The new season kicks off with the opening fixture featuring the resurgent blue power of Everton, with added Neville power, hosting the team with the most to prove this season, our very own Manchester United.
The teams lineup like this:
Everton: Nigel Martyn, Tony Hibbert, David Weir, Joseph Yobo, Alessandro Pistone, Phil Neville, Simon Davies, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Leon Osman, James Beattie
Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ji-Sung Park, Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy
It's a great opportunity for new Reds Edwin van der Sar and Ji-Sung Park, deputizing for the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, to make good impressions in their first Premiership games for United and neither one of them lets us down.
After a tight opening spell in which Manchester United try to take the attack to the Toffeemen, first damage is done when James Beattie goes off injured and poor Leon Osman gets hit right in the groin by the football but eventually recovers.
United keep up the pressure on the Everton defence and just before half time, after a cracking buildup, Rooney passes wide to John O'Shea whose accurate pass finds Ruud van Nistelrooy who makes no mistake from about 8 metres out and cracks the ball into the top left corner.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The second half kicks off with United looking to consolidate their lead and it happens straightaway. Everton's defence gets into a muddle and an attempted backpass by defender Yobo is intercepted by United's ex Everton star Wayne Rooney, who makes no mistake and simply rolls the ball into the net.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's 2-0 to United and surely there's no way back for Everton now. Indeed they seem to lose interest in the game now and United simply keep things tight to wrap up their first victory of the season. And as they are playing the midday fixture, United also top the Premiership table. Let's hope it stays that way all season long.
This review can also be found here amidst other stuff About Manchester United
Article comments
1 - Nigel Pond
And for our US readers, you pronounce that score "two-nil"...
2 - alienboy
Indeed you do, Nigel. Appreciate the support!
3 - BRICKLAYER
And for some real football news, Hines Ward has returned to Steelers training camp. Sorry Browns fans, looks like another year of lots of free time in Decemeber and January for you!
4 - BRICKLAYER
Woopsy, sorry, I meant December, I was thinking of that band Dismember, and what if they got in a fight with Glenn Danzig. While wearing slips. That would be hot.
5 - alienboy
Bricklayer, I think you'll find that what you think of as football is a different gamne altogether.
Try to get into the spirit of things here will you?
6 - alienboy
if anybody is interested, they can read more about football on another blog I have, the concisely titled About Manchester United where this review and other stuff is also posted.