Mistimed, studs up and slightly high, knee-jerk reactions: Manchester United vs Aston Villa, English Premier League

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Truth be told, Aston Villa Football Club should really just be renamed Manchester United's Bitch. More so than Newcastle United even (another Manchester United's Bitch). The Villans have got their ass handed to them by United more times than I can remember. In fact, I always look forward to matches against Villa, because we almost always play well against them.

Part of the reason for this is thanks to Villa themselves, for which they deserve credit, no really. They, unlike many other teams that play against United especially at Old Trafford, don't come and park their team bus in front of goal. Villa almost always try to play football - as in trying to be positive, pass the ball and try to attack - against United. So, the end result is that inevitably they get out classed by United's slicker and better football. And I absolutely admire that, because with their wretched record against us, it would have been the perfect excuse for them to try anti football tactics against us, but they never did. If only all the other teams thought this way, it would make life a whole lot easier.

Anyway, back to the game which could be described in four words. Sublime. Genius. Ronaldo. Rooney. You just have to watch the replay of the goals to agree with me.

The first by Ronnie was the work of genius. The sheer impudence to even come up with that is just unbelievable. The Villa defence failed to deal with a set piece properly and the ball fell to Ronaldo, but he was surrounded by opposing players, with one closing right up on him, and the window to get off a decent shot pretty much gone. Except, this is Ronnie we're talking about, and with a fluid back flick, he put the ball past the defenders legs, past the surprised keeper and into the back of the net.

If the first was all about Ronaldo's genius, the second is about great team play, vision, passing and movement, but no less impressive. It was classic United this one. After a Villa attack broke down in front on the 18 yard area, United burst forward in typical United fashion. Tevez got the ball, just inside his half with a couple of players closing him down, he made a pass to Scholes who immediately Rooney. At the same time Tevez plowed forwards. Rooney cut inside and passes back to Scholes who has moved into a more advance position, who in turn finds an onrushing Ronaldo. Ronaldo dribbles into the box and delivers a cross right to Tevez's forehead for 2 nil. It was a beautiful, fluid, clinical move from start to finish.

The 3rd was more of the same. This time it started way back with van der Sar, who feeds Evra to Scholes then Giggs. Evra steaming forwards at this point providing an option, but Giggs opts for Ronaldo, who in another outrageous display of footballing genius, produces an almost improbable back flick right into the path of a goal-wards bound Rooney, who makes no mistakes this time, fooling Scott Carson with a drop of the shoulder and then rounding Carson and passing the ball into the net with his left foot.

United were cutting Villa open at will and the 4th was just inevitable and to be honest could and should have come a lot sooner. Again, incisive passing from United, lead by Scholes, fashions an opening in Villa's now demoralized back four. Ronaldo finds Rooney completely unmarked and he took his second goal with glee, striking it hard and low towards the near post.

The scoreline at the end was not flattering. It could well have been 7 - 0. Villa started out well and probably matched United for the first 15 minutes or so. But once United upped a gear or two, Villa just couldn't live with it. Rooney should have had 3 or 4, Tevez and Ronaldo should have had 2 each.

When we play with this kind of swagger, it is just fantastic to watch. It certainly looks like we're hitting our peak form at the right time. Rooney looks back to goal scoring ways. Ronnie is in irrepressible form. Most of the squad seem fit and ready, apart from a  few worries with Rio, Evra and Carrick (which I hope is just Fergie blowing it up to mind fuck the Romans). Unlike last season where we were severely depleted at this point and limping towards the finish line.

Now, that we are this close to the finish line, we've got to give it everything we've got. Every game. Concentration has to be 100%. We're so close. Next up is Roma in the Champions League. Although, we beat them 7-1 last season, they are a better team this time around and lets not forget they beat Real Madrid home and away in the last round. So they are tough opponents for sure.

I hope all the key players are fit and ready for this. Rio is absolutely vital to our defence. Evra is our best leftback by far. And Carrick offers fluidity to our midfield (not to mention starting the rout of Roma last season). Nani will not be playing in Rome which is a shame because he can offer lots of penetration and extra attacking edge. Giggs did slightly better against Villa so I hope he ups his game big time against Roma (he plays well against Italian teams, most of the time). Most of all I hope, Rooney and Ronaldo continue their awesome form and the whole team play with the kind of passion, determination and flair that we know they are capable of.

Highlights against Villa

Really really late, slightly hungover knee-jerk reactions: Manchester United vs Deluded Scouse Twats

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I'm back after a short hiatus. A combination of work and other responsibilities took its toll on bullshit writing.

Anyway, time for a kickstart and what better way than the awesome pwnaged United gave Liverpool. There's no other way to describe it other than the Scouse bastards got their asses handed to them at Old Trafford. In fact, we've pretty much owned them in this fixture for what seems like centuries. It's very important that we remind Liverpool of the gulf in class that exists between United and their little club.

Before the match, there was all the usual hype and all the usual bullshit trash talk. Most of which came from Merseyside. They've been yapping about their great recent form, their deadly duo of Gerrard and Torres and about halting United's title run. Yeah right.

And Benitez even attempted to play mind games against the master of mind games himself, Sir Alex Ferguson. And look how that backfired on him. His pitiful attempts to psyche the refs into perhaps favouring Liverpool didn't work. Fergie on the other hand chose to comment on the hot topic of giving match officials respect. Which you could say worked to perfection. Genius.

Contrast that to Mascherano, who must be the stupidest person on the planet. Really. I mean, with the current focus on respecting referees and all that, after the Ashley "The Cunt" Cole incident - during which Steve Bennett was the 4th official - you'd had to have been a lobotomy patient to even attempt to start any sort of bullshit with Steve Bennett. Enter Javier Mascherano, who decides to do just that. He's got more balls than brains that fellow. In fact, I think his skull is full of testicles instead of a brain.

After he gets a deserved yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Scholes, he then proceeded to have a go at Steve Bennett. And after that, for the next 30 minutes or so, he went on a personal quest to annoy the ref and get himself sent off. Why would somebody, who's already got a yellow, decide to do that? Only he would know.

The last straw came when he decided to get involved when Torres - who also had a lot to say to the ref - got booked. You could see what was coming from a mile away. The moment he started towards Bennett, I knew he was in deep shit. It didn't matter what the fuck he said to the ref (pay attention Rafa), because it wasn't that isolated incident that got him booked. It was his continued questioning of the ref's authority.

Now I hope the FA throw the book at him, since they're being so serious about dealing with dissent and respect for officials. Especially after Mascherano went ape shit crazy after Steve Bennett showed him the red.

Now although it was kind of fun to see a Liverpool player exhibit that kind of idiocy to get himself sent off, I would rather he didn't because now their deluded fans get another excuse for their teams embarrassing loss.

The fact is, United dominated even before the sending off. We controlled possession and made the most chances - clear cut chances - and scored a goal. It could easily have been 3 - 0 before the half, with the gilt edged chances that we missed. Rooney and Ronaldo could have had a hat-trick each. Liverpool barely threatened and occasionally mustered up a half chance.

Their double threats were hardly noticed. Rio and Vida took turns to make Torres their bitch. And Gerrard looked a bit like he was lost and didn't know what to do.

Like against Arsenal in the FA Cup, it was a great performance by all the lads (well mostly), who were up for it from the off and kept Liverpool constantly on the back foot. They showed more passion and more desire. Only when anxiety crept in, because we kept missing chances to put the game to bed, did Liverpool gain any sort of impetus.

The defence was solid and had Torres and co in Rio's pocket. The central midfield of Carrick, Scholes and Anderson, controlled the ball so well that Stevie G and co didn't get into the game at all. Although, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with Anderson, who didn't show enough composure and seemed a bit over excited. Giggs, as he has been this entire season, was quite poor. I don't remember him getting anything right and contributing anything positive at all. Fergie should put him on the bench until he sorts himself out. In the mean while Nani should get a start because he has impressed everytime he is given an opportunity. His delivery is great and the boy packs quite a shot on top of his speed and dribbling skills.

No such complaints about Rooney and Ronaldo. Despite continuing to be wasteful, the both of them delivers time and time again for Manchester United. Ronnie was relatively quiet by his standards but he still manages to make game changing/match winning contributions. Wazza was just awesome. Although he really should have scored, his contribution was all round. He ran Liverpool's 2 centrebacks ragged and was a constant threat. Making chances for himself and others. That awesome first touch to bring van der Sar's goal kick down was incredible. It could and should have been tucked away pass Reina as the Goal of the Season.

I don't want to read too much into one game but this is certainly significant. Obviously we beat Liverpool, yet again, but Arsenal's loss to CSKA London at Stalingrad Bridge, increased our gap at the top to 5 points with a superior goal difference. At the end of the season, when United hopefully retains the title, we'll look back at this match as maybe the significant moment of the season.

But the road ahead is still brutally tough. We've got some tough fixtures, with several potential banana peels along the way, if we're not careful. Throw in the Champions League matches and things get even more interesting. The lads will have to take one game at a time and treat match like they did against Liverpool (except with much better finishing), with passion, determination and flair. If we do, then the title is as good as ours.

MOTD Highlights