United Beaten, Suarez Scores Four

That was a depressing read. Regardless of how you wanted to sugarcoat it, getting beat by the team you left, at home was a bitter pill to swallow for any manager. Well, it better be!

It was confidence-sapping and derailed our unbeaten momentum. We just failed to roll on after the win in Germany last midweek in the Champions League. It would take some lifting up going into the congested Xmas fixture.

I woke up to catch the second half, and it was pretty even then although United was on the front foot. It took a brilliant reflex save from the bearded Tim Howard and the crossbar to stop is taking the lead. But how things could change.

We started conceding free kicks at dangerous areas again, similar to what we did against Spurs last weekend. Although the goal did not come directly from one, the successions of free kick out us on the back foot and we started defending deeper and deeper. One chance on the 86th minute and it was one nil to the Toffee. We couldn't claw back from that.

Rooney was again sucked down into midfield where he was less affective. Our midfielder just couldn't shift the ball quickly enough. Too many sideways passes. Even the brilliance of Adnan couldn't undo the stout Everton defence. I think we still have issues with the midfield. Sometimes the looked pedestrian.

There wasn't a lot to take home from the defeat especially when the other contenders were winning as if it was routine.

Onwards!

Game of Two Halves

It truly was. United started sluggishly in the first five minutes, misplacing passes and getting out of position. This was not helped by the combination of Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley in the middle of the park. Some might think that it was a defensive ploy.

United then got a lucky break and before Fulham could get themselves organised, they were three down, there was barely twenty minutes on the clock.

United then put their feet off the gas pedal, with thoughts of the looming Champions League game midweek. The rhythm then became stagnant and the game just rolled on towards half time.

Along the way, United picked up some injuries and had to make three substitution at the restart. This further disrupted the flow of the game and frankly, United became completely flat and was left hanging towards the end. I really couldn't really complain if Fulham managed to score more than the solitary deflected goal they got as return.

I was not sure United would be able to pick up the gears if Fulham scored again. In the end, I thought we were lucky .......

An Important Win

It has been a while since I rang about football. Truth be told, the last few Saturday nights had been agony. Somehow, the mojo seemed to be lost in the closet in the last few months and winning seemed to take more than just effort. But tonight, hopefully the turnaround win would galvanize the team and would be the first step in finding our mojo back.

I had to admit that little Adnan made the impact tonight. Since coming in, we seemed to be more balanced as a team, and the pace of the attack seemed to pick up. I thought that Carrick were the one who tended to slow the lace down, but Cleverley was clearly was not clever last night. He was the weak link.

With Adnan replacing Nani - who had a promising opening few moments before fleeting off the game when Stoke scored - and Rooney dropping into midfield when Chicarito took over from Cleverley, we started to tick. As soon as the equaliser arrived, there was only one winner. And Chica did not disappoint.

It nay just appear to be a home win on paper, but the manner of the victory meant a lot for the team's morale. We need to cope better physically - Stoke was just plain nasty at times - and must be stronger at important moments of games. Hopefully this win would be the turning point to David Moyes' reign at Old Trafford.

Another Loss

On paper, it looked like it was going to be a routine win. But it wasn't to be. The way the team was set out, showed that we were confident to get a result. Not fully fit, I could understand why van Persie was on the bench. But Fellaini not starting, and both Kagawa and Nani on the field at the same time. We could afford one passenger at a time. But with Anderson really showing his weight, the team had to carry three. Tough ask.

And the result was no surprise. We really struggled to protect the back four. Anichebe was giving Old Man Ferdinand hell. And today, he didn't have Vidic to mop things up after him. The midfield was easily bypassed with long passes and our passing in the final third really needed sorting out.

We should be more critical in attack and not just depended on Rooney. Fellaini should start the next few games as to develop understanding with Carrick. We desperately need a good spine in the team to build the around.

Two wins, three losses and a draw in the first six games. Not the best of starts but this is the time that we need to get behind the new manager. Slagging him would not get us far. We have to rally behind him. And march on forward. GGMU.

Food and Football

After clearing the mess at the house, we went out for a date, Puan Anita and I. I fancied some wagyu beef. Off we went to Yuzu at KLCC. The last time we went there must've been a couple of months before puasa.

Really hit the spot and as usual, I overeaten. Being post-call, it didn't take much to make me doze off. By the time all the food was in my tummy, driving hone proved to be a challenge.

It's all gone ....Quick nap when I reached home, and woke up in time to catch a bit of Cardiff v Man City. Couldn't believe Cardiff pulled a fast one of Citeh!

United won't be playing until early hours of tomorrow morning. A curtain raiser at Old Trafford, when we welcome Jose Mourinho's return with his Chelsea outfit. Should be an interesting one, although the pre-match banter was a bit of a tame one ..... we need more needle!