United have won all their home games so far this season and drawn 2 tricky away games. Considering United's starting troubles last few seasons, this can hardly be called a bad start. The only thing that doesn't let you say that it's been a "good start" is the fact that Chelsea are yet to drop points and they are sitting pretty with an enviable goal difference already. But in terms of the way we have played so far, I would say we have started very well.
Newcastle and West Ham at home were pretty much cake walks for United. Fulham away was an absolute mixture in terms of performance - Solid first half followed by a very erratic second. We had the chance to put the game to bed but we only ended up dropping 2 precious points and in the process lost a great chance to avenge last season's ignominious defeat. Ditto with Everton - showed great composure in going up 3-1 and yet came back home dropping points courtesy of a nervous injury time. In hindsight, I will agree with Sir Alex, it's not that United have defended very poorly. It's just that our defenders have let nerves reign on them at those crucial junctures.
The Liverpool game last week could so easily have turned into another disappointment had we not had the time to respond to the Steven Gerrard equalizer. United deservedly won the game and thankfully we didn't let a certain Fernando Torres grab the headlines!
United's style of play so far is enough evidence for me to think that United are on course to mounting a strong title challenge. There have been enough goals scored and that too with our main man Rooney having scored just one! Berbatov is finally come into his own and doing justice to his talent and his price tag. He's found his silken smooth touch as well the finishing one to make us enjoy watching him play in the United shirt. The hat-trick against Liverpool hopefully will take him to another level (and strikers are all about confidence aren't they?). Nani is another player who seems to have found his rhythm early on in the season. He seems to only carry on from where he left off last season. Though Valencia will be missed for his honest deliveries, I just think his absence will be a God-send for Nani to capitalize on since he clearly seems to relish playing on the right flank. The player who's most impressed me this season has been our midfield maestro Paul Scholes. He's just making all of us, who were hoping we bought a central midfielder in the summer, look like idiots. His passing (and his shooting) has been just deadly accurate. My only concern is how many games he can play all season because if he doesn't United look quite different (remember the Rangers game?).
There is also a little bit of rustiness United are carrying at the moment and hopefully it will soon be polished away - I am talking about Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra specifically. Though both did play well against Liverpool, I still think they are a bit of distance away from their best. In the defense, I hope Jonny Evans matures up and cuts down on the mistakes he tends to make. Perhaps the competition with Smalling will spur him up a bit! Also, I think we need to get Rafael play more regularly since we just don't have a regular right back and that sometimes hurts.
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