Forever United

United drew with barcodes at Old Trafford to kick off their season in similar style as they did the last time around except that this time it was a 1-1 draw while last season started off with a 0-0 draw to Reading. Not a great start when all your major rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have won.

It is one thing that only Chelsea looked of some threat. Arsenal had the lead in the 5th minute but never went for the kill. Liverpool dint deserve to win as they were easily the second best.

United might have started off well with some crisp passes but it just dint last long enough. Frazier had a great chance to score but his header just met the head of Newcastle goalie Shay Given and went to safety. Frazier had a couple of chances again but Given made 2 more saves to deny the youngster any goals.

Meanwhile Rooney huffed and puffed but with no avail. He was seriously out of sorts. One minute he was looking great and the very next he was very ordinary.To add insult to injury he went out to wish Newcastle's Argentinians luck when he flew in on Jonas Gutierrez, made a jump-tackle on Coloccini and was later booked for Dissent. Seems that he forgot to read the new 'Respect' thingy. He will have to have a measure of his temper if he has to avoid some early showers this season.

United's need for strikers was clearly visible. A young, raw and highly inexperienced Frazier Campbell was probably the best except that it was Fletcher who scored. Rooney was out of sorts, very patchy and unlike himself. Has he forgotten his way to goal?? Carlos Tevez had to rush to Argentina as his uncle had died and this made the attacking very fragile. Had it been Tevez instead of Campbell, he would have been applauded for his efforts while every one seems to be pointing fingers at young Campbell. He is still very inexperienced and with time he will only improve so there is no need to be too harsh on the lad.

The lack of attacking prowess will have only made Berbatov's move to Old Trafford more likely. He was not in the starting XI against 'Boro and was substituted later on and looked good. So far there has been little in the press about the deal but his agent Emil Dantchev has said "I think this will be the most important week,I read Alex Ferguson’s statement that he wants another striker and I hope that this striker is Dimitar Berbatov."

Newcastle were kept i the game by given who had pulled of quite a few saves(wish he din run out of saves for the rest of season as he seems to have made all out here..lol) but soon they took the lead through Martins who headed in from a corner. Fletcher had failed to track his man, allowing Martins the space required and he din disappoint. But Fletcher sort of made up for that scoring the equalizer. Newcastle were for shortly down to 10 men as Taylor needing attention to a minor knock, and the champions went on the attack.Giggs angled in a ball that Fletcher, reacting superbly, turned past Given.

As all the fans waited for more goals to come, Newcastle stood firm.Given thwarted Campbell twice. Then the bar rescued Newcastle, as Nemanja Vidic powered in a header. Rooney bent a free-kick wide in the last minute.Someone better get that Berbatov deal done.