Manchester United 2 - 1 Arsenal

Well that's two points more than we got against the gooners last season!

No doubt there are those from Norf Lahndhan wo are crying about the penalty that they didn't get (but have conveniently forgot about the penalty they did get in Glasgow..eh lads..eh?) however it just goes to show that these things do even themselves out!

As for our lads, well, there were a few performances worthy of note, Fletch in the midfield, (our new midfield general but he is NOT the new Keano!), Nani on the left appears (so far ) to have grown up and knuckled down and if he continues to develope as he has done int he first few games of the season then he'll go along way to fulfilling the potential Sir Alex saw in him a few years ago. Ben Foster, didn't have much to do but he as good as won the game for us with an outstretched left boot. Lastly, Wazza, worked tirelessly on his own up front for most of the game and was rewarded with the penalty he won and converted.

However the best moment of the game had to go to Wenger when he was "sent to the stand". I have a certain amount of sympathy for him, seriously, sent off for kicking a bottle and then having no way of getting into the stand for the last 30 seconds of the game. Couldn't this have been handled better instead of turning the whole thing into a farce (well, obviously it could have been considering Wenger is getting an apology from Keith Hackett).

So we have managed to successfully navigate our first major hurdle of the season, her's hoping any others have the same outcome.

Wigan 0 - 5 Manchester United

Hopefully that will have cured all those jerky knees!

Five goals and four of them to those strikers many have said could hit a cows backside with a banjo. Not only that but none of them were "tap-ins", they were all well worked moves resulting in the net bulging.

Berbatov and Owen have now both got their season underway and I have to say that Owen didn't look like a man lacking confidence. HIs movement was probably as good as we would expect from someone of his reputation but also credit to Nani for the pass. In the buildup he very kindly pointed to Owen so the wee fella knew just exactly where to run to and run he did then pop the ball over Kirkland into the net.

Berba showed real quality with his finish too, flicking the ball over the onrushing Kirkland and then bouncing the ball over Bramble in the net (all intentional too!).

As for Rooney...what can I say? A perfect cross from Valencia (and he is showing real promise) for Roo to nod us ahead, then his second deflected in past the helpless Kirkland for our third. Keep it up young man and in no time we'll be asking Ronaldo..who was he?

Finally I have to praise Nani (never thought I;d be saying that!). So far he appears to have up'd his game. Better use of the ball, less running up blind alleys. Perhaps he will also benefit from the absence of his compatriot.

A good result considering our next opponents are Arsenal. That should be a cracker of a game!

Burnley 1 - 0 Manchester United

WelI I expected that result as much as I expected the Spanish Inquisition (and no-one expects the Spanish Inquistion!)

I fully expected Fergie to give Owen his first full outing and he duly obliged, unfortunately he still seems to have forgotten what he is there to do. Two great chances to open his account and he decides not to touch the ball....you know....the round thing that has to go in the back of the net for a goal to be scored!

We should have been 1 up in the first 10 minutes, went 1 down to an absolute BELTER of a volley but at your near post Ben..eh..son..what's THAT all about? Should have been level going in at half time but for some reason Carrick was given the ball when we got a pen..now seriously...who else did we have on the pitch who could and perhaps SHOULD have taken that pen? Ok..lets see, Rooney, Owen, Giggs, Anderson...but no, we gave it to our "best" passer of the ball and he calmly passed it to the Burnley keeper!! If you're not going to put it into the corner then at least have the decency to put your foot through it lad..eh?

Still, second half we should have had another couple. I guess we just have to hold our hands up, the Burnley keeper had a cracking game, and we looked devoid of ways to get past him. Perhaps the one bright spot was how we looked a better team once Valencia came on. If your are going toplay with width then play with actual wingers. First half we had Anderson and Park on the flanks...erm..this is Anderson who is an out and out central midfielder...so that would cause our left side to be a bit..narrow...and then on the right we had Park..with all his energy and running around but no real danger of taking on a man and getting the ball to the by-line for a cross!

At least we can get this whole "flying start to the season" stuff out of the way now. Back to business as usual, two games down 3 points on the board. Perhaps this will serve as an early kick up the backside, at least, let's hope so.

Manchester United 1 - 0 Birmingham

Normal sevice has been resumed. The Premier League is back, and United have started in fine form.

I'm not convinced SAF isn't keeping one eye on my Fantasy Footie team and trying to scupper my chances of winning anything. I had Vidic in there but sold him and brought in Rio (bound to be a guaranteed pick I thought) so I was less than amused on Sunday lunchtime to find out Rio wasn't playing...it's a conspiracy I tell you!

Still, four blind men could have defended against Birmingham, they really didn't offer much in the way of a goal threat. OK so Evra cleared one from under the bar, but seriously, there was only ever going to be one winner in this game the only question was by how many goals!

Turns out United are just as goal shy as they were last season. We really should have thumped Birmingham, Rooney and Berba both cold have had a couple and Owen SHOULD have had at least one but for a fine save by the ex-bitter Hart.

A good start to the season, three points for United and none to our Scouse "friends", long may that continue!

Best team won

Can't really argue with the outcome last night, we turned up for 10 minutes then fell apart. The one game where we really really needed to be at our very best and we were well short.

Congratulations to Barca, they showed everyone why they are the bestat the moment. their passing and movement was a joy to watch (well, it was torture really but you know what I mean). Every player wanted the ball and were not afraid to take it.

Hard as it is to believe, we really really missed Darren Fletcher, perhaps he will get more appreciation for the job he does in midfield. this is where the game was lost. Barca bossed it. We ran after them and when we did get the ball we had nothing to offer in return.

Our "best" passer of the ball (Carrick) couldn't pass water last night no matter how hard he tried. Anderson was totally outclassed, his lack of defensive awareness exposed time and time again, going forward he can be a joy, but tracking back...not his game really. Park was "industrious" but showed no class, and was never going to threaten a "weakened"Barca defence.

Up top Ronaldo was a lone figure, he couldn't really do much considering we struggled to get him the ball. Wayne put in his usual shift but again, without the ball coming forward what could he do?

All that said we still have had a terrific season, considering how we started. Three trophies isn't a bad haul. Three more than most teams!

Time to rebuild over the summer, lets not stumble on transfers and wait until the last day or hours of the window. I feel and have felt all year that we still lack a predator. We are too reliant on Ronaldo and if he doesn't score we can look a bit on the light side. I'd love us to have a real goal scorer to take the weight off his shoulders. Fingers crossed SAF has someone up his sleeve.

No doubt we will have a a couple of weeks of speculation about Tevez, and then we can get back to Ronaldo-watch.

Have a good summer everyone, this season (although not ending the way we'd have hoped) has been a good one, here's to number 19!

Hull 0 - 1 United Res.

So after all the nonsense about teams suing United if they fielded a weakened team and Hull stayed up, United DID field a weakened team and Hull DID stay up.

Sunday showed that for certain games United really could field two different teams and still win.

What a goal to win too! Gibson with an absolute pearler.

Not one player looked out of their depth although Nani still infuriates me. The lad obviously has talent to burn but stillhas this notion that the way to goal has to involve running the ball up his own backside!

A decent result to finish the Premier League season and a minute after the final whistle a better result...when it was realised that Hull stayed up because the latest Geordie Messiah realised that the barcodes really are crap and will be a welcome addition to the Championship (what did you win at Newcastle again Alan?? oh aye...diddly squat! Cheer up.........)

Now all focus turns to Rome and Barcelona. This should be a cracking game. Two teams that play football the way it should be played...attack attack attack!

Of course if you are unlucky enough to be stranded in dear old blighty (or Dublin for that matter) the independent Manchester United Supporters trust are holding a number of screenings. For details visit www.joinmust.org/events

Manchester United 0 - 0 Arsenal

Surely I don't need to say very much about this.

It may not have been the most enthralling of games but it was very much a case of getting the job done. Job done indeed!!! EIGHTEEN titles...and that's a fact eh Rafa...stick that one down on your next dossier.

Now we can rest most of the team for the Champions League final (you know that one don't you Rafa...another competition you can't win this season but then you'll be getting used to winning nothing by now). Some may argue that it isn't fair to the other teams in the relegation fight but United need to look after themselves and our 2nd string may still prove too much for Hull.

Role on the 27th!

Barring any last minute glitches.....

United should be crowned Champions on Saturday before Rafa sends his losers...I mean team...out on Sunday!

Once again Tevez showed his worth and the reason every United fan has been able to tell SAF what he should already have done....SIGN HIM UP!

Carlos is a game changer and how we needed that last night against Wigan. Most of the team looked like they thought this was an easy 3 points. You know..just turn up and turn over these minnows and look forward to Saturday.

That attitude could easily have come back to bite us on the backside. Wigan could have take the lead early doors but Valencia couldn't put his chip on target....between the sticks and Ed was beaten. What made the night look more like "one of those days" was Rooneys inexplicable header "wide" (and I'm being kind here) when it seemed easier to score...

Still, the most important thing was the result. SAF introduced Mr 100% and he duly obliged by scoring a gem of a goal. Carrick's ball fizzed into the box and Carlos with an audacious back heel past the stranded keeper. From that point on there was only going to be one winner.

Ronaldo had a penalty appeal turned down but then it was a night where Rob Styles appeared to be on a mission to give us as little as possible so that was no great surprise. Christiano was clearly clipped and gained no advantage from being allowed to play on.

Thankfully Carrick was on hand to finish things off. While Ronaldo seemed intent of thrashing every chance he had over the bar, Carrick showed a calmness as he deftly placed O'Shea's pass in the top corner (see, you DON'T have to try and bust the net wide open with every shot.....)

Roll on Saturday, when we can wrap up a glorious season.

Hopefully everyone involved in the Tevez saga can see sense and put pen to paper and get the lad signed. Fergie says there has been an offer made, Joorabchian says there hasn't. I don't quite get it, when he was signed on loan there was an agreement in place that we can buy him at the end of the loan, Fergie was even happy to tell everyone that the deal was in place and we'd all be surprised at how little United would have to pay to keep Carlos. Seems like things have changed since then or it should be a simple matter of coughing up what was required.

So a simple message to all involved...GET YOUR FINGER OUT!

United 2 - 0 City

Derby matches are always tricky affairs but this one was just too easy!

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't exactly a classic by any means, very scrappy and far from our best performance of the season but it underlined just how far City have to go to get anywhere close to Manchester's best.

The ref didn't exactly help the flow of the game, I think he must have got a new whistle and wanted to get the most use out of it that he could.

Of course the big talking point after the game was Ronaldo's reaction to being subbed. A "toys-out-of-pram" moment. I'm not too concerned by it but no doubt it will add fuel to the "Ronaldo to Madrid" fire that the media love to stoke!

Even in a season where he hasn't reached the same heights as last, the boy is still top Premier league goal scorer and there is no reason why he won't finish in that position. Personally I think he was just miffed and having to come off when he was playing so well. Better that reaction than subbing himself as he did earlier in the season when he was finding things a little bit more difficult.

The other talking point will of course be the future of Carlos Tevez. He scored a belter and could have had a hat trick if it hadn't been for the wood work. So will he stay or will he go...who knows? I think the final price United have to pay to keep him is the stumbling block but United knew what that would be two years ago. Personally I think he will be away in the summer, I just don't think United want to pay up (not the reputed £20m extra anyway) for a player who appears to have  future on the bench no matter what impact he makes when he comes on. The bigger question would be who would SAF sign to replace him that will also be happy sitting watching from the bench for most of the season?

Still, never mind all that, it will be sorted on good time and we can't really influence the outcome no matter how much we chant "Fergie sign him up"!

This season, bragging rights have stayed very firmly in the red half of Manchester and rightly so. Four more points and the title os ours again. We can have it wrapped up before the Spanish waiter sends a team out again and wouldn't that be nice?!

Manchester United 1 - 0 Arsenal

What a cracking game!

United absolutely battered them and if it hadn't been for Almunia being in possibly the best form of his life we would surely have had this tie put to bed already.

Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez all had great chances in the first half but who would have thought O'Shea would have popped up and smashed the ball into the roof of the net? Nice of Silvestre to forget he doesn't play for us any more and prod the ball right onto his foot mind you.

Ronaldo was also very unlucky in the second half to see his shot from 20 yards rattle the crossbar with Almunia totally beaten, it certainly would have rivaled his effort in the game against Porto.

On the flip side, Rio could be out for a couple of weeks when Ed took a fit of the head staggers and clattered him when trying to get nowhere near the ball. He may have a broken rib but hopefully it'll not be too serious.

So SAF will change the side for the game against Boro on Saturday, I expect Evans to come in for Rio and Giggs and Scholes may well start. Don't be too surprised to see a front two of Berba and Tevez with Roo being rested although hopefully Fergie will resist the temptation to play Nani...I'd quite like to win!