Making our point despite Anelka missing it again

ALTHOUGH a point a piece was a fair result, I couldn’t shake off the feeling we missed a chance to put United to the sword, or, rather, that Anelka missed the chance . . . again!

It’s unfair, I know, to blame a result on one player, but the man who missed in Moscow spurned another, equally good, opportunity for redemption on Sunday.

For a striker of his pedigree Anelka isn’t doing enough, and one cannot use the “settling into the Premier League” excuse as he has played for a few sides in the top flight in England.

His record has been patchy and he doesn’t seem to excel at the “big” clubs, and seems to flourish at the average to lower half sides — perhaps we could sell him to Tottenham for €25million? I also can’t help but wonder whether the result would have been more favourable had Deco played and Carvalho not been injured so early.

Having witnessed United’s “robust” play though, I think Deco may have felt Scholes’s boot a few times, so perhaps the injury was a blessing well disguised. And as for Carvalho, Alex, is more than a worthy understudy so perhaps the injuries were not decisive. It will do us no harm to play without them as it is never a good idea to get too over-reliant on one or two players, eh Rafa?

Fergie was unhappy about Riley’s performance — weren’t we all? I’m sure if Riley not shown such leniency towards Scholes, United would have been down to 10 men in the first half.

The “respec’ innit” campaign (the FA are so down with the kids) obviously hasn’t reached Manchester yet as three of United’s SEVEN cards were for dissent and the England vice captain, left the pitch screaming obscenities at the ref. I think a thank you and a box of chocolates would have been more apt for blowing up 20 seconds early and not allowing Chelsea a free kick within Alex’s range.

He allegedly continued his tirade in the tunnel. There were no female stewards for him to kick this time though.

I’m surprised at how quickly and easily United fans have forgiven Mr Tippy Tappy. Applauding him like performing seals when he showed such disregard for the club in the summer, and then returning as if nothing had happened. But I suppose they are no different to the rest of us — needs must and all that. If United were 10 points clear at the top of the table without his assistance I’m sure he would have received a few more pelters while warming up.

Speaking of the winker, Ronaldo’s dive was so absurd and outlandish that I think he would have been more at home with Mark Foster and the rest of the British Olympic team who did a lap of honour at half time. Riley must have been too busy laughing to get the eighth United yellow out.

Pompey tonight in the Carling Cup and they will still be smarting from the pasting that City gave them at the weekend; I can’t imagine James will have such a shocker again either so I am expecting a bit of a backlash. Then onto the Britannia Stadium to face a Stoke side that have come in for a lot of unnecessary stick in my opinion.

I imagine they’ll be the subject of even more condemnation having forced a draw with Liverpool, the second darlings of the media after Arsenal. They play direct route one football — what’s the crime? They need to do whatever works for them to stay in the Premier League and it’s a bit rich for fans and footballing individuals alike to criticise them.

Overall it’s been an okay start to the season and I can only see us getting better as Drogba and Ballack regain fitness. Mikel is becoming more of a powerhouse match by match and if we can just curb his propensity to get booked, we could be looking at a player of Makelele’s magnitude — no wonder Fergie tried to hijack the deal.

The three months to the next transfer window should be just the right length of time to judge whether Anelka does have it in him to make that step up to prolific striker (I fear not) and whether Malouda is taking just a little longer to get used to England or is just a lost cause — I think there is hope with this one. Where we will find ourselves at that time will depend on whether United and Liverpool have managed to bed in their new players and whether Arsenal suffer from the lack of strength in depth in their squad. This could be the first season in a while where there are more than just the two thoroughbreds in the race and should make for excitement for the fans, especially if our game with United was anything to go by.

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