Norwich 1 Manchester United 0

We lost our 3rd league game yesterday and dropped to 2nd in the league. Overall it was a poor game we played. Staying up at 1.30am to catch the match was quite a waste of precious sleep.

1. Well we didn't play particularly calamitously or horrendously, but there was surely a lack of activity, urgency and attacking verve in our game. Maybe you can blame the away trip and Norwich's resolute defending, but given our midweek Champions League game is not important anymore since we top the group, it was surprising that the players didn't give more effort to getting a win.

2. I've said this dozens of times and I'll say it again. Ashley Young is not good enough to play for us. He's just hopelessly frustrating in that he runs around not looking like he knows what he's doing. His crosses are about the worst I've seen of our players, and he has no chemistry with Evra, often failing to help him cover his defensive duties. I still can't decide if him or Nani is more frustrating to watch, but at least Nani has the skills to dazzle once in a while and can be unpredictable in a good sort of way. We need another good winger come January.

3. Our back four were pretty ok but this was another game where Rio and Evra looked exposed. Smalling has just returned from injury so he's obviously not at 100%. Only Rafael was playing well last night.

4. But its no use to play that flank well when the other half doesn't show up. Valencia looked a shadow of the player he is, very hesitant and confused all night. Even though we seemed to float every pass to him in the first half, he seemed to dally too long and thus never got much of an advantage over the defenders. Rightly subbed for Scholes.

5. The midfield with Carrick and Giggs also doesn't seem to work. Gone are Giggs' pace and passing ability. And Carrick is, well, Carrick. Hardly ever a risky forward pass from him, but reliable as ever. They're both so old now that it's not surprising that younger opponents tend to outrun them all the time. The best combo so far is a Cleverly-Carrick combo IMHO.

6. Games like these when the opposition hunker down and defend like their lives depended on it, we needed guys like Cleverley, Kagawa and Rooney. More inciteful passing and attacking of the ball. Clevs was on the bench while the other two were injured. Plus Chicharito coming off the bench would have been nice.

7. Hernandez picked himself last week with a hat-trick, but this week further cemented his impact sub status. He started the game and hardly had a touch on the ball. It's back to the bench once Rooney comes back. Rightly subbed for Welbz.

8. RVP also had an anonymous game. Definitely didn't turn up last night. He had two good chances but he fucked them up with air shots. He's bailed us out so many times that maybe we're too used to him scoring. The defender man-marking him definitely did a great job. Still at least his crosses looked more deadly, unlike you know who.

9. De Gea had a wisdom tooth problem so 'not here to pick my nose' Lindegaard stood in. I thought he was reliable and their wonder goal he definitely could do nothing about. Dealt with just about everything else pretty comfortably.

10. Subs Scholes, Ando and Welbeck weren't impact enough although Welbz had a few half chances that went close. I love that boy for his determination but he's still got lotsa work to do on his finishing. Ando didn't make a difference coming on.

So, a sucky blip after a 5-game winning streak. Can't say much abit the loss because credit to Norwich, they played a good game and thoroughly deserved the victory. But it doesn't look like a big issue yet.

Next weekend QPR at home at OT. Time to get old boy Mark Hughes the sack!

Also it's awesome knowing there're lotsa other Man U fans in Singapore (even in the US) staying up late and watching the game last night. We may all have been disappointed, but UNITED we stand!

Looking forward to #20!!!

GGMU!!!