Norwich City VS Manchester United-Barclays Premier League
Line-ups: (4 2 3 1) De Gea
Smalling, Evans, Jones, Evra
Anderson, Giggs
Nani, Muniain, Young
Welbeck
I was slightly worried about this game as none of my three first choice centre backs (Vidic, Hummels and Ferdinand) were fit enough to play so I had to play Jonny Evans, who personally I do not rate. However, the game started well, with wonderkid Phil Jones put me in the lead with a good header from a corner, but then he spoilt it by allowing Steve Morrison to go up the other end and equalize straight after. We were quickly in front again as Iker Muniain scored a powerful debut goal on 18 minutes and just before half time Danny Welbeck made it 3-1 with a close range finish. Young made it 4 with a complete fluke on 58, and finally substitute Javier Hernandez provided our final goal to end it 5-1.
Man of the Match: Ryan Giggs. (8.3)
A good away win to kick of the campaign, with plenty of goals to keep the fans happy. The only thing is, now I will have a dilemma whether to start Welbeck or Hernandez, or Muniain or Rooney. But it’s a good problem to have! Next up, Fulham at home in the league.
Manchester United VS Fulham-Barclays Premier League
Line-ups: De Gea
Smalling, Evans, Jones, Evra
Anderson, Giggs
Valencia, Muniain, Young
Hernandez
I only made two changes after the Norwich game, with Hernandez replacing Welbeck and Valencia replacing young, for the simple reason that I didn’t want them moaning that they don’t play enough games and we started brightly with my new signing Iker Muniain scoring a simple tap-in on 15 minutes. We got another straight after, with Javier Hernandez doubling the lead with an incisive finish. We kept the ball well and Fulham never threatened us and on 60 minutes I replaced Jonny Evans with Ferdinand to try bring him up to fitness. Eventually the star sub Wayne Rooney made it three on 88 with a top finish from a fairly tight angle into the bottom corner.
Man of the Match: Iker Muniain. (8.1)
Another confident victory and a useful clean sheet kept me in number 1 spot in the league after two games. And now that Rooney has scored there are 4 players fighting for two spots in my team….aaarrrrggghhhh!
Champions League Update
I have been drawn in group B for the Champions League group stage, along with Villarreal, Zenit and Bulgarian team Litex.
Wolverhampton Wanderers VS Manchester United
Line-ups: De Gea
Smalling, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra
Anderson, Carrick
Valencia, Muniain, Young
Hernandez
This game was frustrating because we played well for the whole 90 minutes, but we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. Muniain played some great through balls but it was like Hernandez was there, and their keeper made some quality saves. Overall we were very unlucky not to win as Wolves created nothing all game. Final Score 0-0
Man of the Match: Patrice Evra. (7.4)
This means that I am now only top of the league on goal difference, with three other teams also on seven points.
Talking Training
I have received a report from my assistant manager that Hernandez and Muniain have been impressing in training. That might give those two the edge in the fight to be in the starting line-up. On the other hand, Hernandez was terrible against Wolves, so who knows?
Injury Update
Rio Ferdinand out for about a week.
Manchester United VS Arsenal-Barclays Premier League
Line-ups: (4 2 3 1) De Gea
Smalling, Hummels, Jones, Evra
Anderson, Giggs (F Anderson, 58)
Nani (Valencia, 63), Muniain (Welbeck, 71), Young
Rooney
Well the team definitely put the Wolves disappointment behind them and came out with a stunning performance today against rivals Arsenal. Rooney led the charge, and justified his selection with a brilliant hat-trick and an assist to top it off. Anderson got the other from a quick counter, and we were by far and away the better team. A brilliant performance! Final Score 4-0
Man of the Match:Wayne Rooney. (9.7)
It was good to see the team get the Wolves result out of their system and also pump up the goal difference as well. And Rooney has played himself into a place in the team, for a few games at least!
Villarreal VS Manchester United-UEFA Champions League
Line-ups: (4 2 3 1) De Gea
Fabio, Vidic, Jones, Evra (Ferdinand, 60)
Anderson (Young, 81), Carrick
Valencia, Rooney, Nani (Giggs, 60)
Welbeck
Well I didn’t have the best start to my Champions League career. Despite Vidic putting me ahead in the 48th minute with a rebounded header from a corner, I conceded my lead in the 61st minute due to a Cristian Zapata strike. Things went from bad to worse in the 71st minute when a wonder goal by De Guzman put me behind. I then dominated for the rest of the game but couldn’t make the breakthrough. Final Score 2-1
Man of the Match: De Guzman. (8.1) (Villarreal)
Not a great way to kick off the Champions League, especially just after thrashing Arsenal. But we will keep battling and should still come out of our group and into the knock-out stages.
Manchester United VS Sheffield Wednesday-English League Cup
Line-ups: (4 42) Lindegaard
Smalling, Ferdinand, Jones, Fabio
Valencia, F Anderson, Giggs, Park
Welbeck, Owen (Muniain, 53)
We were completely comfortable all game, and it didn’t take long for Michael Owen to score an easy tap-in. My very own wonderkid, Danny Welbeck then made it two after 54 minutes with a real poachers effort. Sheffield then scored their only shot of the game on 64 before that kid Danny won a penalty for Ryan Giggs to convert with the game nearing its end. Final Score: 3-1
Man of the Match: Danny Welbeck. (8.3)
It was good to see my mainly second team perform well and make a good account of themselves, although it was disappointing to concede, again. I will have to try to sort out the defence. Maybe I am changing the back four too much. I don't know.
Manchester United VS Blackburn Rovers-Barclays Premier League
Line-ups: (4 42) De Gea
Smalling, Hummels (Jones, 68), Vidic, Evra
Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Young (Valencia, 83)
Welbeck, (Muniain, 61) Rooney
I went with the two strikers today and also an attacking mentality because Blackburn have been in terrible form recently. Hummels scored an instinct header to give me the lead, and I got another from a Grant Hanley own goal in the 41st minute after Rooney put in a low cross. In injury time just before the break, Nani scored a good goal from a tight angle and on the 60th minute Welbeck gave me another following some sloppy defending by Blackburn. As if that wasn’t enough Rooney added another on the 86th, and finally substitute Phil Jones scored an easy finish from inside the six-yard box. Final Score: 6-0
Man of the Match: Wayne Rooney. (9)
A great performance from the team today. Everyone pulled their weight, and even the subs all had a big impact when they came on. Hopefully we play this well next game as I try to climb back up the Champions League group, at home to Zenit.
Manchester United VS Zenit-UEFA Champions League
Line-ups: (4 4 2) De Gea
Jones, Hummels, Vidic, Fabio
Valencia, Carrick, Giggs (Anderson, 78), Young (Evra, 62)
Hernandez, Rooney
I was determined to win this game as we had lost the first champions league game and I went with an attacking line-up as we were at home and on good form. Hernandez quickly put us ahead with a great goal on the 12th minute and deep in the second half Valencia made it two. I was slightly worried just two minutes later when Zenit halved our advantage through Anton Vaganov, but the team saw the game out to the final whistle. Final Score 2-1
Man of the Match: Hernandez. (8.3)
It was a good win to put our Champions League season back on track, as I am now second in my group. Hernandez is now vying to start next game as well.
Injury Update
Iker Muniain out for about three weeks.
Training Update
Phil Jones and David De Gea have been impressing while Scholes has been a disappointment.
Manchester United VS Wigan Athletic-Barclays Premier League
Line-ups: (4 4 2) De Gea
Smalling, Hummels, Vidic, Evra
Nani, F Anderson, Anderson, Young
Welbeck, Rooney
Wigan had been on good form so I knew they weren’t going to be a pushover but we performed magically and blew Wigan away. We went ahead due to an unfortunate Gary Caldwell own goal and Danny Welbeck instantly added another. An Anderson goal sent us in three nil up at the break, and Ashley Young gave us our fourth on 76 minutes. Wigan got a consolation goal through Jordi Gomez ten minutes later but the result was nothing more than we deserved. Final Score 4-1
Man of the Match: Anderson. (8.5)
A confident home win with plenty of goals. Our goal difference really is now something to be admired and we have opened up a three point gap over Man City, who are second, although there is still a long way to go.
West Bromwich Albion VS Manchester United-Barclays Premier League
Line-ups: (4 4 2) De Gea
Smalling, Hummels, Ferdinand, Evra
Valencia, F Anderson, Anderson (Giggs, 25), Nani (Fabio, 83)
Welbeck (Hernandez, 69), Rooney
I knew that second placed Man City had only drawn earlier that day, so If I picked up three points I could go five points clear at the top of the Premier League. But first I had to win, and Rooney put us in front with a real poacher’s goal on 38 minutes. Five minutes into the second half, Rooney got another and a Shane Long screamer proved the only consolation for West Brom.
Man of the Match: Wayne Rooney. (8.8)
Rooney is really finding his form recently, and also young Felipe Anderson has been stepping up to the mark as well, with a great assist to show for it today. And to top it off we are now five points clear in the Premier League!
Manchester United VS Litex-UEFA Champions League
Line-ups: (4 2 3 1) De Gea
Smalling (Evra, 67), Jones, Ferdinand, Fabio
Carrick, Giggs
Valencia, Young, Nani (Muniain, 79)
Welbeck (Hernandez, 45)
I’ll admit to having the next game in mind when I picked this team as Litex aren’t the strongest opponents and next up is Liverpool, but the quality of performance was excellent. After 14 minutes of complete dominance, Danny Welbeck put me ahead with a powerful shot from just inside the area, and Valencia made it two with a diving header from a Giggs free-kick. Ferdinand scored a firm header from a corner on 40 minutes and just after half-time Fabio scored a brilliant curler from outside the penalty box. It could easily have been five if Giggs hadn’t missed a penalty on 35 minutes, but ah well. Final Score 4-0
Man of the Match: Ferdinand. (8.6)
I am climbing back up the group now and have every chance of qualifying, so a positive performance.
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