Manchester United

Stoke came to Old Trafford with the long-throw expertise of Rory Delap very much the centre of media coverage. His devestating throw-ins had caused havoc for a host of Premier League defences, most notably setting up two goals against Arsenal.

Unfortunately for the Rep. of Ireland midfielder, he wasn't making headlines again at 3pm, instead it was a midfield counter-part with slightly more conventional talents taking the plaudits, as a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo took him to over a century of goals for United.

Brilliant.

But that wasn't what pleased me most - the introduction of reserve team trio Darron Gibson, Manucho and Danny Welbeck showed that Arsenal aren't the only club with some promising talent as back-up.

Welbeck's goal was sensational, announcing his arrival on the Premier League scene, reminding me somewhat of the introdcution of Wayne Rooney to the league. Both goals were eye-catching, from young English players who have been talked about excitedly in and around their clubs but hadn't really got national coverage. Until their first league goal.

Arguably Welbeck's is the better goal, but it would be unfair to expect him to progress in the same way as Shrek has, the boy clearly has talent but, exciting as it may be to see a young English player comin through the ranks, he doesn't need to be rushed. Look at Walcott.

Evans impressed again at centre back, showing he is more than capable of offering cover to the first-choice paiting, hopefully displacing Wes Brown and John O'Shea in that department.

Overall, pleased to have bounced back from a disappointing loss to you-know-who and the five goals should invoke plenty of confidence in the team for the forthcoming festive period. Where we need to win every game. Or something like that.

QPR possess, just about, the wealthiest owners in the game. Man City's owners will run them close, but they're definitely up there: hailed as the Championship's Chelsea at the time of the mega-bucks takeover. Their team doesn't play like it though.

Fergie has rotated his squad but, in comparison to the drastic changes made by Arsenal, the side he had put out seems relatively strong. Starts for Park, G.Nev, Tevez, Anderson, Nani and John O'Shea.

There are, of course, a few youngsters thrown into the mix too: Rafael Da Silva has set about establishing himself in his first season at Old Trafford, Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans have looked promising over the last couple of seasons while Possebon will get another opportunity to introduce himself to the OT faithful.

Wellbeck, Cleverly, Gray and Manucho are all on the bench as Fergie looks to take a closer look at some of his fringe players.

I've raved on this blog before about Jonny Evans, and I would reccomend watching him closely as he progresses - I really think he is Rio's natural successor - but for variety's sake I will pinpoint the midfield duo of Gibson and Possebon. Gibson has been threatening to break through for a while and Possebon has looked good in the fits and starts he's had. Tonight could be an opportunity for them to shine.

Not a mauling this one, in my books, 2-0 I reckon.

Put simply: one of the greatest 'keepers of all time. Some would argue that he's THE greatest, but I don't think I'm in any position to be so bold, so I'll stick with this: Peter Schmeichel is the best Goalkeeper that I have ever seen.

That's some statement, and it's one that I'm sure many others will agree with. It's mind-blowing to think that Sir Alex Ferguson paid Brondby just £530,000 for Ol' Red Nose. That nominal fee has certainly been repaid.

The most obvious memory for me of Schmeichel was his final game in a Manchester United shirt, although United hadn't produced a decent performance he single-handedly, quite literally, kept us in contention before the grand-stand finish. His celebrations emitomised his love for the club and mirrored that of the fans, he was one of us.

It says a lot about the man that he is one of the few players who can be forgiven for representing the blue half of Manchester, even receiving a raucous reception from the United fans in the Manchester derby when he played for City.

Schmeichel was a winner, his high standards were very apparent. He has won almost everything there is to win, including a European Championships with Denmark, which you can safely say he was one of the main contributors towards. Without Schmeichel and his penalty save against Van Basten in the semi-finals, Denmark may well have missed out on winning the only honour in their history.

He is one of the few players that can never be replaced. That sounds excessive and over the top, but not one of his successors have lived up to the great Dane. Van Der Sar is certainly the closest we have had, but nothing touches Peter.

Sir Alex described him as the "bargain of the century", well I'll desribe him as the "keeper of the century".

Ok, following a thinly veiled swipe from above, I have decided to up the ante and change my approach to this blog.

Admittedly I've probably exhausted a fair proportion of the United chants over the last couple of months, so don't expect to hear any new ones from me unless a particularly good one comes along!

I thought I'd start using this space as a diary, which is kind of what was intended.

So where better to start then here and now?

It's probably a given, but I'm on a bit of a low at the minute. The loss to Arsenal hurt. Really hurt.

That's not to say that they didn't deserve it, although I do think we deserved at least a draw, but the fact that I had held such high hopes prior to kick-off leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. I hate losing to Arsenal, although this year it isn't so much about losing to them, it's about losing ground in the title race.

Much of the pre-match talk was about whether Arsenal could stay in contention for the title, the game billed as win or bust for the Gunners. Well what about us? Although it's not quite the end of our challenge, that would be far too premature to say, I do feel that this result has dealt us another massive blow what with Chelsea, in particular, in such imperious form.

You can only drop so many points over the course of a Premiership campaign if title aspirations are to prove realistic, already we've left ourselves with a lot to do when there is still a long way to go.

I'm not despondent, I'm not giving up the faith, I'm just trying to be realistic.

I'm worried, for the first time in a long while we've come into a game against Arsenal overtly confident and boastful. Arsenal, in some quarters, have been virtually written-off already. To write a team of their ability off is a no-no in my books.

Let's examine the facts: they've had a poor run. Granted, the last three games they haven't won. But they've only lost one of them by the same token and one of them they scored four times.

They have a lot of injuries, particularly up-front. While this is true they still have some genuine class in reserve.

The general consensus is that Niklas the Bender will lead the line alone. I've never rated the Dane, but he is certainly hard-working. Walcott is in contention and he always poses a threat. It is a massive boost for us that Adebayor and Van Persie are out.

We need to make the most of this situation, but that doesn't mean that Arsenal are going to roll over and let us have our way. We will need to break them down and take our chances. They are likely to hit us on the counter.

In recent years Fergie has opted for more of a negative approach to playing Arsenal away, but I really hope he starts with an attacking mentality tomorrow so we can push on and register a morale boosting victory.

It may seem a little OTT, and it probably is, but defeat tomorrow is inconceivable, it really is, if we want to sustain a title challenge. Given the gap we already have to make up, we cannot afford to throw points away, especially not to a rival.

I'm always reluctant to make predictions for big games, but I have to, so I'll go for United 2 - 1 Arsenal.

Last year saw two grand stand finishes in the league games between us and I have a gut-feeling that could be the same. Hopefully it isn't a similar story to our last two league visits to the Emirates...

Just a note to say that I didn't preview or review the game because I knew I wasn't going to be watching it.

I'd made plans and felt that this was a game I could afford to miss, plus I always get nervous when we play away.

Glad we didn't come unstuck at Celtic Park again and would agree with Scott Brown's assertions that Cristiano Ronaldo was lucky to not have action taken against him following his whack on the Scottish winger late on. It's not a good sign that Ronaldo is taking his frustration out on his opponents, particularly when we don't deploy the Portugeezer for his grafting abilities....

So we beat them, 4-3. But it didn't feel like a win. At all.

The scenes at the end of the game, were we had to defend as if our existence depended on it, were simply embarassing.

Hull deserve massive credit. They look like they'll be staying up if they can maintain that level of performance. We did more than enough to win the game, and deserved to do so, but the performance from Hull took away from our win.

To concede three at home to a recently promoted side is poor on our behalf and hardly bodes well for the big-game matches that are sure to come later in the campaign.

Our defensive was water-tight last season, what we built our title winning form on. Letting three in at home to Hull is a big worry.

Fergie's post-match comments reflect how I view the match.

Let's hope that the Champions League brings a better performance.

Part two of the earlier clip.

Not as good huh?

Some class songs in there.

Anderson son son,
He's better than Kleberson,
Anderson son son,
He's our midfield magician,
To the left,
To the right,
To the samba beat tonight,
He is class with a brass
And he shits on Fabregas.

Brilliant.

Trust the Blue lot to come up with a load of rubbish come the end of the month! To clarify it isn't me that has a thing for eating Rats, although I'm not opposed to trying one if thing's get really tight at University, it's the Scousers that munch on vermin...."Park, Park..."

Here's the full FIFa 2009 advert showing a battle between Wayne Rooney and Real Madrid's superstar Higuain (I forget his forename)

Enjoy.

Wayne Rooney spoke recently of his desire to emulate legendary team-mate Ryan Giggs and uttered the words every United fan loves to hear, if only Ronaldo would say this; ""I want to stay at this club as long as I am wanted. I want to keep playing and scoring goals."

Roughly equating to: I want to spend the rest of my career here.

Wazza was waxing lyrical on the consistancy of Giggsy's form, maintaining a high level of performance into his mid-thirties.

Rooney, ever the ambitious, also has his eyes on Giggs' performance record and trophy haul.

I certainly hope he does, because that would mean another sustained period of success for United.

An interesting article I read this week involved Owen Hargreaves discussing his team-mates and their training habits.

According to the Canadian born double Champions League winning Midfielder, the best trainers at the club are Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire is reportedly popular amongst the players, with Edwin Van der Sar and Ryan Giggs proving most successful.

The dressing room is full of jokers if Hargreaves is to be believed: Anderson doesn't speak English very well but makes him laugh while the deadpan style of Scholes and Giggs proves popular.

Hargreaves suggests that Tomas Kuszczak is one of the worst dressers for wearing "Yellow and Pink" t-shirts. Anderson's style is described as unique, wearing blue slippers. Quite where remains a mystery...

From the sounds of the interview, the morale at the club is high. Which is a good sign, hopefully it can translate onto the pitch.

Few would contest the footballing nous of Sir Alex Ferguson. His latest statements, however, fill me with concern that Roman Calderon's recent accusations are right.

One sign of senility is to rate John O'Shea. To describe him as the most valuable in a double winning side borders on lunacy.

Fergie, speaking in thie weekend's programme, states: "John O’Shea has come into the team as if he has never been out of it. He can play anywhere – and often has done. In that respect he is the most valuable player in the club."

As a Untied fan, regardless of his crucial goal against Liverpool and what not, I do think that he is a weak link and the longer he is kept out of the team for important games, the better.

He does seem to be a favourite of Fergie. I respect the fact that, like Darren Fletcher, has come through the youth system. The fact is, neither is a first-team mainstay. Despite this, Fergie really raves about both.

Maybe he wants to maintain a home based core of the team, maybe he knows that both players need to have their ego's massaged if they aren't to request a move away from the club.

Like Phil Neville, a move away from the club is inevitable. A step down is going to come sooner rather than later. The longer this is delayed the more cringe-worthy Fergie's get.

Although it would've been hard to envisage at the start of the campaign, Saturday's visitors to Old Trafford sit above United in the table.

Hull City, miraculously promoted from the Championship against all odds, travel to the reigning champions of England and Europe looking down on us in the table.#

What's been their secret? Patrice Evra believes it is their courage: "I don’t expect to see all of their players defending, I think they’ll have a go. If that happens I think it could be a great game because that would open up space for us."

Geovanni has to be highlighted as the danger man for Hull- having always threatened to become a good player but falling away in previous instances, he has really carried Hull despite being decidedly average in the light blue of City.

Fergie believes we are in good form, and it is hard to argue with him. With a team that is closing full fitness, with an attack rotation that would pose a threat to any defence in the world regarldess of composition, we really are in a position to push on and draw level with the league leaders.

The draw with Everton last week is the only glitch but, that aside, we have really seemed imperious.

This should be a victory for the Reds with a comfortable margin. I'm going to plunge for 4-0, someone's gotta put their neck out!

Well, the first half we battered them. West Ham looked liveless, not interested and not up to it. The second half wasn't amazing from the Hammers, but they certainly put on more of a show.

To be fair we couldn't be arsed in the second half. By the time Ronny had added two more to his season's tally we were playing some sublime stuff- Berbatov pulling the strings. It's been said a few times, but it's becoming increasingly apparent, that he is the true successor to Cantona's throne.

Some of the inter-play between the front-line was fantastic, Tevez deserved a goal and came mightily close on a few occasions. Rooney looked hungry when he came on, and the strength in depth of our squad is looking as imperious as it does on paper.

Brendizzle went to bed before half time, didn't even get a chance to rub it in.

Whilst reminiscing about Brendizzle, I remembered a chant I and he created prior to attending an MK Dons match.

Everyone was raving about Izale bloody McLeod, and yeah he was good. But the guy in midfield we'd seen, a bit of classy, despite resembling a gypsy, was Gary Smith.

So here was the chant we made, to our own tune:

"
Looks like Jesus,
Plays like Zidane,
Gary Smith,
He's our man.
"

Brilliant huh? Now you can see why he is idolised.

It's time to introduce you to a cult figure, a legend in his own right, a man who can send shivers down my spine with a single glance.

He goes by the name "Brendizzle". Wherever he goes he is greeted by adulation and fan fare. He is, in short, one of my closest mates.

He supports West Ham. He's going to get it tonight!

I've been waiting for a while to really rub it in. That famous game where they stayed up courtesy of a victory over us, I was the only one in the pub backing United.

Rooney's out tonight but I wanna make the B-man cry into his alphabet spaghetti. Or whatever it is superstars like he indulge in.

United to win 4-0.

Ronaldo has apparently dismissed the notion that he will be leaving the club next summer, a belief that was so widespread it was almost common knowledge.

But then you look at his quotes and you question whether he really did say that. "God only knows...", "I'll definitely be here for another season at least..." it's hardly full-on commitall stuff is it?

Compared to Wayne Rooney's recent quotes, talking about how he could see himself spending the rest of his career with the club, Ronaldo's attempts at loyalty seem tame.

He's here for this season but a future move to Real Madrid is almost an inevitability, that's what I truly believe. I also think he wouldn't be opposed to a mege bucks move to Chelsea either, but maybe that's just cynicism from me...

Recent reports, subsequently quashed by United, have suggested that Jose Mourinho is under consideration for the top job at OT when Sir Alex leaves the helm.

Although United have moved quickly to say that noone has been considered, I do think that Mourinho would be a relatively popular choice.

Yes he wound us all up when he was at Chelsea, but doesn't Fergie do that to other teams? And we love him for it.

Mourinho is a charismatic leader, and he does exactly that- lead. What earned him massive kudos in my books was recently admitting that Drogba was a diver- he's honest too, but will defend his own players to the death.

In my eyes Jose would be a perfect replacement for Fergie when he eventually leaves. But are his Chelsea links enough to put some people off?

It has come to the attention of another editor recently that I have another occupation other than blogging here.

Sadly, it's true.

I do a bit of cash in hand work on the side, presenting car crash tv that, miraculously, attracts regular and enthusiastic audiences despite being bereft of any form of genuine entertainment.

I feel cheap and dirty, and can honestly describe it only as a mistake. I apologise whole-heartedly and understand if you want to end this. I love you Catflap...

Well, there goes our chances of taking advantage of the Liverpool/Chelsea game tomorrow. Bloody Mark Lawrenson. He must be sitting smugly at home waxing lyrical to himself about his mystic talent.

Eating rat in his council house.

The usual story for us with regard losing points to supposedly lesser teams: dominate, spurn opportunities, let the opponents back into it, almost/do throw it away with a defensive lapse.

See the Liverpool game for an example of how to give up success United style.

It was a bad omen Fletcher scoring- think back to the opening day of the season. There's some conspiracy here.

Felliani was due a contribution for Everton, why it had to be against us I'll never know. Why couldn't he produce it last week?

I've learnt a lesson from all this- don't write off the seemingly impossible because, almost every time in my case, it comes back to bite me in the wotsits.

I can only hope for a draw between Chelsea and Liverpool tomorrow.

An interesting stat from a certain Saturday football pundit- United have scored more goals and taken more points against Everton then any other Premiership team. Still waiting on Rooney's century...

Despite Untied's good recent form, having not conceded since out defeat at Liverpool but enough of that sort of talk, we seem to be under-estimated for today's game.

Lawro's predictions list this game as 1-1. 1-1! It's true that Everton were unlucky against Arsenal, but a former son of theirs is ready to secure his ton of competitive goals for United.

No-one's stopping Shrek!

I got the last prediction right, so I'm going to keep it up!

United 3 - 1 Everton

Rooney and Ronaldo to be amongst the goals.