White-Hot Pele

Today Sir Alex returned to the traditional 4-4-2 with Carrick and Berbatov in for Scholes and Park to face the player (Schwartzer) and manager of the month for February.

On one hand, Fulham pose potential problems for United, given their recent form and consistent organization this campaign.

On the other hand, Fulham’s road form leaves something to be desired, having scored only 11 times away from Craven Cottage and having played a demanding match in Turin on Thursday.

Surely everything appeared in place for a comfortable United victory.

However, after a scoreless first half that saw the Red Devils wingers give away possession cheaply and each forward miss a golden opportunity, you wondered if it would be “one of those days” for United.

Fear not. He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney.

Less than thirty seconds into the second interval, United broke through thanks to a Nani cross into the box that setup the side footed breakthrough from the White Pele.

After all was said and done, Rooney nabbed his trademark double and Berbatov finished off the scoring for an entirely comfortable 3-0 victory over fatigued Fulham.

What else is left to be said about Rooney?!

One of today’s announcers asked, “Pound for pound, is there anyone better in World fooball right now?!”

The answer’s quite obvious, after the demolition of AC Milan and Wazza’s scintillating 24 goals in 22 games.

It’s becoming harder and harder to say something original about Rooney, as it’s like trying to come up with an original domain name, a nearly-impossible task.

Really, the only serious debate involving Rooney looks ahead to England’s World Cup campaign, as people argue about whether the World Footballer of the Year candidate plays better alone or with a partner up front. (If only Gerrard and Lampard could play for country like club, then the formation would be obvious, but alas, I digress.)

Today’s match provides fodder for both arguments, as Rooney and Berbatov demonstrated chemistry on all three goals, but both players seemed out-of-synch with each other at times as well, as they desired central positions simultaneously or misinterpreted each other’s intentions. Such performances, when combined with their divergent styles, lends to the debate about their partnership.

Some misunderstanding is to be expected given the frequency United have played with a lone striker recently. Berbatov and Rooney need time together against live action to maintain any consistent and sustained chemistry. Largely, today both were brilliant.

Ah, the spoilt life of a United supporter, where we’re left debating the degree of chemistry between two world-class strikers in a comfortable victory to move top of the league yet again.

Moving forward we can sit back and reflect on a truly wonderful week that saw AC Milan and Fulham dispatched by a 7-0 net score line and look forward to the Champions League Quarter-Final draw. And oh, there’s that little match against somebody mid-table from Merseyside, where the big tactical question will be whether Fergie employs a lone or paired strike force. Most suspect a return to the Champions League formation yet again.

Rooney now stands at 32 goals and counting, leaving football writers across the planet in search of an original simile and Ronaldo’s 42-goal haul within reach, an utterly remarkable accomplishment on both fronts.

Got that Liverpool?! You’re next up for the White-Hot Pele.