stuff the fact that rafael is young, he still got burnt as a defender! he's a full back (attacking yes) but still l a full back and was in trouble most when defending runs from pedersen(?)! Good going forward but he's a defender and first needs to defend. 7 max but no where near a 9!!

Rafael is absolutely brilliant so that's the corners sorted for years to come. Rafael and Evra, it doesn't get any better. Three mid fielders injured and JOS once again proving that even in a stroll, he can't pass a ball. This leaves us with Fletcher and ANDERSON AS OUR STARTERS with Giggs as back up. He played well tonight. Anybody know what Fabio's preferred position is and where he rates beside his twin.

Really impressed with Rafael's attacking flair and ability. Surely one for the future, or maybe even ... now! But his defensive display is still requiring much work. Surprisingly, in this game, before RB and LB were defending poorly. Maybe its the opportunities to attack that left many holes at the back when Aalborg counters.
Nani was awful. Someone really needs to speak to him and run through the motions. His decision making is terrible! Hope he finally comes good as it is really frustrating to watch when attacks break down because of him.
Though Berb scored 2, wasnt too impressed with him. The open goal miss showed a real lack of confidence. But more worringly, he choose to play for sporadic spells and no real effort to even provide defensive duties. Hopefully, this 2 goals will spark him to life.
Hope Rooney's injury is not serious. He is beginning to hit form (goal for England and now consecutive game for club!). It will be a loss to lose him now. But, with Tevez as cover, less concerned than last season.
We really should have hit 7 past them!
Come on you Reds!

need a rating for clive tyldesley.
0 - most biased anti-united commentating seen since Dalglish did a guest spot a few years back.

Thought Rafeal was outstanding despite the commentators being on his back from the start seemingly wanting this young lad to make a mistake. Their mistake though as this kid is gold. He has plenty to learn of course but has the ability and mental strenght to become a real star. This lad was born for the big stage.

Well done also to Rooney who was brilliant last night and also to Berbatov who really came to life after his first goal, a great second goal and fabulous pass to Ronaldo. In four games he has made things happen big time despite not really being in tip top condition.

thought giggs did well when he came on, nani and o'shea were both poor giving the ball away too much. Great performance by Rafael.

Nani was poor every pass or cross was misplaced, o'shea ditto I never knew he was playing until his name was mentioned for kicking the ball out from another miss hit pass, it's an absolute disgrace that he can play in midfield for our team, defence fine midfield a joke.Berbatov was quite poor as well if we are being honest, but took his goals well, it's a worry if we are playing a stronger side with him,nani and ronaldo playing as none of them track back.
Giggs played well when he was introduced, his running with the ball especially, the defence was also fine though van de sar struggled with crosses again.

I think Stuart Mathieson must be infatuated with Rafael! Rafael did well but not enough to be man of the match.Attacking he was very good.Defending he was weaker than the more experienced players.
Evra was MOTM for me.Nani needs to improve his concentration as so much skill on the ball is followed by an inabilty to find a team mate.

Whilst Scholes is prob a 5, due to the injury.... how can Nani receive 5 too ???

His performance was every bit as poor and dispappointing as Da Silva's was encouraging, promising & good!

Then we have, & not just last night in some cases...

Ronny, Berba = Rusty (to be expected with no pre-season)?

Vida & VdS dont look their normal self ....they both seem jittery!?

Roon,Giggs,Rio,Pat-were simply far too good for them.

And finally Old Johnny,Johnny, Johnny !!.... even he had no real problems against the Danes BUT..... still managed to show on quite a few occassions why he isn't good enough to play for the champions of europe!
when he passed that 5 yard ball into touch i nearly fell over laughing.....priceless! lol.

Happy Days!!

vds 6 nowt to do really
da silva 8
rio 7
vidic 6
evra7
nani1
giggs 7
opie 4
ronaldo 7
rooney 8
berbatov 7

Lee, what do you think to the teenage ninja playing right mid rather than right back (long term). He's small and unlike pat (who seems to have a portable tramoline on his feet!) isn't that strong in the air???

VDS needs to get himself in order and back to form quickly , he is not good enough in the PL !!
well done United , lets hope shcolsey isnt too injured and the same for rooney !

i thought that rafael was a real threat coming forward and im really looking forward to seeing more of him, probably needs to work on his headers a little bit but a brilliant prospect for the future. thought giggs came on and filled the ginger princes boots nicely with a assist to prove so too.

Putting utility man like O`Shea in central midfield would seem to undermine Utd`s quality and aspiration of defending the trophy. Surely, the club can`t overlook the availability of better players like Anderson, Fletcher or maybe Gibson in the team. O`Shea is good only as a squad and back up player if the situation demands.

Given the quality of opposition, I'd give everyone a 7 except Nani (5) and Rooney (8).

Playing a 4th division side! Knock off 3 from everyone. United were rubbish and only won because the other guys were worse.

I thought rafael was really good going forward but showed his inexperience in defense but what a prospect..is wes now third choice as right back?

Maybe scholes injury will open up an opportunity for Possebon, anyone know the latest on him?

Nani....showed so much promise until the final ball, he then chose the wrong option or a poor cross...really frustrating...as for O'shea..where was he? barely heard his name mentioned and when it was he gave the ball away......

He's one Hell of a player, but I do think Patrice Evra has developed a worrying tendancy to commit himself to going forward a few times, therefore getting caught out of position a few times.
Last night he could have got punished by a really good outfit, particularly during the first half, when Aalborg broke down his wing.
That aside it was a decent display against a slightlly over physical side in front of their home support.

ok balders
i suggested some weeks ago that young rafael would do more than a good job as a right sided midfielder and far preferable to the godson.

the arrogant desolate one perceived that as an additional threat to fletch and dismissed it out of hand.

every time i see this lad i am more and more convinced that he would be sensational on the right side of our midfield.

For me Ferdinand MoM. Looked really solid. Excellent start by Rafael. Hopefully the injury was not a serious one as I would like to see a bit more of him this season. Given that Beckham started as a right back at 19, could this be Beckham mark 2? Has an excellent right peg and some super skills on the ball. Nice to see Berby off the mark even if the opposition were poor. Second goal was really well taken.

Hopefully Rooney will be back soon but unfortunately Scholes looks like he will be off for a few weeks. Maybe there will be an opportunity for Manucho to get a couple of games.

Balders I think it would be possible. The lad positively drifts past players like they arent there. He is a real talent. However I do see his future as a fullback. He loves a tackle and is full of energy. Serious talent.

Criticising John O'Shea is totally unwarranted and against the spirit of this Club and the game of football. He played well yesterday. The forwards were changing positions continously and yet there were always two players in the middle to trap, hold and feed the ball onto the forwards, O'Shea and Giggs. I'm not his biggest fan, but I dislike unfair critism. As for Nani, he is only 21, and it is his 2nd season at United, compared to Ronaldo's 6th. Comparing him to the best player in the world is unreasonable. He's far from the finished product, but a lot of that is due to the pressure he is under to star like Ronaldo. As he grows older and learns the language his game will get better. He has the essential ingredients to be a superstar, and now needs time to be baked into one.

Keithmat, you sad pathetic [fill in the blank yourself]. Could you not just enjoy the victory for once and give credit where it is due. Learn how to be gracious in victory. You have no class. You don't belong to here.

Set pieces again - this time when we are on the attack:

1.When will somebody stop Ronaldo from attempting to score from impossible distances!! We get a free kick in a very promising position (45 yards out last night / 35 yards out and on the left against Bolton)Instead of laying on a deadly inswinger, difficult to defend, you just know he is going to have a self indulgent and impossible wind at goal. What really annoys me is that he is at this glory hunting for the past 3 years and a)Fergie has not put a stop to it and b)there is no Roy Keane / Perer Schmeichal on the field to give him the bol****ing he deserves. In other words no leadership on the pitch.(Yes I know about his 42 goals,brilliance etc but this is demoralising for his teamates.)

2. Corner kicks: Any statistics on how often we score from corners compared to the other top teams - I bet we are the worst. Too many outswingers - they are simple to defend. Remember Arsenal some years ago hitting vicious inswingers under the crossbar for Adams and Keown with the keeper bottled up by other players - a nightmare to defend. Opposing teams are now aware of Vidic and we have no-one else to attack the ball (except Ronaldo ocassionally).

3. A lot of criticism of O'Shea's distribution but has anyone ever seen worse than Nani's?

4.On a positive note, what a talent we hav found in Rafael. However it takes a few years to learn how to defend and he is only 18.All full backs need cover from their wingers but what hope has a raw 18 years old looking to Ronaldo or Nani for cover?

Sorry for the bellyache but I feel we have a fantastic panel on paper but we have work to do in fitting them into a functioning team structure and that too many of the players are not working hard enough when we dont have the ball.
Hopefully some of this is due to Ronaldlo coming back from injury,Berbatov just in,the usual early season rustiness. We will see, Fergie usually delivers in the end!!

duncan his left peg is not bad either. one thing about the lad that we must admire is his confidence and his willingness to have a pot at goal.