A lovely afternoon in the sunshine. There is always the temptation to write this game off as nothing more than a glorified warm up, but against Chelsea I am always happy of a victory. It was gut wrenching watching their morally bankrupt team of evildoers win the league last year. Personally, I don’t want to make a habit of it.
There were fears at the start and Chelsea seem to have bought very well with Ivanovic, but Scholes’s stupendous passing gradually put United in charge. The opening goal, built on the back of one touch passes from Scholes and Rooney was sublime and it is tremendous to see a goal coming from a midfielder already. It is an area that needs to start producing the goods if we are the ease the pressure on Wayne this year.
A note on Scholes, and indeed Van Der Sar; I have been banging on in this column for a couple of years about the need to replace these two because of their age. The question must be asked though, who on earth would have played better than them yesterday? Both were exceptional and match-winners in their on way. You carry on boys. You carry on.
We must start to accept that Rio is not going to be a regular starter from now on. The injuries have caught up with him and I suspect he doesn’t have a full campaign left in him. Therefore, nailing Vidic down to an improved contract may well have been the most important piece of business we did this summer. He was imperious throughout and a partnership with Evans is something that my confidence is growing in.
Rooney was a different player to the one who played for England. And frankly thank Christ. He looked like someone who’d won a competition to play for the national side, I worried that he might return a broken man. It is also a good thing we have an extra day’s rest after the silly England game mid-week before the season proper starts.
All hail Ole Gunnar Chicarito. This guy has the feel of a fan favourite already, he’s got a lovely touch and I can see myself rising to my feet when he gets the ball. His strike was quite hilarious too, managing to muscle the ball home with his chin. A goal Jimmy Hill would have been proud of you might say. Ahem.
Ole Gunnar Chicarito
Berba’s marvellous chip at the death might just silence his naysayers for five minutes, but then again maybe not. All in all, with three goalscorers under our belts already and a result against Chelsea things are looking peachy. In my opinion, I also take great heart from the London team’s persistence with John Terry. He was bloody awful and if they play him every week we have every chance of finishing above them.
You can’t quite flip a coin between these two for the title yet. Many pundits are tipping Man City and I have a wary eye fixed on Arsenal’s progress. It would be nice though, if United’s young guns can step up to the plate. Oh yes, Oezil would be most welcome too…
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Photography courtesy of Ginger Me@FlickrCcoms
Maybe it is only one game, but the dread I have had heading into this season has been replaced with eager optimism.