Reserves lose 2-0

Against Liverpool at Warrington RL ground last night, on the plus side Gary Neville played 60 minutes. Without really playing very well, the passing and movement was again not what i would expect of any United side, they were unlucky as they had two perfectly good goals disallowed. That is the second time i have seen Pique in the reserves recently and worryingly he seems to be going backwards to me. He is a far better player than he has shown in the last two games. I feel sorry for the forwards in this side, they don't get any service at all. There doesn't seem to be much quality in the wide positions i am afraid. Losing Lee and Brandy who have both gone on loan can't have helped, but that was definitely the best route for their careers to take. It will be interesting to see what they do with Welbeck next season, i don't think the playing in the reserves is going to bring on his career.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=535802
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3442530.ece


There are a lot of ifs in this article about Thaksin's return to Thailand
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2260217,00.html

David Conn writes that the FA now have someone with a bit of backbone in charge,
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/02/27/triesman_gives_backbone_to_fa.html
I will wait and see, the FA seemed to take a back seat to Platini and Blatter to me, it was UEFA and FIFA that ridiculed it, and the FA that piggybacked on the back of their comments. That's how it looked to me anyhow.

A perfect example of the way big business runs rings around elected governments, as tesco is found to be using offshore tax havens to avoid paying tax.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/feb/27/tesco.supermarkets
That is money that should be going to the NHS, to help the armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and to our public transport, what there is left of it. But will anybody point these things out?

Francis Becket has a go at market mania madness in education,
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/francis_beckett/2008/02/sink_or_swim.html

Simon Jenkins with another of his excellent articles on local democracy in this country
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/feb/27/prisonsandprobation.ukcrime

More exposure of big business dishonesty as drug firms are found being economic with the actualite
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/drug-giants-warned-tell-the-truth-on-medicines-787907.html

Iraq is as fragmented as ever warns Patrick Cockburn in the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/patrick-cockburn-the-turkish-invasion-could-destroy-a-unified-iraq-787830.html

Music
British sea power - Do you like rock music : This took a few listens to get into, but once i did, i was really into, and now i can't really understand why i didn't love it straight away. Far better than most of the NME trendy groups that can't really play their instruments and try to sound like the libertines. I have read one review compare this album to Arcade Fire and i would say that is a valid comparison.
Fela Kuti - Roforofo fight : I love Afro beat, and it's finest exponent Fela Kuti. The tracks all last about 15 minutes, but none outlast their welcome, all drawing you into that funky west African groove.
Josh Rouse - Nashville : Having recently listening to his latest i had to go back and listen to some of his earlier stuff. This was made in 2005, one of his more recent offerings, and if you like, Country mouse, city house you will like this, he can write a memorable tune.
The long ryders - Native sons : I saw these on the old grey whistle test in about 1985 and liked what i heard, but never got around to getting the album. A bit late i know, but it was as good as i expected it to be, if you like the Byrds, the Beatles and country rock that is.
Voice of the seven woods - Voice of the seven woods : A great guitar album, what a shame he is only going to do the one album for this project. Folk guitar, with north African influences, electric guitar with similar influences plus a bit of psychedelia. A top Mancunian export.
Robyn Hitchcock - I often dream of trains : I have seen him a few times on Jools Holland's Later and have always liked his quirky individual sound. And that just about sums this up, it is very individual. It might take a few listens, but it is well worth the effort, some of the lyrics are well out there. The tunes are tremendous, following no pattern whatsoever, catchy guitar pop and then the surreal uncorrected personality traits, that i didn't appreciate at first, but now love.
Babyshambles - Shotters nation : I have to say when i heard the single for the first album, i disliked it so much i couldn't be bothered to listen to the album. And the reviews were terrible, so i guessed i was right. But i loved the Libertines, and here Pete Doherty's men get somewhere back to the glory of his former group. I just love that guitar sound, the nearest thing i can say it reminds me of is the Stones live circa Richard and Mick Taylor, but somehow more English and with not as much reliance on the blues.