UNHAPPY NEW YEAR JOSE

 

(Image taken from Soccernet)

United came to the end of 2006 trying to give the first XI turns at a rest. Which left van de Saar as skipper for a couple of games. It didn't slow us down much though, just increased our grip on the title with Chelsea faltering and Fergie showing no signs of slowing down heading for his 65th birthday. Maybe the Blues could still stop us but it was getting to the point where I wasn't sure how they would, unless we slid on a ton of banana skins before the end of the season.

Well for our last game of 2006 Reading came to Old Trafford and we had the chance to make up for our earlier embarrassment. Ole opened the scoring this time out though ex-Brentford defender Ibrahima Sonko managed to equalise before half time. Guess who then hit two goals to pretty much win the game for the Reds, yes it was Ronaldo! Leroy Lita pulled one back for Reading but Steve Coppell wasn't going to get any points out of his old stomping ground.

2007 brought us to St James Park, with one win over Newcastle already in the bank. Well the Geordie were managing to cover their backsides well enough in the first half for James Milner to open the scoring though Scholsey did manage to turn things round with an equaliser before half time before giving United the lead early on in the second half. 19 year old Canadian defender David Edgar's equaliser meant that we only got out with a point.

Not that it matters too much as Chelsea look like John Terry's injury has holed them below the water line. First up was a 2-2 draw with Fulham at Stamford Bridge. Then came a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park. That now leaves them six points behind United and the Russian with the money is not very happy with the Cocky One's excuses. I'm thinking Mourinho will get fired if he doesn't get his act together given that he was talking about world domination earlier on in the season.

North of the border and Aberdeen's hot run as finallly come to an end. First the Dons lost 3-1 to Dundee United at Tannadice and then they drew 0-0 with Hibs at Easter Road in what was a dress rehersal for next weekend's Scottish Cup 3rd round match. That drops them down to third in the SPL and the UEFA Cup places, one point behind Rangers who are now back into second but five points ahead of Hibs, the best of the non-Europe bound pack.

Next weekend...is Cup weekend!

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