Still Following the Trawler

Mark Ogden,  the Daily Telegraph "Wayne Rooney resisted the temptation to kiss the Manchester United badge after converting an 86th minute penalty to secure victory against Rangers, but relief was clearly bursting out of the 25-year-old as he sprinted towards the supporters who no longer chant his name. "...Actions, rather than words, are what will repair the bridges broken by Rooney’s stand-off with his employers, but his Ibrox penalty may ultimately prove to be the foundation stone in his new relationship with the club and its supporters." Ian Ladyman, the Daily Mail "It may only have been a penalty in a game United didn't have to win but the bear hug and the kiss on the cheek he received from the supporter who reached him first by the corner flag suggested forgiveness is nigh for a player who almost left a little over a month ago. "In yet another TV interview ahead of last night's game, Rooney conceded that it may take a while before every United fan...

Good. General thoughts… Th ought we played a lot better than we did on the weekend against a similarly tepid side (no offence to either Wigan or Rangers – as I’m not entirely sure which team this would offend – but I reckon they’re fairly evenly matched opponents). The movement on and off the ball at times was pretty good, and although we provided very little in the form of finishing product, our 63% possession against a side reasonably strong in all areas of the field was impressive. Easy progression into the next phase as well, without ever really being tested, has been good. But in general, its worth remembering that we’re still finding our feat and easing crucial back to form and fitness So any victory, as unglamorous as the performance might be, is just splendid. Old look United. It was great to see Rooney and Berbatov together again, as well as Giggs and Scholes starting in the midfield. There was something a spot nostalgic and very reassuring about seeing all four of them i...

The big news is the return to the first team lineup for Wazza . Ferguson’s said he’ll start Berbatov on the bench again , as he did against Wigan in the League on Saturday, with Hernandez likely to partner Rooney. Neither Ferdinand or Vidic will make the trip to Glasgow, with Fergie looking ahead to Blackburn at home on Saturday. So that paves the way for Smalling and Jonny Evans to take their place in the centre of our defence.

Opening Champions League night against Rangers. From the moment the anthem plays, feelings of excitement and expectation overpowers Old Trafford. And the team selection confirms those emotions, as Ferguson  bravely drops all but one of our Goodison Park flop... a controversial yet in no way detrimental move . Rooney’s back, but is almost inevitably overpowered by the occasion. Chances come and go, with positive passages of attacking play and long periods of possession dominating our game. But there is zero end product. 0-0 is how it ended. Resilient Rangers prevail and a point for both teams in the first game in Group C is fair and just. But unfortunately the night was anything but fair and just. Unfortunately, the sound of the Champions League anthem and the presence of Wayne Rooney back on the field – as well as European debutants Smalling and Hernandez – could not disguise the true tragedy of the night. For the result pales into insignificance after the game’s – potentially our...