Manchester United 2-1 Sporting Lisbon

Not the greatest game to be honest. The intensity of the performance was bound to drop, once qualification was achieved, and drop it duly did. Apparently Sporting haven't been in the best of form in the Portugese league, but they didn't play too badly last night. Saying that with United not really firing on all cylinders, and Kuszczak gifting them a goal that gave them something to protect, it wasn't the hardest of nights for them.
The first half was a bit of a non event from Uniteds point of view, as there was no spark or urgency. Anderson was probably our best player, but with no Tevez, there wasn't much creativity on show. Ronaldo tried hard, but i still don't think it is quite happening for him at the moment. Saha did alright , but didn't look totally fit to me, and in the second half he seemed to really tire. In fact the biggest attacking threat in the first half and maybe all night was Evra, who is really on fire at the moment. The biggest disappointment on the night was the performance of Nani, who had a bit of a mare. The longer the first half went on the more his confidence seemed to drop.
It wasn't a massive surprise when Fergie made changes at half time, bringing on Tevez and Giggs for Fletcher and Nani. I thought that was a bit harsh on Fletcher who didn't do anything wrong, and needs the games more than Carrick who wasn't any better than him in the first half. But the substitutions definitely changed the game, especially Tevez. When there is no Rooney in the team it looks essential to me that Tevez must start, he really makes things happen. It still took a fluke to get us back in the game as Ronaldo's shot cum cross took two deflections before from our angle seeming to dribble over the line. Now the chances started to come, but United seemed unable to take any of them, that is until Ronaldo's last minute corker. I have to admit i was hoping that Ronaldo would leave it to Hargreaves, but he didn't and aren't we all glad. What a shot, like a tracer bullet right into the corner of the net. I suppose we just about deserved the win, and it will certainly helps us to rest a couple of players before the biggie against Liverpool.



More led zeppelin, this time in rolling stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17448308/the_return_of_led_zeppelin?source=music_news_rssfeed
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17448380/the_durable_led_zeppelin?source=music_news_rssfeed

Ouch Brown is compared to Mr Brown
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/funding/story/0,,2218392,00.html
he must love Vince Cable, thats twice he has really floored him at question time.

Is the sun setting on the wests financial model
http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/hamish_mcrae/article3201541.ece

Robert Fisk on the gloomy situation in Lebanon and the middle east in general
http://news.independent.co.uk/fisk/article3191532.ece

Simon Jenkins on the Labour party and money
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2218210,00.html