Mid term report

Van der Saar: A very impressive campaign so far and has rightly been rewarded with an extension to his contract. 8.5/10

Kuszczak: Only a couple of appearances this season but has looked useful and must not be unhappy with learning from Van der Saar. 5/10

Neville: Committed captain, fantastic fullback. Has got the balance spot on this term between going forward and marking his man. His crossing has been excellent but injuries stop him from getting a higher mark. 8/10

Evra: Has looked a solid signing this season, particularly going forward where he has arguably been better than Heinze. 7/10

Heinze: Has just got back from injury but is nearly back to his best. Occasionally looks vulnerable when up against pace but rightly deserves a starting place 7/10

Vidic: What a season so far. Very committed, strong in the air, strong in the tackle and a danger from set pieces at the other end. 8.5/10

Ferdinand: Has been in impressive form this season. His reading of the game continues to make him look graceful even when under pressure. His partnership with Vida is the best I have seen for some years. 8.5/10

Silvestre: Who? The guy has done nothing wrong but doesn’t have a prayer of having a big impact on this side this season. Hopefully, he will be content to play cup games and a few league games as he still has experience to offer the team. 4/10

Brown: His future suddenly looks less certain but he is still 3rd choice centre back and with his injury record, that may just be as good as it will ever get at United. He is a very good defender and well worth having around. 5/10


Scholes: Majestic on the ball despite now playing a little deeper. He makes everything tick and is a huge loss when not playing. It would be nice to see him get forward a little more and score more. 8.5/10

Carrick: Has fitted in well. Has brought a calmness to our play and has ensured possession of the ball with clever, quick and incisive passing. Good at breaking down attacks with minimum fuss, as shown against Chelsea this season. Needs to move quicker to receive the ball in order to get more time on it. 7.5/10

Fletcher: He has won over more of the crowd with his combative and committed displays. No longer seen as a poor replacement. Instead he is being seen as the useful squad player he is. 6.5/10

Giggs: Had a wonderful start to the season with some magical displays for both club and country. He did so well the Brazilians even started talking about him. His form has dropped a little recently but you sense the number of games has caught up with him a bit. Will benefit from having Park around. 8/10

Ronaldo: Has been absolutely fantastic and my player of the season so far, despite Rooney making it close. He has played more games, had to deal with the events of the summer and has produced exhilarating and more mature displays than ever before. 9/10

Park: It has been largely a season on the treatment table so far but expect him to be starting sooner rather than later, in order to keep Giggs fresh. 4/10

Richardson: He has the talent but he has repeatedly failed to deliver. The pressure of playing for United seems to be getting to him. The crowd have been on his back and as a result of his poor performances he has been playing reserve football. He still needs time, but will he get it? 4/10

O’Shea: The ‘John’ of all trades has put United first and as a result must be commended. He is always good but never better than that. I still think his best position is at full back. With Hargreaves potentially on the way and with Neville in need of some competition we may see him revert to fullback next season. 6.5/10

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Rooney: The boy wonder has been back to his best in recent weeks. And even when he isn’t at his best he is still head and shoulders above most. It has just been a pleasure to watch him and Ronaldo in action. We are watching one of the best there has been. 9/10

Saha: The goal against Chelsea showed the maturity and ability of the player. After the penalty-miss against Celtic he was under pressure. He answered it. Firstly with his left foot and secondly with a Gaelic shrug. This is his best season. 8/10

Solskjaer: He is just back (again). His experience at stealing a goal at crucial times could be significant this season. The best substitute the club has ever had. 7/10

Smith: Breaking his leg was a significant injury, mainly because the picture has changed now he is back. He has looked too slow but with the speed training he is on he may just come back to help lead the line in the FA Cup. 4/10

West Ham 1 v United 0

We failed to do what was needed. It is a simple as that. We may have ‘deserved a point’ but football is all about taking your chances. Zamora missed a clear chance to put the Hammers ahead but was foiled by a brilliant block from Van der Saar. Ronaldo was later denied by a wonderful save when put through on goal, after a slick pass from Saha. Saha looked lively all game and had several smart shots saved by the impressive Robert Green.

United played some okay stuff but were constantly boxed in by a well-organised West Ham side. West Ham had only 27% possession when they scored, so we were right to be frustrated. Fergie got it spot on about taking our chances but there was also a great deal of carelessness in our approach play too. Too often simple passes went astray. Too often shots on goal were forced from outside the area rather than being good chances. When that happens the keeper always has a better chance.

The result was partly due to Carrick and Scholes failing to break the midfield line, which would have allowed the forward players to receive the ball in more dangerous areas. Giggs was too often careless in possession and wasted a great chance by blazing it high and over. Rooney was well marshalled and looked frustrated. In general, West Ham got their tactics spot on and had a nice balance

The result is a set back but nothing more. It is, like the defeat to Arsenal, all about how we respond. If we put together another run like the one we have just been on then Chelsea really do have some competition.

United v City - A preview

Seeing Joey Barton play at Manchester United is nothing new but I don’t think it will be all that long before the talk of him playing at OT more regularly begins to fill the back pages. This season has once again shown us that he is a quality player, a player still in development and a player that needs to be improved further. However, he is capable of playing Champions League football and that means a move to one of the top four clubs is on the cards despite a new contract with Man City. Stuart Pearce is doing a decent enough job with City but without wishing to be disrespectful Pearce does not have the experience in management to take Barton any further as a player than one that stands out in a Manchester City side. To reach that next level he needs a new challenge under new management. I would welcome him at Old Trafford. I think everyone would welcome him, as they would Micah Richards. Another player so obviously destined for bigger things, although there is no reason for him to rush down a Chelsea sized cul-de-sac like Wright-Phillips. Successor for Gary Neville anyone?

Looking to the game, this is a double opportunity for United. It represents a chance for United to put one over on their local rivals and also go 9 points clear off Chelsea in time for us all to sit back and watch Chelsea take on Arsenal on Sunday. However, City should not to be ignored. If United get past Benfica on Wednesday night, I expect a relatively full strength side to ensure United put in a performance. And as good as Nicky Weaver has been this season, I still think they miss David James when away from home.

Probable Team: Van der Saar, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha

Subs from: Kuszczak, Heinze, O’Shea, Richardson, Solskjaer, Silvestre, Fletcher

Prediction: 3-1

United v Benfica

This is a massive fixture for United. The result is massively important to the players, the manager, the club and the moneymen. Being Manchester United demands Champions League football next year. It really is as simple as that. Too wretched results from United’s two last outings at Celtic and FC Copenhagen have meant this fixture becomes a nail-biter for fans. In many ways it is vintage United. The good news is that as opposed to this time last year, United play at Old Trafford where a sell out gate should help make the atmosphere another great European evening at the Theatre of Dreams.

United’s confidence is high and I am sure Fergie will have the dressing room ready. Benfica have a number of good players and must be not be given too much time to settle and set their own tempo. Simao must be watched, as he remains their main danger man.

Probable Team:
Van der Saar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha

Subs from: Kuszczak, Brown, Silvestre, Evra, Fletcher, Richardson, Smith

Prediction: 2-0

Middlesbrough 1 v United 2

The pressure on Manchester United is building. With every fixture from now on in, there is a requirement to get the three points to stay ahead of the rest of the league and send out a message to Chelsea. The response to the pressure will probably determine the destiny of the domestic title but will also determine certain player’s careers. So far the pressure is bringing out the best in the players.

Under the guidance of Fergie the side is looking well balanced and the necessary appetite appears to have returned. Last season, the humiliation of a 4-1 defeat at the Riverside led to Roy Keane famously playing the pundit. This season, after United’s deserved 2-1 victory at the Riverside there is to be no post mortem. Put simply it is not needed.

The game saw the familiar line-up, with the only change being Fletcher coming in for Carrick. Central midfield is Fletchers’ best position and his favoured position. He was industrious throughout and acted as a willing worker alongside the majestic Paul Scholes. Cristiano will be remembered for the drama in the penalty area that led to Saha giving United the lead from the spot. There was no contact from Schwarzer on Ronaldo but the winger knew the keeper had over-committed and that contact would result in a spot-kick. He was already off balance when Schwarzer removed his hand and went down as a result. In my view, the attacker has got his team the penalty. Rightly or wrongly he has done the keeper . He isn’t the first and he sure as hell won’t be the last. Middlesbrough were rightly aggrieved and if the decision had gone the other way, so would the United contingent.

The penalty was not the turning point of the game. United missed a number of opportunities to kill the game off. In a season that has seen United now score 18 goals away from home, it seems odd to say that chances must be taken, but as the pressure grows so does the need to be ruthless. It is at this time that United may just begin to miss the killer instinct of a Van Nistlerooy. However, Saha and Rooney are playing well and the goals continue to be shared around the team.

Middlesbrough found a way back into the game from some fine work from Stewart Downing. It was his intelligent cross that led to James Morrison finishing to give the home side the belief that they could once again take points from this fixture. Middlesbrough’s hopes were dashed when two minutes after their equaliser Fletcher connected well with Giggs’ cross to head United in front. Game over.

With an important game coming up against Benfica on Wednesday, United did well to concentrate on ensuring the three points from a fixture that has seen Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton all drop at least 2 points. Perhaps this is why Gary Neville celebrated by punching the air. However, with the pressure yet to reach truly examining levels this result for United was only another important step in a long race to be the best team in the Premiership.

Player ratings:

Van der Saar 6/10
Neville 6/10
Ferdinand 7/10
Vidic 8/10
Heinze 7/10
Ronaldo 7/10
Fletcher 7/10
Scholes 8/10
Giggs 7/10
Rooney 7/10
Saha 8/10

Man of the match – Paul Scholes

Middlesbrough v United - A preview

This season Middlesbrough have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 2 at the Riverside this season. They have beaten Chelsea, West Ham, Everton and Newcastle, drawn with Liverpool and lost to Blackburn and got battered by Portsmouth.

They face a United team that has won 6, drawn 1 but have not lost on its travels, has scored 16 goals and conceded only 4. The memory of Middlesbrough’s 4-1 victory over United last term is still yet to be erased. I expect it to be erased tomorrow evening.

We can expect Middlesbrough to be solid but United, at their best, should have too much in attack for them.

Fergie may continue to have one eye on Wednesday but I expect to see Scholes and Saha return at the very least. Vidic will need to be 100% for Fergie to throw him in, so we may see Silvestre keep his place. Heinze could come back in for Evra but it is hard to chose one over the other right now. He may decide to hold Giggs back again but I hope he doesn’t as Richardson once again failed to really convince.

Probable team: Van der Saar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Saha

Subs from: Kuszczak, Silvestre, Fletcher, Richardson, Evra

Prediction: 0-2

United 3 v Everton 0

You have to give credit to Sir Alex Ferguson for continuing to get it right on nights like this. Sensing that Everton were not at their strongest and knowing that the now vital game against Benfica is around the corner Fergie made 5 changes to the side that lined up against Chelsea. Out went Scholes, Heinze, Vidic, Giggs and Saha and in came, Richardson, Fletcher, O’Shea, Evra and Silvestre. With so many changes it was not surprising that the team failed to find its rhythm and relied on an inspirational finish from Ronaldo from 20 yards to give United the edge. Once the goal went you could sense United were comfortable, particularly as the defence never looked like conceding.

The game saw the in-form Patrice Evra score his first goal for the club with a clinical finish. A finish he has obviously always had since he started out in football career as a striker. United’s goal difference was improved further when John O’Shea, who had a steady game in the centre of midfield, steered the ball past Richard Wright with a clever finish from Evra’s cross.

The loudest cheer of the night came when Rooney, having been barracked all evening by the travelling Everton fans finally responded by kissing his badge in front of them. The roar from the Old Trafford faithful was instant as much as it was incredible, given Rooney’s long quoted statement of ‘once a blue, always a blue’. I suspect that his love of Everton is still very strong but he clearly dislikes being made a hate figure by the very fans that used to chant his name with such affection.

Rooney saved some of his energy for football. One very memorable moment coming when he nutmegged Carsley and then Stubbs only to ruin this sublime improvisation with a wild swing that swerved horribly wide of Richard Wright’s goal.

Phil Neville on his return certainly left his mark on a few United players, as if to demonstrate his commitment again to his new team. He was as committed and tenacious as ever and provoked a reaction from Rooney after one mistimed and hard challenge that left the England striker on the ground for some time. I suspect Fergie has witnessed it many times before at the Carrington Ground and he looked on like a man seeing two of his offspring having a spat.

It ended with three points for United after two years of draws in this fixture. Once again an improvement for United this term. Next up Middlesbrough away and the chance to open up a precious gap over Chelsea before returning to European football.

Player Ratings:
Van der Saar – 6/10
Neville – 6/10
Ferdinand – 6/10
Silvestre – 6/10
Evra – 7/10
Fletcher 6/10
Carrick 6/10
O’Shea 6/10
Richardson 5/10
Ronaldo 6/10
Rooney 7/10