Manchester United 1-0 Barcelona

At long last United are back in a Champions league final, again it wasn't a European night of vintage United, but who cares. Barcelona had a lot of possession, though not as much as the first leg, but just like the first leg they didn't really create much. It was a bit like watching some of United's games in Europe over the last few seasons when playing 4-3-3, where we have had an embarrassing share of the possession but have hardly created a chance. It was brilliant watching Messi though what a player he is, absolutely top drawer. The other player i was looking forward to seeing was Etoo, the first thing that surprised me was his size, i don't know why, i just imagined he was bigger. The second thing that surprised me was how average he was, maybe he is just going through a bad spell, but he was nothing special at all.
Once again in the first half United didn't really turn up to the game, and almost conceded a penalty straight from the kick off when Scholes brought down Messi just outside the area. I am glad he did that at Old Trafford and not at the Nou Camp because that might just have got given as penalty even though it was just outside the area. United hadn't really put anything together in the match when virtually out of nothing they went 1-0 up. And what a goal it was, a slack pass from Zambrotta found it's way to Paul Scholes and with room to take aim he let rip with a scorching shot that swerved away from the diving Valdes and into the top right hand corner of the net. And to think that reds thought that the ginger prince was past it. Over the two legs Scholes has easily been the best Non defender in a red shirt, in fact i couldn't really understand the decision to take him off. I am sure that was one of the reasons we had to endure that agonising finale as we had nobody with the composure to keep the ball.
Even with the goal United never really found the fluency we had hoped for and Barca kept on dictating the game. As well as Park played, we really missed Rooney last night, i am sure we would have scored more than the one goal if he had been on the pitch. Lets hope he gets the chance on the big stage in Moscow and shows the watching world the real Wayne Rooney. Tevez had a storming game, though more through his sheer will to win than his performance with the ball. Ronaldo had a quiet game, though with the lack of service and lack of support it wasn't his fault. And thankfully he remained sensible and didn't try and beat five men every time he got the ball handing the ball straight back to Barca.
The real heroes of the night, again, were the defence, with Ferdinand absolutely outstanding again and Brown, Evra and the versatile Hargreaves not far behind. As much possession as the Catalan outfit had they never really threatened to score, their best chance probably fell to second half substitute Henry who had a golden chance to equalise but could only direct his header straight into the hands of Van Der Sar.
The second half saw United start to show the form we had hoped for and Tevez and Nani both had good chances but couldn't put the tie beyond Barca. Then came the last 20 minutes as Barca completely dominated proceedings without really creating any decent openings. Giggs and Fletcher both came on and to be honest contributed nothing as United just stuck everybody behind the ball and played for the 1-0. If Rooney had been playing they would have been ripe for the counter attack, but United did the job they were told to do.
So Moscow here we come. I won't be going, though I'd love to, lack of funds bla bla. I hope the right people get their hands on the tickets and the United fans that do go do United as proud as we all hope the shirts on the pitch hopefully do. Like most proper reds i will be rooting for the rentboys tonight for the obvious reasons. If we do get them it will be a good chance to get revenge for last years cup final and last Saturday's league defeat. I have got to say as long as we are able to put out our best eleven i really fancy our chances of making it a third champions league victory.

A real Manchester United hero
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/redheaded-man-directs-ronaldo-to-the-promised-land-818150.html

Fergie gets serious

and rubbishes claims United are about to implode ala Arsenal.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/fanatical-ferguson-strives-to-guide-united-past-their-semifinal-frontier-817369.html

James Lawton tells Ronaldo he must stand up and deliver the goods tonight on the biggest stage
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-ronaldo-must-repay-his-manager-on-the-big-stage-and-bewitch-barccedila-tonight-817257.html
It certainly wouldn't go amiss, but all eleven players picked are going to have to be somewhere near their best tonight. Whoever plays with Scholes in midfield has got to play a lot better than they have in recent matches. A big game from Carrick wouldn't go amiss tonight, i mentioned his much improved form in the second half of the season a few blogs ago and ever since he has regressed back to the mediocre from of the first half of the campaign. We need a big game from Tevez as i can't see Rooney making it, and i don't want to see a half fit Rooney limping around tonight. The big question is who will play alongside Ronaldo and Tevez, Nani and Park haven't really impressed too much in the last few games whilst i would see Giggs more of a sub in the very biggest games nowadays. But he will have to pick one of them and whoever that is will have to deliver. Finally lets hope the players are given the freedom to express themselves tonight. As much as we don't want Barca to score tonight, if they did happen to score first, at least that would mean that tactics would then immediately fly out of the window and it would be attack, attack, attack.

Kevin McCarra fancies United to beat Barca tonight and go on to win the title.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/29/ferguson_cuts_it_fine_but_expe.html

Don Howe on the tactics tonight
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/29/sfndon129.xml

It's coming to something when i side with the argument put forward by the head of Eton college against a Labour government.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2276795,00.html

The governor of the Bank of England is the latest figure to have a go at the financial worlds culture of bonuses.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/29/executivesalaries.bankofenglandgovernor

More new Labour pro market mania as George Monibot lays into its Polyclinic scheme.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/29/nhs.health

Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United

With 5 minutes to go it looked like job done, and then they get given that penalty, which i couldn't see Ballack missing and indeed he didn't. The result was bad enough but the performance was the more worrying for me. I don't blame Fergie for the team selection, i thought that team was going to be good enough to get the draw required. But i am not too sure it matters what team he puts out at the moment, the fact is we haven't played well since the Liverpool game. And i always thought that was as much about how bad Liverpool were. For the second season in a row we are not finishing the season playing the type of football you would expect. It would be easy to blame Queiroz's tactics, negative against Arsenal at home in the first half at least and then Barca away and now Chelsea away. But that is only be part of the story. The team as a whole seem to have gone collectively off the boil. And in the last two games refereeing decisions and the refereeing in general have really favoured the home teams. The ref at the Nou Camp was a real homer, he did give us the penalty in the first couple of minutes but he failed to give us a stone wall second. But every time a Barca player went down they were awarded a free kick, some times in dangerous positions. The same happened yesterday, whilst the Carrick incident was a penalty to me, it could have easily been not given. But if anything the Ballack manhandling of Ronaldo just after he had come on was even more of a penalty and did we get it, no.
To me what United have got to get back to in the next two home games, and yes even on Tuesday is playing at a faster tempo. Obviously the passing has to return to its previous high standard, but we have to start taking the game to the opposition. We saw Barca playing some beautiful passing football but at such a slow pace they hardly created a chance. But yesterday we saw Chelsea playing at a proper pace and we looked much more vulnerable, just as we had at the san siro last year. When we have played our best football this season we have passed superbly but at a faster tempo. I am saying all this whilst presuming that our fitness levels are what they should be. The way United finished the 5 minutes of injury time they look alright to me.
Another thought that occurs to me is whilst you obviously need a big squad nowadays, the one possible drawback is consistency. When you play a settled team you get consistency, but when you are chopping and changing it must be hard to get that same consistency. And we are seeing quite a bit of chopping and changing at the moment. There are no easy answers to this conundrum though. You only have to look at Arsenal and Liverpool, the reason why they are not challenging for the title is because their squads aren't good enough.
United just never turned up again in the first half, whether the extra days rest helped the rentboys i don't know, but they started on the front foot straight away. Uniteds passing and ball retension was just as bad as it had been on Wednesday. The only positive sign seemed to be that Chelsea seemed vulnerable on the counter attack. But with no Ronaldo United were unable to exploit this, especially with Nani having an appalling game where he seemed to take the wrong option almost every time. There was one incident in the second half where he should have put Giggs clear through on goal but just clung onto the ball until he eventually lost it. Losing Vidic didn't help the cause, hopefully he will be alright for Tuesday. What was so annoying though was that just when it seemed we had weathered the storm and quelled the Chelsea onslaught we go and concede a pretty soft goal just before half time. It was a deserved lead for Chelsea you can't deny that, but we had almost got to half time without conceding after a performance that was probably worse than Wednesdays.
United came out in the second half and looked a completely different team. It was clear that Chelsea were not going to be allowed to dominate the second half as they had the first. United weren't playing brilliantly but they were in the game now and Chelseas attacking impetus had been halted. Then Carvallho handed a Rooney a great chance whilst playing a blind back pass, Rooney who had been struggling for the last 5 minutes with a recurrence of the injury picked up at Ewood Park took the ball acroos Terry and fired the ball into the corner of the net past the sprawling Cech. He paid the price though as he clearly aggrevated the injury and shortly afterwards had to go off. He must be doubtful for Tuesday night, in fact i am not sure if he has been 100% fit since he sustained the injury in the first place. Now Ronaldo came on and almost straight away should have been awarded a penalty as Ballack manahandled him as a corner was about to be delivered. For the next 10 minutes it was all United with Giggs having one decent shot saved by Cech. Then came that last 10 minutes where it had looked like United were going to comfortably see the game through to a safe conclusion only for disaster to strike.
Obviously we have got to want Chelsea to beat Liverpool on Wednesday, but wouldn't it be great to play them in Moscow after this setback. The one positive i will take from yesterday is that their defence looked as vulnerable as i had thought it might be. If United can get back to their very best and beat Barca i am as confident as you can be that if the real United turn up in Moscow we will beat them. And by the real United i don't mean the cautious tactical United of recent weeks, i mean the real United with the shackles off.

United still relying too much on Ronaldo's goals
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3822763.ece
I have got to agree with that, this is something that has got to be remedied next season

Bizarre incidents after the match
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7369207.stm

Jason Burke on the French President Sarkozy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/27/france

The monarchy question to pop up again in Australia
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/27/australia

Manufacturing still matters says Ruth Sutherland in her Observer column
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/27/manufacturing.creditcrunch
Will Keegan in the Observer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/27/bankofenglandgovernor.banking

Will Hutton on the Tories
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/27/georgeosborne.conservatives

Alan Watkins on the too clever by half Gordon Brown
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/alan-watkins/alan-watkins-another-fine-mess-of-the-pms-making-816127.html

Ronaldo needs help

argues Henry Winter in the telegraph, meaning a new centre forward. I don't think any United fan would argue with that. The only problem is we have Frazier Campbell coming back from Hull city and Danny Webeck coming through the ranks who definitely promises to be something special, although next season will probably be too soon for him. I am not sure how good Campbell can be, but he does possess one ingredient we do lack at the centre of the forward line, real pace. So even if he didn't start too many games, he could be a useful option to come off the bench in some games.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/26/sfnwin126.xml

James Lawton makes some valid comparisons between the squad of 99 and the squad of today in the Indy
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-uniteds-current-crop-lack-keane-taste-for-battle-of-treble-vintage-815320.html

Gabriel Heinze comes out with some bizarre comments, especially when you remember how he manouvered his way out of Old Trafford.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/25/ufnheinze125.xml

The ego has landed. What a crock of shite, we have always had a pretty poor record against Chelsea. Although until recently we did usually beat them when it mattered.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/jose-it-was-me-who-taught-chelsea-how-to-beat-united-815910.html

Rain stops play. This one looks like an odds on draw now
http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=1953

Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United

Not the performance i had hoped for, or the result either, but i will take it. At least unlike last year in the san siro the defence held firm, especially after losing Vidic before the game to a stomach bug, which saw Brown move to centre half and Hargreaves replace him at right back. As soon as i saw the players selected, it was obvious we were going to play 4-4-2. Unfortunately it wasn't a very offensive 4-4-2, especially with Rooney deployed out wide and Ronaldo in the middle. It was to become even more defensive as the game wore on given United's increasing inability to keep a decent amount of Possession.
How different the game could have been though. United started reasonably well playing patient passing football and then within a couple of minutes United won a corner. As Ronaldo got his head on the ball Milito somehow managed to handle it for what was for me a clear penalty. Up stepped Ronaldo, and we hoped a 1-0 lead, only to see him hit the upright. I must admit the thought did go through my mind that maybe it was going to be another one of those horror nights in a Champions League semi final. From there on in Barca took an increasing grip on the game. As usual Barca kept possession superbly with their midfield taking a vice like grip of the game. Messi lived up to his billing as a contender for best player in the world. Almost everything good that Barca produced went through the little Argentines feet. But for all the nice silky football from the Catalan giants, as soon as they got to the penalty area it all came to nothing as United snuffed everything out pretty comfortably. The only real scare in the first half came after one of the best moves of the match saw Etoo put through centrally, but the majestic Ferdinand got a vital block to avert the danger. At the other end although United were creating virtually nothing going forward, Ronaldo was robbed off a chance to put right his earlier penalty miss. A terrible cross field pass from Iniesta was cut out by Ronaldo who was then clearly took out by Marquez, but i suppose the chances of getting two penalties at the Nou Camp are minimal. I think we were just glad to get to half time still level after playing so badly even though Barca hadn't really troubled us.
But i was never one who just thought United would turn up and batter Barca at their home ground. I expected that we would come under pressure at times, but what i was looking for was for us to use our possession when we did have it to the best of our ability. But the longer the game went on the more obvious it became it wasn't going to happen. United's passing was pretty woeful all night, there was no patience, everybody bar Scholes was trying to play the killer pass at the first opportunity meaning United never got any rhythm going all night. The service to ronaldo was negligible and the lack of support he got was pretty embarrassing at times. The only non defender to play up to his usual standard was, unsurprisingly to me anyway Paul Scholes. He defended well and more importantly in light of the performances going on around him he hardly ever gave the ball away.
Barca dominated the game again in the second half but just as in the first half they never really converted the possession into chances on goal. Their best chance of the half came after the best move of the night that saw Etoo try to beat Van Der Sar at the near post when he should have tried to go across him. United's one and only chance came when Carrick beat his man brilliantly but hit his shot into the side netting.
A goalless draw isn't usually an ideal score in two legged European football, but i have got to say i really fancy us to beat Barca in the second leg. Let's hope i am not being my usual over optimistic self. I suppose the best way to sum up the game would be to agree with what Hansen has been saying about United this season, they have been the best team at picking up results when playing badly. If we do go through next week though, i hope it's not like that.

This was written before the match last night, ironically, as Scholes showed to all his doubters he does still have what it takes at this level.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/23/is_it_time_for_fergie_to_ditch.html

Another guardian piece before the match asking who is the better player, Ronaldo or Messi. Messi was the better player last night, but there isn't much in it for me. Watching last night Messi does have something of the Maradona about him, the low level of gravity, the way the ball sticks to his feet and the ability to shield the ball. When you look at the age of him, Barca should have got rid of Ronaldinho last season and built the team around Messi.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/23/debate_is_cristiano_ronaldo_a.html

Chris Waddle's view of the match
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7363408.stm

Henry Winter's match report includes the snippet that Henry asked to sawp shirts with Paul Scholes at the end of the night
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/24/sfgbar224.xml

David Pleat's view in the guardian
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/24/united_set_up_second_leg_by_co.html

Csacarino in the Times on the match
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3804151.ece

Vidic is a big doubt for Saturday as well now
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/24/sfnman224.xml

Berlusconi shows opposition didn't cramp his style, as another gaffe looks like coming back to haunt him.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/berlusconi-hit-by-first-crisis-as-alitalia-faces-bankruptcy-814065.html

Food shortage hits American shops now,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/23/usa2

Even the CBI boss is now having a go at the bonus culture in the financial world
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/23/creditcrunch.banking

Van Der sar back in goals tomorrow

And is hoping a good result will give him one more chance of a champions league medal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/22/ufnvandersar122.xml

Carrick says strength in depth will be the difference form last season's semi against AC Milan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/apr/22/championsleague.manchesterunited
Another way of looking at that is to say there will be no excuses if we get knocked out in yet another Champions League semi final

Discipline, the key to tomorrows epic in the Nou Camp, writes Henry Winter
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/22/sfntal122.xml

Fergie being a bit economical with the actualite as he says United have not missed Gary Neville because of the form of Wes Brown
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=561222&in_page_id=1779

There isn't much confidence in Barcelona that they will overcome United
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3790481.ece

Henry has not set the world on fire in Catalonia. They wouldn't be too sad to see him go and he probably wouldn't mind leaving, but where to, i can't see Arsene Wenger taking him back to Arsenal. But Arsenal are supposed to be the club he supports and moving to another London club would alienate him from the gooners support.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/22/glum_henry_attracts_few_homage.html

George Monibot on that beacon of democracy Rupert Murdoch
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/22/chinathemedia.rupertmurdoch

A Sid Lowe column written the day before Koeman was relieved of his job at Valencia by mutual agreement
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/21/kings_cup_half_empty_for_koema.html

Samsung chief resigns live on South Korean TV after being indicted for tax evasion,
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article3795226.ece

Vince Cable tells the banks they have no one to blame but themselves for the mess they are now in.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/vincent-cable-dont-be-fooled-the-banks-arent-victims-of-bad-luck-813343.html
The only politician who has merged with any credit over the last year. I bet the banks would hate to have him anywhere near the chancellorship. Geoff Mulgan and Will Hutton on the £50 billion bank mortgage scheme
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/22/banking.mortgages
What it all boils down to really, is the greedy rich have been able to play around with funny money. Complicated schemes that seemed to be too complicated to be true, were just that, too good to be true ( similar to how the gimps took over United without having the money to do so. And now us loyal fans that have been going for years are going to find ourselves priced out of going, if they haven't already, as the match going fan pays for their takeover of the club ). But the rich will walk away richer whilst everybody pays for it over the next few years, as usual. Just look at the 10p tax measure.

Censorship alive and well in Russia
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/newspaper-that-angered-putin-closes-812655.html

Hilary still clinging on before tonight's vote in Pennsylvania
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/clinton-takes-swipe-at-obamas-funding-ahead-of-decisive-vote-813336.html

Fergie is positive

ahead of the biggest week of the season so far
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3785096.ece

Ronaldo wants the present United team to start winning trophies to prove their greatness.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3790592.ece

Cascarino reckons United are the best team in Europe and that wednesday is the night to prove it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3790318.ece

Alan Hansen also fancies United to get through to the final
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7356043.stm

It seems Barca reckon our defence is our achilles heel, just like Barca's maybe
http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7476623,00.html

Gudjohnsen on how United know how good Barca can be. And he reveals Fergie has tried to sign him twice.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2275183,00.html


Messi makes the form book redundant says Ian Herbert, i would argue their whole midfield and attack does myself. Which is why i hope we don't go negative, though unfortunately it's what i'm expecting. I would take a 2-1 defeat as i would definitely fancy us at Old Trafford in the deciding leg.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/extratime/2008/04/barcaunited-don.html

Gordon Brown under pressure and under fire
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/darlings-attempts-to-quell-10p-tax-rebellion-provoke-outrage-812643.html
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/martin_kettle/2008/04/the_10p_crisiss_biggest_loser.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/bruce-anderson/bruce-anderson-labour-mps-thought-that-brown-was-a-lion-now-they-are-fearful-that-he-is-but-a-mouse-812663.html

Abby raises rates as chancellor tries to bail out the banks, whilst King defends his plans
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/21/creditcrunch.banking2
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/21/creditcrunch.banking1

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Manchester United

A late strike from Tevez gave us that vital point that sees us keep our title destiny in our own hands. As usual at Ewood park Blackburn gave us a real test. Without ever really playing up to the standards we would have liked i felt we just about deserved the point. We left it late yet again though and i was just starting to wonder whether it was going to be one of those days when Tevez met a Paul Scholes glanced header and at last breached the Blackburn back line. We seem to be stuttering our way to the title at the moment, especially away from home.
United didn't start too badly, passing and moving but without ever really threatening the home sides goal. Blackburn were more than up for the game though and were right in United's face in midfield trying to deny United the space to get their game going. The longer the half went on the more United struggled to get any rhythm into their game. Everything was nearly but not quite, as the home team were successfully stifling United. In particular they were stopping Ronaldo getting any service and nobody else really stepped up to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Blackburn did have a few good moments with an early shout for penalty correctly turned down, but United seemed reasonably comfortable. Unfortunately Ferdinand and Vidic conspired to turn a pretty harmless long throw from Pedersen into a goalscoring opportunity for Cruz which he made no mistake in slotting home. The game was definitely not going according to script, and United needed to step up a gear. But it still wouldn't happen and if anything Blackburn looked more like scoring with Bentley having a fair game and forcing Kuszczak into action to parry one fierce shot over the bar.
Ferguson decided to change things around a little at half time taking Giggs off and bringing on the fit again Nani. The Portuguese wide man did change things a little bringing more penetration to the forward line. United were still struggling to open the home side up, though now United had taken a total stranglehold of possession. I am not sure whether Blackburn sat deeper on purpose or were forced back by United. Rooney was having one of those days, he could have had a penalty in the first half when he was brought down in the area. Unfortunately he stayed on his feet before deciding to go to ground, and the ref was never going to give it after that. But Rooney lost it a bit after that and was booked for a bit of a scythe on Samba. He became a bit of a bull in a china shop after that and if the bench had been a bit stronger he may well have been brought off.
Ronaldo was still not seeing as much of the ball as he would have liked but showed how dangerous he can be when he picked up the ball on the left and hit an early left footed shot that beat Friedel but not the upright. This became the spur for United to up the tempo and really take the game by the scruff of the neck. Rooney picked up an injury and hobbled on gamely for a while before being replaced by Park. Tevez went close with 10 minutes to go hitting a shot that Friedel managed to pick up off the line. United were then denied a clear cut penalty next as Emerton blocked Carrick's header with his arm. Friedel was having a game to remember but he could do nothing to stop the eventual equaliser, it's just a shame we couldn't have scored a little earlier as i think our momentum would have seen us go onto to get a winner. A win would have been great obviously but the main objective was to get that point to keeps the title race in our hands. It must have been a killer for the watching rentboys when Tevez's header flew into the back of the net.
Next to the Camp Nou and Wednesday's massive game, i managed to see the second half of their game last night and they didn't play particularly well once more. But i think their form in domestic football will have no bearing on the semi final. The other Spanish game was something else with Sevilla, who are going for fourth spot getting murdered 4-1 at home.

The match report from the Observer
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,2275124,00.html

The season so far at Barca
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2275029,00.html

Vic Marks argues that the cricket season starts too early amongst other things
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2275140,00.html
I definitely agree with the season starting too soon argument.

Ryan Giggs in the Indy
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/giggs-to-roll-back-years-for-final-fling-812113.html

William Keegan's Observer column
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/20/economics.currencies

Roy Hattersley on the beginnings of the welfare state
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/20/labour

The Times on Tevez
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3779959.ece

Ferdinand, Carrick and finally Wes Brown all agree new contracts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7354524.stm
I'm glad to see Carrick has been rewarded, after a slow start to the season he has now become pretty much undroppable from our best first eleven. He has a very good season last year but i would say his performances since Christmas have surpassed that. As for Wes, well it's good for the squad, and i always want as many Mancunians as possible playing for the reds, but he is still only a temporary right back i would imagine.

Keegan predicts United return some time in the future
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3776147.ece
He won't be the next manager, but i can see him being the one after that

Sparky tells Ronaldo the grass isn't always greener on the other side
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/04/19/sfnhug119.xml

Robbo likes the look of the present United side
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/19/sfnbry119.xml
When we look back over the last three years, the signings of Vidic and Evra were very influential in the success of the last two seasons.

Hull City in the Premier league?
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2274937,00.html
Good luck to them, especially with Frazier Campbell doing such a good job there, but i am afraid if they did come up, they are going straight back down.

The credit crunch and football
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3776119.ece

Is the end game approaching in the ownership battle of Liverpool, as the indy says the Arabs are about to enter the fray again.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/arabs-set-to-enter-the-battle-of-anfield-811332.html

Barca rest key men, worryingly that's just what AC did last season. I still think the first leg is crucial, and i expect them to really come at us just as Milano did at the San Siro. I just hope we are in better shape to withstand the onslaught this time, and then take the game back to them and get that all important away goal.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/rijkaard-rests-barccedilas-key-players-811829.html

Mathew parris has a pessimistic take on the future for Africa
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article3775299.ece
It's not beyond the realms of possibility

The corporate kleptomaniacs by Prem Sikka
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/prem_sikka_/2008/04/the_corporate_kleptomaniacs.html

Giggs interview

in today's mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/04/17/exclusive-interview-ryan-giggs-on-man-utd-s-title-hopes-89520-20385618/

Capello to try and change Scholes mind again
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3761160.ece
Let's hope he gets the same reply he gave McClaren

Liverpool boardroom turmoil continues
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2274080,00.html

Is South African policy towards Zimbabwe changing now that Mbeki has been weakened
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/south-africa-shifts-on-zimbabwe-810688.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/17/zimbabwe.results
The reason for Mbeki's stance on Zimbabwe, according to Blessing-Miles Tendi
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/blessingmiles_tendi/2008/04/why_mbeki_stands_back.html

Brown is in trouble if this is true
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/17/gordonbrown.labour1

What's wrong with capitalism part
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-man-who-bet-on-the-credit-crisis-ndash-and-took-home-37bn-last-year-810377.html

How close are we to a massive reshaping of world cricket
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,,2274051,00.html
The era of control from the blazers from Lords is over that's for sure

Ronaldo is happy and Campbell is doing well

At Hull city as they continue their promotion push with a 3-1 win away at Barnsley. Good to hear that Ronaldo is as fed up of hearing about Real Madrid as we are.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/16/ufnronnie116.xml
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/barnsley-1-hull-city-3-campbells-flair-lends-gilt-edge-to-hulls-rising-stock-809714.html

Oliver Holt explains why Rio is the United player to pick up his vote for the football writers player of the year
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/holt
It's a fair enough shout, though Evra doesn't seem to be getting much credit. During the first half of the season he was absolutely outstanding, and he hasn't been too bad in the second part. But it is hard to go against Ronaldo with the record he has got this season.

George Best's father Dickie dies aged 88
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7350965.stm

Trouble at the Bridge, as Abramovitch seemingly only has eyes for Avram Grant.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/16/sfnche116.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/16/ufndrogba216.xml

The real reason Cruyff didn't play in the 78 world cup, It seems a bit strange in Francoist Spain. But then again maybe not as he was playing for the hated Catalan enemy.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2273925,00.html
With the antics the junta supposedly got up to would it have made any difference.

No the best start by the red rose county as Surrey amass 242-2 with the unbeaten centurion Ramprakash dropped on 0
http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=scd&id=14385

Martin Jacques asks is Italy still a democracy as Berlusconi wins again
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/martin_jacques/2008/04/is_italy_still_a_democracy.html

A case all football fans will be following
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/league-in-court-bid-to-pull-plug-on-cheaper-tv-games-809456.html

It's close now as Chelski slip up

I thought they would win last night but i was hopeful that Everton would either take a point or beat them on Thursday. Of course if the blue half of scouseland do get something it will be virtually all over. And with the semi against Barca to come, Chelski couldn't have timed it better to stutter.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-1-wigan-athletic-1-grant-title-in-tatters-809058.html

Rio Ferdinand is close to agreeing a new 5 year contract according to most of today's newspapers
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2273706,00.html
The last two seasons have seen him start to look the player who we thought we were signing. Having Vidic at the side of him has definitely helped bring out the best in him, but he is definitely the main man at the back. And has been absolutely outstanding this season.

Tim Rich in the Telegraph on the ousting of United's old guard and the rise of the new
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/15/sfnman115.xml

United are not the finished article but they are all the more exciting because of it according to Kevin McCara in the guardian
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/15/united_are_all_the_more_exciti.html

I was surprised when Mark Chilton gave up the captaincy of Lancashire last season, mainly because i wasn't too sure that he would get into the team as a batsmen alone. When he first made into the first eleven he looked like he might follow John Crawley as very handy number three with a good technique. But he has never really progressed and but for having the captaincy his average would surely have already seen him slip out of the first team. With the strength of the squad at Old Trafford he has a job on his hands to get back into the team.
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,,2273667,00.html

Italy votes for Berlusconi again, Prodi must have been a dire leader. Or the Italians don't want to face reality still.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/john_hooper/2008/04/italys_electoral_earthquake.html

Larry Elliot's economic column in the guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/14/globaleconomy.marketturmoil1

Mark E Smith of the Fall has an autobiography out which is being serialised in the guardian
http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2273418,00.html
http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2273649,00.html

Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal

A win is a win, but we got out of jail a bit yesterday. I was pretty disappointed with the performance, why did we start the match by sitting back and letting them take the match to us. I know we were never going to get a repeat of the 4-0 drubbing we administered to them in the cup. But we saw what happens to them when they are put under pressure, and we saw what happened when the scousers went after them after being passed off the park for the first half hour last week. It was a game that Arsenal didn't deserve to lose, and were the better team for the first half and at least our equals in the second half. But when we did manage to put some good moves together we did manage to open them up.
Vidic wasn't fit so Pique was handed the responsibility of playing centre half for his first really big game for United. It looks like Giggs isn't an automatic first choice any more as Park was chosen to play on the opposite flank to Ronaldo. It is a pity Nani wasn't fit for this game as i would have liked to have seen how he performed against a full strength Arsenal team after the shenanigans in that cup tie. Hargreaves was preferred to Anderson alongside Carrick and Scholes in midfield, but it has to be admitted that their mifield had the better of the match yesterday. Arsenal started the game the better, and seemed to be in the mood to try and put their champions league exit behind them. This can't have been much of a surprise to United, yet i don't think United ever really showed the confidence you would have thought they would have gained from the last couple of months events. One thing Arsenal certainly did manage to do yesterday was put the shackles on Ronaldo. He did still manage some quality moments that could have resulted in United goals, but in the main they kept him quiet. Rooney tried hard and was easily United's best player in the first half, and was unlucky as Lehman managed to deny him twice, the first after a brilliant piece of Ronaldo trickery. But United were constantly under pressure at the other end and fortunately for United Adebayor was as out of touch in front of goal as he has been for the last couple of months. Most of Arsenals best chances ended up at the feet of the tall African but he didn't really hit the ball with the conviction of someone who expected to score. Pique had some hairy moments, but it would be hard to single him out, no United players shone apart from Ferdinand and Van Der Sar.
The second half carried off where the first finished with Arsenal playing the more fluent football. I had thought Ferguson might change things at half time, but he stayed true to the line up he had picked. Two minutes into the second half Arsenal did take the lead with what at the time i thought was a soft goal, but after seeing the TV replays it shouldn't have even been given as Adebayor handled the ball over the line, accidentally but with his hand all the same. It was a horrible mix up between Van Der Sar and Ferdinand and shouldn't have even reached adebayor. Four minutes later Arsenal showed why United's cautious approach was hard to understand as a completely innoccuos ball into the box from Carrick induced Gallas to needlessly handle the ball and leave the ref with no hesitation but to give a penalty. It took two attempts but Ronaldo remained ice cool and dispatched the ball into the back of the net to bring United level almost straight away.
Now Fergie did indeed change things around bringing on Anderson for Scholes and Tevez for Park. I would have brought Anderson on for Hargreaves but with what was to come it was a pretty good decision. Arsenal brought Walcott on as both teams were now going all out for that winning goal. Twice United almost gifted Arsenal a second goal, first a deflection from Wes Brown sliced against the upright after Van Der Sar managed to get a hand on it, and a complete howler from Ferdinand who almost took Van Der Sar by surprise as he cut out an Arsenal cross by hitting it straight at Van Der Sar who made a magnificent reaction save. Now it was United's turn to attack and Evra found himself just outside the box and fed rooney whose shot found the feet of Lehman yet again. The ball rebounded back out to Evra who was upended just outside the D. Up stepped Ronaldo, but to the complete surprise of Arsenal it was taken by Hragreaves who bent the ball over the wall and into the opposite corner from the side of the goal Lehman was defending. Lehman never moved, he seemed to be taken by surprise even more than the Arsenal wall was which was saying something. Arsenal kept coming as United tried to consolidate, when it seemed to me it would have been better to have really tried to get the third whilst their heads were down. But they held out just, and a big big three points were in the bag.

Daniel Taylor in the guardian on yesterdays game
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/14/ronaldo_shows_he_has_courage_t.html

David Pleat on yesterdays tactics
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/14/adjustments_to_stop_flow_from.html

Pass the blame
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-politicians-acts-of-denial-give-the-game-away-808671.html

Hamish MaCrae on the economic shift in the balance of power
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/hamish-mcrae/hamish-mcrae-the-numbers-are-stunning-from-the-emerging-nations-thats-insult-to-injury-as-we-lick-our-selfinflicted-wounds-808305.html

The squad starts to prove its worth

How United's squad has served Fergie well as the season reaches crunch time
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3736062.ece

Reports that Thaksin may get rid of Eriksson at the end of season suggest nothing ever changes at City. Jokers to the left of us, jokers to the right as Steve Miller sang.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3736211.ece

The most interesting economic columns from the weekend included Will Hutton's
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/13/housingmarket.economy
and this longer piece co authored by Larry Elliot and Heather Stewart, focusing on the IMF
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/13/imf.globaleconomy1

Nick Cohen on the SFO case against BAE, that was torn to shreds by the law lords last week
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/13/foreignpolicy.saudiarabia

They can never leave alone can they, it is obvious a balanced diet and exercise is the only way to look after yourself and even then there is an element of luck in the genes you have inherited as to how long you live. And how long you may want to live is a whole different subject.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/13/children.health

Darling worried about bio fuels impact on global food supplies, asks for review. Probably too late as usual.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/13/biofuels.energy

Ronaldo heads PFA nominations

for this years player of the year and young player of the year
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-leads-player-of-the-year-nominations-807989.html
I can't think there is much doubt he will win it again.

Fergie thinks Ronaldo is in the game for the team glory not individual glory
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3731934.ece
Though he does seem to have a hankering to be called the best player in the world.

Don Howe talks tactics ahead of Sundays game. Arsenal have to stop Ronaldo, of course it would help them, but that does still leave Rooney, Scholes and Tevez. I haven't heard anything about Nani's fitness recently, i wouldn't be that surprised if he started if he has been training.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/12/sfnhow112.xml
Imagine how hard it would be stop United if they had a proper old fashioned number 9, a Benzema or a Torrres. I am hoping that we may have one in the youth team, Welbeck looks an outstanding prospect. It will be interesting to see what happens with him next year, will he go out on loan or will he step up to the first team squad.

Hargreaves remembers 26.5.99 from the German perspective and reveals he has read Keanos book and thinks Europe is the Trophy United hanker after most.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/hargreaves-rediscovers-european-purpose-807667.html
He is right, and this year especially.

Clive Tyldesley on the unhappy state of affairs at Catalan giant Barca
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/11/sfntyl111.xml
He is right, it's obviously a great time to be playing them, but United still have to show up on the night. And this is definitely not a night for 4-5-1, their defence is pretty shambolic at the moment, but with no Puyol for the first leg they are even more vulnerable than usual. I have got to admit i am looking forward to seeing Messi for the first time, even if he probably won't be fully fit.

Dein is away with the fairies as he tells us foreign owners are only in it for the fun.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/12/sfnars112.xml
The Glazer family in it for the fun. The men in the white coats will be coming for him in a bit.

Henry Winter on the power struggle on murkeydive
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/11/sfnliv111.xml

Barcelona forced to import water, as drought continues
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/arid-barcelona-forced-to-import-water-807810.html
I would have imagined that to be more likely to happen in the south, Seville maybe.

Manchester United 1-0 Roma

This was what we hoped for at the beginning of the season, with a big big game against Arsenal on Sunday United were able to rest Ronaldo, Rooney and Scholes and still put a impressive performance. The additions to the squad enabling us to compete for the league title and in the Champions league. A full 90 minutes for a pretty rusty looking Silvestre, Pique getting a full 90 minutes and just to top it all a gentle little run out for Gary Neville in central midfield for the last 10 minutes.
United started very brightly and had some decent chances to score in the first 20 minutes, but the chances seemed to invariably end up at the wrong players feet. I know Park does score goals, but he doesn't always inspire confidence in front of goal, saw an early shot go narrowly wide. Wes Brown had a free header from a corner that he should have at least hit the target with and Hargreaves couldn't give Giggs great ball the ending that it deserved as the Roma number 1 made a reasonable save. Giggs did well to steer Hargreaves cross on target but could only hit it straight at Doni.
United were nearly made to pay for it as the referee seemed to see Wes Brown bring down Mancini when everybody else saw a great defensive tackle. Fortunately De Rossi completely lost his bottle and blazed an absolute stinker of a penalty over the bar and into the cheering stretford end. Roma did have a reasonable amount of possession after that but didn't manage to seriously threaten Van Der Sar's goal.
United seemed to settle back into the type of performance i had gone to the game expecting to see, keeping possession and hoping to take the chance if and when it arose. Consequently the game didn't live up to the standards of the first half. But a great run and cross from Hargreaves saw Tevez glance a superb header into the corner of the net after 70 minute to completely kill off any fleeting Roman hopes of a comeback. I have given Hargreaves a bit of stick over the last couple of months, but last night he was superb. For some reason he was played as more of an attacking midfielder, a box to box runner along the lines of a Robson or a Gerrard. And he was excellent in the role, getting all over the pitch, i can't see him scoring goals like either of them though. Pique did OK, never really getting troubled, but he would have been helped by Roma only playing one up front. I don't really know why he brought Rooney on for the last 20 minutes just after we had scored the goal, especially as it looked like he got told to take it easy. But at least Ronaldo and Evra got a nice little break and will be totally fresh for Sundays title clash with the Gooners. The one worry of the night was watching Ferdinand, he is obviously not right. I suspect that he is playing with a long term injury. ( i have just read he had stitches in his foot so bang goes that theory) .It would be nice if he could be given a rest at some time, but with Vidic out injured it doesn't look very likely.

Praise for the strength of the depth in Uniteds squad last night in the Indy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/manchester-united-1-roma-0-iman-u-win-30-on-aggi-tevez-takes-ferguson-back-to-scene-of-his-greatest-triumph-807098.html

More fun and games at the pool as Hicks demands Parry resignation
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/hicks-demands-parry-resignation-807452.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/10/ufnpar310.xml

I've always thought of Birmingham city as a pretty dodgy club since it has had Sullivan involved in it's running, but i wouldn't have had Brady down as a dodgy geezer type. Obviously wrong, although i know she hasn't been charged yet, and probably won't be knowing how hard it seems to be to prove wrongdoing in these affairs.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/birmingham-city-shares-suspended-as-club-is-put-under-investigation-807148.html

Jeremy Warner asks how resillient is the British economy
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jeremy-warners-outlook-just-how-resilient-is-the-uk-economy-as-the-imf-slashes-its-growth-forecasts-807117.html
The currency crunch will mean dearer Euro holidays this summer
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/the-currency-crunch-british-tourists-pay-price-for-euros-strength-806996.html

Robert Fox on the disaster that is British foreign policy, in Basra and as the special relationship falters
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/robert_fox/2008/04/in_basra_without_a_paddle.html

As the Major years neared their end who could have foreseen something as shameful as the SFO decision to halt the BAE corruption enquiry
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/10/bae.armstrade


http://www.newstatesman.com/200804070003

Pique to play tomorrow

but Ferdinand and Vidic are doing better than expected and may be back quicker than at first thought.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=557909&in_page_id=1779

Steve Claridge scouts Sylvan Ebanks Blake for the Guardian
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/08/scouting_report_sylvan_ebanksb.html
I saw him play quite a few times for the youth team and he looked a good player . He was fast and strong and my main worry about his game was his finishing, he scored spectacular goals but not enough tap ins. It looks like he has put that right. He had a bad injury at United that kept him out for a long time, and when he got back Rossi and Campbell had arrived on the scene. I suppose it shows how much luck plays a part in football.

German fans are beoming unsettled with modern football according to Raphael hinogstein
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/07/are_german_fans_really_turning.html

Larry Elliot on the news that there was a 2.5% drop in house prices last month
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/08/housingmarket.economics
Gavin Davies on the bubble over Britain
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/08/creditcrunch.banking
Toxic shock
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/08/creditcrunch.banking

Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United

A game that definitely didn't go to plan, saw United have to fight hard to get a share of the points and lose Ferdinand half way through the second half. The 2 dropped points was bad enough, but to lose Ferdinand, and at the moment we still don't know how long he will be out, was even worse. It looks very likely we are going to be going into next weeks Arsenal game without both first choice centre halves. All of a sudden the title race is well and truly on again.
As for the game, United started like a house on fire and when Ronaldo put the first goal away it looked like one of those away days when we just blitz the opposition and the question is not will we win but how many will we score. Unfortunately when Boro did start to get their feet into the game, it was obvious that our defence minus Vidic was looking a lot less assured than we have been accustomed to. The decision to play O'Shea at centre half and Wes Brown at right back totally lost me. It was said that Browns pace was needed against Downing, well unfortunately it was needed in the middle against Aladiere and Alves as well. Their equaliser came out of nothing really, just a big punt up front that was headed on and Alves found himself alone with Carrick of all people trying but failing to get back in time to stop him as he beat Van Der Sar in the corner of the net. United suddenly looked very frail at the back and Van Der Sar had to be alert to keep a Downing effort out just before the break. United had a great shout for a penalty turned down around this time, it clearly hit a Boro hand but maybe it was too fast for the ref to see.
The second half started in a blizzard and the game carried on along the lines of the latter part of the first half with both teams going for it. Wes Brown reverted to centre half but his afternoon didn't get any better as his weak header rebounded of Aladiere and straight to the feet of Alves who finished clinically again to put Boro 2-1 up. Ferdinand had injured himself trying to get back to clear the mess up, and our weekend was going from bad to worse. Hargreaves now came on to replace O'Shea to give us some attacking impetus from right back and the unlucky Tevez was replaced by Park. Now United did start to exert some overdue pressure, which eventually paid off as Park beat his man superbly out wide before cutting in and delivering the perfect cross to the foot of Rooney who with the help of a deflection found the back of the net to put United level again.
Both teams created chances after that but neither could find the decisive winner. I really thought we would win this game easily the way we had been playing, but the way the game went you have got to be happy with the point. Next weeks game against Arsenal without both first choice centre backs has now taken on immense importance, at least we will have to really give it a go, with the defence we will have it's the only way to play that game. Of course Arsenal will now see this as a game where they may be able to rekindle their seemingly extinct title hopes.

No bone break for Ferdinand but no time scale for recovery either, or their not telling us
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2271697,00.html

Ronaldinho to city. Are season tickets about to go on sale by any chance?
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2271528,00.html

Chauffeur to blame for Di's death
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/07/diana.monarchy
As if anybody with half a brain didn't know, what a scandalous waste of money this has been

A modern day winter of discontent by Larry Elliot
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/larry_elliott/2008/04/econcris1.html
Asley Seager on the upcoming pain
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/07/economics.banking
Stephen King on market failiures
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-from-pope-pius-vii-to-the-credit-crunch-market-failure-lives-on-805422.html

Mugabe returns to tried and trusted methods
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/mugabe-demands-vote-recount-as-war-veterans-arm-for-battle-805403.html

Keano still hurt by United exit

United exit is still painful
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/sunderland/article3689899.ece
There is a great interview with him in the Irish Times, but you have to register
http://www.ireland.com/

Football is still entertainment as David Lacey reminds us
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/04/05/panning_the_flash_is_sign_of_g.html

Fergie confident that Ferdinand will sign another contract
http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7437416,00.html

Ronaldinho will miss probable semi final, but unfortunately Messi who is now undoubtedly the more dangerous player anyway, hopes to be back
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/injury-ends-ronaldinhos-campaign-804944.html

Steve Clark wants away from Chelsea at the end of the season, according to the Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3686030.ece
I suspect there will be a pretty big shake up one way or another at the end of the season at Stamford Bridge.

John Harris on Data information and our right to know who knows what about us, or not as the case may be.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/05/privacy

Mugabe prepares fightback, he was never going to go that easily was he.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/06/zimbabwe1

Will Hutton on Britain and nationalisation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/06/transport.transport

Nick Cohen on modern satire
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/06/gordonbrown.itv

"Ronaldo the devil"

The Italians love him really
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/ronaldo-the-devil-has-italy-longing-for-more-804054.html

Vidic injury not as bad as feared, he will be out for 2-3 weeks, tremendous news. And Gary Neville may take some aprt in the run in, that's not the worst news either.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2270848,00.html

James Lawton on why United are the best equipped English club to win in Europe
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/james-lawton-wengers-laudable-ideals-laid-bare-as-ferguson-revels-in-uniteds-resources-804606.html

Footballers fixing matches again?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/footballer-fixed-match-to-pay-off-gambling-debt-of-16350000-804512.html

Will house prices follow commercial property prices asks David Wighton in the Times
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article3678353.ece

Ronaldo hopes to emulate heroes of 99

He is certainly doing more than his fair share for the cause
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3671168.ece

Real Madrid are being as careless with money as ever according to the Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3671155.ece

Fenerbahce did us a favour last night with that unexpected win. I saw some of it, i was flicking between the matches, and for the vast majority it was all Chelsea. The rentboys will still probably win the tie, but they won't be able to give their weekend league match the attention they would have liked with that tricky return leg to come next week.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/fenerbahce-2-chelsea-1-grants-sweet-dream-of-glory-shaken-up-by-cocacola-kid-804052.html

The hype around Ronaldo continues to grow, as long as he keeps delivering on the pitch, it's fine by me.
http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=644341

A guardian blog in praise of I am kloot, an excellent band, and i would agree they are far, far better than the likes of Coldplay who he mentions
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/04/why_isnt_this_band_huge.html

It looks like Mugabe isn't going to go quietly, no surprise there then.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwe-elections-leader-in-waiting-803979.html

Roma 0-2 Manchester United

Semi finals here we come. I don't usually tempt fate, but there is just no way Roma are going to beat us by 3 clear goals at Old Trafford. It wasn't a glorious performance or as clinical as some papers are making it out to be this morning. It was the same old European tale for most of the first half with loads of possession and absolutely no cutting edge up front. Thankfully, after Ronaldo's great header the Italian side had to come out and attack more forcefully in the second half, and after a few scares and a tactical rejig we started to see the real United. By the end of the 90 minutes 3 or 4 wouldn't have flattered us, but 2-0 is more than good enough.
I was glad to see Carrick fit and in the starting line up when the teams were announced. I wasn't too surprised to see Giggs on the bench, but i hadn't expected Park to be the man to fill his position. Carrick is a must must in European football for me, he uses the ball well, doesn't give it away and can get back to do the ugly stuff. I am absolutely amazed he isn't at least in Capello's England squad. I was quite happy with the midfield selected although i don't Anderson has really made his mark yet at this level. It is only a matter of time though, and the more experience he gets now the quicker it will happen.
The first half was a tactical cagey affair as usual with United in Europe these days, but unlike last seasons tie at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma seemed to be happy to join in the cautious approach. United enjoyed the majority of the ball without ever really threatening to create an opening, whilst Roma sporadically looked as if they might open up the United rearguard but only managed a couple of long range efforts that didn't trouble Van Der Sar. The one surprise Ferguson did spring was to play Ronaldo as the lone front man with Rooney on the left. I don't really think it worked, but if our number 7 had been out wide he wouldn't have been in the middle to head home brilliantly from the ginger prince's delicious cross in the 36th minute. It was a great time to score and completely deflated the home side. The one big downer on the night was the injury to Vidic, that saw him stretchered off half way through the first half. Let's hope it isn't as serious as it looked as we missed him in that first quarter of an hour in the second half when Roma had a real go at United and with some better finishing they might have got back on level terms.
Just as the first, the second goal came at a great time and again, more understandably this time , the home side looked like the tie might just have slipped beyond them, as indeed it probably had. It was a scrappy affair, when a rather hopeful long cross from Wes Brown found an unmarked Park beyond the far post who managed to get a pretty useful header back across the face of the goal. The goalie had to come for it, but stretching out for it he couldn't keep hold of it and the ball landed at the feet of Rooney who scrambled the ball home.
Anderson had been replaced by Hargreaves just 6 minutes earlier and United took complete control of the game now as Roma now had to go shit or bust and leave themselves exposed at the back. United now started to resemble the team we see in the premier league week in week out ripping the Italians side apart on the break more than once. Ronaldo saw two efforts go very close one being tipped onto the post by the goalie and a fantastic effort that just went over the bar. Rooney was presented with a great chance after another tremendous move but completely fluffed it and Carrick hit one with the outside of his right foot that just went the wrong side of the upright.
2-0 was probably a fair reflection of the game and it seems like we can look forward to a semi final meeting meeting with Catalan giants Barca after they grabbed a priceless 1-0 victory at Schalke 04. Barca are still a great team going forward, even with all the injuries at present, but their defence is non existent. We really have got a fanatstic chance to reach our 3rd European champions final, and as others have noted recently we will never have a better chance of winning it.
And finally come on Arsenal tonight.

Ronaldo accused of arrogance by Pizarro fo Roma
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3667883.ece

Where is the ginger prince on this list
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/02/ufnpaylist102.xml
Seriously though it is grotesque.

Has the US learnt it's financial lesons, asks Hamish McRae
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hamish-mcrae/hamish-mcrae-has-the-us-averted-financial-catastrophe-803502.html

UBS boss quits
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/01/europeanbanks.creditcrunch

Is Mugabe finally on his way out
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/02/zimbabwe1