Youtube to Etihad... fair play to Owen Hargreaves, regardless of Manchester divide!

Sir Alex has showed a lot of faith in Hargreaves, but called time on his stay at Man Utd in May 2011.

Listening to @talksportdrive yesterday reminded me how fickle some football fans can be towards Managers, Players and Chairman etc. In this particular case Owen Hargreaves was the focus of discussion from many fans (in particular Man Utd fans). As transfer deadline day ticks down it looks very likely that Owen Hargreaves will join Roberto Mancini's Manchester City side, having ben photographed at the hospital where Man City put players through a medical.

Manchester 13-3 North London - United and City destroy Arsenal and Tottenham in Super Sunday!

Manchester's two Premier League representatives stepped it up a level this afternoon with two resounding victories. Early on Sunday afternoon Manchester City travelled to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham; and left with 3 points following a crushing 5-1 victory. Sir Alex Ferguson's Man Utd side welcomed Arsene Wenger's stuttering Arsenal and sent them home with following a mind-blowing 8-2 win!!

Both teams started the day with six points from a possible six; and before kick off at Old Trafford, United will have known that their City rivals had made it nine out of nine with a +9 goal difference, but anything City can do United can do better!

At White Hart Lane Man City included new recruit Samir Nasri in their starting line-up; and what an outstanding debut the Frenchman had in his first match. However good his debut was, he could not take the limelight from Bosnian Striker Edin Dzeko, who struck four of City's five goals! Tottenham, who had little to smile about were utterly outplayed by a dynamic, creative and ruthless City side who were very much on top form. They mustered up 22 attempts at goal over 90 minutes as well as dominating possession; and all this away from home.

Despite a 5-1 victory, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and James Milner were among unused substitutes on the day; demonstrating City's resounding strength in depth. With so much money spent on players it seems that City's team is finally reaching its full potential. Roberto Mancini's Midfield and Attacking options are just as good as their City counterparts. With three goals conceded in three games, you could say the defending has not been at its best, but that is a very minor blemish on what has been a superb start to their 2011/12 Premier League campaign. 

Samir Nasri enjoyed a brilliant individual and team debut for Man City. Photo: Guardian

Wenger Paints an Honest Picture as Ancelotti Refuses to Give Up

Half Time at Upton Park yesterday and Arsenal and Chelsea will have been licking their lips at the slight prospect of Man Utd dropping points in the title race. Had Man Utd dropped all three points yesterday and Arsenal had beaten Blackburn, the title would have been out of Man Utd's hands. Instead however, Sir Alex's men find themselves seven points clear at the top of the table following Chelsea and Arsenal's dire displays yesterday.

A picture is worth a thousand words...Arsenal's mustered up 511 successful passes yesterday, but not one goal. Photo: Guardian Chalkboards.

Ferguson Says "Nothing In It" As Rooney Loses His Cool Once Again

Rooney was lucky to get away with a blatant elbow. Photo: Telegraph

Another Man Utd game passes and despite a resounding 4-0 crushing of Wigan, what I took from the game was that Wayne Rooney continues to behave like a thug on the football field. An off the ball incident is again the talking point; one that needs little discussion when you see it! Why is it that Wayne Rooney (given his almost dyer performances earlier in the season) continues to act like a angry little juvenile when he knows there are 20 camera's focusing on him for 90 minutes?

Drop Wayne Rooney! Man Utd must use hotshot Hernandez from the start of a match.

What does Javier Hernandez have to do to earn a start at Man Utd. Photo: BBC Sport

I am an admirer of the football Man Utd can at times play. Tonights stubborn performance against Blackpool saw United take a smash and grab three points with a 3-2 victory. Whilst it irritates some football fans that United refuse to be beaten, I for one see it as a magnificent testament to what they are all about as a footballing side. One thing however is bewildering me...Why is Wayne Rooney not sat on the bench for Man Utd?

I do not want to go on about the sparkling career that Wayne Rooney has had, nor the threat he still poses as a player on the field of play. Javier Hernandez has scored on 7 occasions this season, most of which have come from a cameo appearance towards the end of games; opitimised by the fact he has seen only 753 minutes of football this season. On the other side of the coin, Wayne Rooney has played over 1000 minutes of football this season, scoring only twice.

Edin Dzeko...The Missing Link in an Ambitious Man City Side

Edin Dzeko could be just what Man City are looking for. Photo: caughtoffside

If we are to believe recent reports, Edin Dzeko will be a Man City player within 24 hours in a deal worth around £27m; but what will he bring to Man City in a bid to try and reignite the perhaps fading title hopes? Despite rumors of David Suarez heading to Man Utd, I am more excited about the far more likely transfer on the other side of Manchester. I for one have not written Man City out of this season's title race; and I think that Edin Dzeko could be the solution to what Man City are lacking.

Can Man Utd Improve Away From Home To Fend Off Man City's Title Charge?

We are now approaching 2011 and the midpoint of the Premier League season. The season to date has seen some very interesting results, but where is the Premier League title going to end up? Man Utd's sheer resilience and ability to not be beaten sees them at the peak of what I consider to be the most hotly contested Premier League title since it began. The blue half of Manchester will be buoyed by the fact that they are sitting on level points with United; despite United having two games in hand at this stage. So, if we are to believe the words of Man City's First Team Coach Brian Kidd then the title is Man Utd's to be lost, but where could it be lost?

United have gone about their business almost quietly this season. Whilst the focus of many articles in the media and blogs alike has focused on Chelsea's faltering form, or Arsenal's evident inconsistency or on the crisis at Liverpool, few have focused on the fact that Man Utd remain unbeaten going into 2011!

Man Utd have been a formidable force at home this season. Photo: Zimbio.