Tandoori Time is Back!

After a three week break, the tandoori take out is back. United playing Swansea tonight, away. We won the blast couple of games, so hopefully the tandoori would not be a jinx. With Barry heading the winner for City last night in injury - I meant Fergie - time, we should go for the jugular and preserve the six point leading into the festive period.

Further win would definitely put more pressure on the City outfit, which I was pretty sure would be buying more players during the winter transfer window. We seemed to be OK where we were at the minute.

Kick off would be at 9.30, so there would be plenty of time for dinner ......

Momentum Maintained

A win was still a win and the momentum was still on. It was important not to drop points after the three hauled at the Emirates last weekend. All that good work could be unravelled a careless drop in points against the supposedly weaker team in Sunderland. So, concentration was key, and we saw plenty of that focus on the first stages of the game.

We were rewarded with two goals in then first quarter of the match. First being presented to van Persie by a former United player, John O'Shea. He failed to deal a low cross from Ashley Young, parrying the ball towards the predatory Dutchman who passed the ball onto the top of the net. Cool finish.

The second was a well-worked team effort. The ball was initially brought forward by Phil Jones playing at right back. The play was switched when eventually Cleverley got the possession at the far end playing a pass back to Carrick who returned the ball via a defence-splitting pass back yo Claverley. He side footed the bal past the despairing Mignolet in Sunderland goal.

The other plus point was then return of Nemanja Vidic. But he was not able to to earn United a clean sheet. In fact he was at fault for failing to clear the ball inside the six-yard box, allowing a free header at the far end. He would be better once he got more games under his belt I was sure.

The main thing was, the win maintained a six-point lead at the summit of the league. There was still plenty to play for, but it was telling that we were in this position despite not yet hitting our stride. Come the business end of the season, I hope that the defence would be tighter. We really could do with clean sheets.

It's A Win

Yes! A van Persie deflected free lick in Fergie time! Just what the Doctor ordered. 3-2 United away at the Emirates. Ferdinand getting his forehead opened. Some drama from the sound of things. Unfortunately the Premiership was not a big deal here at the States. There might be an Irish bar or two showing the games live, but it would be early in the morning though.

Twitter was great at updating the scores. I also had @palmdoc doing the honours for me as well as Anita SMSing the results. Wished that I could watch it live instead. But a win is a win. Even better if you could get three goals from only three shots on target!

More on the Atlanta trip here.

Another Comeback

I was too tired to wait for the game last night. Kick off at 1.30 am, with on call tomorrow, I decided to go to bed early. I was asleep in front of the TV by 11, until my boys woke me up to get to bed just after midnight. I set the alarm to catch the second half. By the time I switched the TV back on, the score was already two nil. For Aston Villa. Oh dear!

Fixed myself a drink, just about the time Chicarito halved Villa lead. His first of three. Soon after came the equaliser, a deflection off Ron Vlaar off Chicaritos shot from the back post.

United then held the giant white of possession with van Persie hitting the crossbar twice in quick succession. Both could have gone in, but it was his night I supposed. But van Persie contributed an assist shortly after. His shipped free kick headed in expertly by Chicharito, out muscling his bigger marker to get at the end of the ball. Another comeback.

It looked like we had use up out comeback chip this early in the season. And this was without playing well. We didn't dominate games like we used to, and the midfield had yet to click properly. We were also meaning at the back at a staggering rate, with de Gea still struggling with crosses.

Looking forward to tomorrow night's game as well. It would be Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. It would be a sizzler. Hopefully I would be able to catch the game. I would be on call tomorrow.

Xmas Came Early at Old Trafford

I must confess that I felt asleep right free Ramires scored the equaliser last night. I got a feeling that United would start to close shop, get the off-form Cleverley off and tidy up at the back. I fully expect to wake up this morning to a draw.

And did I miss all the drama? After watching the game - recorded on DVR - I agree that Ivanovic should be off, but to get Torres given the marching order, and Chicarito coming off the bench to score an offside goal, Christmas definitely came early for us United fans.

The Chelsky supporter were understandably upset, and later came the claim that the ref said something out of term to the Chelsky later just added more spice. I didn't think that we had ears the last of this. I fully expect more news to come out of both camps. Which make for an otherwise uninspired start to United season click into gear.

This weekend - Saturday evening - would see United playing Arsenal at Old Trafford. This should be another interesting spectacle. Will we be lucky again?