I told you so...

As I predicted earlier, Man United lost to Chelski. United missing 9 first teamers had absolutely no chance in snagging the 3 points. The team they put out today, apart from a selected few, deserved to be in United's reserves. Let's go through the list while it's still fresh in my mind...

Goalkeeper Tim Howard managed to put in a decent game.. making important saves when called upon. He disappointed however, when they conceded the goal. He looked like he was shying away from confronting gudjohnsen.. maybe his tourette's syndrome acted up at the moment..

Right-back Gary Neville had one of his usual games.. He was consistent today on the right flank, probably only because there wasn't duff or robben to leave him in knots.. gave away the ball at towards the end of the game when United were on the attack, that could have left the team two goals down.. didn't see the trademark "raising of the hand" whenever the opponent springs the offisde trap..

Left-back Quinton Fortune had so much possession down his flank that I wondered whether that had anything to do with his surname..He failed to make any of that count, often crossing from deep..How do you expect your striker to beat a towering keeper like petr cech? Fortune seems to lack any idea or initiative with his play. Definitely one to be replaced..wait for heinze to fill this slot..

Centre-back Mikael Silvestre had a good game in central defence, his preferred position. Quick, athletic and skilled, United should be glad that Silvestre's on their side.

Stand-in Centre-back Roy Keane had a great game in defence, not his preferred position. Yet, Fergie put him there to plug the defensive holes mainly because of his ability to read the game, his calmness and his decisiveness. United's ageing skipper was 1 of 2 players who performed tonight.

Right-winger/debutant Liam Miller made a good start to his United career. Dubbed the "next Roy Keane" after they were both born in the same part of Ireland and played in the same position, I thought young Miller would start in central midfield. He did well on the right, cutting in and winning some 50-50 challenges. His small frame however, only served to undermine any chance he had to get pass the chelsea defence.

Left-mdfielder Ryan Giggs, the golden boy of his generation (apart from a certain media-craving, attention-seeking David Beckham), the Welsh wizard, the girlfriend-beater, once sought after by top Continental teams like Inter Milan, was today, the flightless winger. Gone are the days Giggs would tear down the flanks like knife through butter, with the home fans singing "Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, running down the wing", put in a cross for the striker to finish the work of art Giggs started down the flank. He had a good chance to head in the equaliser for Man U, but as you would probably know by now, after watching Giggs for the past 8 to 10 years, he can't head the ball to save his life. I think he's talented, no doubt about it, but he's not troubling the opposing fullback enough. With his receding hairline showing how much he's aged since he first burst onto the football scene, it's probably time United sought after a new winger. Why not Carlos Alberto Parreira of Porto, Rafael van der Vaart of Ajax or maybe United's own Kieran Richardson? On hindsight, they really missed out on Arjen Robben...

Central midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba looks like his settling in to the rhythm of Man U's play. Sitting just in front of the defence, a la Keano, he destroys the opponent's build-up play. Only problem? He needs to sort out his surname on the back of his jersey. Is it Djemba or Djemba-Djemba?

Makeshift Central midfielder John O'Shea really looked like a fish out of water as commentator Martin Tyler and Andy Gray would put it. He looked uncomfortable on the ball, yet Fergie probably put him there for his height. He could have inserted Phil Neville into the position, which Phil eased into last season... John.. You don't belong there..

Forward Paul Scholes tried his best, dropping into midfield to fetch the ball and supporting his strike parter Alan Smith upfront. Had a few chances, but they were either wasted or blocked by a Chelsea team which crammed their half with 4 at the back and 5 in midfield late on. Recently retired from international football, so we can expect somemore great goals from the "Ginger Prince" (because of his hair). Fergie should look to bring Diego of Brazil though.. Scholesly gotta go someday..

Striker/Debutant Alan Smith was the other top performer for me tonight. He ran his lungs out, wore his heart on his sleeve as he slid in for and chased down every ball he could. Yet when he drifted out wide, there wasn't anyone in the centre to finish off the cross he put in. Looks to be the perfect foil to Ruud van Nistelrooy. We'll see.. but Smith's definitely going to be a big hit with the Red Devils' fans.

Substitute Diego Forlan should just... AARrRRRCGGGhh!! DOn't even know why Fergie bothered to "snatch" him from under the noses of Steve McLaren and Middlesbrough at the airport. Today's display from this 7 million pound Uruguayan flop surely should have furthered convinced Fergie to offload him during the next transfer window. For some reason, Forlorn has a tendency to slip at the vital moment..you guessed it.. he slipped again today.. maybe his hair's getting in the way.. Goldilocks must go...

In all fairness, Chelsea weren't playing to well either. Yet, United with the majority of possession weren't able to convert their chances..Imagine if Heinze or Rio Ferdinand were around, or maybe Ruud van Nistelrooy or better still....Cristiano Ronaldo.