Wazza Wonderland

The first half saw United with the majority of the possession, while generating excellent chances and countless corners. All good, right?

Wrong.

Two colossal mistakes gift West Ham not one but two penalties in the first 25 minutes, with the sluggish-looking United defense often way, way too square and switched off as the Hammers punt long balls as their primary counter attacking strategy.

Surprisingly, the direct route worked, as the Hammers forward line did well with the few opportunities provided in creating the penalties.

United are attacking well, yet down 2-0 because of bonehead backline decisions. Most peculiar indeed.

Would Upton Park be this year’s bogey ground?
Or, would 2-0 prove once again to be the most dangerous lead in football?

Enter from stage left Chicharito as he replaces Evra, with Giggs of all people moving to left back to start the second half. Give Sir Alex credit, as he’s willing to take aggressive, calculated gambles, albeit without much to loose here.

United up the tempo and continue to attack through Valencia, who was United’s best player in the first half. Better now from the Red Devils.

Enter from stage right, as Berbatov replaces Park and Rooney moves wide left. Unites now have 3 world-class strikers on the pitch.

Red Devil pressure leads to a foul just outside the area in the 65th minute. Up steps Rooney.

Wazza’s superb free kick curls around the outside of the wall and finds that back of the net inside just inside the post right in front of the travelling supporters.

It’s game on.

Writing appears to be on the wall, as the damn hath burst and a goal-flood seems inevitable, but nothing would shock us today, given the penalty decisions.

Pressure builds and builds now.

Valencia’s low cross finds Rooney, whose lovely first touch running across the defenders and top of the box creates ample space for a far-post screamer; it’s 2-2 in 73rd minute.

Incessant pressure now reaches a crescendo, as we’ve witnessed this drama numerous times before.

Everyone in the ground, from Hammer supporters to media to Red Devil faithful, expect United to score more, as the away supporters break into a comfortable “We take what we want,” which for many a side would seem premature, if not tempting fate, but not this club.

Unites are first to every ball now and utterly dominate the match. How many will they score now?

Up steps one bouncing Brazilian right back, Fabio, expertly dribbling around defenders in the box and attempting to cross back from the touch line, where the ball ricochets off Upson’s arm.

It’s harsh, but the inevitable make-up penalty comes, as the linesman quickly signals handball.

Up steps Rooney. 3-2 United. Wazza’s hat trick completes the comeback.

Now the only thing in doubt is the final score, not the result. Chicharito makes it 4-2 and the Red Devils break out their party-trick passing to run out the match.

Game over.

Here are several quick reactions to this match.

First, full credit to Sir Alex for taking off Evra and inserting Chicharito in the 45th minute versus waiting until later. This completely changed the tempo and edge of the attack, with Giggs being a real threat from his left back position. Also, it was a no-brainer to bring on Berbatov in the 64th minute, whose strength and languid possession unsettled the central defensive paring, as they could no longer muscle this center forward off the ball.

Second, what a psychological blow to Arsenal and Chelsea. One minute their hopes are up prior to their own kickoff, while the next minute they watch the Red Devils clobber the Hammers – the match easily could have been 5-2 or 6-2. (As I write this piece, the Gunners are 0-0 with Blackburn well into the second half at the Emirates, plus Chelsea already drew with Stoke.) You can never underestimate the impact of this result on title chasers.

Last, I’ll resist any analysis of United’s defensive performance and instead focus on the attack, which was brilliant.

The Red Devils really impressed all afternoon, as everyone in the squad looked menacing moving forward:
• Valencia’s width and crossing looked superb all day.
• Rooney struggled in the first half, yet stayed with the match and bagged his hat trick in the second.
• Chicharito and Berbatov looked excellent coming on, each with their own form of vision and venom.
• Giggs and Fabio provided wonderful overlapping runs and displayed the utmost composure over the ball in the second half.
• Even the often maligned Carrick and Gibson won enough of the midfield battles to keep United pressing forward.

All in all a splendid effort and one that keeps the Red Devils on-course for the beloved 19th title.

It just never gets old, does it?

No matter your life’s circumstances, you can always count on United to bring you a delightful, gripping drama, one so often full of joy and wonder. Belief simply surrounds and envelops this club, much to our continued amazement.

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Player Ratings: Kuszczak 6; Evra 4 (Chicharito 7); Smalling 5; Vidic 5; Fabio 6; Giggs 6; Carrick 7; Park 5 (Berbatov 7) Gibson 5; Valencia 7; Chicharito 6; Rooney 7 - first half 5; second 9; Nani (n/a – too few minutes).

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Hopefully back at you after the Chelsea match, which I’ll need to watch in the evening in the US after following a strict media blackout.