Extinguished

photo by CJ Sorg	via PhotoRee

It's highly appropriate that United played the Fire last night in Chicago, with the US in the middle of a heat wave that is shattering records across this vast country. If Sir Alex's men can get fit in conditions such as this, going back and playing in the much cooler Manchester clime will seem like a cakewalk. With outdoor activities being limited for fear of health risks, it's amazing that 61,308 showed up to see the Champions of England in the heartland of the United States on Saturday evening. 

The Boss started a young squad, affording those in attendance the opportunity to see United's future on display.  The team on the pitch at kick off featured Tom Cleverly, Mame Biram Diouf, and Gabriel Obertan, among others, and the game also saw the introduction of new defender Phil Jones, and the side's new Spanish goalkeeper, David DeGea, in net.

United began the game more impressively than they started in Seattle, opening up the Fire repeatedly on the counter attack. This continued a theme from the second half of the game against the Sounders: while the MLS teams appear to do reasonably well in what we over here would call a "half court" game, when it comes to the "transition game," or counter-attack, they were ripped open time and again.  The US teams appear unable to handle the pace and touch of the United attack, but to be fair, not many teams in England are able to handle it, either!

Sleepwalking Into the New Year

 This Guy Looks More Awake Than Several United Players Did on Saturday 
photo by istolethetv	via PhotoRee

So, that was an easy three points, as Manchester United leave the Hawthornes with West Brom done and dusted, clutching their 2-1 victory as tightly as a hobo hanging onto a ham sandwich. What looked on paper to be a tough road trip turned out to be that and more, despite United taking the lead just two minutes after the opening whistle. Nevertheless, a win is still a win, especially when it comes from a game not played at Old Trafford this season.

The match opened with a bang for the Red Devils, with Wayne Rooney ending a shocking nine month drought to finally score from open play. Picked out by Patrice Evra's long arching cross, Rooney gently nodded the ball down, and willed it with all his might to finish its journey resting in the netting behind West Brom 'keeper Scott Carson. With their one-time talisman off the mark so quickly, it looked to be only a matter of time before United extended the lead and secured a precious away win. But a funny thing happened on the way to the three points: United were decidedly second best for large portions of the match, fortunate to end the game with 11 men on the pitch, and were a Peter Odemwingie penalty miss away from dropping more points on the road.

United Feast on Roast Turkey

photo by jdolenga	via PhotoRee

So it's a relatively bare-bones United squad making the trip to Turkey for the game tonight. Out are Ferdinand, Evans, Giggs, Gibson, Giggs, Macheda, Rooney and Neville, and in are Smalling, Bebe, Obertan, Fabio, and Rafael.  Surpirisingly, VdS gets the start between the sticks, probably due to Fergie's desire to increase the odds of keeping a clean sheet tonight. Although Sir Alex insisted in his press conference yesterday that Champions League is the most competitive football on the planet, today's game may not be be Exhibit A for the defense. I will, however, happily agree with him that watching football on a European night is infinitely better than a trip to the dentist (Sorry, Dr. Marks).

Tonight's game could be important, and if United gain the three valuable points that are there for the taking, they will be standing alone on top of Group C with 10 points in hand, typically enough to ensure qualification into the tournament's next round (even with two games still remaining). Given that United have only allowed three shots on target in all three of their prior games, and Bursaspor has yet to score in their Champions League debut, the Red Devils are heavily favored in the match, even though it's an away fixture

It's appalingly loud at the Attaturk Stadium as the game kicks off;  and it's even harder to believe that only 24,000 fans can make so much noise.