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!