Hungry For More

I'll leave all the “Five Star” performance titles to others in the blogosphere and media. Today was all about appetite.

Midway through the second half, speculation began about if history were in the making with a 6-0 lead and 27 minutes remaining. Would United's 9-0 victory over Ipswich Town be beaten? How many would Berbatov score?

Ultimately, history held in a 7-1 victory, taking United's unbeaten run to ten over Blackburn, as Berbatov joins Cole, Defoe, and Shearer as the fourth player to score five goals in a Premier League match. Bestie's six goal tally against Northampton would remain safe as well today, but just barely, as Berba's screaming header was tipped over by Robinson with something like five minutes remaining.

The adjectives from today's performance run from clinical to sublime, ruthless to superb, as I can't think of a single United player who didn't play well, with the only blip being Jonny Evans getting pushed too easily aside by Samba to nod home Rovers' only goal.

Going a plus-six in one match certainly does wonders for United's goal-differential, as we're now tied with Chelsea at plus-nineteen ahead of their match against Newcastle tomorrow.

Upon reflection, three things really stood out for me from this match.

First, United, including Rooney, looked remarkably famished immediately from the first whistle, which is wonderful to see, given the up-and-down performances through the season's first third. Everyone looked dangerous going forward, as the movement off the ball and first-touch passing were delightful to watch. United cut Rovers apart for a full 90 minutes. The front pair, Park, Nani, Anderson, Evra and Rafael deserve full praise for their almost telepathic understanding of each other at times – truly United at its most lethal attack all season. It should be noted that Rooney made nice strides from the midweek match against Rangers, as his movement, passing, and first-touch demonstrate he's enjoying and regaining control over his football again.

Second, while some may get caught up in United's performance, it absolutely must be acknowledged that Blackburn were atrocious, which played a huge part in today's proceedings. Giving up a goal 72 seconds into the match threw Big Sam's game plan right out the window. No nil-nil draw today. And not much later, Chimbonda's horrendous back-pass – or early Christmas present – for Berbatov's second clearly gutted Rovers. Down 3-0 inside 30 minutes against a free-flowing United side caused Rovers to labor the rest of the afternoon. Hard to play well against a committed opponent knowing the result is pre-determined no matter the effort.

Foremost and finally, all credit in the world to the Man of the Match, one Dimitar Berbatov, on his exquisite five goal tally. Certainly Fergie's pre-match comments about making too many changes in the side, which led to a dip in Berba's form, seemed incredibly apt after the match.

Berbatov and Rooney looked as though they've played together uninterrupted all season long, with both players unselfishly looking for the extra pass to each other much of the afternoon. The chemistry was down-right amazing for anyone who's seen enough of United to know the frustrations these two can have getting on the same page. Berba looked rejuvenated playing along side a fit and focused Rooney.

Given the deservedly harsh criticism of the past few weeks, the Bulgarian's finishing abilities shined with the attack coming from all angles. Today's match rewarded Berba's poaching instincts with abundance. Yet, there was a strange, ironic twist with the fifth goal coming only after Berba's initial cross to Rooney got blocked straight back to the Number 9 to slot-home a tight angle, side-foot effort into the open goal. Others couldn't buy Rooney a goal from open play, even today, which in some way seemed a kind of karmic justice for the Number 10 who so openly flirted with aspirations elsewhere.

While the crowd craved for Rooney to get a goal from open play, in retrospect, not getting one could pay dividends in the near future. You can only expect Wazza's remarkable improvement in form to continue from game to game, leaving the lad and United hungry for more.
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Back at you after the West Ham match. Cheers.