Manchester United 5-0 Wigan

In his post match reaction Ferguson said that the fitst 45 minutes was probably the best football we have played all season. We certainly haven't played any better than that, especially at old trafford. I didn't really know what to expect to be honest, but i certainly wasn't expecting the rout that we saw last night. Maybe we should have, because we have a great record against them. And after seeing that Wigan side last night the spine that Steve Bruce instilled them with in his time there seems to have evaporated. To be fair to Martinez he has lost Valencia, Cattermole and Palacios, three pretty tough premiership players. But if they want to avoid being involved in the relegation dogfight they need some players with fight as well as talent.
The only change to United's line up was Park coming in for Giggs and to be fair to him he had a reasonable game his best since he came back from injury. United didn't exactly start the game on fire but they did seem to be playing a level above what we have seen recently. We had some cracking moves, good chances and a penalty appeal turned down during the first half. Fletcher and Carrick were in total control of midfield and Valencia was causing havoc on the right. The first goal came from the right as the impressive Rafael made a great overlapping run to recieve the ball form Valencia and put in a dangerous cross that Rooney clipped past Kirkland to score the goal that our play had deserved.
Almost straight away the lead doubled as a United counter attack saw Valencia run down the right unchallenged and instead of blindly crossing he picked out Carrick at the edge of the box who finished the move of nicely placing it with his side foot into the corner of the net. And then just before half time the game was well and truly over as Rafael cut in form the right ran across the edge of the box and shot with his left foot to beat Kirkland diving to his left to make it three.
After a half like that you some times get a run of the mill second half as United settle for three points and take their foot on the pedal. But not last night as United kept attacking and although they didn't play as well as in the first half it was still pretty good attacking football.
Five minutes in and it was Valencia again who was the provider beating his man and crossing to Berbatov who took a touch and then stroked it home. It made up for his miss in the first half when he had done the hard part with a brilliant piece of ball control bringing Fletcher's great pass down first time but then horribly misdirected his lob over Kirkland. He was another who had a good night, how anybody could prefer Owen to him in the line up i just don't know. Another superb piece of football saw Berbatov cross for Rooney whose header hit the bar and was then cleared. The fifth came with another piercing attack as Rooney advanced and with plenty of options put another inch perfect ball through for Valencia who confidently chipped it over substitute goalie Pollit with the outside of his right foot to make it five. Welbeck then came on for Berbatov leading me to believe that Owen may start against Leeds and City. So a good night as our goal difference gets close to Chelsea's though Arsenal's 4-1 win means that their goal difference is better than both of us. I just can't see Arsenal mounting a title challenge come May though with Van Persie out for months and Fabregas out for anothe month. To be honest if both of them was fit i still couldn't see it.

Fergie happy and thinks we have a good chance with our defenders all coming back fit for selection.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8435587.stm

O'Shea's injury is long term, according to Fergie he could be out for another 2 months
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8436026.stm

Valencia is now proving his worth according to this Telegraph article, i thought he started to do that a couple of moths ago. He has had a couple of poor games by the standards he had set him self against Fulhamd and Hull but he has been one of our most consistent performers as the amount of games he has played shows. Nani has never got close to the run of games Valencia has because he has never shown the consistent form needed to be trusted to keep playing week in week out. Now if we can only find someone for the left we would really be back in business.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6912625/Manchester-United-winger-Antonio-Valencia-rubs-salt-into-Wigan-wounds.html

United need a new Eric according to James Lawton in the independent. That's a pretty good assessment, and i thin he is right that Rooney needs some one as good as him i the team to take burden of him.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-an-heir-to-keane-and-cantona-will-be-high-on-fergusons-birthday-wishlist-1852859.html

The Times reports on the rumour that won't go away that Vidic will be off in the summer
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6970903.ece

I listened to a Times sports pod a couple of weeks ago where the question was put " who will a loner lasting on influence on football in this country, Ferguson or Wenger ". They all answered Fergie, if my memory serves me right, but Patrick Barclay put forward the view that Fergie was undeniably the greatest manager in the world as far as squad rotation goes. Here Daniel Taylor claims Fergie is the new tinkerman, i don't think the new belongs in that headline.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/29/alex-ferguson-manchester-united-squad-rotation

Ronaldo tells Real Madrid fans they should be more like United and get behind their team. I don't know how well that will go down, they aren't used to players with a mind of their own. willing to tell them they are wrong. A down side i suppose of a supporters ran club, but one i would willingly accept over a debt ran club.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/ronaldo-critical-of-real-madrid-supporters-1853267.html

Chelsea almost debt free according to their latest figures. The interessting part of this report is Abramovitch converting his loan into shares and what his motive for doing so are. Is he going to back Platini in his drive to get debt driven clubs to operate within their means. Is he in favour of a salry cap, does hw want to get rid of Chelsea but not leave it in debt or does he know something we don't.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-almost-debt-free-1853309.html

Swann is living the dream as England crush South Africa in Durban. What a find he has been for England, Monty who!
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/england-hero-swann-hails-dream-year-1853188.html

George Walden puts a bit of perspective into the Chinese execution of Akmal Shaikh, remember the opium wars. In other words western double stndards.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6970891.ece

Larry Elliot doesn't expect a smooth economic recovery
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/28/financial-fireworks-far-from-over

A wall street journal on the disgrace that are British libel laws
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107604574607801854864672.html

A guardian report on the kidnapping of Peter Moore, nobody comes out well.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/31/british-hostages-baghdad-iraq-iran

Hull City 1-3 Manchester United

It wasn't the most convincing display but after Chelsea slipping up again at Birmingham it was vital we secured the three points and that they did. I suppose it was a pretty good game for the neutrals in the sense that they probably felt the home team might take something from the game as once again United failed to find their best form. But the difference this time was having a proper centre half combination. The way we played it's hard to have seen us taking the three points if Brown and Vidic hadn't stepped back into the starting eleven. They both defended reasonably well as they are probably both rusty. And of course that allowed Fletcher and Carrick to move forward into central midfield. Both of them looked a bit rusty, but i suppose that was remembering what it's like to play in midfield again.
With Giggs on the left and Valencia on the right with Rooney and Berbatov up front it was the strongest team we have put for a good few weeks. But we didn't really play like that as United never found any fluency in their play. The passing was off right from the word go and it seemed it might have to be one of those days where we dug a result out.. Hull should have had a penalty as what had looked like a good tackle from Brown was in fact not as replays showed as infact Brown took the man but didn't make contact with the ball. Both sides were creating half chances and Hull's goalie veered between the very good with some fine saves and the very bad with one or two calamitous moments such as slicing one horrible clearance under no pressure at all but United couldn't capitalise. Not for the first time United left it until the dying moments of the first half to finally open up the the home sides defence and take the lead. Fletcher crossed from the right and though Giggs missed it Rooney ghosted into the middle of the six yard post to slot the ball home. We didn't really deserve it but we went in at half time with a one goal lead.
We hoped that would be the springboard for United to get their game together and take the game by the scruff of the neck. But it didn't really happen as Hull's work rate and United slipshod passing kept the home team in the game. But it took a disastrous backpass from Rooney to get Hull back in the game. As soon as he hit it he had his heart in his mouth and when Rafael brought Altidore down he sheepishly looked at the bench. Fagan made no mistake sending Kuszczak the wrong way and United were back to square one. I have to admit i am usually the optimist but it did go through my mind that maybe it was going to be another one of those days at that stage. But up stepped United's best player to make amends for his mistake to have a hand in the second and make the third. It was some game for him to be involved in every goal, even the opposition's.
With just over fifteen minutes to go United launched their best counter attack of the match that saw Giggs find park who had come on for the slightly disappointing Valencia. He found Rooney on the right who crossed for Park at the back post only for Hull's Dawson to slice it into his own net. Then Rooney played the ball of the match through Gardener's leg to the back post for Berbatov to side foot in to finally make the game safe. So United were never at their best but we came out the necessary three points as Arsenal and Villa were starting to put the pressure on us after our stuttering form recently.

Van Der Sar's wife is very ill after brain haemorrhage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8433442.stm
Terrible news, i suppose that may put his football career into perspective for him. It may be that we don't see him in a red shirt again.

It seems there is at least one story a day at the moment suggesting Nani will be on his way during the January window. I can see every likliehood of that being true. I think United want shut and he wants to go. The only thing that might stop it is the Glazers not getting what they think is value for him. Bu they are't going to get that however we go about getting rid of him.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/nani-heads-for-exit-from-old-trafford-1852142.html

James Lawton on Albert Scanlon and how the Munich crash never really left him
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-sad-end-for-a-troubled-survivor-1849136.html

Jonathan Wilson wonders where football tactics will go next as we enter the next decade
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/dec/23/the-question-football-tactics-develop-decade
4-4-2 seems to have made a come back this season, though it looks temporary to me. In United's case it would seem to be out of neccessity as without question with no Ronaldo we haven't got the players to make it work, maybe without Tevez as well if i am honest.

Andy Cole on christams for professional footballers
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-andy-cole-column-the-day-roy-keane-transformed-from-scrooge-into-santa-1849134.html

Inter to make swoop for Gerrard, is as i suspect they don't qualify for the champions league is suspect i think he will ask to leave and and as long as it his him that asks they will let him go. Though i would think Real Madrid is a more likely destination. Though where he would fit into their line up, i don't know. Liverpool need the money and he wants to win things before he hangs his boots up. His career won't last as long as Scholes and Giggs has.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/inter-milan-line-up-gerrard-swoop-1852567.html

Whoever is in charge the giddiness levels just don't drop at the boo camp
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mancini-makes-bold-claim-on-title-race-after-city-win-1852150.html

I don't know what these reports were all about, all a bit murky
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/6905003/Real-Madrid-deny-Sheikh-Mansour-buy-out-reports.html

Mike Atherton reveals his dislike of the review system that is being used in South Africa this winter in his Times column
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/mike_atherton/article6966851.ece
I know where he is coming from, i am not too sure i am that big a fan of it. I suppose if they use all the technology at their disposal to arrive at the right decision then fair enough. But that is not the case at the moment. Bat pad decision's without hot spot aren't much more conclusive from the third umpire than they are from the man on the spot it seems. I would go along with it only so long as they use all the technology available in all test matches. And he is absolutely spot on to say that the paying customer is getting a raw deal. They should be the first consideration in all sports at all times. Of course it isn't but it should be.

Will the bankers get punished after all asks Robert Peston
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2009/12/new_ice_age_for_bankers.html

Ronaldo still follows United

But happy with his move. Some times i am not so sure about that, when he left i thought we wouldn't hear him say much about his time at old trafford but every time he is in front of the English press all he talks about is his fondness for Manchester ( the real world famous Manchester club that is not that comedy oufit whose biggest supporters branch must be Stockport )
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/ronaldo-admits-he-misses-manchester-united-1847083.html

Surprise, surprise there will be no signings in the Jamuary window announces Fergie, that's a shock.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/21/sir-alex-ferguson-manchester-united
I will be looking to see whether Cathcart comes back from Watford as i have heard no talk of how long his loan stay was for and we are desperate for defensive bodies. What we and the press should be watching out for is who goes out, because that will tell us something.

Albert Scanlon, Busby babe had died aged 74. I always liked hearing him being interviewed as he always came across as a proper mancuinan.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6871154/Manchester-United-player-and-Munich-survivor-Albert-Scanlon-dies-age-74.html

Arsene Wenger's player of the decade, step forward Ryan Giggs
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/6871653/Ryan-Giggs-is-my-player-of-the-decade-says-Arsene-Wenger.html

Comedy club no. 1
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article6963319.ece

Comedy club no. 2
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sam-wallace-in-betraying-hughes-city-have-opted-for-quick-returns-over-lasting-legacy-1846382.html

Comedy club no. 3
The press conference : How not to do it
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/dailybung/6864366/Manchester-Citys-PR-disaster-over-Roberto-Mancini-has-Garry-Cook-in-a-spin.html

Comedy club no.4 : Honourable men, in a Manchester City universe
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article6964618.ece
As hilarious and disastrous as Cook's performance was Ducker is spot on about the Arabs and their cowardice. It's not a surprise though is it, they are not exactly used to being held to account are they. Over there i suppose a journalist might have his ( and it will be a he of course ) tongue cut out for the effrontery for pointing out their two faced lies.

David Conn with an overview of the noughties: the age of irresponsibility?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/dec/23/noughties-decade-review-football-money
All i can add to that is to say since Thatcher began her neo liberal revolution we have been told that industry was old hat and that finance was the future and the city of London would be where the future wealth of this country would be earned. Well that is one myth that has been tested to destruction. Will allowing our clubs to be sold to the highest bidder however they came by their wealth or how two sets of American chancers financed the purchase of Englands two biggest clubs be the next blunder to be exposed of this countries shambolic self serving elite.

John Terry a man who typifies the present day greed of football. I know it is not just cockneys with their snouts in the football trough but they do always seem to be the highest profile don't they.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matthew_syed/article6965635.ece
Of course there are so many at it he probably thinks the only thing he has done wrong is to get caught.

A Manchester institution now resident in the smoke, the guardian is in financial trouble and is looking at ways of saving money including selling the evening news. I don't think the guardian has been the same Hugo Young died. He was a great read,seemed to be right on most subjects if you were a liberal and was absolutely spot on about Blair. I can still remember the article about Blair's love of money not too long before he died. As for the current editor, i suppose the website has to go down on the plus side. But the easy ride that some of this current self sheep like government have had has hardly been what you would expect of a supposedly great liberal paper. The closeness of the current editor and other journalits to some of this motley crue is part of the problem you would presume. If the tories do win it would be nice to see him step down and see the paper step up to the plate in this time of great opportunity for radical politics. Because if a party of the left doesn't have the answers to the woes of this country i shudder to think what a party of the right answers will look like.
As for the evening news it's an embarrasment and i don't know the answer to that. It's too populist, the sport is crap. And that for a regional paper that has the biggest football club in the world, maybe the biggest sporting institution in the world. They must rue the day they crossed swords with Fergie. Maybe it should relaunch as a half sport and half news paper with a vast increase in resources poured into the sport. Going half way towards the italian model of newspapers wholly dedicated to sports. How many men buy a newspaper and start from the back. There must be a market for that.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/opinion/stephen-glover/stephen-glover-pound40m-sale-of-family-silver-may-not-go-far-at-lsquothe-guardianrsquo-1846205.html

Jonathan Glancey architect critic of the guardian accuses Mandelson of talking tht talk but not walking the walk of basing the countries future on industry. Not surprising reall for someone supposedly on the left who announced he was intensley relaxed about people getting filthy rich. I suppose especially as he does seem to like to hang out in those circles.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/21/manufacturing-industry-britain-economic-recovery

Fulham 3-0 Manchester United

A day to forget, there's no question about that. We have had a few poor performances this season but this was probably the worst. But i am not going to start moaning, this would have been a hard game even with our best team but with that defence i would have more than settled for a draw before the game. Fergie settled for the same formation as for the game in Wolfsburg in an effort to try and dominate possession and to protect our makeshift defence. De Laet came into the centre of defence and even though we were very poor on the day no blame could be laid at his feet whilst he was on the pitch. Owen played up front with Rooney and Anderson was given the job of getting forward from midfield and being creative.
Though we didn't start the game too badly we were never really that fluent. The first goal was a disaster, Scholes who had been looking good up to that point was caught unawares by Murphy who stole the ball from him, advanced on goal and hit a shot that whilst aimed well into the corner wasn't hit with that much power. But whether Kuszczak was unsighted or not i don't know but the ball beat him and we were one down. That was not what the doctor ordered as it was going to be hard to chase the game with the defence we had and having players like Fletcher in defence instead of midfield where we really needed him. What made it worse was the players played like they had no confidence in the defence or system. Added to that i thought Anderson had a really poor game, Scholes confidence seemed to go bit after the mistake though it never stopped him demanding the ball and Owen was so annonymous we might as well have been playing with 10 men. I had started to think maybe Anderson was coming to terms with being a United player but this was a performance to make me wonder again. The further forward he plays the less impressive he is and seeing as though we bought him as an attacking midfielder it's pretty worrying. His old sin of giving the ball away came back with a vengence yesterday. As for Owen it has to be said i would not be starting him in games in the premier league especially away from home. It looks like he is going to work best for us as an impact substitute as he just doesn't do enough for the team when he is started in matches. I hope Scholes just puts that down as a game to forget and doesn't let this performance think that maybe it is time to retire at the end of the season.
I haven't forgot there were two teams on the pitch and as expected Fulham were playing well and were giving us no time on the ball and looking dangerous when they attacked. The start to the second half must have been beyond their wildest dreams though as with just one minute gone Zamorra had put them two up. Needless to say that was a disaster as far we were concerned. I would have took Owen off and brought Berbatov on at half time and maybe brought Obertan on and my only criticism of Fergie would be that he have should have done that and he definitely should have brought him on as soon as the second goal went in. By the time he did bring him on after an hour we were playing so poorly there didn't really look like much hope of us salvaging anything. At least we started to look a bit more like a United team when he came on. It didn't lead to anything though and to cap a miserable day Duff grabbed a third with fifteen minutes to go.
At least it was only three because with our dfensive injury problems we could be on the end of an even bigger hiding if we don't get bodies back soon.
And yet the day had started so well, with Liverpool showing us what a real crisis look like after getting beat at Portsmouth and having one of their few really talented players sent off. At least it ended up with me having a smile on my face after the farce that went on at the boo camp which it seems aims to carry on as the comedy club of British football despite all the money that has gone into the club.

Ian Herbert reckons Fergie has never really made it up wth Beckham despite the Londoners best efforts and still thinks the Becks lifestyle is not right for a footballer.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/fergusons-silence-on-beckham-speaks-volumes-1845008.html
His replacement wasn't too bad was he. It did take three years for Ronaldo to show it but it was worth it.

Henry Winter compares the Becks decision to leave United and grow the brand with Giggs haul of medals sinced he engineered his way out of Old Trafford
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6844764/David-Beckham-has-paid-the-price-for-leaving-Manchester-United-in-search-of-global-fame.html

We are always hearing about the youngsters coming out of Wengers Arsenal most of whom we never hear of again. Here is an article on the real football factory in the country, the Manchester United academy. Even when players don't make it at United you just look at the amount of players playing all through the divisions and even in la liga who learnt their trade at Carrington.
http://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/unsung-heroes-manchester-uniteds-prolific-academy
I love the fact that they are almost old boys and not just that United through and through.
Busby's legacy continued, and one reason why Mourinho would never be my choice for the hot seat at Old trafford as his record of bringing youngsters through or even any knowledge of how a club is run along these lines is negligble. So it's good to read towards the end of this article that top echelons at Old Trafford think along the same lines.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/dec/20/joe-mourinho-internazionale-chelsea

The Telegraph reckons Hughes was always on borrowed time and knew it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/6846912/As-Manchester-Citys-cracked-badge-weeks-mounted-Mark-Hughes-never-stood-a-chance.html
I am a believer that when you put a manager in he should at the very least be given one full season and if you are really serious to let him run the entire three or four year contract to see his plans for the whole football club to come to full fruition. So i don't really see what sense this sacking makes. What now happens to their supposedly great youth set up. With football no nothings in charge such as Cook and the arabs it's hard to see many youngsters being given the chance to come through. I suppose we can expect Mancini to be given an open cheque book to go and but more players who look at the Abu Dhabi millions at the boo camp and see a nice little earner and perform when and where they feel like for a manager who may or may not be there in a years time as the arabs try to call the shots on who gets picked or not.
And the choice of Mancini is just beyond funny, the guy has proved nothing in football management. With Juvents relegated following the match fixing scandal and an ageing AC Milan docked so many points the following season, and many of Juve's best players going to Inter they were virtually handed his first title. His record in the Champions league didn't shake any trees either. So they sack one unproven manager who may or nor be the real deal for another. If they had got Huudink i would have at least conceded that they had got a manager with a proven track record. Well it should be at least one and a half more seasons before they get their hands on that elusive trophy. So the banner on the stretford end to click round further to the delight of all reds.

Will the new manager have the players on his side as the players sent a deptation to see Khaldoon Al Mubarak to plead for Hughes to be reinstalled says the Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article6962674.ece

An article laying out the financial problems faced by the Glazers and United's debts
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/12/16/1690829/manchester-united-exclusive-chinese-take-over-not-on-the
A refloat would be my preferred option there as hopefully it would allow us to get a bit more control of the club and bring some openess back into our murky financial affairs.

Is wheeler and dealer Harry going to get his collar felt/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/tottenham/6847004/Tottenham-manager-Harry-Redknapp-will-be-charged-over-unpaid-tax.html

From inside that bastion of financial conservatism itself, exodus of bankers a price worth paying
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/18/executive-pay-bonuses-bankofenglandgovernor

There seems to be a growing realisation that this country cannot afford the city of London is it's current state. It would be even nicer if people saw that we should be cutting it down to size because it's immoral anyway. But it's a start, now have we got politicians with cojones to face them down and do the right thing.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/article6962322.ece

Now it's google screwing the taxpayer
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6962880.ece
This is the paragraph that really annoys me

"This could have raised about £450m for the public finances — enough tax to fund three NHS hospitals, buy at least eight Chinook helicopters or pay the annual salaries of about 15,000 policemen. "

Milano in champions league

As Beckham comes back to United can we beat AC Milan over two legs in the champions league at the fifth attempt ( three semi final defeats ) by my reckoning. We won't have a better chance surely. The first leg is away.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/draw-of-reunions-in-champions-league-1844652.html

Giggs awarded with a new one year contract, excellent news.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6839466/Ryan-Giggs-signs-contract-extension-with-Manchester-United.html

Simon Jenkins impressed but not impressed by the latest tallest building in the world the Burj Dubai
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/17/ozymandias-epitaph-dubai-burj

Andreas Whittam Smith worried about the next King Charles, a fitting last paragraph for that title me thinks.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/andreas-whittam-smith-prince-charles-and-the-looming-constitutional-crisis-1844147.html

David Blanchflower thinks it is the tories that have declared war in his latest New Statesman column
http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2009/12/public-sector-spending

Manchester United 3-0 Wolves

Most of the talk in the papers after this match were about McCarthy resting the ten oufield players who had gained the surprise victory at white hart lane on Saturday. It has to be said it was a piece of good fortune for us as we coasted to the three points without playing particularly well. But if Wolves get a result against Burnley he would have done the right thing for Wolves as far as i am concerened. I am not that sure their first choice eleven would have done that much better against us from what i have seen of them this season anyway and perhaps that is what he thought.
United started with another patched up defence with De Laet coming in at right back and having a decent game. Carrick dropped back to centre half again as Wes Brown was missing but at least he had Vidic alongside him this time. Well for an hour before Vidic went off anyway. Scholes came back into central midfield as did ex ex Wolves loanee Gibson. Berbatov started up front alongside Rooney whilst Obertan came in for Park.
United started off in reasonable form with some reasonable chances, Rooney's one on one with Hahnneman being the best. But for some reason about half way into the half they went right off the boil and the penalty came along at just the right time. It was a really soft penalty to give away and Rooney did not waste the chance blasting it right into the roof off the net. United clicked into form again with Obertan looking far more useful going forward than Park has. De Laet got forward at right back to good efect a couple of times and Evra was his excellent self. The second goal just before half time was a real bonus with Vidic meeting Gibson's corner so powerfully Hahnneman couldn't keep out. Obertan had one great run towards the end of the half where he cut in and should have probably set up Rooney in the centre of the penalty area but chose to shoot instead without hitting the target. Rooney wasn't a happy bunny but i don't mind Obertan being greedy now and then. It's better to have players who are happy to shoot that those who are always looking to offload the responsibilty. Let's hope it will be a case of just like a young Ronaldo the more he plays the more he will pick the right option. Let's face it three years into Nani's united career he is still nowhere nearer to knowing the right ball than on his first game. It also took Ronaldo three seasons before we saw the finished product so here's hoping.
The second half was a stroll in the park really as United didn't really go looking to kill them off. United did have chances but they didn't really push the boat out for more goals. Vidic came off after an hour for Fletcher to come on at right back with De Laet going to centre half. I hope it was precautionary because this defensive injury problem is going to cost us if we don't get men back. Saying that De Laet looked more convincing at centre half to me than he has at right back and as Fergie said after the game that is his natural position. Five minutes later the best move of the night saw a superbly inventive flick from Berbatov find Valencia burst into the box and despatch with the outside of his right foot to make it 3-0. Berbatov has been coming for some stick again but he showed some class touches on Tuesday. Granted he isn't showing enough but yet again it has been a stop start season for him. I had thought when he had a good run of matches at the start of the season he had started to look the real deal so it would be nice for him to get a run of games. He offers more to United than Owen so i can see him getting that run of games. We are not in the business of getting Owen to the world cup we are in the business of Manchester United trying to win trophies.
Owen came on for Rooney who as usual was reluctant to go off, i suspect because he thought he might be in for more goals but it was the right decision with Fulham away on Saturday. Welbeck came on for Obertan and had a handful of chances but almost invarably hit every shot straight at the keeper. So no more goals were scored but i would have been more than happy with three before the game so despite the missed chances i was happy enough.

Fedinand thinks his reappearance isn't far away and hopeful his injury problems are behind him. If we are going to have a chance of a third European final we are going to need him back and fit. Not patched up as he obviously was against Barca in Rome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8418152.stm

A great column by Jonathan Wilson on the tactical changes that Ferguson initiated at the beginning of this decade after the home defeat to Real in the champions league quater final in 2000. The one charge that is always laid against Ferguson is that he is a great manager, as in man management but no tactician. Not long ago i read Wlison's book about the history of football tactics and right at the end of the book he alluded to this but in just a paragraph or two. So this was very interesting. It is a brilliant book by the way.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/dec/17/the-question-football-tactics-noughties
What can't be denied is that we had to endure some pretty awful football on the way to the promised land of the last three seasons. And in my opinion it was Ronaldo that made it work. We haven't looked the same team when we have played with this formation this season. Or should i say when we have played the formation at home against teams prepared to get men behind the ball and counter us on the break.

Rory Smith in the Telegraph on the English hypocrisy as far as diving in football goes. I can't argue with that, Rooney's dive against Villa was embarrasing and the only people seemingly not have noted Gerrard's propensity to fall over in the box sit and get paid to analyse football on the TV.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rorysmith/100004421/hypocrisy-on-diving-is-english-footballs-downfall/

Are Liverpool's debt ridden owners going to get some new investors
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6820120/Liverpool-co-owners-George-Gillett-and-Tom-Hicks-to-gain-124m-from-potential-share-deal.html

Jonathan Pearce joins in the accolades for Giggs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8413846.stm

Who rattled her cage, Wenger attacks McCarthy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/17/arsene-wenger-mick-mccarthy-wolves

Julian Baggini on the fairy tale monarchy. I'm a republican but i can't understand why monarchists don't try putting a stop to Charles meddling. He is abigger threat to the monarchy that all the republicans in the country put together.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/15/fairytale-farce-monarchy-royal

5 more years

For Fergie according to Giggs who reckons he will still be in charge when Giggs has to hang up his boots.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6815071/Ryan-Giggs-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-will-outlast-me-at-Manchester-United.html

Henry Winter and Oliver Kay salute the sports personality of the year Ryan Giggs
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6956737.ece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6811811/BBC-Sports-Personality-of-the-Year-ceremony-highlight-our-obsession-with-football.html

Hargreaves struggling to overcome his injury nightmare. I don't think we will see him a United shirt again. And if he does make an appearance i just can't see him being the same player.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2771891/Hargo-agony-over-Utd-return.html

Richard Williams must have been reading United fanzines as he writes an column suggesting Laurent Blanc may be the ideal man to fill Fergie shoes when it's time to quit. He would definitely be on my shortlist.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/dec/15/alex-ferguson-laurent-blanc-manchester-unit

Joseph Stiglitz argues it's time to cut banks down to size and get rid of banks that are too big to fail.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/13/mervyn-king-banks-curbed

The new economics foundation calls for a fundamental rethink of work
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/call-for-fundamental-rethink-of-value-of-work-1840507.html
Even if you don't buy the argument that hospital cleaners and waste recycle workers ( binmen to me and you ) should earn the same as bankers and footballers, ie you are not a marxist, should they earn x times whatever more. Not for me.

A sad week as the thick of it finished on Saturday night and the latest Curb your enthusiasm finishes on Thursday. The latter has been superb and after a slow start so has the thick of it. The first couple of episodes introduced us to Rebecca Front as the new hapless labour minister but by the end of the series she was an integral part of the show. The last two episodes with the sacking and reinstallment of Malcolm Tucker were absolutely stupendous. I suppose one extra reason for not wanting the tories to get an overall majority is we will get to see more Malcolm Tucker in the next series. Although the introduction of the tories Coulson ? figure looked to have plenty of comedic scope if we do end up with the old Etonians back in charge.

Music

Amadou & Mariam - Soul ni tile: The blind musical husband and wife team from Mali bring a more western orientated sound from the African duo than from some of their compatrioys. But with songs as good as these it doesn't matter. Sung in French and African it's a class album.

At the drive in - In relationship of command: A classic indie hard rock album from from the Texas goup that was to spawn The mars volta. Right from the brilliant first track arcasenal it has you nodding your head and wanting to jump up and down. They performed a brilliant version of one armed scissor on the Jools Holland show earlier in the decade but this is from the Letterman show

John Coltrane - Interstellar space - :This if really out there, if you don't like free jazz you will hate this. Duets between Coltrane and drummer Rashied Ali it's about the musicians as much as the music. So during the same tune there are scorching passages as well as some that don't sound that great on the ear. What a saxophonist though.

The long blondes - Couples : The second album from the Sheffield indie pop outfit and what a pity it saw them break up after it because they were two pretty good albums. This one surpassed the first for me. In a different decade they would haved graced the singles charts regularly i am sure.

The new pornographers - Twin Cinema : An excellent album from the Canadian indie super group with guest vocalist Neko Case that was released in 2005. There are some great jagged catchy indie pop tracks on it starting with opener title track twin cinema through to Jackie dressed in cobras to teach me Spanish techno

The Peth - The golden mile : Another Super Furry Animals offshoot and another cracker of an album. The furries drummer Daffyd Ieuan is joined by actor Rhys Ilfans to create suprisingly good record. It's hard to pick stand out tracks as they are consistently good but let's go fucking mental is a blinder but i can't find a decent enough version of it, so here is stonefinger which could have come straight from a Super furries album.

Manchester United 0-1 Aston Villa

I was expecting this to be a tough encounter and unfortunately i wasn't wrong. They had already beaten Chelsea at home and the scousers away and last season gave us the hardest games we have had against them in recent years. If they keep everybody fit it's hard not to see them coming above Liverpool come the end of the season. Which is a little consolation for Saturday's result at least. The way O'Neill has them set up to play on the counter attack reminds me of the 93-94 United team with a young Giggs, Sharpe and Kanchelskis terrorising teams when they have got the ball if they lose it.
I presume that was why Fergie chose to go with a 4-3-3 to try and be solid in the middle and try and keep possession of the ball. Maybe he was worried about our defence with Brown and Vidic coming back into the team but who knows how fit they really were. Vidic looked knackered at the end of the ninety minutes. I don't think anybody was thrilled to see Park in the team but i could see Fergie's reasoning. I presume he was worried that with Evra looking to get forward he would need somebody to slip back and cover for him if we lost it. I'm afraid the trouble with that is he does so little on the ball. And against a powerful speedy team like Villa he was far too lightweight going back to his falling over as soon as he is touched routine. With no fit right back Fletcher had to deputise at right back again. Which was a problem because we really needed him in central midfield. Giggs, Carrick and Anderson sounded a decent midfield but when Giggs went off at half time and with no Scholes on the bench due to suspension we ended up with not enough quality in the middle of the park. Anderson had a decent if not spectacular day as did Carrick. But surely the onus was on Carrick as the senior man to step up which sadly he did not do. That old chestnut about him not believing in himself enough and forcing his personality on the game is rearing it's head again as far as i am concerned. It's worrying when we don't have a Scholes or a Giggs that we don't really seem to have anybody in midfield with that extra bit of class to make things happen against a determined opposition. Of course that was one of the reasons we bought Carrick, but if last season wasn't his best he has gone further backwards this season.
The game started reasonably for United as Rooney was on fire up front but we seemed to want too long to get the shots on goal that some of the build up play warranted. Villa were up for the fight and the longer the game went on the better their defending became. Saying that, United had their chances and should have took at least one of them. It didn't exactly come against the run of play when Agbonlahor scored but it wasn't what we deserved. Rooney then saw his blatant dive earn him a yellow card and then his brilliant control and shot hit the bar as United searched in vain for an equaliser. When United went in a goal down at half time we probably didn't deserve to be behind but they had taken their chance and we hadn't taken ours.
The seond half saw Owen come on for the injured Giggs and United take a grip of the game. I had said during the half time break that i would more be more than happy with a draw and that didn't look like the substitution to worry Villa. We were always wary of them on the counter attack as they always looked dangerous but they didn't really create much. Berbatov came on for the ineffective Park and almost immediately missed one of our better chances in the second half. Vidic saw a header cleared of the line and Fridel saved a fine Berbatov shot but it was always desperate and you were never really confident the goal would come even though with United there is always a chance of the last gasp equaliser.
For some reason i am more confident when we play away from home at the moment. Which is a bit worrying because i think it has been our home form that has been one of the main reasons we have won three titles on the trot.

The goal burden is telling on Rooney according to the Independent's match report.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/rooney-left-to-struggle-with-united-goal-burden-1839908.html

Paul Scholes to be offereda new contract and do we need him to sign it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/12/paul-scholes-manchester-united

Giggs wins the sports personality of the year award let's hope that is not the last thing he will be winning this season.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/8411157.stm

Patrick Barclay thought he deserved the award this was his column before the award.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/patrick_barclay/article6953852.ece

But it looks like he will miss the Wolves game, hopefully Scholes will come back into the team.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/14/manchester-united-ryan-giggs-wolves

Benitez states the obvious that the debt is harming Liverpool. Of course it is yet another excuse but it does actually to happen to be true this time. When is the truth going to come out of the Glazers ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/dec/12/rafael-benitez-liverpool

Alan Hansen is worried about the state of affairs at Liverpool. I don't know how he can say that them not qualifying for the champions league four years on the bounce won't happen. If they don't get their ownership issues sorted or a new stadium built that seems eminently possible to me.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6805117/Alan-Hansen-Danger-looms-for-Liverpool-of-wrong-turn-on-the-road-to-nowhere.html

The former director of public prosecutions savages Blair and goes to the heart of the matter. The establishment closng ranks.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article6955241.ece
History and liberal left historians in particular will not be kind to nu labour and particularly Blair and Brown.

Will Hutton savages the other half the nu lab partnership, saying Brown loosened monetary policy in order to challenge Blair to replace him as prime minister. Damning stuff.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/13/will-hutton-darling-brown-osborne

Larry Elliot thinks the state of the nations finance's is awful and that the next election would be a wise one to lose. I kind of agree, as i think if the tories do win they will be a one term government as they will disappoint just about everybody.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/14/darling-optimism-misplaced

Stephen King in the Independent agrees
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king-preelection-politics-dictate-the-bank-of-englands-economic-policy-1840078.html

United no to Campbell

I didn't really think there was anything in that, it's a bit desperate at the moment but it will surely pass. The amount of injuries is our defence is freakish and can't last. Plus i think we can saftely say Campbell has had his day at the top level. I suppose he has looked at Laarson and Owen and tired to encourage some interest through the media, worth a try i suppose.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6952893.ece

Foster isn't going anywhere says Fergie. Well that's the world cup gone for him then, as first choice anyway. I thought he might let him go as he has obviously blotted his copybook with Fergie. Firstly not cutting the mustard on the pitch, moaning about not being encouraged enough and then seemingly pushing to go out on loan. I am sure as you can be that he will not be the successor to Van Der Sar. A pity it would have been nice to have had an English goalie, with no communictaion problems with the defence. But he hasn't cut the mustard i'm afraid, he doesn't have the confidence, arrogance, belief in his own ability, whatever you want to call it, he doesn't have it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/foster-not-leaving-manchester-united-insists-ferguson-1838460.html

The youth team beat Birmingham 2-0 last night to go into the next round. I hope that they will get the chance to play at Old Trafford if we get a home tie in the next round.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6644010
Our controversial French signing is Pogba is looking promising. Great goal for the academy at the weekend.

Welbeck the latest youngster to get a new contract. Whilst i do believe that due to the Glazers we don't have any money, i do believe that Fergie was going to go down the youngsters route anyway. I have to admit it will do for me it's more exciting to bring youngsters through the system and see them take the baton forward. Hopefully there will be enough local youngsters come through to take over the class of 92 mantle.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6644032
I saw Cleverley play for Watford on Monday, and what a very pleasant surprise that was. I have seen him play for the academy and reserves a few times and whilst he looked a useful player i couldn't have guessed he would have come on like that. He was outstanding, easily the best player on the pitch and definitely one for the future for United. Beagrie said he reminded him of Paul Scholes, for me he was more like a mix of the young Nicky Butt who broke through at United and looked like a box to box midfielder and the never say die attitude of Beckham in his pomp at old trafford. I don't know what his best position is when i have seen him play for England under 21's he has played wide right whilst for Watford the other night he played through the middle. His crossing is good enough to play on the right but he has the engine for central midfield. Cathcart only played the first half but i thought he plyed reasonably well. I had high hopes for him, he was a stand out player in the youth team and the fact that he went vitrually straight from there to go out on loan tells me that the coaching staff thought that too.
We certainly seem to be developing players again now

Mike Atherton sees an improvement in Englands one day performances but the more interesting point of his column is the second part on Tiger Woods. I think we can safely say after this that no sportsman's private life will be as of limits to the press as his was until this blew up in his face.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/mike_atherton/article6950679.ece

John Gray on the ideas that shaped the last decade and whether the west learns the lessons that they were almost all wrong.
http://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2009/12/past-decade-world-western
I agree with most of that but that doesn't just mean we stop trying to hold repressive regimes up to the spotlight of liberal secular critique i would hope. Fair enough it does mean we can't just invade as the neocons have proselytized an acted upon. But going back to the anti apartheid stance is still a valid position. Otherwise we are just in Kissinger territory.

Christopher Hitchens thinks his debates with religous leaders have strengthened the secular movement in the States
http://www.slate.com/id/2233586/

Anatole Kaletsky thinks the PBR wrong to target the bankers as we rely on the financial industry too much.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article6952307.ece

Whilst Gillian Tett thinks the shifting of financial power means they will move eventually anyway. Which is surely right and if that means we have to find new ways to finance this countries prosperity, that has got to be the right way to go.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1d42d6ee-e5ba-11de-b5d7-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1

Wolfsburg 1-3 Manchester United

What a magnificent result this was. With one fit defender, Evra, Ferguson decided to pick 7 midfield players and implemented a 3-5-2 formation with Carrick, Fletcher and Evra as the three centre backs. Park and Nani were the wing backs and Owen and Welbeck up front. It worked beyond his wildest hopes i should imagine. We kept them very quiet in the first half whilst carrying a reasonable threat up front. We were the lucky the ref got the penalty call wrong when Carrick dived in and showed he isn't really a centre half. And they were always a threat from corners and when they managed to get crosses into the box. They had two marvellous chances when they really should have scored from headers when they had a really good five minute spell halfway through the first half. But apart from that United managed to play the game at their pace and kept the ball superbly at times. Park had his best game for a while but Nani was not surprisingly not as big a success as a wing back.
Needless to say scoring just before half time was a massive bonus. Scholes was the heart of most of United's best moves and he played the ball to Owen with a great touch, getting the ball back and then served up a superb ball to Nani on the left who for once didn't fart about and put a decent cross over for Owen to ghost in at the back post and he made no mistake heading home. It was a superb goal and a great way to go in at half time.
Wolfsburg came out in the second half with nothing to lose, with CSKA ahead in the other match, they now had to win. The Germans now had their best spell of the game as they dominated the game for the next ten minutes. All those crosses had to count with three centre backs who had never played there before. And sure enough it did eventually as the much talked about Dzeko managed to head home ten minutes into the half. That said Dzeko he didn't do too much last night to say he was anything out of the ordinary. It could have been the start of a hiding but United showed great character to get a foothold on the game again.
With fifteen minutes to go Ferguson brought the disappointing Nani off along with Welbeck. In their places stepped Obertan and Valencia, a sure sign to me that Ferguson was going for the three points which surprised and pleased me. United started to look more of a threat up front and seven minues from time superb work from Obertan on the left saw him cross to Owen who had the simple task of slotting the ball in the back of the net, he made no mistake. Then as Wolfsburg threw everything forward, United caught them on the break in injury time to get a third. It was a great finish from Owen to complete his hatrick and make sure United topped the group. And so our great away form in Europe carries on. Our away form, full stop is excellent right at this minute.

Ferguson was happy with Owen and last night's performance.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/09/michael-owen-hattrick-sir-alex-ferguson

Most of the reports of last nights match focus on Owen and whether Capello will have been impressed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6949475.ece

Patrick Barclay on the ridiculous amount of money going out of football into agents coffers
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/patrick_barclay/article6946528.ece

Vince Cable thinks Darling should follow the example of Roy Jenkins as chancellor in the late sixties.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6949303.ece

National insurance to go up for those over earning over £20 grand as Darling delivers pre budget report
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/09/pre-budget-report-economic-growth

Robert Skidelsky reviews Roger Bootles new book The trouble with markets: Saving capitalism from itself
http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2009/12/bootle-banks-money-financial

The Coen brothers new film has divided critics from the reviews i have seen but it gets the thumbs up on spikeds site
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/7754/

West Ham United 0-4 Manchester United

I have to say i was pretty confident that we would take the three points from this game over the last few days. With us in reasonable form, Van Der Sar supposedly back and West Ham having lost Carlton Cole to injury three points seemed to a pretty good bet. Even when i saw our team with Kuszczak in goal, Fletcher at right back and Gary Neville at centre half i was confident as you looked at their teamsheet it didn't really look much. But it has to be said if they had a full team to pick from and we had ended the game with the defence we ended up with yesterday i don't think we would have romped away quite so easily or even at all. So it was a good time for us to be playing them. We need to get some bodies back in defence though this as this will be stretching our squad to bursting point.
United played reasonably in the first half dominating possession but never really looking like breaking a dogged West Ham defence down. With West Ham fielding a weakened team and not really threatening either the first half never took off. So for United to take the lead with virtually the last kick off the half was good fortune and great news. And that it came from the boots of the Ginger prince getting forward and rolling back the years with an unstoppable shot that Green did all he could to keep out made it all the sweeter. I don't really know why he thinks he isn't playing as well as he can. He still cries out class to me when he pulls on the red shirt and he looks to have at least one more season in him to me.
The second half saw the game follow the same pattern as the first half with United dominating but never quite looking likely to score until Ronney and Giggs combined to send Gibson through and he hit another super shot to beat Green and put United firmly in the driving seat. It has been a pretty good week for Gibson whose three quality goals means he look like he is going to become a regular part of the first team squad now.
United really clicked into gear now and ten minutes later two goals in two minutes really made it a day to remember. First the improving Anderson found Valencia all on his own at the back post to tap home for the third. Then a minute later Valencia beat his man and found Rooney in the middle of the penalty area to side foot home the fourth. The down side to the game was Brown and Neville having to go off injured leaving us with an injury nightmare in defence. Carrick did well at centre half but it can't be denied he had nothing against him in the seond half. With Chelsea showing that last weeks hype of them being shoe ins for the title was just a little over the top after their defeat at the boo camp we are now just two points behing the league leaders as we begin December. Injuries permitting it looks like we are going to have a great chance to make it four titles in a row. We will be involved at the very least and that is the all you can hope for at the beginning of every season.

Injury problems at the back mount and are a concern for Fergie
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8397497.stm

Ronaldo had an eventful game yesterday but Real managed to win 4-2.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/ronaldo-sent-off-after-inspiring-real-to-victory-1835139.html

The news of the world hacking row resurfaces
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/minister-embroiled-in-hacking-row-over-voicemail-messages-1835028.html

Paul Mason of newsnight reviews a book telling the story of what really happened on wall street in the months leading up to the credit crunch disaster.
http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2009/12/sorkin-lehman-paulson-fuld

One of my favourite comedians, Stewart Lee interviewed in the Obsever.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/dec/06/stewart-lee-comedy-interview
Click on the link to the youtube clip of his political correctness gone mad sketch, a total classic.

Can't repay the debt

Worrying times ahead according to the Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6945421.ece

Scholes not enjoying not playing regularly and preffered it when he was given license to get forward. And alarmingly talks about retirement. We can't afford to lose him yet.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6729606/Manchester-Uniteds-Paul-Scholes-hints-at-retirement-after-frustration-over-bit-part-role.html

As Corus sheds a thousand plus jobs Sean O'Grady asks why we we still think it's perfectly rational to bail out the banks whilst letting manufacturing flounder.
http://seanogrady.independentminds.livejournal.com/17202.html

Top comedian Bill Bailey interviewed in the indie
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/stand-up-guy-bill-bailey-on-music-marriage-and-the-moment-he-refused-to-sell-out-1832693.html
I liked the bit about Asda, it's nice to see somebody who doesn't have a price

United no to Ljajic

This came out of the blue, i and a lot of others i suspect thought he had been signed when Tosic was and then lent back. Only 6 weeks ago Fergie was praising him and saying he was looking forward to seeing him. It looks like another Glazer cost cutting measure to me i'm afraid. Even if he wasn't a sure thing United usually take the punt and according to reports he has been playing well. Purely on the playing side i am not too upset because i would sooner see talent from the British isles coming through. But it makes me think that the finances aint looking too great for our despised owners.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-deny-cash-crisis-claims-after-failing-to-land-serb-1832981.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-deny-cash-crisis-claims-after-failing-to-land-serb-1832981.html

At todays press conference Phelan said he thought it was down to not being able get a work permit for the lad. Sounds like they are singing from different hymsheets, whatever that means.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/04/manchester-united-adem-ljajic
The plot thickens

United miserly spenders under Glazers shocker
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6720847/Manchester-United-quiet-in-transfer-market-since-Malcolm-Glazers-takeover.html
What kills me is that it seems that the media know there is something rotten in the state of Denmark at Old Trafford but there are no proper investigations of the situation. Echoes of the credit crunch !

Ronaldo says he doesn't want to play United. A bit bizarre thing to say after you have got your dream move to one of our biggest competitors in Europe. Surely when he went there saying he wanted to win the champions league in the white of Real he would have thought there was at the least a fair chance that he might have to play against the red of Manchester.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/cristianoronaldo/6716425/Cristiano-Ronaldo-I-dont-want-to-play-against-Manchester-United.html

Robert Fisk on Obama's faliure to learn from history
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-this-strategy-has-been-tried-before-ndash-without-success-1833133.html
I suppose he thinks he can get out without the loss of face suffered by the Soviets et al, it would be a surprise if that happens.

I used to think that this man was a liberal, he seems to have got into bed with the neocons thinking the west can go anywhere in the world and sort out everybody else's problems when we can't even sort out our own mess.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6943372.ece

When two tribes go to war, new labour versus news international as Mandelson lays the media empire.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/02/peter-mandelson-rupert-murdoch-war

Ex MPC member David Blanchflower is not too confident of economic recovery any time soon and critical of bank governor for keeping secret loans to RBOS AND HBOS during the crisis.
http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2009/12/bank-loans-fell-news-economic

Anatloe Kaletsky points out the bleeding obvious over the RBS bonus's. I enjoy reading him seeing as though he is definitely not on the liberal left and writes for one of the most malign forces in the western world since the second world war.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article6943418.ece
It is so obvious that this is the correct way to proceed that you can't believe the government don't bite their hands off. I'm afraid the fact they didn't shows us as if we needed showing all this class war talk is just for show and new labour are as in thrall to the pre credit crunch establishment as they ever were. Still it's nice to hear the Cameroons to be shown up for what they are. It's just a pity we don't seem to have a party that has the bottle to do something about it, now this golden, maybe even once in a lifetime opportunity that has arose.

Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham

Not a great game or performance but another semi final to look forward to. Redknapp had said he would not be picking his strongest line up as he fancied a top four place and a champions league spot as his priorityover a league cup final at wembley. It looks like he was doing a Fergie as that looked more or less like his first eleven to me. Fergie was reasonably true to his word although he did leave Macheda on the bench giving Berbatov some much needed match time after his recent spell injured. Gibson and Anderson were again paired in the centre of midfield with Welbeck up front and Park and Obertan out wide. The only change at the back was De Laet coming in at left back.
Spurs started the game better controling the bulk of possession and creating some presentable chances but fortunately for us their finishing was poor. It seemed to be just a matter of time before the cockneys took the lead when United, completely against the run of play, took the lead. I am not sure how good Gibson is going to be, he doesn't look really top class to me. But the one thing he has definitely got going for him is a great shot and the ability to get a fair amount of goals from midfield if he is given a run in the team. And we saw that last night as he was the difference between the two sides. The first goal came from a fine shot as he got the ball just outside the area and fired his shot into the corner of the net giving Gomes no chance. The second saw Berbatov find him approaching the penalty area where he played a one two with Welbeck and took aim and hit a curling sidefooter into the corner of the spurs goal to make it two. That as good as killed the game stone dead.
If i was a spurs fan i would be pretty disappointed punter as they completely faded out of the game after that. An as Kevin Bond said if anything got worse the longer the game went on, they almost didn't look interested in the second half. Berbatov came off with half an hout to go with a precious hours match time under him. He had been our best player up to that time for me holding the ball up and knitting things together. Macheda came on and played reasonably well without shaking any trees. Of the younger players Gibson and Anderson were the stand out players as Fergie rightly said after the game. I have liked the look of De Laet but although he did have one or two good moments i didn't think he was too convincing last night, maybe it was nerves at getting his first full game for the first team this season. Welbeck tried hard but couldn't really impose himself physically into the game. Of the senior players i know Park needs minutes on the pitch but it is hard to see what he is going to bring to the side now Ronaldo has gone and we don't need the other wide man to tuck in to make up for our former No. 7's lack of tracking back. Of course he sells shirts back in Korea so a role will be found for him no doubt.

Fergie happy with Gibson and Anderson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8389615.stm

Paul Wilson on the youngsters
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/dec/01/darron-gibson-manchester-united-tottenham-youth

Another article on the youngsters and a mention for 16 year old Ravel Morrison in the Times
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/12/sir-alex-ferguson-right-to-keep-his-faith-in-young-ones.html

Macheda signs a new four year contract, they must rate him very highly to give him that length of contract.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8390621.stm

Ariana Huffington hits back at Rupert Murdoch over the future of journalsim
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/01/arianna-huffington-murdoch-ftc

Whilst google allow media firms to limit free visits
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/google-allows-newspapers-to-limit-free-visits-1832438.html

Darling still in thrall to the city
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6939895.ece

Is a referendum on proportional voting system getting closer
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ministers-force-debate-on-voting-reform-1832220.html

Simon Jenkins on the US troop surge in Afghansitan announced by Obama
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/dec/02/barack-obama-afghanistan-taliban

The future is bright : Fergie

Fergie unhappy with journalists writing off our youngsters, he has faith, they just need experience.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6938278.ece

United the brothers club, first the Greenhoff's, then the Neville's and now the Da Silvas look like being joined the Evans brothers with Corry aiming to match Jonny's achievements
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/corryrsquos-star-rising-at-manchester-united-14581522.html

Redknapp would sooner get in the champions league than win the carling cup. Well i was thinking that there was every chance our run in the competition might come to an end tonight with them having a strong team out. It will still be an interesting game as they do have a bit of strength in depth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/30/harry-redknapp-tottenham-carling-cup

Messi rightly wins the European ballon d'or
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/6697871/Barcelonas-Lionel-Messi-named-European-Footballer-of-the-Year.html

We need a green industrial revolution according to Larry Elliot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/30/green-technologies-low-carbon-economy

Does the Dubai finacial crisis show what lies ahead
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-dubais-november-pain-provides-a-glimpse-of-what-may-lie-ahead-1831256.html

Music

Blk Jks - After Robots: A stunning debut rock album from South Africa that has been likened to TV on the radio amongst others. Indie, prog are amongst the influences on one of the best albums of the year.

Bob Marley - Catch a fire: The album that brought Bob Marley to the international stage and recorded with the original Wailers. And classic reggae it still sounds great.

Buena Vista Social Club - Buena vista social club: I heard this when it first came out and didn't really get what the fuss was about. Now i have come back to it, i suddenly get it. There is some classic music on here, i don't love all of it, but there is nothing that i wouldn't mind hereing again. Chan chan is superb.

The Good the bad and the Queen - 1st album: Damon Albarn's latest solo adventure to see the light of day, though it was began a few years before. It was originally recorded in Africa which is odd since it seems the nearest thing to sound like Blur since they were put on hold. A decent album as it should be with the line up it doesn't hit the heights though.

The pain of being pure at heart - The pain of being pure at heart: Whilst not being at the level of the Blk Jks effort this is still a pretty good effort. There is nothing groundbreaking to it, it's indie power popish but the songwriting is good and it's an enjoyable listen.

The Chameleons - Script of the bridge: The Mancuinan's debut from 83 that i have never heard before. I had heard of them but never got round to listening to them first time around. I can see why they were popular even if they never sold much. A classic 80's indie sound, it sounded at first, but the guitar sound is superb. And some of the tunes are superb starting with opener Don't fall to closer view from a hill.