Solid Win Against West Ham (08.21.10)

Hello,

Like Mascherano, our usual PL match report writer, Dan Berriman, is in the middle of a move so I will take over one more time. United defeated West Ham 3-0 in what could be described as solid but not inspiring. Rooney returned, playing the full 90 minutes and getting back on the goal scoring sheet, along with Nani and Dimitar Berbatov.

The bottom of the table Hammers looked, as a whole, unsure and defensively, shaky. Jonathan Spector fouled Ryan Giggs in the 33rd-minute to bring Rooney to the penalty spot. Damn that flu bug or else Rooney would have given United the full points last week. Nani had an up and down game, missing easy passes/crosses, making inspired passes, to getting into open space to miss as well as score a goal. Berbatov has started the season well and United fans have to hope that the pressure on him will result in goals...in key matches.

Fletcher had what has to be one of his worst games in recent memory. I cannot remember the last time the Scottish international has this rough a time. Wayward passes, giving away the ball. It was weird to watch. Evans had a better game although I wonder if Cole is so bad right now that we cannot tell? Hard to tell whether Evans did a good job if he was never really threatened. Hmm.

Now, what about Capello. I am pretty sure I saw him in the crowd at the Blackburn game so I guess he drove down the "street" to watch United. With Lampard out, maybe he made a trip to the locker-room to try and get Scholes to play in the Euro qualifyers. Capello should worry about his mid-field so Rooney does not have to run all over the pitch to help out. Wait a second, this is a United match report. Why I am wasting time talking about England?

While I think Chelsea is the team to beat, they have had the easiest start to any PL season I have seen for a while. United will get West Brom, Wigan and Stoke later. By the way, United has never lost to Wigan ever. Look it up.

Hopefully Dan will be back in two weeks.

Cheers.

Derek