AND NOW FOR THE LEAGUE-----THE CARLING CUP FINAL REVIEW!


A small bit of history was made yesterday---Man United retained a Cup for the first time in their history. It's not easy to set records at this club because we've achieved pretty much everything so well done to the lads for writing a unique piece of history for the club.



We beat Villa in the Carling Cup final yesterday----much as they yhave been a headache for us this year, failure was not really an option. It's not that we need the Carling Cup that bad but we should do everything in our power to deny the press what they want---to see United on their way down after selling some of their best players in the past summer. It was also about getting the winniing mentality in the squad as we reach the part of the camapaign where the trophies are given out. I mean it really does a lot for the likes of Mame Briam Diouf to lift a trophy just a couple of months into his United career. They ought to get the message that at this club, we win trophies at the end of the season. That at this club, you must deliver. That at this club, failure is not an option!



Not surprisingly, Wayne Rooney was the star of the show again albeit the fact that he didn't start. It had started as the Michael Owen show when the former Scouser drilled low past Friedel to cancel out Milner's early penalty. Without a doubt, all of us were ready to lash at Sir Alex for not starting Rooney--and he probably should. His decision was however vindicated by Michael Owen's equaliser. It's eight goals for Owen no and the manager has confirmed that he will still be at the club next season. His goal now stands alongside that 96th minute winner against City. Unfortunately for the lad (and in a way fortunately for us fans) he injured himself so Wayne Rooney had to come on much earlier than Sir Alex would have wanted. In a way we fans felt that we were now at full strength.
From then on it was a case of when not if. Park hit the post and Carrick forced a brilliant save from Friedel before Rooney settled the final with a sublime header that comprehensively beat the giant American goalie.

Speaking of goalies, I thought Tomas K. did a job in between the sticks. He really does seem to be more confident than Ben Foster. But for the penalty, he was a good bet to keep a clean sheet. Park did well in the middle but he should have buried the chance that Berbatov put on a plate for him. Valencia once again came up with an assist for Rooney. The formula seems to be Berba to Valencia and finally to Rooney. That's three goals in a week that the trio have produced in that order (and all of them came from the head of Rooney). It has to be said that the lad has added a vital asset to his all round play. It's a great asset to have a player who can head the ball that well. That's seven headed goals in his last eight games! Long may that continue!

APPORTIONING THE BLAME:
Nemanja Vidic could have handled Angbonlahor better. There is nothing he doesn't know about the lad's speed so pulling his shirt in the box could have been more damaging for us than it was. Some refs could have shown him red as early as the fourth minute!
Besides a few hiccups here and there from the players, the rest was quite fine.

We've already bagged a trophy so now the players know the fruits of triumph. We're a point off the top of the league with a blockbuster five games coming up. Collecting fifteen points from those will go a long way into seeing us make more history! It's worth cherishing wining the Carling Cup but I really hope that the lads postpone the celebrations for May!
ON WARDS and UPWARDS!

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