READ THIS...

Scotts awesome defence of Ferguson's youth-selection policy in Republik of Mancunia.

A Kick in The Grass looks ahead to the semi-final clash against City in the Carling Cup.

Oliver Kay and Gabriele Marcotti do their 'team of the decade'.

Red Rants, Between The Lines and me at Football Talent Spotter discuss the harsh (possible) reality of why the Ljajic deal fell through.

THE NOUGHTIES - UNITEDS DECADE: 1999/2000

Out of nowhere the decade is coming to an end, so over the next few weeks – cunningly, until the end of the decade – I’ll be looking back at the past 10 seasons: the good, the bads, the shit signings and the memorable occasions. Noughties*, we loved you…
(*seriously, does anyone actually call them ‘the Noughties’?)


1999/2000: The Season After…

1998/99 was the greatest season in the club’s history, so it was pretty inevitable that words such as ‘disappointment’ and ‘anti-climax’ were going to be attached to the following season. Still, we completely dominated in the league – scoring 97 goals, receiving our highest ever points total for a 38 game season and ending an amazing 18 points clear – however we failed to hold on to our other two trophies. We were knocked out of Europe by the eventual winners Madrid – drawing 0-0 at the Bernabeu then 2-3 in an epic OT encounter – and of course we weren’t even IN the FA cup. In other news, we used 4 keepers – Taibi of course the most memorable – in our endless attempt to replace Schmeichel, and Beckham shaved his hair.

Players In. 

Bosnich

Fortune

Silvestre

Taibi

Top 4: 

United – 91 points

Arsenal – 73

Leeds – 69

Liverpool – 67

Bottom 4:

Bradford City – 36

---------------------------------

Wimbledon – 33

Sheffield Wednesday – 31

Watford – 24

Goal. Beckham dribbles vs. Real (CL Quarter Final Second Leg at Old Trafford). Hands down my favourite EVER Beckham goal (About 2:10). In the league, a toss-up between Cole’s over-head against Leicester (9 seconds), Scholes's classic straight-from-the-corner volley against Bradford, and Beckham’s free-kick vs. West Ham at Old Trafford (55 seconds).

Player. Keano. I remember there was a lot of shit surrounding his contract negotiations, but he showed why he was offered £50k-a-week (ridiculous amounts back then…not even what Nani is paid now…); scoring 12 goals including 2 at Highbury and the winner in the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.

Remembered for?

Memorable away victories against our main title challengers: Arsenal (2-1) and Leeds (1-0), and impressive European nights at Old Trafford against Valencia (3-0) and Fiorentina (3-1).

Also winning the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo; where Bosnich was robbed of the Toyota MOTM award (literally the MOTM prize was a car).

Also...this:

Best to forget…

The f**king Club World Championship. A pointless occasion that saw us not only fail miserably (losing 1, drawing 1 and winning 1; all against weaker opposition) however ashamedly pull-out of the FA cup. This was a decision that instantly vilified the club and brought the seeming realisation to the public (and mainly the media – highlighted by The Mirror’s ‘save the FA cup’ campaign) that United were corporate through and through…even though it was under the advice of the FA to do so in order to make England seem more ‘global’ in the face of the 2006 World Cup bid.

0-5 at the Bridge. The performance of Treble winners? Really??

Sunday 29th November: How was Derby-Day for you?

Sunday 29th November was geared up to be a good day. After a comfortable and promising display at Fratton Park quietly reminded everyone that we’re still in it (or rather have never been out of it), results yesterday could not only have enhanced the significance of our own result; they would have given a surprisingly encouraging appearance at the top of the league: in the form of a reduced deficit with Chelsea dropping points as well as daylight between Liverpool and a Champions League spot. Failing to observe any positive results domestically, there was always Sky Sports' 3rd derby of the day with the first Barca/Real game of the season that should hopefully do a good job in reminding us all why we love this game so much…


Game 1. Everton vs Liverpool. 0-2

With Everton on top for the majority of the game, a point looked likely, even though they found themselves a goal down on 12 minutes. Their resilience in midfield and decent possession play was unable to be converted into anything more meaningful however as Liverpool completed the win with Kuyt’s shit 80th minute finish. Despite their first win in the league since they beat us (over a month ago), the game will hopefully be overshadowed by the staggering, yet delightful, realism that Liverpool are not very good; especially a surprisingly poor turn out for their ‘lacking match fitness’ captain…how much longer is he going to hold on to that excuse? Better strikers than Jo and Cahill (who missed a sitter in the first half) would surely have deservedly punished Liverpool’s poor performance in the same way Fulham and Sunderland have done in the past few weeks. As a derby game, it was also lacking something; and I’m not talking about justice, as the better team walked away with nothing.

Everton’s competent yet ineffectual display was the most exciting thing about this game, yet as soon as Liverpool got the 2nd it was all over and the result became nothing more than an opportunity for Liverpool to ignore their failings and disappointing performances to instead focus entirely on this ‘amazing derby win’ that will definitely ‘turn their season around’ ('win is a turning point' - Benitez). Idiots.


Game 2. Arsenal vs Chelsea. 0-3

Undoubtedly United’s most significant match of the day. If Chelsea dropped points at the Emirates it would reduce that annoying 5 point gap at the top and breathe a bit of confidence into our lethargic title challenge. I don’t think I was too presumptuous in assuming Arsenal would turn up for this much, however evidently I was. Chelsea tore them apart in a manner that Giggs of old would be proud of, and in doing so they ripped away what little genuine title aspirations Arsenal had.

Maybe we were all unrealistically expecting too much in banking on Arsenal to do us a favour, and so what should have been a spurring afternoon – that could’ve potentially seen a humiliating derby-day defeat for the Scouser’s and more importantly a few points dropped for Chelsea – is turning into a shit ‘back to square one’ sort of afternoon. On this form, Liverpool will still undoubtedly struggle…but on this form, Chelsea will comfortably see off their opponents one-by-one right the way to the end. The Wigan defeat is still very much the pinnacle that represents how Chelsea can be broken, yet it is looking increasingly like a freak result rather than a potential blueprint for ‘how to f**k Chelsea up’.


Game 3. Barcelona vs Real Madrid. 1-0

By now, all I wanted to do was watch a meaningless yet utterly attractive game of football; so what better match than the ‘El Classico’. As with my hopeful plea that Arsenal would help us out by doing a job on Chelsea, a Real classico (get it?) appeared to be further wishful thinking.

As the game progressed it became increasingly apparent that this wasn’t the most immense, beautifully contested footballing encounter that it was geared up to be. So, I decided to replace my excited footie fan hat with my twat-who-thinks-I’m-an-analytical-genius specs (fully equipped with a Lawro tache, Hansen forehead scar and annoying Andy Grey accent).

Barca, as expected seeing as they made minimal changes to their illustrious 2008/09 side, were often confident on the ball and more than often formidable. Real however failed to really impress, and though they tried to play a similar possession game, they sometimes spent too long on the ball; which included highlighting Ronaldo’s single flaw as he sometimes failed to release the ball quick enough and consequently cost his team possession.

Probably THE most impressive thing about Barca which really makes you consider them as a truly incredible all-round team is the strength and ruthlessness of their defence. You expect great cup-winning teams to be flash on the attack, and so because the focus is so regularly on the creative players, you really notice when the defence do their job competently. As much as Real failed to genuinely break Barca – mainly in the second-half, when the home team really took off – you have to credit their captain (who I still think is a c**t after his theatrics last May) and, of course, ‘the one who got away’. Puyol and Pique, as well as performing their defensive duties more than capably, were able to find the Barca playmakers to brilliantly lead the ball out of defence and slowly build an attack.

Ibrahimovic, along with the unbelievable Messi, was also an important player and probably the difference when he came on. Barca’s hard work on the ball was finally granted the finishing touch it deserved, as his dynamite finish killed off any hope Real had of winning this clash; even though it was still only 1-0 with a good half an hour remaining.

So, with my judgemental gaze intently fixed on this rather pointless encounter (for United anyway) came a more pressing, relevant question: how would United fair against this lot? With both teams through to the Champions League knock-out stages – and the chances of facing them in no way unrealistic – it was important to look at this as a ‘checking out the competition’ opportunity.

So what can we draw from this? Real ooze ‘all bark no bite’, yet to underestimate a team bursting of elite footballs who's who (literally bursting; with no place in the starting XI for £35million Benzema or their legend Raul) is probably a tad ignorant. Are they the Real deal (...brilliant)? Not quite yet, but they will be.

But how about their Catalonian rivals? A season-after hangover? Has Ibrahimovic managed to comfortably slot in without disruption and live up to the ‘2nd most expensive player in the world’ tag? And is Messi the best player in the world? Unfortunately for us, and all of European football’s wary teams, the answers to those questions appear to be: no, yes and definitely. A Barca slip-up in the Champions League may still happen, as their two shocking results against Rubin Kazan (0-0 away and 1-2 at home) have shown. But you still believe that a team with so much fluidity who possess such potency and natural understanding can achieve anything. If this match was supposed to set the bar and display the new standard, on one of the most epic stages in world football, then I genuinely feel we have a way to go yet. Remember, there is a slight difference between Fratton Park and the Nou Camp after all.

28th November vs Portsmouth (a). 4-1

Rooney's first hat-trick of the season and 8th, 9th & 10th goals in the league...although his first in the game was only his first goal for club and country in 11 games.

Another win, another much needed +3 on our goal-difference...and another pathetic display by the officials. With the boss banished to the stands for the next three domestic games, he must have known that this would finally be the opportunity for the ref's - spearheaded by their poor, victimised ('unfit') casualty - to get their own back and make a stance in the face of adversity.


If you look at how it's gone for us in the few weeks since the Sunderland game, you'll highlight Carragher not getting sent off at Liverpool (last man back, and all), Chelsea's robbed winning goal and the incorrect penalty decisions in our last two European games. OK, we probably should have taken our chances and utilised possession at Stamford Bridge, and we were plain awful at Anfield, but for some reason we seem to all of a sudden be disallowed from ever being awarded a penalty. That was until the 25th minute today, when Rooney was tripped by Brown in the area and the decision was actually given!


Our new-found understanding with referees that United are in fact allowed to be given penalties was completely ruled out though a mere seven minutes later.


As Sir Alex sat amongst the Fratton Park faithful, he and everyone else in the ground (as well as everyone on the pitch) observed nothing other than a conventionally shit free-kick swing into the penalty area and straight into the hands of Kuszczack. Penalty given...for Vidic tugging Piquionne's shirt, apparently. This was only made remotely clear after not only a number of replays, however a post-incident and half-time explanation by people close to the action (conveniently not the referee, mind). Noone at the time saw a thing wrong with any of it, as everyone - including the bemused pundits and Sky Sports New's panellist's - scratched their heads and begged an explanation. 


For an incident so minor, so faint and so confusing to be the basis of such a crucial decision is laughable. Sir Alex has every right to say whatever the F**K he wants about this one.

There was of course no appeal by the Portsmouth players, who would probably have been embarrassed by the award had they not been coming into this game as the league's worst team and, even more significantly, on the back of a penalty miss last week at Stoke. Pompey must be thinking that Christmas - or, if we're being all PC, Hanukkah for their new manager - has come early.

Well, as it was, class and quality prevailed over bull-shit refereeing and injustice; in the form of our best attacking player and United's most experienced. Even though the FA are doing everything they can to stop us, we'll persevere; and although the clinical, impressive performances still appear to be a thing of last season (especially when you consider the 4-1 scoreline in no way reflects our poor first half display), we have still managed to score seven in the last two league games and only conceded this one.


With the six pointer tomorrow at the Emirates we could very well see ourselves go into 2010 only 2 points (or 3 if both teams draw) adrift...and I thought Chelsea were going to run away with it this year?

Ferguson put's faith in Berba as £45mil for a new striker is out of the question.

News emerged yesterday in The Times suggesting that Ferguson will not spend money in January on another striker; choosing instead to place his faith in the goalscoring of Berbatov to complement Rooney’s. The article was quick to pounce on Ferguson’s rationale; highlighting ignorant yet pivitol stats about Dimitar’s goalscoring: ‘18 goals in 58 games and just five in his past 28 matches for the club.’ They also contradicted their statement by highlighting United’s interest in Ajax’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, again throwing those unavoidable goalscoring stats in an attempt to whet our apetites – 70 goals in 104 appearances – alongside a suggested, cool £45million price tag.

It made for interesting and very thoughtful reading, and although I hate to say it, you have to agree that a new striker in the upcoming transfer window, especially a 22-year-old with such an impressive scoring rate, appears to be nothing less than a necesity for our often goalshy side.

It is not however a matter of Berbatov’s potential and quality at United. Do I have faith in his ability? Unquestionably. With Rooney alongside him we surely have one of the most talented strike partnerships on the planet; although unfortunately not the most prolific. And that is the main issue United fan’s feel needs sorting when it comes to having the money and in turn the ability to spend in January.

At the moment, we are (as usual) competing to retain our title and Carling Cup, as well as hoping to reach a third European Cup final in as many years and a first FA cup in six. All this with only the two senior strikers I have mentioned.

One thing that has been apparent this season more than any other – as Oliver Kay pointed out in my interview last week – is that there was a great deal of complacency amongst the top four in the summer.

United didn’t capitalise on the money received by Ronaldo’s sale, with Ferguson assuming our resources were solid and assured enough to compete; thus only adding one alright (Valencia), promising (Obertan) and no-risk (Owen) player to the squad. But we weren’t the only ones to underestimate the challenge and improvement occurring from below, as our fellow top 4 members have also sat back and somehow allowed the likes of Villa, Sunderland, Tottenham and of course city to step-up and become a more than serious threat to that much adorned Champions League place.

Liverpool lost perhaps their most influential playmaker only to replace him with a £24million injury prone (and yet to start a game) Aquilani rather than bringing in a competent partner for Torres…now look what’s happened. Chelsea and Arsenal were also clumsily quiet in the transfer market (well, that will never change with tight-arsed Wenger), choosing to also rely on their competent and largely brilliant squad; however they have also dropped points and been made to look at times inferior against weaker sides.

To have the opportunity and rather bulging pocket that we have as we enter the season’s second and final transfer market opening is a blessing and surely a perfect opportunity for us to capitalise and get ahead of the pack.

Our performances this season, which if you read my reviews and rants week-in-week out will tell you are largely unsatisfactory and definitely warrant a signing. United’s long-term priorities will focus towards a new goalkeeper and a possible replacement for our injury-prone and pre-occupied celebrity centre back; however I also constantly highlight our lack of clinical finishing, ability to reach an extra gear and goal scoring ability in general as a more pressing matter.

For Ferguson to place faith in Berbatov is a given, as although currently crocked (does anyone know when he will be back??), he has been immense this season and one of our key performers. But to rule out the signing of another striker and thus suggest that Owen, Macheda and Wellbeck complete our attacking line-up and are capable to help us win the league and European Cup (as that is of course always our goal) is a bit naïve. I don’t want to sound as though I doubt the great man’s judgement, and I certainly don’t want to disrespect him, as he knows a thing or two about building teams and winning things; but our often battling and less-than comfortable performances this season suggest we need a change.

Is a £45million rated striker from the Dutch league really the answer? I’m not entirely sure, mainly because I don’t know a great deal about the fella. However what is undoubted is that an injection of class and somebody of capability and conviction is needed to complete this side; a side full talent and ability, but one that has more than often this season struggled to convince and answer post-Ronaldo questions.

26th November vs Besiktas. 0-1

Another ‘easy’ European night? Ferguson’s team selection suggested it was certainly not the most important European night; giving our eager youths a healthy and much warranted run-out in what should have STILL been a clean victory.


As the half progressed we looked more and more threatening; comfortable on the ball and even played on the brink of elegancy with some slick passing, intelligent movement and confident possession from our impressive under-21’s (Wellbeck, Macheda, Gibson, Anderson and Obertan). Even without Rooney, Berbatov et al, this game could have still been easier than expected...

Yet, as has been far more consistent than our ‘elegant’ football this season, we were wasteful and unable to competently finish attacking moves. A dangerous tactic yet through our often graceful style and superb, resilient possession from the midfield – with Park and Obertan controlling the play from the wings – this surely rejected any possibility of a goal, or even an attack, from the opposition.

But it happened and in an incident that defined the term ‘against the run of play’, all the hard work and exciting football produced by our youngsters and debutants was undone. Actually, the reality was we could have been two down at half time; as even though the possession and innovative football was all ours, the only two real chances came from the Turk’s only two attacking moves and the only two half-decent shots on target all half!

I’m writing this at half-time, so of course the final outcome could easily swing in our favour, but for now, we have to further highlight a worrying, over-reliant aspect of our game; and that is our goals coming from a uni-dimensional route (more than regularly from our attackers) and more worryingly, we are wasteful and not scoring enough. Infrequent and indirect is United’s current path to goal, and even though the likes of Macheda, Wellbeck, Park and the flamboyant Obertan suggested otherwise through their early promise, our lack of finality was the difference after 45 minutes.

‘Glimpses of potential, but only one decisive moment’ was Steve Ryder's half-time signoff as the players walked through the tunnel, and as it was (though it really shouldn’t of been), that depressingly summed up the entire game.

Those I mentioned who shone in the first half drifted as the game went on – either through being unable to penetrate the impossible Besiktas resilience as they threw everyone back, or just through sheer lack of trying – and even when Owen, Carrick and our seasons best performer, Evra, were introduced to add some fresh attacking potency, the dimension was still the same and still easy as pie for Besiktas to knock back.

They collected what seemed like too many men behind the ball as they rebounded nearly every one of our shots; shots that had ambition however, as usual, lacked genuine potential and instead flew aimlessly into the Stretford End or into the shins of a Besiktas defender.

There’s no question that our first half dominance and overall performance by our brave reserves deserved a point; and the defining incident of this disappointing European night that summed up our unavoidable on-field frustration occurred in the final moments. Just as the Stretford Ender’s ‘ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!’ was fully echoing throughout the ground, Evra was clear through in the penalty area only to be illegally rammed off the ball. Penalty? Of course not. As if referees couldn’t get any more retarded they are now clearly taking the advice of the deluded yet consistent (and boring) hater claims that, ‘you never get a penalty and Old Trafford’, and obviously, ‘United always do’. With an incident that brought back memories of two weeks ago when Fletcher was booked instead of given the penalty, it genuinely does get you thinking about – in the words of a certain Scotsman himself – the ‘fitness’ of these c**ting ref's.

In a final desperate act, Foster sprinted up for a corner; proving an almost effective move (as the ball swung directly towards him with Brown headed the ball goal-wards, producing our final chance) and also a rather touching site that reminded us somewhat of a great Dane and that rather more memorable European night ten years ago. But how very different those eclectic and almost perfect footballing specimens were to those wearing the United shirt today.

To be honest, I am happy I have this blog. I’m happy I have a medium through which I can channel my frustration, annoyance and general hurt over this complacent United side. And that goes for the gaffer as well. £80 million to spend and you produce this? A team so full of youth and potential yet with as little conviction as any United side I have ever seen. Ronaldo and Tevez aren't the only difference. Something inert has disappeared: the spirit and determination is missing. Who knows, maybe the selling of Ronaldo did signal the end of our dominance as we watch more teams come to Old Trafford and play with prosperity and ambition. Maybe it signalled the lack of power United have; to sell our biggest, best player when we have clearly NEVER been a selling club in the past.

People might read this and think, ‘calm the f**k down! We’ve already qualified AND we had a weakened team out’, but this is so much bigger than tonight’s frustration that I defy anyone to argue against my proclamation.

Whatever has changed this season – not ONLY on tonight’s evidence, as yes, Ferguson’s team selection was clearly rather brave (verging on risky) – it has produced a newer apathetic and typically un-United style that has surely got us all worried for the teams’ future success.

Whether the great one’s departure initiated it is not really an issue. The issue now is when and how it's going to change if we are to have any genuine chance of success in the near future...

21st November vs Everton. 3-0

‘Old Trafford this is the Theatre of Dreams. Please welcome Everton and the Barclay’s Premier League Champions: Manchester United.’ As these ever potent words echoed across the ground and the boys emerged onto the pitch for the first time in what seemed like ages, my adoration towards ‘proper’ football re-emerged and overtook the actual significance of the game; turning it into a magical, overwhelming occurrence rather than a league game that we were definitely expected to win.

I suppose the point I’m making, and the reason behind my excitement towards this occasion (that’s right, I said ‘occasion’, not ‘football match’), is that absence makes the red-tinted heart grow fonder. Fu*k International friendlies, fu*k irrelevant games in Qatar and fu*k French hands that break Irish hearts. Today we finally saw some proper football. THIS is the Theatre of Dreams and this is what we’ve been waiting 2 long, painfully neglectful weeks for. While the media could only care themselves with stupid international events that had no impact on England or English football whatsoever, all I could think of was ‘WSC’, and as I approached block E238 in entrance East 37, I could feel the anticipation in the air. With the rain beating down, I slapped in some F.E.A.R (courtesy of Mr. Brown) and I knew the wait was finally over; Saturday had actually come.

I got inside the ground a good half an hour before KO, which I never normally do, as I wanted to feel it before it all began; I missed it THAT much. I literally just observed it for a while; watching it fill-up, seeing the faces once again, reading the Stretford End banners for the hundredth time and then finally watching the lads take to the field. It was all rather poetic and profound...I really did missed it, okay!?

The teams finally lined up with T-HO parked in front of us, performing his OCD, tourette’s shit (which involved creating a mud-pile with his feet, then rubbing his gloves over it, followed by the classic tapping of the studs on the post’s). As the game got underway, we appeared to begin with a lot more urgency than usual; maybe the Chelsea result has taken affect? Maybe Everton were far weaker than expected? Or maybe I was blowing everything up into an epic, defining event? But as the game ran on and approached the half-hour mark, it was clear that neither the first two were true (and obviously the third definitely was).

We were never outstanding throughout and it’s fair to say that 3-0 flattered us slightly, but when it matters and when results (and clean-sheets) are crucial in order to build confidence after the sort of defeat we were on the back on; then a strong victory against a usually threatening, resilient Everton side is nothing to be sniffed at. We were better than them in all areas of the field and even though they were bravely resilient and had periods of attacking play that made their strikers – namely Fellaini and Yakubu (in the 2^nd half) – seem threatening, we scored 3, conceded zero, and barely broke a sweat; and so with regards to the bridge in gap between the two sides this season – not so much United being better, however Everton’s regressive state – that is perhaps what is most prevalently taken out of this game

Don’t get me wrong, the goals were all special and largely satisfying in their own right. Fletcher’s was the most awesome – a perfectly met half-volley from inside the D that flew into the top left corner; Carrick’s was a result of a good, persistent build-up from a corner; and Valencias deflected effort (again!) even saw the Ecuadorian crack a smile. THAT'S how relieved we were to get this ‘the game after...’ match out of our systems! What I found most impressive about the goals – except Darren’s; that was all about the technique – was the teamwork and, more specifically, the assists that showed great awareness and a general promise and encouraging increase in effort by the lads. Valencia’s nod for Fletcher was brilliant, as was Giggs’ perfect ball for Carrick and Scholes’ dribble and feed for Antonio to shoot goalwards. It really was the sort of response that we had all hoped for after the Chelsea game, however it was mainly the perfect result that the fan’s were most grateful for.

The flaws in our game were still very much present – namely poor poor performances by Owen and Giggs, regardless of his assist for the 2^nd – however to win so comfortably; without conceding, without displaying defensive frailties that would cause an opposition threat – all with a team consisting of more than a few non-regulars – aint half bad. Although the performance was far from amazing therefore, our experienced and largely tidy style prevailed to slip us cheekily back into the running (with Brucey’s Sunderland doing a job on Arsenal – that’s 7 out of 9 points they’ve taken in the three ‘top 4’ games they’ve played this season).

Professionalism rather than ‘the stuff of dreams’ was the name of yesterday’s game however the fact the result by the end felt almost routine, with a slight air of disappointment that we didn’t net 5 (which would have REALLY taken the piss out of poor Everton) shows the intent and presumptuousness towards winning the title is still there. The results will come, as I’m sure the more fluid and more impressive displays will, however with the glorious mood inside OT as emphatic as ever, something that will always be inert at this club is the desire to win and provide results for the constantly adoring faithful.

Goodbye boring, inconvenient exhibition-friendlies (for now...) and let 'proper football' rightly recommence in it's true home: The Theatre of Dreams. Ahh it's good to be back!

Heard.
Renditions of 'Feed the Scousers' and 'Twelve Days of Cantona'. I love this time of year!
Plus, at 3-0 up and cruising, the almost forgotten 'Championes'. It's good to remind people sometimes.


Saw.
Obertan's trickery that brought all those excitable memories of when 18 year old Portugese magician-in-waiting did similar things at the same early stage of his United career.
The Everton fan's kicking off against the stewards. You Scouse bastards. Nuff said.

For player ratings and further reaction go to my Football Talent Spotter page.

OLIVER KAY talks to 'When the Seagulls...'

I had chat with The Times' football correspondant Oliver Kay; getting his verdict on the season so far, United's new trio and those sorry Scouser's...



What's your verdict on the season so far, with all the big 4 teams losing and each looking weak in certain games?

Easy to say this, but I haven't been that surprised. I think there was a fair amount of complacency from the biggest clubs in the summer, an assumption that the top four would remain unchanged. There were clearly economic factors involved as well, but when you look at those four clubs' transfer activity over the summer, it looked complacent. The gap between them and the rest has shrunk considerably, which, for me, is the main reason why they have dropped more points to teams like City, Villa and Spurs.


Can the 'top 4' be broken? And who do you see leaving/entering the top 4?

Of course it can be broken. Everton finished fourth in 2005, Tottenham very nearly did so in 2006. What it needs is for one of the "top four" to under-perform badly and for one of the teams outside to take advantage. When you look at Liverpool's results so far, they are at risk of dropping out. Again, there is probably an assumption that everything will be ok and that their class and experience will see them through in the end, but I think they're going to have a tough fight. Spurs and Villa are good teams, but I still City see as the main threat. City's game at Anfield this season will be interesting.


Who has been your player of the season so far?

Bit early for that, isn't it? I'm tempted to say Van Persie or Drogba. It will be interesting to see how Arsenal cope without Van Persie over the next couple of months. Shay Given and Craig Bellamy have been very good for City. So have Torres, even if he's had games where he has looked utterly fed up, and Fabregas. If I was going to mention a defender, just for variety's sake, how about Roger Johnson of Birmingham.



Is there any player across the continent that has caught your eye?

Apart from the usual suspects, I would say Dzeko of Wolfsburg. He looks like the player United thought they were getting when they signed Berbatov. It wouldn't surprise me if he ends up at Old Trafford. Gourcuff at Bordeaux has had his moments too.



How well do you think Real will do this season? And do you think La Liga has now taken over the Premier League as the best in the world?

Whether it's the best in the world is subjective. I would say that when you look at the performances in the Champions League over the past few years (three of the four semi-finalists in each of the past three seasons), that is the best reflection of the Premier League's strength. Given that England has lost its best and most glamorous player to Spain – and I'm not talking about Jermaine Pennant – and that Real have also signed the best player from the French and Italian leagues, there has been a big shift. I would say La Liga is now certainly the most glamorous league again and quite possibly the best, but ask me again in May.

As for Real, I hate their way of doing things. Throw Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema and Alonso together (making sure you find a place for their darling Raul) and hope for the best. I pity their coach, Pellegrini. He's making a decent go of it and I would expect Real to be much stronger this season, but their defence still looks weak.



How do you think United have done so far this season without Ronaldo? And how well do you see them doing?

They've done no better and no worse than I expected, really. If anything, maybe slightly better in results terms after a difficult start fixture-wise. The performances against Spurs, Stoke and City (second half) were very good, but overall there is a bit of flatness about them. I wouldn't put that entirely down to Ronaldo. I thought they were very unconvincing from about March onwards last season -- performance-wise, not results-wise -- which is why I was surprised they didn't look to freshen things up more in the summer.



What have you made of their 3 signings: Obertan, Owen and Valencia?

Valencia is gaining confidence after a slow start. He's the best winger at the club, though that's not quite the accolade it has been in the recent past. Obertan looks skilful, but there's something about him that doesn't convince me. Owen has been ok - it was a low-risk signing and he looks like he's gaining confidence all the time. I still think United could do with another striker, a more aggressive, physical type, but there's no doubt in my mind that Owen was a punt worth taking. He'll score enough goals to make his signing worthwhile.



And do you feel United need to spend in January? If so, on who?

It's a case of what the priority is. In my view, they lack a long-term replacement for Van der Sar, a truly dominant central midfielder, a top-class left-winger and another variety of striker, like Dzeko. But suddenly it looks like the priority might be to get some cover for Ferdinand and Vidic in central defence. That does like a concern and it is asking an awful lot of Jonny Evans to fill in. I know there's the perception that all United's kids - and I would include Foster, as well as the Da Silva twins, Evans, Gibson, Anderson, Nani, Welbeck, Macheda etc -- are brilliant to represent the club in the future, but I still think all of them need to do more to prove they can be first-choice players at a club like United.


What are you making of the situation at Liverpool? Do you think Rafa should stay or go?

Their situation looks pretty grim at the moment. I would be staggered if they turn it around in the Champions League, so there will be huge pressure on them to finish in the top four in what suddenly looks a very competitive Premier League. They're a strange group of players. When they've got the bit between their teeth, they look unbeatable, but when confidence is low, it's hard to see where their next win will come from. Benitez has got them out of this kind of situation before and I would back him to do so again, but this will be a big test for him.




And a final bonus question, who is your all-time Premier League XI?


All-time being from 1992 onwards? It's very hard. The goalkeeper is easy enough (Schmeichel) and I would have Gary Neville and Ashley Cole at full-back and possibly Rio and John Terry at centre-half. But when you get to midfield, it becomes unbearable. Vieira, Keane, Giggs, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard, Ronaldo - how do you separate them? Up front, my first thought was Cantona and Henry, but then there's Van Nistelrooy, Bergkamp, Shearer, Drogba, Torres, Rooney and probably many more I've forgotten. Here goes: Schmeichel - Gerrard (right-back), Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole - Ronaldo, Vieira, Keane, Giggs - Shearer, Henry. No Neville, Scholes or Cantona, which I admit is ridiculous. By way of apology, I'll suggest that a United XI post-1992 would thrash a Rest of Premier League XI post-1992. Does that get me out of trouble?