King Eric worries about post Fergie United

Quite rightly too, although i don't think the Glazers will be still be around when that time comes
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/3101012/Eric-Cantona-fears-for-Manchester-Uniteds-future-after-Sir-Alex-Feguson-Premier-League-Football.html

Referee Styles says sorry to Bolton for penalty blunder
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1063755/EXCLUSIVE-Im-sorry--ref-Styles-send-apology-Bolton-Ronaldo-penalty-blunder.html

Time to be scared says Gerard Baker and that was before later developments
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4842862.ece

The US isn't facing up to the future argues Gary Younge
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/29/uselections2008.useconomy1

Critics of the bailout plan are on the right and left
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/29/wallstreet.useconomy

But it's the right that has sunk it as the bailout plan is defeated in the house of representatives
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/29/congress.wallstreet

Manchester United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

A comfortable win in the end but it took a terrible decision by the ref for us to get that vital first goal that changed the game. As in most recent games United played some decent stuff but when they got to the danger area of the pitch there seemed to be no cutting edge again.
Ferguson had said in his press conference that he would revert to the policy of forward rotation that we had around the time of the treble. Yesterday he was true to his words as he left Rooney on the bench and paired Tevez with Berbatov with Ronaldo and Park providing the width. Gary Neville got the nod ahead of Wes Brown again and seems to be getting his touch back. I still don't think he is or indeed will be the Gary Neville of old he doesn't have the pace to get past his man when he makes his overlaps and was always cutting back inside and trying to cross with his left peg. With the important European game on Tuesday coming up i expected Scholes to stay on the bench as indeed he did. The problem with that at the moment is that there wasn't enough creativity in central midfield. Fletcher had a good game but he is not really a creative midfielder whilst Anderson is finding it hard to find his form at the moment.
Another problem yesterday was playing both Berbatov and Ronaldo when both are clearly nowhere near full fitness. I know the only way they will get back to full fitness is by playing but it means the team might suffer a bit in the process. That said United didn't play badly in the first half against a Bolton side that came and put everybody behind the ball. United had chances but they were generally shots from distance and Jaaskelainen wasn't realy tested too hard. In fact Bolton who had offered virtually nothing as an attacking force for the first 40 minutes then proceeded to open up United to produce the best chance of the first half which Muamba some how managed to miss when it was easier to score.
The second half saw Bolton come close again early on through Gardener after which United got a grip back on the game. But it still took an apalling decision by referee Styles to get the lead which our play just about deserved. Ronaldo cut into the penalty area and ran straight at defender Samuel who pulled off a great tackle. Inexplicably the referee blew and after taking a while where he seemed to me to be making up his mind what to give pointed to the spot. I don't think Ronaldo dived but he is so theatrical when he goes down it's hard to know for sure. When the referee blew i thought he was going to book Ronaldo for diving. It was all a bit embarrasing but Ronaldo kept his composure and stuck the ball away to give us the lead. Now on came Rooney and the ginger prince and could we see what we had been missing as almost straight away Scholes took complete control of the match spraying brilliant passes all over the pitch. The second goal came form a sublime move which saw Ronaldo run through and back heel to Rooney who cut inside his man and curled a beautiful right footer into the corner of the mouth. Now United really started to play and there were a host of chances with Berbatov starting to show some really classy touches. If those last 20 minutes were an example of how things turn out when everybody is fit and Berbatov starts to get used to the way we play then exciting times are just around the corner.

Ferguson reveals his belief in Jonny Evans
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1069169_fergie_has_faith_in_evans

Ben Chu is worried about the financial prospects for United under the Glazers
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/openhouse/2008/09/why-manchester.html
Who isn't, but i am just as worried about who they might sell out to. As odious as Malc and the boys are i would hate to see us being owned by the kind of religous fanatics that have moved in at the boo camp.

AC Milan player admits to being Fascist, that must go down well with some of the foreign players.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/27/italy.acmilan

Mike Atherton on Darren Gough
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/mike_atherton/article4820447.ece
I totally agree with his stance on Lancashire in the second part of the column and i am hoping that they will revert using more locally based players as they did when they have had their great sides of the past. It's fine to have your Wasim's, Clive Lloyd's and Murali's but just some of the foreign players have not been anywhere near that class.

The dude speaks to the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/27/1
He has been in some cracking films

Paul Newman dies
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/27/paulnewman.usa
I love cool hand Luke, it seeem that he was a great guy as well. That is some money given away to charity.

Credit crunch time
Will Hutton is scared at the turn of events
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/28/globaleconomy.creditcrunch

Jeremy Warner blames the regulators
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jeremy-warner/jeremy-warners-outlook-in-the-blame-game-its-regulators-who-are-most-at-fault-944118.html

John Gray sees the end of American super powerdom
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/28/usforeignpolicy.useconomicgrowth

Bradford & Bingley to be nationalised
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7640143.stm
Robert Peston on the disaster that was the demutualisation of building societies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2008/09/bb_end_of_an_era.html

Manchester United 3-1 Middlesbrough

I really enjoyed last nights game, it was just a shame the injury to Possebon marred the night. With Da silva starting at right back, Possebon in central midfield alongside fellow Brazilian Anderson and Welbeck up front with Giggs just sat behind him it was a night we saw a bit of the future hopefully. There seemed to be no nerves as with a nice mixture of youth and experience United went out and tried to express themselves and play with a smile on their faces. It was an excellent performance especially in the first half as United took a total hold on the game and were unlucky to go in at half time with only the one goal to show for the invention they had showed. The returning Ronaldo was eager to make up for lost time and although i thought he was a bit rusty and still needs a few games to get his real touch back he still popped up with a goal. A big part of his goalscoring record is his prowess in the air and he nodded in yet another header from a 25th minute corner from Giggs.
It was a bit of a shame the goal had to come from a set piece after some of the excellent football United had played. But as with all United performances this season United had struggled when it actually came to converting the superior play into clear goalscoring chances.
I was very impressed by Da silva, he looks the real deal, it's a pity he is not a bit bigger. It could be a problem if we had him and Evra as the two full backs as you could see there being a lot of crosses aimed at the back post. He is excellent going forward and will probably only get better, he was caught out a few times at the back but he will learn. And he showed a good attitude in trying to get back and atone for his mistakes. His fellow Brazilian Possebon won me over as well, whilst i have liked the look of him in the reserves i have wondered whether he would be quick enough for the first team. Well all you can say after watching him last night is it looks like he will be, he looked for the ball all the time and generally kept hold of it and generally used it well. It was a pity about the way the night ended for him. Welbeck was equally impressive showing that alongside his undoubted skill he also certainly got the football brain to make at first team level. His strength and speed enable him to not look out of place at this level even at this age. It makes you wonder Frazer Campbell will actually get the chance to come back to United after his loan spell as Welbeck is definitely the better prospect.
The second half wasn't as impressive as the first half although the Boro goal came from completely out of the blue. A big deflection took a speculative Johnson shot past the wrong footed 18 year old debutant Ben Amos. He can be proud of his nights work too, admittedly he didn't have that much to do but when he did he did cleanly and effectively. United couldn't find as much cutting edge and were struggling to create any clear cut chances although Welbeck had a great chance at the beginning of the second half but he couldn't find the back of the net forcing the goalie to save.
Tevez perked things up when he came on for Ronaldo on the hour and United started to look menacing again. But it was the Pogatetz foul on Possebon that changed game. I have to say that i didn't think it was that bad a foul when i saw it live, it was only when i saw it on the TV after that i saw the Austrian had took ball and then most definitely man. It still took a bad mistake from substitute Riggot that allowed Giggs a free run on goal that saw him cooly chip it over the goalie to put United back in the game. There were then 9 minutes injury time alloted due to the Possebon injury and right near the end a poor back pass form Wheater allowed Nani to intervene and put the ball in the net to make it 3-1 and i thought a more realistic scoreline. It was another so so performance from Nani, he does some really good things then gets other things badly wrong. Another thing i have noticed about him is his total inabiltity to either spot or enact the cross field ball, he just never does it. Enough of the erratic Portugese wide man though, it was a very encouraging night for the future of Manchester United.

Pogatetz to say sorry
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7634379.stm

West Ham to appeal over Tevez case verdict
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/24/tevez.west.ham.appeal
Henry Winter on the case
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/3069183/A-star-performer-like-Carlos-Tevez-made-all-the-difference-to-West-Ham---Football.html

Lccc unveil new proposals for Old Trafford cricket ground and they are truly truly awful.
http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=2380

Bush to appeal for public backing for his administration's bail out of his rich chums
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/24/wallstreet.georgebush1
How can there be any worse US President than Georgw W. Bush, foreign policy disasters and now economic implosion, not bad going.
Irwin Stelzer argues the economic crisis is going to be bad news for his would be Republican successor McCain
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/09/24/do2404.xml
He is already feeling the backlash according to the polls
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obama-surges-ahead-over-financial-crisis-941278.html

Hamish McRae on Gordon Brown
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hamish-mcrae/hamish-mcrae-how-brown-blew-his-big-chance-940202.html

Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United

I would have took this performance and scoreline before the start so i can't grumble too much. It's just a pity it was such a soft goal we conceded to let them back into the match. I definitely can't see where those journalists that thought Chelsea should have won are coming from. Yes Chelsea finished strongly, but they looked more dangerous from set pieces than in open play.
Once again started a game well only to fade away in the latter stages. For the first 2o minutes United were excellent, although once again we weren't quite at the races where the final ball was concerned. When that eventually comes right somebody is going to be on the end of a bit a hiding. Last year it happened at home to Wigan, will it be Middlesbrough or Bolton on saturday this year.
I have to admit i was pretty amazed when i saw the starting line up and both Jonny Evans and Gary Neville were included with Wes Brown on the bench. Although Fergie was vindicated by the performance of the pair i would still have preferred to have seen Wes Brown at right back. I wasn't that surprised that Ronaldo was left on the bench but i was surprised that there was no Tevez. There is going to be some competition for places up front this season when you consider he has been our best performer this season.
The first chance of the match fell to Fletcher who seems to have acquired the happy knack of timing his runs into the box to perfection at the moment. Unfortunately he couldn't get enough on it to test Cech, which was a pity because he didn't look the same goalie as the one who a couple of years ago all the pundits were hailing as the best in the world. Mind you Van Der Sar wasn't much better and Kuszczak didn't cover himself in glory with there equaliser either.
In the 18th minute Evra made a run forward and started a superb move off which saw Rooney and Berbatov release the Frenchman into the box to cut back to Berbatov who saw his shot weakly parried by Cech straight to the feet of Park who made no mistake. It was only what we had deserved as we were the better team. Cole had had a great opportunity on the ten minute mark but had blasted it wide but that was the sum total of their efforts.
Carvalho then went off for Chelsea and then Van Der Sar had a couple of shaky moments that saw him injured and wanting to go off. It wasn't a very convincing half an hour by him again i'm afraid, but just when Foster might be get getting his chance at last he has gone and got injured leaving us with Kuszczak. United seemed to lose concentration after this point and Chelsea ended the half the stronger without really creating much.
In terms of possession United were second best for most of the second half, but i always thought we were going to be a threat on the break especially when Ronaldo came on 10 minutes into the half. And indeed we did look a threat but as has been the case so far this season the final ball just never happened. There was one great move that ended with Rooney placing his shot into the side netting but not much else. Even though they were having the lion's share of the ball i was pretty confident we were going to come away with all 3 points. So to lose the lead to such a soft goal was a big blow. It should have been dealt with it was no wonder cross. United had to baton down the hatches for the last 10 minutes as we tired and the rentboys came on strong but we survived. The game ended on a bizarre note as the referee who had been apalling blew for full time when everybody thought he was still playing on.
A good point all in all, we have just got to get things going in the final thrid of the pitch and we will get our season going.

The match report in the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-1-manchester-united-1-kalou-crowns-chelsea-fightback-in-compelling-battle-of-heavyweights-937647.html

Youth to get a chance tomorrow
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6618906

Wenger can't understand the City takeover
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-mystified-by-manchester-city-takeover-938325.html
The rumour going around is they thought they were buying United

Rooney to miss out

There is no way i would be leaving him out of the side even he isn't in the best form.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/20/manchesterunited.chelsea

Fergie says he could fit all four strikers into his team but it would mean sacrificing a bit elsewhere, we shall see.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/2992062/Awesome-foursome-excite-Manchester-Uniteds-Sir-Alex-Ferguson---Football.html
That 4-2-3-1 formation looks exciting, but will it end up lloking better on paper than in reality.

United's slow start to season no reason to panic, exactly.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-a-blip-or-something-more-serious-936199.html

Fletchers says United mustn't lose tomorrow
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article4783524.ece

David Lacey on the incompetence of the FA ( no surprise there ) over the John Terry red card affair.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/sep/20/1

John Harris on Lindsay Anderson the director If and this sporting life
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/19/drama
If is a cracking film

An interview with Elbow in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/19/elbow.mercuryprize

Robert Fisk on Afghanistan and the failiure to learn from history
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisks-world-why-does-the-us-think-it-can-win-in-afghanistan-936185.html

Jeremy Warner on the US administartion's econmic recovery plan
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jeremy-warner/jeremy-warners-outlook-america-resorts-to-welltried-solution-when-wall-street-stumbles-bail-it-out-936322.html

Larry Elliot on the week the free market ideology was blown out of the water
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/19/wallstreet.economics

Tristram Hunt on Marx and Engels and their predictions of the end of capitalism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/20/creditcrunch.marketturmoil
I think i will have to invest in his forthcoming biography of Engels, one of the most important figures in Manchester history.

Simon Jenkins calls for a tribunal to learn the mistakes of the mess the economy is in and to find out who is to blame.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/17/economics.banking

Ever heard of pollyanna creep?
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article4790099.ece

Mbeki forced out by ANC
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4793945.ece

Manchester Uited 0-0 Villareal

Our sluggish start to the season continues with another iffy performance in last nights goaless draw. I can't say i was too confident before the game to be honest. With our early season patchy form and no Scholes or Carrick in midfield it's easy to see why. Then with no Berbatov and Ronaldo on the benchi thought we were a bit lightweight up front.
But to be fair we played some decent stuff in the first half without ever really threatning the Spanish sides goal. Ferdinand had a decent chance form a coner early on but wasn't quite sharp enough to stick the chance away. Not sharp enough sums United up at the moment. Again playing 4-4-2 with Nani and Park the wide men and Hargreaves and Fletcher in the middle there was a lack of creativity that was only o be expected with no Scholes or Carrick. I was pretty surprised that Anderson wasn't involved, i am assuming he is going to play on Sunday, but at his age he should be able to play on wednesday then Sunday. I thought we missed his drive from midfield, Hargreaves doesn't really look fit. I know he will only get fit by playing games, but we need to start winning and we can't really afford passengers at the moment. The other surprise was to see Vidic and Wes Brown on the bench. It was nice to see Johhny Evans get a run out and pleasing to see that he has got a chance at United. He must have a chance of playing on Sunday because i thought Gary Neville again looked a bit of the pace. Literally, at some points he didn't seem to have the energy or pace of old to make the overlapping runs that were a trademark. My only decision would be whether to play Brown at right back or centre half. It might be better to play Evans in his normal position instead of trying him out at right back in such a big game.
Nani and Tevez both had long range shots but United didn't really create a clear cut chance in the first half, though we could have been awarded a penalty when Park was brought down just before half time. The first 20 minutes of the second half was the real disappointment for me. We just seemed to be going through the motions with no spark of creativity at all. In fact It was Villareal who had the best chance in this stage of the match hitting the post on the hour. I wouldn't say that woke United up but they did raise their game a bit.
Ronaldo came on a couple of minutes after that effort and livened things up immediately. I thought we had scored with 20 minutes to go when Ronaldo and Rooney combined to put Tevez in only for the Argentine to see his effort cleared off the line. Ronaldo had a decent chance but couldn't put the header in the back of the net. Ronaldo then set up Johnny Evans but his diving header hit the post. And that was the closet United were to come.
Sunday will be interesting, we aren't playing that well, but it will click for us at some point, let's hope it is on Sunday. Scholes and Anderson will be back, hopefully Berbatov and i think Ronaldo will start, though not necessarily finish the game. So there is no real reason to be that worried, we won't get a spanking anyway.

Evans in with a chance of facing Chelsea
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7613923.stm

Fergie has a go a go at the FA on Terry's suspension escape
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7620692.stm

Alan McGee with an interestin piece on classic cover versions. I am going to listen to some Davy Graham myself in the near future. I watched the documentary Folk Britannica and his guitar playing look the dogs bollocks.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2008/sep/16/definitive.cover.versions

Credit crunch latest As the US government now sponsors United's shirt.
Short selling to be banned form midnight for 3 months, let us hope they have the balls to extend that to indefinitely to permanent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/watchdog-cracks-down-on-shortselling-935186.html

Markets rally as central banks intervene
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article4780913.ece

Anatole Kaletsky seems to have gone form economic optimist to pessimist in a short space of time.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article4776149.ece

Auditors should take some of the blame argues Prem Sikka
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/18/marketturmoil.economics

William Gumede on the massive let down that Thabo Mbeki has been
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/17/southafrica.zimbabwe

Lancs in trouble
http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=2372

AIG in trouble

United's shirt sponsors in serious trouble, bad news for the Glazers
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/uncertainty-for-manchester-united-sponsor-amid-wall-st-troubles-931500.html

Not according to this " Financial expert"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1056269/United-end-laughing-way-bank-shirt-sponsors-AIG-bust.html

United are confident in their deal apparently, but no explanation as to why in this Torygraph report
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/2962280/Manchester-United-confident-AIG-sponsorship-deal-will-survive-Wall-Street-uncertainty---Premier-League-football.html

Kuszczak is awarded a two contract extension
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6618386
Bizarre, maybe they are getting Ben fosters understudy in place now because the Pole is certainly not the man to replace Van Der Sar

Rossi looking forward to Old Trafford return, i am looking forward to seeing him play. I really enjoyed watching him in the youth team and the reserves, he was a real footballer. I am afraid he was never really given a fair crack of the whip at United. Especially when you look at the chances given to the likes Kieran Richardson.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&redirectorid=news_story&newsid=6618175

Ronaldo may be fit for Champions league game against Villareal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/2959849/Cristiano-Ronaldo-lined-up-for-Champions-League-return---Football.html

Wall street: is the the deathknell for derivatives asks Nils Pratley in the Guardian, funny money to me and you.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/15/lehmanbrothers.wallstreet
Financial deregulation at the root of the financial mealstrom
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/15/lehmanbrothers.marketturmoil1

Various views on the last weeks events
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/andreas-whittam-smith-the-banks-must-clean-up-the-mess-theyve-created-930878.html
Larry Elliot in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/15/economics.inflation
Anatole Kaletsky is more important is more optimistic than most in the Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article4753649.ece
Max Hastings
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/15/useconomicgrowth.useconomy

A deal is reached in Zimbabwe, but is it real and will stick
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwe-rivals-sign-landmark-powersharing-deal-931234.html

Rick Wright of Pink Floyd dies aged 65
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/founder-pink-floyd-member-dies-931650.html
I had his solo album and i quite liked it.

Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United

Not the result i was expecting , but i suppose the way the season has started, it shouldn't have been such a surprise. The season doesn't really seem to have got going for us at all yet. A reasonable performance away to Portsmouth aside we haven't got anywhere near the performance levels of last season. Though the slow start is reminiscent of last season. I thought Berbatov would play, but when i look at how the match went i am not sure it was really the wisest decision to start with him and play 4-4-2 again. We played like we had forgotten how to play 4-4-2 and apart from the first 10 minutes we never really peformed. Saying that we completely gifted them both their goals, and although it's always horrible being beaten by them, i take the satisfaction that there is no way they are going to be challenging for honours with that team and the way they played. And that is even when they get Gerrard and Torres back in the team fully fit.
Fergie criticised the United players after the match saying that they hadn't worked hard enough and while thats true i was surprised he didn't revert to 4-4-3 when it was plain we were having an off day and never really looked like getting a second goal. Not that i am complaining, i want us to play 4-4-2 more often than we do, so if we have to suffer a defeat like this whilst the players remember how to play the system i can live with it. But i would have waited for the Villareal game before bringing it in, not our biggest away game of the season.
If we are honest even though we have got a great record at Anfield over the last few seasons we have had our sahre of luck really. We haven't played the Manchester United way, we have just gone there and got everybody behind the ball and hit them with a sucker punch. So to completely change the way we play at Liverpool was always going to be a risk, but it's a risk we should have got away with. The two goals we gave away were absolute shockers and questions are going to be raised about Van der Sar. We have conceded 3 goals so far this season and he has been partly to blame for 2 of them. He almost gifted them another only to recover and make a brilliant save from fellow Dutchman Kuyt.
Liverpool played the game as if they accepted that we were a class above them, harrying us and trying to deny us the space and time to play our game. Unfortunately it worked, despite a tremendous first 10 minutes where one sublime move that led to the goal and saw Berbatov show us why he is going to prove what a great buy he will be. It was a great run and a tremendous pull back that was inch perfect for Tevez to run in and score at Anfield for a second season running. After that Liverpool slowly got back into the game, slowly gaining more possesion and denying us the time and space to play our game. It took a terrible mistake from our shaky number 1 to get them back into the game though. A nothing shot took a big deflection which Van Der Sar decided to come for only to palm straight into Brown and back past him into our net for a terrible own goal which Brown cannot be blamed for.
This seemed to stir United and almost immediately they were up the other end where Anderson put in a tremendous cross that Tevez should have at least hit the target with. Unfortunately he couldn't keep it down as he put it over the bar with the outside of his foot. Shortly after this Carrick took a knock that he didn't run off although he did limp on until half time, but that was the end of United's attacking chances for the half. At half time Carrick was taken off and replaced by Giggs with Anderson going back into the centre of midfield alongside Scholes. But United came out in a similar mode to the way they ended the first half with Liverpool edging possesion without really threatning to actually score. Berbatov faded out of the game in the second half, though to be fair to him he wasn't receiving much service. Scholes had a quiet game too, and if i have a worry about reverting to 4-4-2 it whether he will be able to hack it in a 2 man central midfield at this level at his age.
I was happy with a draw to be honest, a long way from the final whistle, the only really good chance we had in the second hald was a brilliantly instinctive shot from outside the box from Giggs that Reina managed to tip over the bar. Giggs was badly at fault for the deciding goal though as he tried to shield the ball out of play but was caught by Mascherano who passed it to Kuyt who crossed it to Babel to fire home. I am afraid i could see the writing on the wall at that point as we just hadn't played well at all. Nani came on but United never really threatened to equalise. Just to cap off an apalling day Vidic managed to get himself sent off and will miss the rent boy encounter next week. So it's another slow start to the season and we really need to get something next week at Stamford Bridge.

Patrick Barclay's match report
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/2908783/Liverpool-v-Manchester-United---Football.html

Alan Hansen on yesterday
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7614689.stm

Fergie wasn't happy with his team yesterday
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7614366.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/14/liverpool.manchesterunited

Ronaldo ahead of schedule and could be involved on Wednesday
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7614132.stm

United's shirt sponsors in trouble
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4748640.ece

Wenger has a go at City's new owners
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/14/arsenal.manchestercity

Barcodes up for sale
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7615618.stm

Will Huttons economic column in the Observer on the chance presented to the left after the US administration's nationalisation of the two giant mortgage banks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/14/marketturmoil.economics

Lehman brothers investment bank in trouble
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4748589.ece

I went to see the Stewart Lee penned Elizabeth and Raleigh at the Library theatre on friday, and had a laughter filled 90 minutes. I was a bit worried about being only 3 rows from the front, but thankfully we weren't picked on or had potatoes thrown at us.
http://www.latebutlive.com/

Berbatov not the new Cantona

says Queiroz, he compares him to Ruud Van Nistelroy, but he thinks he will take United to another level, exciting talk, mouthwatering in fact.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/13/manchesterunited.premierleague

Jim White compares Berbatov to King Eric
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/2826896/Brooding-Dimitar-Berbatov-the-heir-to-Manchester-Uniteds-Eric-Cantona---Football.html

David Pleat on the brilliant Berbatov and how he will appreciate playing with better quality players
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/sep/13/manchesterunited.premierleague

Surprise, surprise Gerrard and Torres are both fit to play later today
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/2824276/Liverpools-Steven-Gerrard-and-Fernando-Torres-fit-to-face-Manchester-United---Football.html

Keano hits the target as he has a go at the preposterous Jack Warner
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/furious-keane-launches-jack-attack-927968.html

Croatia 1-4 England : a turn up for the books

I only saw the highlights but it looked like they actually played as a team, Gerrard must regret being injured and missing out on this. I hope he is still injured on saturday, but i have just got a sneaky feeling he wil be miraculously fit to play.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/croatia-1-england-4-capello-vindicated-as-croatia-are-humbled-on-home-ground-925709.html

Burnham talks about the future of the people's game, or what was the people's game should i say
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/11/sportinterviews

Liverpool stadium delay risks them falling even further behind arch foes United according to David Conn
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/10/liverpool.premierleague

Elbow win Mercury prize award
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/elbow-win-mercury-music-prize-924682.html
Great news for a brilliant group, though i have to admit i am not really a fan of music awards.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/musicblog/2008/sep/10/guy.garvey.on.winning.the.mercury.prize

Music

Augustsus Pablo - Original Rockers: I have heard this before but not for ages and i hadn't listened to it much. I can't think why, i absolutley love it. More reggae than dub but still great.
Beck - Modern guilt: Beck delivers again, he has yet to make a mediocre album for me. Grittier than usual and none the worse for it.
Black Affair - Pleasure pressure point: The former Beta band man comes back with an album heavily influenced by 80's electronic pop acts. I wasn't sure about this at first but it has grown on me, but if i had to choose between this and his fellow former beta bandmates The Aliens album i would have to plump for Astonomy for dogs.
Paul Weller - 22 Dreams: I am not a fan of everything he has done, i liked the Jam but not the Style council. I thought Wild wood was tremendous but thought Stanley road was overrated and haven't really followed his career much after that. But i saw the reviews of this album and thought i wanted to hear Weller being experimental. I am glad i did because this is one of my favourite releases of the year. It is truly excellent going from one style to another without a drop in quality.
Sigur ros - ( latest ): It took a few listens, but it always does with sigur ros to get into their latest unpronouncable album. A bit uneven for me, but when it is good it is very good. When they are at their best, they aren't really rock or pop, it seems almost classical music to me.
The Juan Maclean - Less than human: Top notch electronica from the American Maclean that gets better and better every time i listen to it. Closing track Dance with me is an absolute killer tune, all 14 minutes of it.
The Travelling Band - The redemption of Mr Tom: If this is a gag i'm in ( double E.P ): I bought this at the spinningfields gig i saw them at a few weeks ago. It is pretty good, in fact it is better than i expected. The sound system at that gig didn't do them any favours. I can't wait for an album.

Hamish McRae reckons the econmic down turn has hit it's bottom and will slowly, very slowly get better
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hamish-mcrae/hamish-mcrae-the-start-of-the-long-haul-back-924455.html

Time for tightning financial regulation argues Stewart Lansley
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/10/economy.economics

The democrats have liberals everywhere worried as the elction gets down and dirty, which is of course what the republicans are good at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/10/uselections2008.barackobama
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2008/sep/10/johnmccain.sarahpalin
A bit early to be so worried but then again i don't have to live there and live under a party governing that's main vote base are as alien to me as the mad mullahs of Iran.

Simon Jenkins on Afghanistan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/10/1

Richard Herring on hecklers, and how to deal with them or not as may be the case
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/richard-herring/2008/09/mobile-phone-story-audience

New labour politician takes the long view shocker
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/10/climatechange.energyefficiency
and the right view as far as i am concerned. A windfall tax is just a one year sop to make feel better, instead you should be taking the long term view trying to take measures enabling people to pay less on fuel bills in the long term. Whether that is what he ends up actually doing is another matter of course.

An alternative view of the bottle bombers
http://www.septicisle.info/2008/09/crying-over-spilt-liquid.html#comments

Ferdinand fit for England

Pity, there's a much bigger game on saturday and i don't want him picking up any injuries playing for that shower.

Micky thomas has an autobiography coming out, Henry Winter reports,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/2706692/Mickey-Thomas-A-cautionary-tale-from-a-Welsh-wizard---Football.html
He wasn't much of a player to be honest, just a hard working left sided midfield player. That didn't exactly endear him to the fans, especially when the man he basically replaced, Gordon Hill was the kind of tricky left winger United fans loved, and he was a real terrace favourite. His saving grace as a Manchester United player was he always seemed to have his best game of the season against Liverpool. And the scoucers really seemed to hate him, which meant he must have had something going for him.

The free market consensus, the beginningof the end, according to these 3 writers. But who will profit asks Steve Richards,
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-the-rules-have-changed-but-have-our-politicians-noticed-923493.html
Nationalisation pure and simple says Larry Elliot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/09/freddiemacandfanniemae.subprimecrisis
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/09/useconomy.useconomicgrowth

And what will happen to the premiership, will all our clubs be run by oligarchs and Arab and far eastern financial institutions until the fashion runs out and our football falls to earth with an almighty bump. The Americans aren't going to last at Anfield and i can't see our muppets hanging around forever either. As much as i hate the Glazers and the debt, i couldn't stand an Abramovitch in control of our club. As for City's situation, i dsepise all those countries around the Arabian gulf, so that would be even worse. There must be every chance it will happen though.

An extract from a new biography of the mighty Clash in the times
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4706995.ece

Oil price drops back below $100 a barrel, isn't the scandal how it ever reached almost $150 a barrel and who profited from it.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article4714253.ece

Money talks

Gill admits a City bid for Ronaldo would have to be listened to
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1065802_reds_would_listen_to_city_ron_bid
Why, because the yanks need the money?

Rooney told to be more selfish again
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article4699406.ece

Corporate numpties start to turn back on United
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1052610/Manchester-United-struggling-shift-prawns-.html
No surprise really.

Khan humiliated
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/boxing/s/1065831_ill_take_ko_rap__khan
Oh dear he was really found out on saturday night. I have never thought that his defence was good enough but it looks like that chin is the final nail in the coffin as far as his chances of ever acheiving anything in the sport are concerned.

Lancs in trouble, i definitely didn't think relegation would come into the equation this summer. I know the weather hasn't helped as usual, but the season has never got going. And it would seem Getting rid of Cork at the end of the season hasn't gone down too well with the senior players. I have a feeling that whatever happens from now to the end of the season, there will be a few changes next season.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/cricket/s/1065743_lancs_washout_again
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/cricket/s/1065740_flintoff_calls_for_cork_uturn

I went to Dulcimer in Chorlton on friday night to see a DJ set by David Holmes, and well worth the £4 it was too. He played some cracking rare tunes
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/clubs/s/1065524_dj_davids_holy_mission
As did all the DJ's to be honest

I watched the 90's French film La haine over the weekend, it was excellent.

You can't buck the market, somebody once said,
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bush-bails-out-us-mortgage-giants-922473.html

Larry Elliot latest economics column in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/08/economicgrowth.economy

Murray showed glimpses during Wmbledon that maybe he was the real deal. This win over the brilliant Nadal proves he really is, regardless of whether he wins tonight. Though he has to have an excellent chance.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/sep/08/usopentennis.andymurray1

Phelan the new number 2

with Rene Meulensteen taking charge of first team coaching, surprising to say the least.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/2674449/Manchester-United-appoint-Mike-Phelan-as-new-assistant-coach---Football.html

Alan Smith on Berbatov in the Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/2669685/Dimitar-Berbatov-is-an-arrogant-individual-who-must-embrace-Manchester-Uniteds-team-ethic---Football.html
A fair enough article that doesn't really tell you anything you didn't know already.

He is desperate to put on the red shirt and get started
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article4663896.ece

Manucho gets work permit
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/manucho-gets-manchester-united-work-permit-917753.html

The gamble that is Robinho, writes Sid Lowe
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/09/02/even_for_citys_new_owners_sign.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/robinho-must-grow-out-of-crying-game-to-justify-record-transfer-fee-917101.html

His fellow countryman think he's lost his marbles
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/chelsea/2672751/Pele-Robinho-needs-counselling-after-rejecting-Chelsea-for-Man-City---Football.html

The always worth reading financial sports journalist and City fan David Conn on the takeover
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/09/02/a_new_era_for_football_how_cit.html

The new owners of City, what are they in for
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article4663644.ece

Will Liverpool see the next foreign takeover
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article4663786.ece

Curbishley resigns at West Ham, this happened very quickly.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/03/westhamunited.premierleague1
The things they promised to do at Upton park when they took over!
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/curbishley-clashes-with-club-captain-neill-over-leadership-jibe-917103.html

The first serious economic move by Salmond in Scotland as he promises to bring a local tax, and with potential support from the Liberals he may be able to deliver. Another clever move, picking the fights you think you can win and splitting your opponents.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/sep/03/scotland.snp

Ukraine in political crisis again, it's a bit easy blaming everything on Russia. But theu will boviously welcome these events.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4668626.ece

Google's new browser chrome gets the thumbs up in the independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/is-googles-new-chrome-browser-any-good-917667.html

IRA may disband ruling army council
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ira-ruling-army-council-may-be-disbanded-917195.html

Bad times ahead as the era of funny money comes to an end
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-interest-rates-should-come-down-but-the-damage-to-growth-has-been-done-914692.html

No talk of tan end to boom and bust now
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/oecd-says-uk-is-worst-placed-in-g7-to-withstand-global-downturn-917276.html

Berbatov a red at last !

But it went right down to the wire, with Campbell going to Spurs on a season's loan.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/tottenham/2665058/Manchester-United-resolve-finally-secures-Dimitar-Berbatov---Football.html
If Campbell was going to Wigan on loan, it's a bit of disappointment that he has had to be used as a makeweight in the Berbatov deal. I am pretty sure that he would have established himself as one of the main strikers at Wigan. Where as i am not sure how much football he he is going to get at White Hart Lane. Still we were desperate for a proper number 9 so it had to be done i suppose. Despite my reservations about his temperament he is an absolute top quality centre forward and the type of player we were crying out for. With Ronaldo out and possibly on his way out next summer ( though somehow i doubt he will end up at the boo camp, see below ) it was imperative that we bought a quality strker that meets the United needs, he can hold the line up front on his own if needs be, he can link up and create for others, he is good in the air and he gets his fair share of goals. Berbatov more than fits the bill for all those requirements, let's hope his temperament shows improvement from his time at Tottenham.

The giddy o meter goes off the dial at the council house sponsored by middle east tyrants r us
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/2668747/Manchester-City-target-Cristiano-Ronaldo---Football.html
As if

Keegan quits barcodes again !
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/newcastle-silent-on-keegan-exit-916650.html
Or has he ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7593683.stm

What Thaksin's avoiding back in Thailand
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/02/thailand3
I can't believe how he seems to have come out of the sell off of the bitters smelling of roses.

How will the credit crunch affect the much criticized PFI initiative deals
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mps-criticise-inflated-management-fees-for-pfi-changes-915844.html

How not to run a presidential election campaign
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4662882.ece
I wasn't too sure that Obama and the democrats would be victorious in November but it's starting to look like they will never have a better chance.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/how-mccain-panicked-into-dangerous-palin-gamble-917013.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2008/sep/02/uselections2008.republicans2008

Google to bring out it's own internet browser
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/sep/02/google.microsoft
I use firefox, but i am not impressed by the latest version so i might download this and have a look

The mad mullahs couldn't run a piss up in a brewery shocker, as iran faces power cuts
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/02/iran.energy