Wolves 0-5 Manchester United

Forget the scoreline yesterday was a more a case of how bad the home team have become than how good United were. The first half an hour United were really poor, the passing was off and yet again the play was far too slow and pedestrian. Fortunately Antonio Valencia was back and that was the reason United were able to take advantage of the sending off that left Wolves down to ten men, bereft of confidence and facing the reigning champions.
United barely created a thing in the opening exchanges despite having the majority of possession. Rooney carried on his recent schizo form where he manages to be brilliant one minute and average the next, he should have pur Hernandez through twice in the opening stages only to totally mishit the pass. How he won the man of the match award was a mystery to me, if we had a man of the match, it was surely our man from Ecuador.
The opening goal came out of nowehere, and was proof, i'm afraid of why Wolves must now be favourite to go down. The marking to allow Carrick a free header at the back post was bad enough but the room Jonny Evans was given to slot in the opening goal was criminal. Whem Zubar then proceeded to get a second yellow and an early bath you knew it was going to be our day.  
The second goal was the best move of the day as for once United injected some pace into their play to remind us of days of yore as Rooney produced his best moment in the match was a brilliant first time pass that Valencia ran onto and eventually finished off in a manner that makes you wonder why he doesn't score more. Not that i'm complaining when he creates as many goalscoring opportunities as he does. Not long after Valencia received a magnificent cross field pass from Evans that Scholes would have been proud of to cross accurately for Welbeck who hit the third, a welcome return to the goalscoring for our recent left winger. It's not really his best position, but he's a better bet there than Park, that's for sure. Of course the third meant he was free to roam where he wanted, which is basically what he does anyway when we have the ball.
I hoped United would come out for the second half gunning for more goals, Gary Neville tweeted that this would indeed be the half time talk that Fergie would deliver. Despite the fact that we scored two more it didn't really happen. If you'd have taken Valencia off there would have been no urgency at all. The fourth saw Wolves defend as badly as they had for the first with Hernandez given the freedom of the penalty area to head home a set piece. Valencia then proceeded to skin his man again to set up the fifth for Hernandez and you began to think that we might overturn City's superior goal difference in one go. But United once again took their foot off the pedal and to to be fair to Wolves they rallied to try and keep the scoreline from becoming even more embarrassing than it already was.
So United have done their job, now we await City's clash with the rent boys, now that is a "massive match", which i wouldn't like to predict. A draw would be almost as good as a Chelsea victory is what i will say.

Ahead of the coming title battle ex red Paul Parker predicted that European elimination would affect United least and he fancies us to regain the title.
Ian Herbert wrote what we all know this team is a work in progress, the cliched "team in transition", but European elimination will hurt Fergie he argues. Another not so shocking revelation is that United will allow Berbatov to leave, the most interesting part of that interview was the revelation that Fergie wants to inject more pace into the team as he rebuilds. I'm presuming he means more pace in our play as much as individual speed, the football at the moment is way too pedestrian, Europe has shown that United and English football generally is falling behind. Gary Neville argued at the weekend that we shouldn't worry too much about English clubs failure in Europe this year, but if it happened again next season, it couldn't then be dismissed as a blip.
To be honest the football this season has been pretty poor, look at yesterday, United were nothing really and yet they won 5-0. Apart from the first month and the spell that included the 5-0 defeat of Fulham at Craven cottage there hasn't been much to get excited about. There isn't much of a buzz when you go to the game, nothing that gets you out of your seat, not much fantasy. I was more excited about going to see the Youth cup semi against Chelsea on Friday.
Talking of which i thought they were unlucky to get beat on Friday, but unfortunately they did bring it on themselves. They didn't start playing until about an half hour into the game and then after the equalised and looked to most likely team they gave the ball away badly and their lad up front scored a brilliant goal. Still if Van Velzen had tucked that sitter away late in the game the game would be all square for the second leg. It's not all over, Chelsea led 3-2 from the first leg last year and got turned over, but of course we were at home in that second leg.
As i had hoped and expected Mat Daehli was the stand out player fro United, his close control, darting runs and obvious football brain augur well for his future at United. Others to impress were James Wilson, though i was suprised to see him start up front on his own, if he can beef up a little bit he could be some player. Once again the keeper Sutherland impressed, he made some great saves during the Charlton game and again he made a blinder of a save in the second half. Blackett looks promising, though i'm not sure whether left back or centre half will be his position. The new lad Pearson had a pretty fair game for someone who hadn't played for ages.

Duncan Castles belives that whether City win the title or not, Mancini is safe in his job as the owners regard him as one of the top five managers in world football. Whilst Sam Wallace wonders if City's owners are monitoring Jose Mourinho's position in Spain. I don't think he'll leave Real, but if he does Tottenham seems to be the rumour when or if Redknapp departs. The main piece of that is interesting, i like the way the Germans are reacting to the news. They seem to be in the right on this issue, pity about the Eurozone though.
Talking of which Jonathan Freedland penned a piece about Germany, Europe's relcutant Goliath, i know what he means, but i'm not sure the Greeks will quite see it like that.

Selling England by the yen, George Eaton thinks Cameron is brave in looking at road pricing, but insists that what he is proposing isn't road privatisation. Jonathan Portes believes it could be a good idea but believes it's all about the pricing, but argues that Cameron's analogy with water privatisation is a bad one. It won't be a vote winner, i think we can be sure of that.
Robert Peston aks whether China will own our roads, just what would be the point of that, the last two paragraph's are intriguing though, i like the sound of that. Far too sensible for a tory led government to enact that, i mean who'll get rich out of that. Will Hutton warned in yesterday's Observer that if Britain is to recover, we must embrace new models of capitalism. Not much chance of that with the flat earthers we've got in charge at the moment, free market fundamentalists.

Frasier Nelson writes about our part time chancellor and the man behind him Rupert Harrison, you have to wonder how happy his party are with this, he's an even more political chancellor than Brown was.
Matthew D'ancona wonders whether that little red box contains the coalition's finest hour, as he says this will be a very political budget or as fiscally neutral.

I've never been much of a fan of Marina Hyde's column in the Guardina but this article, London, the most grotesque city in the world is absolutely on the money. Ken or Boris what a choice, global scumbags, who London is all too happy to live there and contribute zilch.

Having read Harold Evans memoir of his time at the Sunday Times last weeks revelation that Thatcher held a secret meeting with old Rupe before he bought the Times and Sunday Times isn't exactly s suprise. Yet one more Thatcherite legacy history won't regard kindly.

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Manchester United

Another embarrassment and bar the last twenty mintes United were really trying to pull that game around, whilst i don't think that was the strongest team we could have played, i reckon Fergie thought it might be strong enough. So what lessons are to be learnt from this tie, never mind being not far behind Barca we would be struggling to be on the same level as the seventh placed team in La Liga. What i saw last night was that United, as against Barca couldn't live with a team that pressed us us as hard the Spaniards do high up the pitch, we can just never find a rhyhm against it. It does seem a super human level peak of fitness to keep up mind, but it exposed our slow paced game which i mentioned on Sunday.
Maybe we are at a similar moment when the premier league's pace and power started to dominate the champions league, this time with the Spanish adding that to their superior technique. Whatever it's hard to see a premier league club, never mind United lifting a champions league trophy over the next few years if we don't find an answer. Of course United and Chelsea have the double disadvantage of having ageing key players. Last night showed once again that Ferdinand really is in the twilight of his game. I love Ryan Giggs and he wasn't as bad as some last night, but he really shouldn't be starting in games against the likes of Barca and Bilbao at this stage of his career. I'm not blaming Park for the defeat, but once again as against Barca what did he bring to the table last night. It's not as if work rate is any better than those around him. He really is looking like another player whose best days are behind him. I have a feeling that Fergie knows this, he hasn't really played much this season. But i suppose "commercial" reasons will keep him at the club.
As for the game Bilbao made a strong start as expected but United managed to live with them just about. We could have done without giving away such a soft goal, although i suppose we were fortunate to not have already conceded after Bilbao had hit the post and managed to make a right horlicks of the follow up chance. United responded with their best spell of the game and as we went in at half time i seriously thought they had ran out of steam and United might have a chance in the second half.
Oh dear i got that well and truly wrong, they came out and absolutely murdered us and if they had taken their chances the scoreline would have been a far more sorry affair. The run for the full back where he beat three men only to put it wide was like fantasy football. They are some team that is for sure, i'd like to think they would keep hold of their players for a couple of years and earn that champions league spot so we can see how they would fair in that competition, that would be fascinating. Needless to say they are on a completely different level to anything we have played in the champions league over the last couple of seasons aside from Barcelona. I had the misfortune to see part of Inter's second leg against Marseille earlier in the week and that was indesribably poor.
There weren't any real plus points to take from the game apart from maybe Rooney's effort and goal and the experience that some of the younger players will hopefully take from the game. I suppose Cleverley getting through 90 minutes was pleasing though this game came a bit earlt for him so i will not be judging him on this showing. At one point last night i was thinking well at least City are going to suffer an ever sorrier exit from the competition with the undoubted pressure that would have heaped on the club. But i suppose that late fight back will have given them a little lift, another moral victory, they're still going to end the season trophyless mind. 

Fergie won't be feeling sorry for himself, and is looking forward to Sunday's game at Molineux. As Tim Rich says, there will be no picking and choosing now for either Manchester club. There won't be much room for tinkering with the squad either, apart from Sunday it must be best team available gets picked, which will probably put some noses out of joint.
Fergie is impressed by the hardest work rate of any team in Europe wo can't half play a bit as well and thinks and hopes that they go on to win the trophy.

We have got the FA Youth cup semi final ist leg tie against Chelski at Old trafford tonight to take our mind of last night. I'm not sure what to expect tonight, results wise, but if we see them play the style of football we saw against Swansae and Charlton i can't ask for any more. I was as excited at that performance at Swansea as i have been of anything we have seen from the first team this season and that includes that blistering start. The passing, movement, first touch and as important as any of that the speed they perform all that is what you hope that some of these youngsters can eventually transfer into the first team one day.  

Larry Elliott discusses why Greg Smith was right about Goldman Sachs, i suppose it shouldn't really come as much of  shock that tory boy David Cameron should go out of his way to meet with the boss of the great vampire squid. And some people think he is serious about financial reform.

Romania or bust for reds in Bilbao

Fergie noted the fitness of Bilbao last week in their out performing of United in that 3-2 victory and thinks whilst it will be different for them to produce that again, we must presume that this is what we will face once again. I'm still not sure United' players or manager are taking this competition as seriously as they have been maintaining in the press, but it seems tonight we will see a strong eleven picked, so tonight will be interesting at least.
I can't see beyond a 4-3-3 formation tonight, but as to who will fill the three midfield spots, Carrick aside i have absolutley no idea. Will Cleverley play, Scholes, Giggs? And then who will play in those wide spots, Valencia has travelled but will he be fit. Valencia may be saved for later in the game and Fergie start with Young and Welbeck either side of Rooney. One thing is for sure, if Park occupies either flank i'll take we would take going out as long as aren't embarrassed.

David McDonnell claims that forget the treble, if Fergie can guide United to a 20th title this season, edging out the challenge of oil backed City it will be his greatest triumph in the Mirror. It will be some feat, that is for sure, given the lack of a quality midfielder attracted to the club over the last few years and even more so given the unblievable amount of injuries sustained this season. Even more so losing our best defender just when he was probably needed more than ever with Ferdinand not the player he was, a new goalie who inevitably has taken time to bed in and a squad containing more than a sprinkling of young talented but experienced defenders.
But it seems to be every other year that we challenge for the title now somebody pops up to say that if we go on to win the title it will be Fergie's greatest achievement. It's become boringly cliched, and we all know the treble will never be beaten anyway. The title was regained in a challenge against a top top Arsenal side, the FA cup was won the hard way for the most part and the Champions league run involved games against Barca, Inter Milan, Juve and Bayern three times. It will never get any harder or better than that. To put that in context does anybody really think the present United could get anywhere near emulating that feat, laughable really.

Forgotten man Anderson could be out for the rest of the season, would he get a game if he were fit shows you how much we have missed him. If Pogba really is going to stay and has been told he is first team material, where will that leave Anderson in the pecking order.
It will be interesting to say the least to see how our midfield develops next season. Will Fletcher return or will the Glazer's force him out, will Cleverley stay fit for any reasonable stretch of games, will Pogba force his way into the shake up and will Fergie be allowed some pocket money to try and compete with Europe's un debt laden money bags elite.
The latest Red Iss claimed that Eden Hazard had been promised regular first team action if he chooses Spurs this summer. If that is true, and if United were involved in the race to sign him, i'd have to say at his age he would be mad to turn them down. That would seem to be the perfect move for him, especially if they clinch that third spot. Though i would be worrying about their chanes of that if were Tottneham right now.

Jonathan Wilson writes that City need to believe to keep their title challenge on track, claiming that they haven't really done a lot wrong. There have been rumours around that if Mancini doesn't bring the title to the Etihad he will be gone in the Summer. That would of course be ridiculous, and so let's hope it's correct that City's owners follow the Abramovitch model of how not to run a football club. Of course that would be totally fitting for a club of City's historical ineptitude.
The results coming out of the capital this week haven't been great news for City's hopes of keeping the pressure on us during the title run in. Not that i was particularly happy myslef about either of them, i certainly don't want Chelsea to somehow contrive a top four finish.

Israeli author David Grossman argues that it is Israel's fears, not a nuclear Iran that Israeli citizens must tame. That is an excellent realist take on how any sensible Isralei should approach the challenges that face their country.

Craig Murray wonders and hopes that the mainstream media are awakening to the fact that western powers are helping to prop up a corrupt regime in Afghanistan.

Boy George and his coalition's economic startegy get another thumbs down as another credit ratings agency puts them on negative outlook, giving the presnt ratings a 50/50 chance of being lowered.
Bank of England policymaker looks forward to a world without banks claims Sky's Ed Conway after a speech he gave in New York.
If this happens it will just show ideologically bankrupt the tories are, because they will have proved they have learned nothing since 2008 and cling to the old truisms like soviet Marxists after 1991. No way should we be selling that off for a loss when that could be RBS could be used in so many constructive ways.

Music
Dum Dum girls - Only in dreams: US musician Dee Dee and her her all female backing oufit deliver the goods on their second album. This really is pretty good.

Fionn Regan - 100 acres of Sycamore: An artist whose influences derive largely from the late sixties and early seventies delivers an album that wouldn't have been out of place coming from one of the greats of that epoch. Think Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake and your getting the picture.

Lindsey Buckingham -  Seeds we sow: Fleetwood Mac frontman with another very listenable solo album. I missed his last solo effort but i loved the previous disc Under the skin, this isn't as good as that, but it'll do.

Sun Ra - The futuristic sounds of Sun Ra: I really do love out there jazz and Sun Ra was as out there as anybody. This is before he really headed for outer space but still not for every one.

The Rapture -In the grace of your love: Whilst they never really got near bettering their second album, they have still been consistently worth a listen and this is another tasty morsel from New York indie/dance act.

Willie Tee - I'm only a man: Another lost masterpiece redicovered in Mojo's review section. From the New Orleans scene, but this solo album from the turn of the 60's to 70's produced by David Axelrod whose stuff i love covers a wider range of styles tha the usual New Orleans mix.