Early in the match Berbatov had two great chances to put the Red Devils on top, however both were squandered. The first came from a perfect ball from Park through to Berbatov who found himself one on one with the keeper about eight yards out, but Joe Hart proved equal to the task by getting off his line early and making the save. The second came just seconds after – on a throw in Nani slides the ball across the six yard box and an onrushing Berbatov finds some way to miss from about 3 yards out. That certainly should have been the opening goal, but Dimi opted for a sliding finish versus a strong one-time strike.

The wheels came off for United in the 52nd minute. A poorly conceived back pass from Ferdinand to Van der Sar sees the keeper rush his clearance, which only makes it just past the 18 yard box, deflects off of a David Silva back to Carrick who proceeds to gift a soft pass to Yaya Toure who exploded into the box on a slight diagonal run and put the dagger into the heart of all Red Devil fans by sliding the ball through Van der Sar’s legs and into the back of the net. Great run, great goal. Advantage City.

From this point on, Manchester City always looked like they would go on to win with only one other bright spot coming in the 66th minute. United’s only real second-half opportunity came from a free kick from Nani. Joe Hart made a great save and pushed the shot off of the cross bar, On replay you could see the ball deflected off of Mario Balotelli allowing the save.

United’s hopes of finding an equalizer would suffer a huge blow in the 72nd minute. Paul Scholes put in a horribly timed, studs up, tackle on Pablo Zabaleta and earned himself a straight red card. Game, set, match.

United play again this Tuesday and we’ll see how/if they manage to bounce back from this defeat.

You can see the full highlights below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy0NxOxNdAs

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And if you look closely, the goal was right in front of Balotelli. Balotelli was the one who criticized Rooney only a few weeks ago. If that doesn’t put the young forward in his place, nothing will.

Nani scored the opener with some brilliant ball control to beat the defender and score a one v one. Only to have it canceled out by a goal that was awarded to David Silva, although in reality it was just deflected of the Spaniards back.

And just when it was looked like it was headed for a draw, Nani served up a brilliant ball which Rooney spectacularly finished. I honestly didnt think Rooney had this sort of shot in him, I see it coming from Berbatov or Hernandez, but Rooney really stunned me by scoring that sort of goal!

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Both Toure and Tevez had some comments for United. If this was three or four years ago, no Manchester City player would dare shout out a warning of any kind to United. Mostly because they would have been dismissed as rubbish.

But over $200 Billion later, who wouldn’t be a little more confident? And that’s exactly where these comments are coming from, Toure said “When you’re on a good run like that and you lose, everything becomes harder. It shakes your confidence. Maybe that can happen to them. It was difficult to lose that game.

“The circumstances were hard because they got a penalty, which we didn’t think was a penalty. For us, it was really difficult to lose to United. I think it’s a great chance for me to get my revenge.

“I have spent most of my career in England battling United, first at Arsenal, now at City. They are always at the top. Now we have new players, we are capable of fighting against them and that has been shown with our results against them over the last 18 months.”

While Tevez was more humble in stating “I am a professional footballer and being booed when I am on the field is a price I have to pay sometimes. But it won’t affect me at all.

“Derby games are always beautiful. I enjoyed them in Argentina and Brazil but, in England, they are extra-special.

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Talks with David Gill about renewing the Rooneys contract at United stalled back in August and with only one year remaining on his contract the 24-year-old has made it clear he wants to leave.

Sir Alex is “shocked and bemused” as to why Rooney would want to leave “The best club in the world”

So, “where to” for Rooney? Like I said before in “The start of Rooney to Real” there are only a few clubs he could actually go to.

Real Madrid, Manchester City and maybe Chelsea are the only clubs I think he would go to. He wouldn’t fit in Barcelona, and he wouldn’t go to Italy, cause it doesn’t fit his style of play.

Both Real Madrid and Chelsea have successful striking duos. Real have Ronaldo and Higuain, and Chelsea have Drogba and Anelka. Manchester City have Tevez, and every other striker they have is expendable (Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Balotelli, and Jo) and we’ve seen what Rooney and Tevez could do together.

Where do you think Rooney will go?

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Be careful what you wish for. City boss, Roberto Mancini, learned this the hard way. Mancini had had voiced his desire over Rooney’s participation in the derby, and he got what he asked for. Rooney was fit to start and certainly made his presence known.

I liked Uniteds line up, it was their very effective 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, whatever you want to call it, it works. Sir Alex can rotate the three center midfielders, as long as it’s Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, or Gibson, and it works. You can add Anderson and Hargreaves to the list of players he can rotate into those positions, when they are fit. On the wings Nani, Valencia, Giggs, and Park are interchangeable. On defense we can always count on the left back and at least one of the center backs. The point is, This is the best line-up for United, period.

City started about as strong as they could have, I think City would have been better off with Wright-Philips or Ireland at right wing, instead of Adam Johnson, but oh well.

United were the first to create an opportunity, only 4 minutes in Fletcher would have a decent effort from 20 yards out that went just wide of the goal.

City’s only real opportunity in the first half came from Carlitos Tevez, when he hit a free kick from 28 yards out. But Van der Sar read it and made a very comfortable save, as he held on to it.

5 minutes before the half, Rooney created a great chance, a shot he would’ve converted nine times out of ten. Valencia drew two defenders, and then headed it on to Rooney, who instead of going on to it directly and attempting the shot. He let it run across his body for a left footed shot, a move that sent the City defender flying across, but hit it wide of the post, one of those chances you would love to get back.

Both sides level at the half.

We would have to wait until the hour mark for the first chance of the half, it came from City as Tevez fed Bellamy on the wing, but instead of bringing it in, the Welshman cuts his angle off by continuing to dribble down the line and hitting it with his left foot well wide of the goal.

15 minutes later City would appeal for a penalty as Barry is taken down by Neville in the box. But a second look at the replay, and you could see Barry goes down far too easily. While at the other end Giggs was given a great chance, but didn’t time it right. He should not have let the ball bounce a second time, it allowed Given to pounce on it and maybe cause it was on Giggsy’s right foot, but a Valencia or a Nani, would have finished that.

United were very lucky not to concede a goal in the 85th minute, when a Bellamy corner forced Van der Sar off his line and into a position where he was completely beat, not only was he in mans land, he decided to have a seat and watch as his team scrambled to clear the ball off their line.

Then when everyone had accepted the nil-nil result, United would again grab a late winner, as Paul Scholes, one of Uniteds most decorated players, received a great ball from Evra, but this was all Scholesy. A wonderful finish, as he directs the ball perfectly with his head, something not very easily done, and easily one of Uniteds best goals of the season, both for skill and significance.

Chelsea is still in the driver seat but much to my surprise United are back in the title race. I probably shouldn’t have counted them out so early, there are three games left and anything can happen.

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Mancini is beginning to sound a lot like his Inter successor. But you can’t blame him for saying that, it’s what his club needs right now, inspiration from their manager, belief that they can compete with Manchester United.

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Al-Fahim told Arabian Business magazine that Manchester City will be the biggest club in the world “Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious,”
“Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160 million but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more, I would think $240 million (£134.3m).
“But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United.”

Sorry to burst your bubble Mr. Al-Fahim It takes more than money to become the biggest club in the world! Cristiano would never, not in a million years, wear a Manchester City shirt. Man City got lucky with Robinho and it still makes me sick to imagine him in a baby blue le coq shirt. If Cristiano leaves United, he would only leave for a Real Madrid or AC Milan. Teams with prestige and history.

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