Ruud van Nistelrooy hit a superb hat-trick as Manchester United maintained their surge towards the Premiership title with a 4-1 win over Charlton at Old Trafford.

Actually, the real story here (well, one of them anyway) is chapter two in the continuing Old Trafford Goalkeeper Crisis. Let's just say that Charlton's goal should never have happened in a million years. Now, this was not 100% Roy Carroll's fault, as Roy Keane probably owes Carroll a pint or two for an absolutely criminal backpass, but Buddy, when one of your team-mates hot-potatoes you the ball, with his feet, into the penalty area, hoof the friggin' thing into touch, not blindly on the ground up the pitch. Ye gods. Anyway, a new name as possible replacements for Barthez (who was on the bench today) was being bandied about by the commentators, and it is that of American Tim Howard, currently toiling for the NY/NJ Metrostars. So, to review, we have the following possibilities:

Fabien Barthez (not looking likely)
Roy Carroll (Possible, but dropped a clanger today)
Antti Niemi (Still favourite, I think)
Rustu Recber (A very very good goalkeeper, my favourite of this lot)
Petr Cech (Qui?)
Brad Friedel (Has done wonders for Blackburn, might turn out to be a brilliant choice)
David James (Currently enjoying a sort of renaissance, but big question marks remain)
Tim Howard (Big gamble to go straight from MLS to Old Trafford #1)