Whenever United come off a loss of this magnitude, it takes me a while to get my thoughts together. This Saturday was a disaster, and it started with the line-up.

Sir Alex shouldn’t have gone to a 4-4-2, but instead have kept the formation (4-5-1) that was working, only replace Rooney with Berbatov. It should have looked like this; Carrick, Fletcher, and Scholes in the center, because Chelsea ran rampant in the middle with only Fletcher and Scholes there, Nani and Valencia on the wings and Berbatov as a lone striker.

The first real chance of the match went to United as Valencia found Berbatov with a center after shrugging off Zhirkov like he was 50 pounds lighter. The Bulgarian would send it wide from a header.

10 minutes later Malouda, who has been in extraordinary form, was in down the byline past Fletcher, who in my opinion gave up way too easily, there was almost no effort to stop Malouda, as he supplied a great ball for Cole who pulled off a very creative back heel to find the back post. And with in 20 minutes United was down 1-0 at home.

It wouldn’t take long for United to go on the offensive and 6 minutes later, Park would get himself in a great position past Zhirkov to draw a foul in the box. There was clearly contact and critics will say Park tried to over sell it. Well there is nothing in the FIFA laws of the game that says “A foul will not be given if the player fouled attempts to over sell the foul”

4 minutes later Chelsea would have their appeals as Neville barged into Anelka in the box. To be honest, that was also a foul; Neville makes no attempt to play the ball. I am tired of game analyst claiming “It’s such a big game, that’s not gonna be given” The bottom line is, a foul is a foul, regardless of where on the pitch, or the time elapsed when the infringement occurs.

Just before the half Berbatov would have an excellent chance after a brilliant through ball from Park, but what does the Bulgarian do? Having a clear chance to push the ball forward with his right and shoot left footed, he decides to cut back! He lacks the predatory finishing skills of a Rooney, Tevez, or Drogba. And that’s why United should sell him right away!

United began to look more like the reigning champs only to have their hopes crushed by idiot linesman who was only a spectator to the clear offside position of Drogba that would result in the second goal for Chelsea.

After 2 goals down, the substitute who should have started, Nani did what he’s been doing best and that’s supplying from the byline as Macheda slaps the ball in, literally with his hand to give United some hope. But it was too little too late.

Sir Alex should have at least started the second half like he ended the game, Park off for Macheda and Nani on for Scholes.

The match would end 2-1 and move Chelsea 2 points clear of United.

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