The future is bright

Andy Cole's column in the Independent lauds Welbeck
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-andy-cole-column-world-cup-is-not-beyond-reach-of-welbecks-talents-1810958.html

Obertan's impressive debut did not go unnoticed
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/markogden/100002908/gabriel-obertan-shows-nani-how-to-replace-cristiano-ronaldo/

Paul Wilson thinks the interpretaion of the rule book is subjective and that United haven't got the steel of past sides. They haven't for the last thre seasons if we are honest but how many trophies have we won. I would still like more steel in myself though.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/28/manchester-united-liverpool-referees

Oliver Kay thinks United fans away are a different kettle of fish away from Old Trafford
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6894747.ece

The moston rats get namechecked in the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/teenagers-behind-united-trouble-1810960.html

Pellegrini is in trouble at Real Madrid after the 4-0 drubbing in midweek according to Sid Lowe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/28/real-madrid-alcoron-copa-del-rey

Ronaldo tells the Spanish press he is not Real's saviour, i am sure Barca will let him know he's not
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/cristianoronaldo/6465691/Cristiano-Ronaldo-I-am-not-Real-Madrids-saviour.html

David Shepherd one of crickets best umpires is remembered by Derek Pringle
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/news/6453879/David-Shepherds-loss-mourned-throughout-cricket.html

George Soros is helping to fund a centre for the inititiative for new econimic thinking
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/28/economics-alternative-theories-stiglitz-regulators
Well it's needed, and it's not going to come from new labour or the tories in this country

Latin America and the emerging economies are already onthat track
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/27/bolivia-ecuador-economy

Well if the polls are right and the tories win the next election 9 which i have my doubts about myself ) they will deserve what they get as the sleazy side of the Tory party lifts it's head in Belize.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ashcroft--belize-the-only-thing-he-respects-is-dollars-1811725.html
Not exactly the party to sort out the financial world are they
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tropical-storm-hits-ashcroft-1811697.html

Barnsley 0-2 Manchester United

A pretty encouraging performance by our Carling cup team, it's a pity about the Neville sending off as that meant Fergie wasn't able to give Josh King a run out for the last 15 minutes. But we got a frist glimpse of Obertan in the first team and he certainly showed a lot of potential. Welbeck gave the performance in the first team that he has been capable of. Macheda and the Da Silva's did ok and we got the result, so it was a pretty good night.
The team looked pretty good on paper the only surprise being Rafael in central midfield. I say surprise, but i wouldn't be that surprised if neither him or his brother end up at full back to be honest. He did ok without really standing out, but he has good energy and he could end up being a decent option there.The game got off to a flying start for us as we scored from a corner after just 6 minutes. It was a pretty soft goal from Barnsley's point of view but Welbeck still had to put it in and that he did easily. Welbeck's record of goals scored from games played is more than decent for his age if you look at it. And he is definitely a big part of the future at United. He had a good first half and should hace done better with a chance shortly after when he shot straight at the goalie when he could have crossed for Owen. I can't blame him for having a go, after that brilliant first touch he was entitled to. But if he wasn't going to cross he should have hit it across the goalie as he did against Derby last year. He didn't link up as well with Macheda as he might have done but that was the fault of the pair of them as they both held onto it at times when they should have passed. But that is what these games are for, to learn their craft, before they hopefully become first squad regualars.
The other big plus point of the night was Obertan. He has come straight into the team and almost straight away looks a proper United player. He has a good first touch, pace, a good appreciation of his fellow players, an eye for a pass and the abilty to play the obvious pass that somehow eludes Nani. He was very promising indeed and if the future was him on one wing and Valencia on the other and they both live up to their potential we will see some exciting football. Worrying times for Nani i would think if he would like his future to be at Old Trafford.
Barnsley did come back at us in the first half and did have a few chances but mainly from corners. Considering the size of the side i suppose that shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.
The second half saw Barnsley come much more into it as the match became end to end.
Welbeck had to go off a few minutes into the second half with an injury and was replaced by Tosic on the left. Almost immediately he saw a shot go agonisingly wide after a great shot.
Owen then produced the moment of the match as he turned and beat a couple of defenders before hitting an early shot into the corner of the net to put us two up.
It looked like the rest of the night was going to be pretty easy until Gary Neville was sent off. I thought he was unlucky, even if he did follow through he didn't do it with much venom and he didn't hurt him. I thought it warranted a yellow at the most, but maybe we aren't going to get too much from ref's in the " current climate". Barnsley had a bit of a go at us now but due to some decent instinctive saves from Foster and some dodgy finishing from Barnsley we ended up with the two goal vitory.

FA to launch probe into crowd trouble
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8329580.stm

Oliver Holt is worried about the Glazers and the debt
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/oliver-holt/Beware-Manchester-United-fans-the-Glazers-are-happy-to-pass-the-buck-article202663.html
We are all worried about the debt, but i don't mind us buying players with potential and seeing them come on. After all that is what we did with Ronaldo. My problem with the debt is that is us poor fans that will end up paying for that debt as we are asked to buy ever dearer season tickets in a deteriorating economic climate. When proper United fans will get priced out of watching the club they love as has been happening since they appeared on the scene.

The Mirror appear to have forgot about the credit crunch and our debt with a story that is crap.
£40 million for the pair of them? Villa will probably cost that on his own and i still think he will end up at Barca or Real. Benzema hasn't been setting the world alight at Real, i never thought he was worth the money that they paid Lyon for him.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-United-close-in-on-50m-Spanish-transfer-targets-article202703.html

Nationalised banks to be broken up as Labour starts to get raidical, or is being pushed into by Europe.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/government-to-break-up-the-banks-1810494.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/sean-ogrady-first-the-16312-trillion-bailout-now-its-payback-time-1810497.html

Worries over Ferdinand

It looks like it's not jus me that thinks that we may have seen the best of Ferdinand as worries over his ongoing back problem and the lack of sharpness to his play.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matt_dickinson/article6891330.ece
I hope the scouts are out and about because i fear that it's true.

Oliver Kay thinks Fergies patience is running out with the amount of passengers we are carrying. The only part of that theory i would argue with is the Berbatov part as i think he has started to hit some form recently . I can't se what he can do when the defence is all over the place and the midfield is overrun as it was on Sunday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6891327.ece
The centre half to be leaving next summer will be Vidic and i can't argue too much with that especially if we get a good price. With Evans, Wes Brown and hopefully Craig Cathcart proving he has got what it takes at this level Vidic will be adaquately replaced. I can't see Ferdinand's replacement though.

Obertan to make his debut and boy don't we need this lad to turn up trumps.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6444543/Gabriel-Obertan-to-make-Manchester-United-debut-against-Barnsley-in-Carling-Cup.html

James Lawton thinks the FA should throw the book at Fergie after the Wiley incident. It looks like it's coming i'm afraid. One thing it does show, to me at least, is the last time you should be interviewing players or managers is straight after a game. But that's not going to happen is it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-why-the-fa-has-to-give-ferguson--a-taste-of-the-hairdryer-treatment-1809971.html

A silly non story in the torygraph as Fergie says Mark Robbins goal didn't save him from the sack, but then says then again who knows.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6444173/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Mark-Robins-goal-for-Manchester-United-did-not-save-my-job.html

The BBC interviwed Warren Buffett the other night and it was quite interesting as he argued for a more progressive tax system. The right must hate him as lays bare the argument that rich get what they deserve for the crap that it is.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/26/warren-buffett-bonuses-bankers


Music
Bill Callahan - Sometimes i wish i were an eagle: I like this, it reminds me of Lambchop on one of their better albums. It gets inside your head after a few listens.

Graham Nash - Songs for Beginners: Another singer songwrier but this time early seventies west coast california. Not quite as good as Stephen Stills first solo albums but still a pretty good listen. I saw the BBC's documentary on the scene and he had a go at the Eagles on it for being safe and when you listen to Stills and Nash solo albums you know where he is coming from.

Papercuts - You can have what you want: Not bad indie pop with a couple of very good tunes on it. Maybe a little on the samey side, if you don't like the first track you might as well turn off there and then.

Regina Spektor - Far: I like this hard to categorise album. Apparently this is her most commercial album to date so i will have to give her earlier stuff a try because this isn't exactly pop music.

Reverand and the makers - The state of things: I am still not really sure how much i like this. I didn't have much time for it on the first few listens, it just sounded like another average indie band although this time heading back into early 90's territory. But it does hook you a bit after a few listens.You have heard it all before though and better at the end of the day.

The Dead Weather - Horehound: Jack White comes up trumps again. Another group of musicians and another triumph. Maybe not quite as good as the Raconteurs but still some cracking tunes.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United

For the third time on the bounce we saved one of our very worst performances for the game against our biggest rivals. It was woeful stuff, we never got to grips with the game. We completely lost the battle in central midfield and the defence looked on the edge of a nervous breakdown. It's a good job Van der Sar was back in time for this game because i hate to think how bad the defence would have been with Foster behind them.
When i saw the team i was fairly happy, with No Fletcher it looked about as good a midfield four as we could put out. But there is the problem, no Fletcher. Our record in the big games when Fletcher is out is absolutely terrible. I would say our best central midfield at present is Giggs and Fletcher but with no one able to replace Giggs adequately on the left Fergie has been deploying Giggs more on the left side of midfield than in the centre where he really causes his real damage these days. Scholes is still a top player for my money but he does need someone with legs and more defensively minded at his side. And thats where our problems lie in the big games. Carrick had another very disappointing game yesterday he just doesn't look the same player since the disaster in Rome. Anderson has the legs, well he has the legs for about 70 minutes usually, before he gets hauled off, but that's another problem. His big problem as a central midfield player is that he has no defensive positional sense. With no Fletcher i suppose Hargreaves is the next best thing even though i don't rate him that highly with the ball at his feet. But when he will be fit who knows and whether he will be the same player after so long who can tell.
We just about managed to get through last season with those midfield worries but at least our defence looked strong. Or should i say until the Liverpool game at home and the defeat in Rome where our defence all of a sudden started to look vulnerable. Central defence now looks a problem in the short term and in the long term. Ferdinand' injury problems may mean he will never be the same player again. When Torres got the ball for his goal i expected Ferdinand to force him wide and force him to either cross or hit the shot from a poor angle. But he didn't have the legs to get back at him and Torres gave Van Der Sar no chance. Torres played well in the first half yesterday but he was helped by a United defence that went to pieces every time he got the ball. For someone who is supposed to be one of the best centre halves in Europe the way Vidic goes to pieces when the ball is simply played over his head is alarming. I don't know about anybody else but i was hoping Jonny Evans would play. And almost from the first minute i knew i had been right because it looks like Torres is Vidic's nemesis. He just looked a like an accident waiting to happen every time the Spaniard went near him. The other probelm would have to be right back. O'Shea has come in and done a soild job but there is no doubt he is never going to be a really top class right back. His form has dipped recently and as in yesterdays game he has given the ball away far too frequently.
As for the game it wasn't pretty as expected Liverpool came out flying into every tackle trying to stop us getting into a rhthym. Unfortunately they were all too successful as we couldn't live with their work rate. With our defence a nervous wreck every time Torres got the ball it seemed to be one of those games where the first goal would be vital. Valencia looke our biggest threat but we didn't get the ball to him enough and when we did he got no support from O'Shea. And to be fair when he did support they seemed to have no rapport getting in each other's way. I appear to be in a minority but i thought Berbatov had a decent game, it's not his fault he didn't see enough of the ball.
I was glad that we got through to half time goaless though Liverpool didn't really create that much. The second half carried on in much the same vein as the first with Liverpool pressing hard and stopping us getting any flow. The sad thing is that United seemed content as long as we kept them out at the other end. Whilst they weren't creating that much and Torres had disappeared from view our defensive deficiencies made that a worrying state of affairs. And then came the goal. Now we had to start playing and i'm afraid in games like these as good as our squad looks on paper it never quite pans out like on the field. Scholes went off and Giggs reverted to central midfield where virtually straight away he looked a lot more dangerous. The problem there was that meant Nani had to come to give us the balance on the left. What can you say about Nani, he has talent but not the brain. It just seemed typical of the day and of him that when he recieved the ball at the edge of box and in space instead of getting the shot away and maybe an un deserved equaliser, his poor first touch saw him lose the ball and Liverpool break away and score the second goal with virtually the last kick of the game. The other thing that disappointed me was why didn't he bring Fabio for O'Shea at right back with orders to support Valencia. I know he is not the finished article defensively but as we ended up losing another goal any way it seemed well worth the risk to me
The saving grace of the day was the way both City and Arsenal let two goal leads slip. So it was a great weekend for Chelsea and Liverpool, though in the long term better for Chelsea as as far as the league goes yesterday changes nothing for me, i still think Liverpool will struggling to stay in the top four.


United's defensive frailties given a going over in the press, with Ferdinand coming under more scrutiny than Vidic. With Hansen saying they just haven't been the same players this season.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/markogden/100002797/why-rio-ferdinand-needs-to-change-his-script-writer/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6433039/Alan-Hansen-Liverpool-players-ease-pressure-on-Rafael-Benitez-after-Manchester-United-scalp.html

Patrck Barclay thinks United weren't waited for things to happen instead of making them happen in the best analysis of the matc i have read.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6889794.ece

Fergie questions the referee again,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6889900.ece
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8325114.stm
He is right and also right that we didn't deserve anything out of the game. Almost all of the 50 50's went to them and how Carragher stayed on the pitch i don't know.

Will Hutton thinks both Mervyn King and Lord Turner are right on the future regualtion of the banking system
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/25/will-hutton-mervyn-king-bank-reform

Stephen Foley on the history of unequal societies and why progressive taxation works
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-foley-unequal-societies-create-instability-1808589.html

It looks like Auditing profession is starting to come under the scrutiny it so richly deserves.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/25/auditors-role-financial-crisis

CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 Manchester United

With the Anfield encounter ahead of us on Sunday and all the players that did even get on the plane to go to Moscow i wasn't expecting too much from this match. What i was expecting was a low scoring or even goaless draw, a tight 1-0 or even a defeat. So whilst i wasn't too far away on the goals front, i was more than satisfied with the performance. To go away in Europe and almost totally boss the game and then come away with the result is not to be sniffed at. And to do it with nowhere near our best team was very encouraging.
To be honest i haven't really thought getting to a third European final was a realistic proposition and that was even if Ronaldo had stayed. But after watching us so far in this competition i would say we still have as good a chance as anybody else. Of course it will help us if the draw in the latter stages is kind to us but we have a more than realistic chance.
I thought we got a grip on the game right from the start. We weren't creating chances but the game was being played at our tempo and we had a grip in midfield. Fabio was getting past Nani at every opportunity and they were linking up pretty well, though Nani had his usual frustratingly inconsistent game. Fabio still needs to tighten up his defending but he looks like he is going to be some player. Scholes was controlling the midfield and showing us we are still light years away from replacing him. Berbatov not getting enough support was the only blot on the performance going forward.
We looked a bit rusty at the back, with Vidic i thought, looking a bit ropey and still very vulnerable to the ball over the top of him that foces him to turn. Shades of the Liverpool game at Old Trafford when he had that nightmare against Torres. I would be quite happy for Evans to partner Ferdinand on Sunday to be honest. Though i doubt our defence will get caught one on one like that at Anfiled.
The second half saw us take almost complete control of the match with us stepping through the gears until Owen came on for Scholes with twenty minutes to go to see us go with two up top in search of the winner. They did have a goal ruled out but it was clearly offside and we didn't see much of them as an attacking force apart from that. Valencia was coming more and more into the match and the best move of the match ended with him hitting a pile driver that crashed against the bar. I am not too sure why he has got so few goals in his career because he has a good shot on him and doesn't seem to shy away from having a dip when given the opportunity. I can see him scoring a few more than he been use to over the course of the season. Maybe Fergie should have a bet with him that he gets 10 for the season ala Ronaldo.
Eventually the pressure paid off as Berbatov nodded a cross into the path of Valencia who made no mistake rifling it past the CSKA Moscow goalie Akinfeev. The goalie had a fair game which was interesting as he hsa been linked with us and for such a young goalie he has bags of big match experience. And to me that what is required for a goalie if they are to make it at United. The trouble with Foster when i saw him play for Watford was that he would be their star player making four, five great saves and they would win the match. But at least once he would either make a real howler, or probably even worse, he would make a really bad decision as when to come for the ball. And that's what he has shown at United so far i'm afraid, he can make great saves but then make an inexplicably bad decision that can either cost you a goal or unsettle the defence. How much secure at the back have we looked at the back in the last two games with Van Der Saar in goal. So a great three points and if we win the return game at old Trafford we will be through and then he can either rest players or give a couple of youngsters a bit of experience of Europe. And what a superb result to come out of Anfield the night before,they are really on the ropes. It would be superb if Rooney can get fit in time for Sunday.

I wasn't aware of it at the time but apparently we equalled an Ajax record on Wednesday, and a pretty impresive one it is too
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6884779.ece

Fergie is impressed with Valencia and thinks he is getting used to the club and being a United player
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6400847/Manchester-Uniteds-Antonio-Valencia-achieving-Sir-Alex-Fergusons-goals.html

Andy Cole on his recollections of the biggest game in English football
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-andy-cole-column-the-sign-says-this-is-anfield-the-heart-says-this-is-it-this-is-what-its-all-about-1806708.html

And at long last the media seem to be seeing that Benitez is not the manager they have all built him up to be.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-rafa-show-is-ready-for-the-final-curtain-1806709.html
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rorysmith/100002625/rafa-benitez-built-this-liverpool-squad-and-its-not-just-good-enough/

Ferdinand hoping for the points on sunday and for a run of games
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6410326/Liverpool-v-Manchester-United-Rio-Ferdinand-out-to-avenge-last-seasons-double-defeat.html

A bill only New labour could have come up with but also try to sneak it through Parliament
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/outrage-at-government-plan-for-secret-inquests-1806867.html

Matthew Norman on the old new labout toadie that brought us this mind numbingly un democratic bill
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-of-all-the-new-labour-toadies-jack-straw-must-be-the-worst-1807563.html

Will Hutton comments on the need for financial reform and lambasts the government
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/21/bonus-alistair-darling-banks

The government and the governor of the bank of England in open disagreement
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/king-and-brown-in-rift-over-whether-to-split-the-banks-1806805.html
I just wonder what the lemmings that pass for the Government backbenchers think, if they have a mind at all that is.

The side of the postal strike that has been given much of an airing
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/king-and-brown-in-rift-over-whether-to-split-the-banks-1806805.html
Whilst i definitely believe in their right to strike and think they are right that Royal mail and the Government do ultimately want to privatise i am not sure this was the best tim to strike and more importantly win. 10 out of 10 if they do though.

Timothy Garton Ash on the scandal and the wrong headedness of Thatchers attempt to stop German unification. What price she would have blamed those pinko commies in public whilst slapping their backs in private if they had managed to stop unification.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/21/britain-fluffed-german-question

Rebecca Front, the new minister for Malcolm Tucker to contend with in tomorrow's the thick of it talks about the art of profanity
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/21/the-sacred-profanities

I spent last Friday night at the ritz watching the Super Furry Animals and a cracking gig it was too. They are one of the best groups around at the moment, it's criminal they aren't bigger. I was quite surprised at the ritz too, it makes a cracking venue for a gig. You got your moneys worth too with a couple of hours from the super furries and a decent half hour for the decent support act who i still haven't found out what they were called.

Fergie not a happy bunny

As he storms out of the pre match press conference when the Wiley FA charge was brought up
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6389799/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-storms-out-of-press-conference-after-question-over-FA-charge.html
To make matters worse it came out that Rooney is a doubt for Sunday, Evra is the only player not to travel to Moscow to be a definite starter. After last night we have a chance to kill their season off for good so it would be nice to have Rooney and Fletcher back for that matter.

Tampa Bay on the ropes as Glazers control comes under scrutiny, a taste of things to come for us?
It's why we need Fergie to keep on and on
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6389827/Manchester-United-could-suffer-if-the-Glazers-pass-the-Bucs.html

There were a few surprises last night, not least Barca getting beat at home. That is one tight group where Inter must be a little worried.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article6883145.ece

A new display at the working class museum on the Crescent about the the beginnings of the players union, which of course started at United.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/21/manchester-united-outcasts-fc

It is coming to something when the governor of the bank of England is making statements more progressive than our supposedly centre left progressive government.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mervyn-king-never-has-so-much-money-been-owed-by-so-few-to-so-many-1806247.html

Jonathan Freedland on the Tory links with far right groups in Europe that are alarming US foreign policy makers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/20/conservatives-european-allies-holocaust-deniers

Simon Jenkins on the disaster that is the west's policy on Afghanistan.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/20/afghanistan-election-karzai-liberal-arrogance

The magnificent Peter Capaldi is back as the hilarious Malcolm Tucker in the brilliant The thick of it on Saturday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2009/oct/17/peter-capaldi-malcolm-tucker-tv

Manchester United 2-1 Bolton Wanderers

What was looking like a regulation win and for that matter should have been with the amount of great chances we had in the second half turned into a bit of a nail biter for the last 10 minutes. But at least we came away with the three points as both Chelsea and Liverpool suffered defeats. I had been optimistic that the scousers would struggle and that was one big defeat for them. It is looking likely that when we thought that last year was their big chance to win the league we were spot on the money.
I suppose this was a pretty good performance if you take away the last 15 minutes. It was nowhere near our strongest team with Vidic missing and Gary Neville at full back which isn't great news any more unfortunately. Giggs was on the left and although he has put in some fine efforts there this season he is far more effective more centrally nowadays. The central midfield of Anderson and Carrick is second string as far as this season goes and with no Rooney we had a better chance to assess Owen. And i would have to say it wasn't one of his better days, he had two great chances in the second half and he snatched at them both. He should have buried at least one of them.
United got off to a great start as Giggs found space and put a useful cross into Owen who didn't make as good as contact as he should have done. But fortunately Zat Knight somehow managed to bundle the ball over the line for a really soft own goal and give us an early lead. Evans might have done better with a header from another cross but Jaaskelainen made the first of a string of saves that kept Bolton in the game. There wasn't too much danger at the other end though Davies had one great chance that you would have fancied him to do better with but he headed wide. United kept probing and Valencia combined with Neville before smashing home to give us a two goal lead going into the break. I thought Valencia had a fair game and was unlucky not to add to his tally in the second half.
The chances seemed to come thick and fast in the second hald and a combination of Owen's poor finshing and Jaaskelainen's fine pefrormance kept the score to the two at half time. Berbatov had another excellent game and is now really starting the look like the player we thought we were buying. He still plays the game at his own pace but a combination of him raising his game and i think his teammates better appreciation of him is bringing the best out of him. I think and hope there is still a level up for him to go but if there are two beneficiaries of the sale of Ronaldo it has to be him and Rooney.
For some reason United took their foot of the pedal and out of nowhere Bolton got a goal back which their abysmal away following celebrated with glee. To have only took about half your allocation when the opposition is just down the road is spectacularly bad. Now for some mad reason United sat back and hung on for the 2-1 instead of trying to catch them on the counter attack. With almost the last touch of the game the much talked about Bolton centre back Cahill had a great chance but could only head straight into Van Der Sar's hands. How good it was to see the big Dutchman between the sticks again.
All in all a pretty good day as went back to the top of the league again, Liverpool are now in eighth position and we go there next Sunday with Rooney hopefully back in the team. It would be crisis time for them if we get the three points and i am expecting a big performances after last years piss poor performances against them.

Ferguson is charged over Wiley remarks, it looks like he is going to get a ban.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8314326.stm

The story of the fall out between two brothers that led to one German town being home to Adidas and Puma
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/oct/19/rivalry-between-adidas-and-puma
A nice situation for any town to have.

Larry Elliot ponders our economic future and isn't that optimistic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/19/rise-of-chinese-economic-influence

From the people who encouraged the ideology that nearly saw thw world economy falling off a cliff
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/pensions/state-pension-age-should-be-70-say-bosses-1805408.html
Whilst they retire at what age and with a pension x times mine and yours, which almost all of them aren't worth. Throw in the golden parachutes that reward failiure whilst the ordinary man would just get fired. I could go on and on.

No Rooney for Bolton

or Wednesday by the look of it. I hope Berbatov is in the right frame of mind for the game. It doesn't need stressing how desperate we are for Rooney to be fit for the trip to Anfield.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6345233/Wayne-Rooney-ruled-out-of-Manchester-United-match-against-Bolton.html

Fergie embarrassed by private letter leak to Belgian starlet Steven Defour
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6877321.ece

United have plans to step up their scouting operation in Brazil, i'm not sure about this.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-ready-to-step-up-scouting-in-brazil-1803528.html

A new extensive report savages New Labours record on education
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/generation-of-pupils-being-put-off-school-report-says-1803629.html
Completely agree with most of that, it has always struck me as typical new labour gimmick to use tests and spin the results as a substitute for any proper ideological analysis.

Johann Hari on the case for a proper comprehensive education system, which i totally agree with also
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-from-north-carolina-a-model-of-how-to-transform-education-1803563.html

Edmund Conway is not convinced by David Hare's new play on the credit crunch
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/edmundconway/100001387/what-this-crisis-needs-is-a-the-wire/

Well at least one financial crook looks like getting his comeuppance
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6873649.ece

Simon Jenkins on our political pygmies who have still done nothing to change the financial system that has sunk us into this recession and who still live the life of Reilly.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/15/paying-price-myth-banks-fail

Tomothy Garton Ash compares the UK to the dying days of the Habsburgs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/14/constitutional-reform-parliament-electoral-system

An interesting article on a book about communism, looks like a fascinating book. I would go along with most of his thesis
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/cultural-capital/2009/10/communism-state-communist

It looks like the business friends of the neo cons are just as much a piece of dirty work as the politicians, now there is a surprise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/15/defence-contractors-rape-claim-block

Remember you can believe everything you read in the tabloids, course you can.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/14/starsuckers-tabloids-hoax-celebrities

Lampard on Rooney

He thinks he is England's main man on and off the pitch. He is definitely right as far as on the pitch goes, that is for sure.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/13/frank-lampard-wayne-rooney-england

Alan Hansen is worried abot Ferdinand's form, not as worried as United fans are
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/england/6299457/Alan-Hansen-Fabio-Capello-needs-Rio-Ferdinand-to-find-his-form---and-fast.html

Henry Winter thinks we will miss Fergie when he is gone as he is set to make a second apology apparently.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6309675/FA-should-listen-to-Sir-Alex-Ferguson.-He-may-have-a-point.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6871971.ece
I still think it wasn't the right thing to do.

Ibrahimovic attacks his old team Inter saying there weren't as many good players as there are at his new Catalan team. And goes on to say they didn't have players who could make the difference. Of course the comical thing to me is i would class him as one of those players who didn't make a difference when it came to the big European nights. I know Barca were desperate to get rid of Etoo but that was not a like for like swap in my eyes, Inter definitely got the better of the deal. Though Ibrahimovic got the better of it as a player, lucky man.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/ibrahimovic-launches-attack-on-inter-milan-1801641.html

Steve Richards on the MP's expenses sequel
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-parliament-isnt-corrupt-just-mediocre-1801802.html
A fair enough article. What kills me though is how a paper owned by the kind of big business tax avoiding arseholes that gave us the credit crunch, switched the focus from their own kinds grubby shenanigans of the last three decades and poured all the manure onto our politicians. Who, lets have it right do deserve having le merde poured onto them from a great height, but for giving into the laissez faire agenda of the last three decades, rather than this.

Joseph Stiglitz on bankers, economics and inspiration.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/11/borlaug-bankers-economic-theory-values

Stephen King thinks the US is playing with fire with their dollar policy
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king-us-policymakers-playing-with-fire-as-the-dollar-continues-to-tumble-1801431.html

Christopher Hitchens on what the credit crunch says about Karl Marx
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904/hitchens-marx
I haven't read Das Capital but i have read the communist manifesto, and i have to say the best thing about that to me was the foreword by AJP Taylor, which was pretty amusing.

Peter Hook promting his new book on the Hacienda with Gordon Burns
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8287000/8287584.stm

Music
Bowerbirds - Upper Air: There is a glut of folk pop, rock whatever you want to classify it as coming out of the states at the moment and add these to the list of class acts alongside Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes

Florence and the machine - Lung: I had read mixed reviews of this debut effort so i am glad to say i would side with positive reviews. Some great alternative pop tunes, a great voice and one cracking cover.

Richard Hell and the voidoids - Blank Generation: Supposedly one of New York punk's finest moment, embarrassingly i had never heard it. The description is spot on the money, some great short snappy rock tunes and some great sloppy rock guitar. I just love the guitar sound of Robert Quine on this album.

Terr Callier - The folk sound of Terry Callier: And now for something completely different as they say. Folk, jazz, soul and more this was a one of those unheard classsics from the 60's that passed most people by until the last decade. Great tunes a magnificent vocalist and a considerable guitarist.

The Panics - A house on a street in a town i'm from: The debut album from the Aussie indie outfit part made in Manchester from the 2003. It's got some good moments and reminds me of the Charlatans for some reasons. A bit like them they promisemore they actually deliver. It's a good album but a bit too long for the amount of good material. Take 3 or 4 songs off it and might be a lot better.

White Denim - Fits: The Texas band who had a fair amount of hype poured on them by the music press. And on this showing totally warranted, this a cracking album. This is the kind of rock that really gets me going nowadays. The punk spirit but played by people that can really play their instruments and so make a powerful music that takes the punk energy but with influences ranging from punk itself, blues, psychadelia and you name it could be in there, brilliant.

Radiohead - Harry Patch ( in memory of): Their tribute the last survivor from the great war who passed away recently. From the more experimental side of their ouevre, fitting and moving.

Rooney the stand out

According to Henry Winter, and for the 70 minutes i saw i can't argue, he was the main man.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/england/6292794/Ukraine-v-England-Wayne-Rooney-puts-his-heart-and-soul-into-the-cause.html

Rooney to try to qualify for his coaching badges as he plots a future in football after finishing as a player which we all hope is a long way off.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6869573.ece

Anfield not the happiest place to be in the premier league, i hope it's even more miserable after the 25th October. We want some pay back after the two dismal performances we put in against them last season especially that debacle down here.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matt_dickinson/article6862436.ece

Though Ferdinand's dismal form is perhaps one reason not to be too optimistic. I am getting increasingly concerned we may have seen the best of him. Capello doesn't blame him for the defeat yesterday, but how many mistakes is that he has made this season for club and country that have led to goals against. Ashley Cole was no better but he isn't making a habit of it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/england/6297514/England-manager-Fabio-Capello-insists-Rio-Ferdinand-is-not-to-blame-for-Ukraine-loss.html

As Obama laughingly gets the Nobel peace prize a story about the type of person who should be in for these awards but never get mentioned
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/europes-revolution-the-pastor-who-brought-down-the-berlin-wall-1799976.html
I suppose this was a political decision aimed at the neo cons rather than anything else. But that's pretty ludicrous, i don't think Cheney et al is going to lose any sleep over peace prizes.

Mick Hume argues that the Tories have changed but not for the better, they are just another bunch of accountants along with new labour. That may be the case but a whole article about the tories without mentioning Europe, they haven't changed that much.
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/7504/

David Blanchflower, the only member of the banks MPC to have accurately called the credit crunch lays into Cameron and Osbourne's approach to the economy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/09/cameron-osborne-recession-recovery-inflation

Will Hutton lays into the bigger vision
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/11/will-hutton-david-cameron-conference

A profile of Robert Harris from yesterday's independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/interviews/robert-harris-a-writer-close-to-the-power-elite-1799682.html

Edwards concerned about debt

and the future in what most papres seem to have chosen today to take out of Andy Mitten's latest tome
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6269976/Martin-Edwards-concerned-by-Manchester-Uniteds-700m-debt-burden.html
The book looks like another must read following his cracking effort on the 80's

Pogba free to join United, as United are judged to have done absolutely no wrong
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/08/paul-pogba-manchester-united-fifa
Right or wrong i have got to say that i would support all this jostling for youngsters and ban transfer until after they are 18.

Fergies diversion tactics, criticising the ref to not have to admit how poorly Foster is playing seem to be backfiring and if we are honest are pretty shoddy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/referees-hit-back-over-fergusons-fitness-jibe-1798228.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/08/sir-alex-ferguson-alan-wiley

Will Fabregas follow Pique back to Barca next season, the more Arsenal struggle to stay in the top 4 the answer must be yes
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fabregas-in-fresh-transfer-link-to-barcelona-1798427.html
That would be a big blow for them

Kevin McCarra thinks the big four are starting to drift back to the pack, it does have that feel to it, but the season is young and squads have yet to be tested.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/06/manchester-united-chelsea-arsenal-liverpool

Robert Fisk on secret or not so secret plans to replace the dollar as top dog currency
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/the-demise-of-the-dollar-1798175.html
It's going to happen one way or another, but this latest bout of dollar weakness won't be making Obama lose any sleep.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/06/gold-price-dollar-decline

Will the tories anti-europe phobia lead to the end of the UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/04/cameron-lisbon-referendum-scotland
Where most of the citizens of our country still don't seem to understand the waning of our standing in the world. I am pretty sure Scotland voting for independence would bring it home with an almighty thump. Bang would go the comparisons with France and Germany and in the comparions with Spain i suppose.

Manchester United 2-2 Sunderland

Where did that dismal performance come from, and yet we still managed to get a point from it. The first half was a real shocker and i had visions of us getting beat by two or three at half time we were that bad. They could hardly string two passes together in the first half. Full marks to Sunderland they came and had a right go at us, especially in the first half. The mackems looked menacing going forward and won almost all the fifty fifty challenges and when Bent scored a fine goal after just 7 minutes it looked like we had got more than all of us had bargained for, fans and players alike. I must admit i saw Chelsea demolish them at their place earlier in the season and on that evidence i could see nothing but an easy three points. But a month and a half later they were a completely different proposition looking strong in midfield and menacing up top playing with two men up front in Jones and Bent.
Nani had one of those games where you wonder what anybody sees in him as he was completely bullied out of the game by first Richardson at left back and then Bardsley at right back, two ex reds. It turned out not to be the best time to give Welbeck his first senior outing of the season, he just never really got into it. He looks like he still needs to strenghten up a bit against the physical challenge posed by teams like Sunderland on Saturday. Scholes had an off day, as did Rooney and for me only Berbatov gave a real performance. Their forwards gave Evans and Vidic a hard time and even Evra looked shaky at times in the first half.
Anderson came on for Scholes at half time, but i wasn't too sure about that myself. Alright Scholes hadn't played well and we looked a bit lightwight in midfield, but that was as much about our wide men not contributing. And of course we lost our only real creative spark in midfield with no Giggs on the bench. All that talk about players having to walk up to the plate now Ronaldo has gone doesn't look any more convincing when we still rely on our last two class of 92 who still perform regularly. As if on cue the first thing Anderson did was give the ball away, but to be fair to him he had a reasonable game, no more though, and did help change the course of the game as United started to get to grips with the contest without ever playing anywhere near their best. I am as inclined to think he took Scholes off with two yellow cards a distinct possibility with us playing so poorly after his first half booking.
The equaliser fittingly enough was scored by easily our best player on the day for me. A fine acrobatic goal from a set piece from the right saw us back in the game with hopefully enough time to go on and get the winner. And then came the howler from Foster, and it was a howler, as Jones out muscled him to head it over the line. So it was back to trying to salvage a draw as the idea of scoring two when we were playing this bad was nil. We were only inches from being 3-1 down when Carrick made a desperate clearance after not long being on the pitch.
United huffed and puffed but didn't really look like blowing the Sunderland goal down until Richardson needlessly got himself sent off, the ref was absolutely correct. The one blot on the Sunderland performance was their time wasting, and i thought Fergie was absolutely right that their should have been more injury time than there was. Not that we deserved to win that is, i thought we just about did enough to deserve the draw. The goal was scrappy when it did come, but, who cares, they all count. And it's still what seperates us from the rest, the abilty to get something when everything looks lost.
Two last thoughts on the game are that the pitch didn't help us on the day with being nothing like the slick surface we saw on Wednesday. The other i'm afraid is that i am not on my own in thinking that Foster is not looking anything like the long term goalscoring replacement that we are so desperate for. It isn't just the mistakes, but his reaction to them, he threatened to go to pieces after the mistake on Saturday. He isn't the greatest with the ball at his feet at the best of times but on Saturday we all winced every time the ball was passed back to him. And we were right to do, because he had gone.

Fergie must explain his remarks about referee Wiley
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8290244.stm

Paul Hayward on Raul and Giggs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/04/raul-ryan-giggs

Ronaldo doesn't play and Real get beat
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/cristianoronaldo/6261308/Cristiano-Ronaldo-absence-not-to-blame-for-Real-Madrid-defeat-says-coach.html

Cruyff thinks Messi's new contract is too long
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/6261456/Lionel-Messi-deal-was-wrong-for-Barcelona-says-Johan-Cruyff.html

Lockerbie trial gets murkier and murkier
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/04/raul-ryan-giggs
I could never believe he was found guilty at the time, all the evidence was thin and circumstancial to say the least

Cameron and the tories tied in knots over Europe again
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/oct/05/tory-party-europe-row

Manchester United 2-1 Wolsburg

We ended up with the three points but we we had to work hard for them at the end. Not that we didn't deserve the three points, just with us not finishing off our moves with the same panache some of them had been created with, things had looked a little ropey when they took the lead. But that's six points out of six and hopefully we will get qualification out of the way as soon as possible.
After seeing the second half of the other game in our group in Moscow in the pub before the game you would have to say Wolsburg look like they will provide us with our strongest test away from home in this group.
Fergie showed he must have rated their front line as he picked what i would say is currently strongest defence with Ferdinand playing two games on the trot and O'Shea at right back. It will be interesting to see if Ferdinand plays on Saturday. The engine room in midfield was a bit second string as far as this season goes with the below par Carrick alongside the improving Anderson. With Giggs on the left, Valencia on the right and Owen coming in to partner Rooney it looked like a pretty attacking 4-4-2 line up, rare for Fergie nowadays in Europe. But it was a like for like as that is the way they won the Bundesliga last season, although they didn't particularly play like in this match.
Right from the start they made their intention known taking every chance to get forward and attack and they should probably have scored after a couple of minutes but for a very weak shot after some indesicive defending from United. United took there time to get into the game, and by the time they did Owen had already had to go off. The word is that he had a groin problem before the game so why he was started, i don't know. Anyway it worked to our advantage as Berbatov came on and gave his best performance so far this season. But for all the nice approach play we weren't quite creating the openings that i thought our creative play had deserved. When we did, either the goalie was in good form as a great save from Carrick showed or the linesman gave them the benefit of the doubt on the offside as he gave Rooney offside when he wasn't but O'Shea was.
The second half saw the game kept the same pattern as the last twenty five minutes of the first half. But their twin strike was always a threat and 10 minutes into the second half they managed to get the six foot Bosnian Dzeko against Evra at the back post in the air. Kusczcak had no chance with the header and we had a game on our hands. Thankfully, we didn't take long to equalise as Giggs saw his free kick take a big deflection and wrong foot the goalie just three minutes later. Now we saw United play their best football of the night which saw us start to create real chances. Giggs had a goal ruled out for offside that should have been given as it had hit two pair of Wolfsburg legs before reaching him in the box. With thirteen minutes left United hit the winner when Carrick finished off a move that saw three people have the chance to shoot before he eventually buried it. It was a nice goal and maybe it will boost his confidence. His was an improved performance but still nowhere near what he is capable off. The rest of the game was end to end with both sides having chances, Wolsburg having one chance where i have to say from where i sit i thought they had scored.
But our good start to the season continues and looks like the qualifying phase is not going to cause us too many upsets, unlike Liverpool who have a tough group to get out off after their defeat the night before. They won't even be in the hunt for honours this season with the defence they have got, great.

Owen injury not as bad as feared
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8286580.stm

Steve Bruce on Giggs the superstar
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/01/ryan-giggs-greatest-manchester-united-steve-bruce

Carrick happy at United, but not with his form, you would hope
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/carrick-content-to-bide-time-at-manchester-united-1796531.html

Berbatov admits first season not up to scratch
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footballleagues/premierleague/manutd/6253643/Manchester-United-striker-Dimitar-Berbatov-admits-to-failure-last-season.html
I think he has played reasonably well so far this season, but Wednesday we how we want to see him every game

Portsmouth in real trouble as Premier league prepares to take control,
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-ready-to-take-control-as-penniless-pompey-crash-1796230.html
this will be interesting

Johann Hari on the Tory plans for the BBC
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-if-we-care-about-the-bbc-we-must-fight-to-defend-it-1796270.html

I hope that BAE are prosecuted but i'm not holding my breath
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/bae-serious-fraud-office1

Strange times for Europe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/02/ireland-referendum-lisbon-treaty
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6857807.ece
As a pro European the last thing i want to see is a Prseident Blair, the prime minister was bad enough than you.

More ammunition, unfortunately for Umberto Bossi and the northern league
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/mafia-influence-hovers-over-italians