30th September vs Wolfsburg. 2-1.

Carrick celebrating with Berbatov after scoring United's winning second goal. Superb one-touch link up play between Berbatov and Giggs was gracefully rewarded by a stunning shot from just inside the area from Carrick. Although not overly-fluid throughout the game, our passing was positive over all, and Berbatov showed superb vision when he came on to ignite the attack.

Good:

Berbatov...in the first half. His early introduction changed the shape of the game. I feel he is subtly (in truly typical Berbatov fashion!) becoming one of our most important players. I've heard people say that him and Rooney find it difficult playing together because they are both fighting for the same position and trying to dominant that role through the middle, however Berbatov showed yesterday, with surprisingly high levels of energy and movement off the ball, that he is able to create and dictate play so the whole team can function fluidly on the attack. He either created or contributed to every attack in the first half; with his well-timed flicks, back-heeled passes and visionary flare causing Wolfsburg too many problems.

Bad:

We are still a oddly shaky at the back. If it was Rio's performance vs City that was under serious scutiny, then it was definitely Vidic's today. His first act of immaturity came when he forgot how to head the ball and instead let it bounce off his head to effectively create a Wolfsburg attack; which thankfully Kuszczak was able to deal with. Then, he was cautioned for a rash, panicky pull-back on the half way line; why he would need to make a challenge in such a way at such a un-threatening area of the field is beyond me. Not a good day for the big man, who was in fact probably lucky to stay on the field after an awful second half challenge fortunately didn't see him pick up a second yellow.

Owen. His first injury since his move is of course the most worrying outcome of the game, and poses the inevitable questions on his fitness; questions that may not ordinarily be required on a 'normal' player, especially as the injury itself - a mere groin tweek - should technically only keep a player out for a couple of weeks...yet we're not quite dealing with a normal player here, are we? And on top of that, just remind me how injury prone our previous no.7 was? Let the months of frustration and uncertainty with Michael Owen begin!

Ronaldo: Ok, so maybe not a direct complaint on the game itself, but is anyone else sick to the stomach about his ridiculous run of form? 9 goals in 7 games now for Cristiano, completely picks up from where he left the 2007/2008 season from; as clearly last season he took a year out and let his slightly - but only slightly - less incredible alter footballing ego take over, probably as the Real Ronaldo (see what I did there??) was saving himself for the season ahead in Spain - where he clearly wears the white of Madrid better and more enjoyably than he wore the grumpy frown at United. Any who, he's as good as ever and convincing the world, let alone the Madrid faithful, that £80 million is money well spent. His former employers on the other hand, although hardly struggling domestically or in Europe, are playing a more bland, less complex mix of football - missing a certain touch of magic - and one that will in time perhaps become unstuck...although I pray not.

Credit:

Wolfsburg: After the 2nd half, Wolfsburg were clearly able to re-evaluate their gameplan - and why not seeing as they went into the tunnel with a convincing 0-0 first half performance behind them. In doing so, they managed to close out Berb's alot more and read his movement better. His creativity and vision was largely absent as he was given less time and space on the ball. Rarely do you see a team come to Old Trafford and attack as confidently as they did; even if they could only muster up a couple of shots on goal. They were constantly in the game; firstly because the goal deficit was never extreme, especially as they scored first on 55 minutes, but also as they maintained possession well. Although as mentioned they were not always executing chances, they constantly threatened and showed high levels of intent. It was not until the final whistle that I knew for sure it was actually all over!

Key Players:

Valencia. Probably his best, most confident performance in a United shirt. His pace and solid holding play on the wing was too much for the Wolfsburg defence to handle, and he is promisingly becoming more productive and less wasteful with his possession and crosses. Now all that is needed is for those passes to become well reciprocated, adding a further dimension to the attack; one truly reminiscent of those good 'ol Treble days.

Giggs. Do I really need to add anything more to what I've been saying since the Tottenham game? A goal and another assist for the legend. Simply amazing.

Thoughts:

Wolfsburg were worthy opponents - tough and ambitious - yet our class in midfield was probably the difference. Anderson and Carrick dictated play in the centre of the field, allowing Giggs and Valencia to provide the dangerous balls from wide positions that escalated and encouraged our attack. Berbatov in the first half and Rooney in the second were able to stretch the resilient Wolfsburg defence to the max, until finally it was beaten - by the midfield: firstly Giggs' freekick, then Carrick's curling shot from a Giggs assist. Job done.

Player Ratings:

Kuszczak 6, Evra 7, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 6, O'Shea 6, Anderson 7, Giggs 8, Carrick 7, Valencia 8 (Fletcher 82, 6), Owen 5 (Berbatov 20, 7), Rooney 7.