind of thing Mourinho would have said and the reason I'd prefer Guardiola and Moyes as the next manager. Fergie'ss not lost the plot though because he would have thought about what he was saying first. Some have argued that what he did was showhe's not lost and he's got the old us and them mentatility going again. I can't reall say i buy that, as i've never doubted for a moment that he had lost it.
Having said that the stick he gave Pardew was funny and the reality check for the georide nation was the kind of thing that has needed saying. I just wish it had been someone else saying it.

Music

Bob Mould - Silver age: I loved Sugar and this is a real return to those heady days, funny how some guitar, bass and drum trio's can sound so powerful.

Crusaders - Street life: Obviously the title track is one of the most well known singles from the 70's, but it's interesting hearing in the context of the album. I don't know what genre this would fit, jazz soul ,fusion maybe, anyway a cracking piece of easy listening.

Deerhoof - Breakup song: I'm a pretty big fan of the US leftield indie outfit, though i suppose the lead vocalist may be an acquired taste for some. This is another cracking L.P.

Flying Lotus - Until the quiet comes: A pretty good album, reminds me at times of the Avalanches, i'll have to explore his back catalogue.

Mala - Mala in Cuba: Another cracking techno/dubstep album, though the dubstep genre seems to contain some right old crap, it also contains some total brilliance. This firmly belongs in the latter category

Robert Hood - Motor nightmare world 3: More techno, this time from it's US spiritual home Detroit, slow, atmospheric and brilliant.

Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle United

What a day that was, we win, coming from behind to victory in the last minute, City unexpectedly lose and Liverpool top off the day with a defeat, virtually a perfect Manchester United day. I suppose the big upside to the dodgy nature of our defending this season is it means we end up getting second halves like yesterday. Mind you when we started to miss chances for fun in that last ten minutes i had my doubts that winner was going to come.
I suppose you have to give the barcodes some credit, they made it hard for us, and when they had a chance they threw men forward. Of course we gifted them the first and didn't cover ourselves in glory for their second either. I'll forgive Carrick his mistake for the opening goal because after that he was superb, and anyway De Gea should have done better with the save. I'm a fan of our Spanish number one, but he had one yesterday and i wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't start on Saturday. As for the second goal, once the referee went to the linesman, you just knew he was going to give the goal. There were the usual moans about Scholes and Giggs starting, but they both did alright for me. Giggs didn't have the best first half, but the longer the game went on the better he got on, how many chances did he create late on. Which was useful as Valencia had another of his so so games.
It always amazes me that teams who trouble us, especially at Old Trafford, do so by pressing with speed and strength and yet usually United always up the stronger team by the game's conclusion. There were a few iffy performances yesterday, but Carrick, Evans and Van Persie were all immense. Evra as ever was worrying in defence, but yesterday, more than ever, he made up for it going forward, a goal and some great forward runs.
I don't know what was wrong with Rooney, but it didn't help our cause to not even have him on the bench, and no Welbeck either. There was only really Cleverley on the bench who you'd have thought could change the game. Thankfully he did just that, when he got the chance as he helped United to take control of the game. That last ten minutes was starting to remind me of last years fixture when we absolutely battered them, creating chance after chance, but couldn't get that vital winning goal. Hernandez looked to be having one of those games, missing a hat full of chances, thank fuck the radar came right to tuck the winner away after another great through ball from Carrick. The news that City had got beat was just the icing on the cake.