Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea

Before this and next weeks game, I would have happily took two draws, so yesterday was a pretty good start. Having said that, on another day we might have come away all three points. Unlike last season where under Moyes we didn't look as if we belonged on the same pitch as City and the scousers, yesterday we looked liked we belonged again at this level. To make that even more commendable, we managed that whilst our best player this season so far, Di Maria had his quietest game since his arrival from Madrid.
The surprise team news, was probably not that big a surprise, Jones was out injured, again, with Chris Smalling taking his place. I can't have been the only one who feared the worst, when they heard of Smalling's selection, but to be fair to him he had a very solid game. Rojo, on the other hand was shaky, his passing was pretty good, but he looked vulnerable defensively. Rafael was poor, I'm starting to think that he's not really going to ever make it, defensively he just hasn't improved. Shaw on the other hand put last weeks ropey performance at West Brom firmly behind him with an excellent display. Blind had a decent game, but his lack of pace was shown up a couple of times. The real surprise was Fellaini, given a man marking job to do on Fabregas, he acquited himself admirably, keeping the Spaniard firmly in his pocket.
I noticed Januzaj getting a bit of stick from the crowd, it seems some have already given up on him. He was nowhere near his best yesterday, but he still managed to put in possibly the pass of the match to put Van Persie clean through on goal during the first half. I thought it was a good move putting him on the right during the latter stages, I've always thought he's more dangerous cutting in from the right onto his left foot, ala Robben.
Van Persie realy ought to have done better with that first half chance, but again, to be fair, that was probably his best performance in a while. He looks far happier being the lone man up front. But I wouldn't get too carried away yet, he was better, not brilliant. Mata on the other hand, gave yet another completely innocuous performance, he couldn't complain at being replaced by Wilson for the last twenty minutes.
It was a really soft goal to give away, especially after De Gea's save minutes earlier. As to that save, yes it was an excellent save, but I didn't think it was the best attempt from Hazard, he hit it staright at De Gea.
Chelsea resorted to the usual Mourinho tactics after going a goal up, playing within themselves, and then when United ramped it up during the last ten minutes foul after foul, which obviously came back to haunt them when Ivanovic got his second yellow card and his marching orders. United's equaliser came moments later, poetic justice, I thought.

West Brom 2-2 Manchester United

Well another entertaining game, not always for the right reasons if you're a red though. Yet again we looked far better going forward than we doid at the back. Even in attack though, there are still problems, and once again, you finish the game wondering what on Earth we'd be like without Di Maria in the team. I hope the knock he came off with isn't too serious, because we need him badly for the next two games against the rent boys and the divs.
Van Gaal brough Jones back into the team at centre back and gave Januzaj his first start of the season. It has to be said neither really covered themselves in glory on the night. All the back four looked shaky, some think Rojo had a decent game, I suppose he was better than the other three, but that's not saying much. Shaw had a stinker, I thought he had showed some promise on his first two outings, but he was completely off the pace last night. I would persevere with him for the time being, but he'll have to improve dramatically on last night's display.
I never really worked out what our formation was last night, was it 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, whichever it was, Januzaj didn't seem to appreciate it. I couldn't work out what was wrong with him, I can't ever remember watching him and seeing him never take a man on. I know he was double marked, but that doesn't generally stop him having a go.
Mata gave another of his ineffectual displays where he runs around getting and giving the ball, neat and tidy, but causing the opposition no problems at all. He's a nice footballer, but he's not the answer at number ten. Mourinho knew what he was doing when he got almost £40 million for him.
Ahead of him Van Persie had the kind of game we have seen from him all season, what was worse was he had a couple of decent chances and couldn't finish them. Add to that his greed when he should have teed Mata up in the first half after the goalie had forced him wide and even I have to admit, if it's a choice between him and Rooney, I'd go with the scouser.
I doubt I was on my own in fearing the worst when he brought Fellaini on, but he had a decent game, even if you took the great equaliser out of it. Herrera was piss poor during the first half, you can only surmise that he wasn't fit and that Van Gaal will play people not 100% despite his protestations that he doesn't do that. Blind had a decent game, I do wonder how he'll cope against players with power and pace though. I'd like to see Carrick back in the team on Sunday, let's put it like that. The late equaliser was a superb effort, if Blind adds goals to his game, he could become some player.
We really needed to win last night, given the two games ahead of us. I really don't know what to expect over the next couple of weeks. I'd take a couple of draws right now, even though points wise that wouldn't really do us much good. I just think if we could show we can live with the two best teams in the league at the moment, that would be more of a boost to our players confidence than anything else. I mean, I can't really see us taking six points, can you.

Let the roller coaster reommence

Well thank fuck for that, the international break is over. Apparently there were a few decent games, as I only watched the two England boreathons, I obviously missed them. Anyway the next three four weeks are where it's at, it's as if the season proper season starts.
Those games against Chelsea and City are going to show us where we really at under King Louis reign. Saying that, given our abysmal away record so far, and remember they were at Sunderland, Burnley, MK Dons and Leicester, can we be that confident of taking three points away from the Hawthorns. Let the roller coaster recommence.


Allah-Las - Worship the sun: The follow up to their excellent debut album ploughs a similar furrow, it may be nothing new, but as long as it's good, I've no problem with retro.

Aphex Twin - Syro: His first new album in over a decade, you can't really say it's been worth the wait, but it's excellent as almost everything he does is, one of my favourite recording artists.

Nat Birchall - Sacred Dimension: The Manchester jazz saxophonist's 2011 offering is even better than its predecessor Akhenaten. More than a touch of John Coltrane, can't get enough of that.

Natalie Merchant - Tigerlily: I wasn't a massive fan of 10'000 Maniacs, but liked some of their stuff, so when i saw the good reviews for this I wasn't sure if it would really be my thing. Glad I took the plunge, because it's a superior album of indie singer/songwriter offerings.

Sharon Van Etten - Are we there: Another female indie singer/songwriter, it's not as easy a listen as Merchant's Tigerlily but it has it's moments.

Sunlightsquare - King Yoruba: I'm not really sure how you'd categorise this, latin jazz/soul, even seventies film score almost other times, anyhow it ticks the right boxes for this listener.

The Black Keys - Turn Blue: The Ohio duo continue with thie rock/blues schtick, though it's a more commercial sound nowadays. It's not one of their very best, but that still leaves most of their competition trailing in their wake.

The Horrors - Luminous: The fourth album from the UK indie outfit, it's a solid enough effort, but they've not really progressed as far as you might have imagined they would.