Keano doesn't mince his words

I thought he had promised to stop talking to the press about anything he is asked, he obviously just can't help himself. That said, it's hard to argue with any of what he actually said. It was classic Keane as he went through the team dismissing them as players, even the untouchables.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2890/world-cup-2010/2010/06/28/1999703/manchester-united-legend-roy-keane-gives-scathing-player-by
There is an argument that if you haven't won the world cup you can't call yourself a real great. I can't really go along with that in this day and age, when it's the champions league where it's really at. It would also mean you would be dismissing Di Stefano, Puskas, Cruyff and Best from amongst thw world greats of the past. I don't think that can be right, i have just read Harry Gregg and he listed Di Stefano and Best amongst the best eleven players he either played with or against. Almost all players of the 50's and 60's name Di Stefano as the best player they ever saw. Cruyff was undoubtedly the best player in the world during the early 70's.

Ossie Ardiles thinks Englands problems run deep arguing amongst other things that Lampard and Gerrard are not technical players able to run things. Well at last someone has spoken that glaring truth. Of course we did have one and he retires at the end of next season.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/7859572/World-Cup-2010-Blame-Premier-League-for-Englands-lack-of-style-says-Osvaldo-Ardiles.html

Paul Mason, Newsnights economics correspondent, describes the English football team as the Lehman brothers of football. I don't buy into that totally but it's ten a times more interesting and constructive column than what i have read from most British football writers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/paulmason/2010/06/england_the_lehman_brothers_of.html
He's a United fan by the way

United are being linked to a host of players playing in the world cup by the press and by the sounds of it by the players agents. I don't think we will see any action, if we see any action at all that is, until the Vidic issue resloves itself. The ideal situation for us would be for him to sign a new contract and knuckle down and concentrate. But if he is hell bent on a move it would be better to let him go, i suppose. That would leave us an experienced centre half short though and i'm not sure who is out there we could go out and buy even if we had the money.
One thing that has stood out at this world cup has been the amount of the so called major countries with less than water tight defences. Of all countries it has been Brazil, surprisingly enough, that have looked the best equipped to keep teams out during this world cup so far. But even though they probably do have as good a back four as there is in the competition, there tactics are pretty negative. They play with a back four protected by two midfield holding players who hardly go over the half way line. If you really watch most of the goals Brazil have scored have been on the break.
It will be interesting to watch the quarter final against Holland, who have been pretty unadventurous themselves. I expect Holland to sit back and to just try and keep possession and hope Van Persie, Robben or Sneijder can come up with something special. They will try and make sure Brazil don't catch them on the counter attack. Which whilst it might be interesting could also make it not the spectacle people would hope for when they think of a game between these two countries.

Polly Toynbee aks whether Cable will allow Murdoch to buy up the rest of BSkyB
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/29/vince-cable-foxification-murdoch-sky
If he does, the lib dems will have lost my vote come the next election, whatever else happens during the coalitions lifespan.

The world's central bankers, yes that lot that were asleep during the run up to the credit crunch, warn thatBritain might not cope with another Bank emergency. When are the world's democratically elected politicians going to smash the power of the markets and return it where it belongs, the elected representatives of the people.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/britain-might-not-cope-with-another-bank-emergency-2013049.html

Steve Richards argues that electorate did not vote at the last election for the vast cuts that were promised in the emegency budgets.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-the-biggest-deficit-is-democratic-2013109.html

Music
Bass Clef - May the bridges i burn light the way: A pretty good piece of electronica of varying styles.

Broken bells - Broken bells: I like this collaboration album between danger mouse and Shins man James Mercer. At times it threatens to be really good but doesn't quite manage to get there. Some cracking tunes on it though.

Foals - Total life forever: I thought this was a slight improvement on their debut album although a lot of reviewers didn't share that view. To me the songs came to the fore more on this album. They are group to follow anyway.

Lonelady - Nerve up: For all Manchester's recent music history it hasn't really thrown up many top female artists. Maybe Julie Campbell's is going to change that with this impressive debut album. I have seen her compared to PJ Harvey and that seems as good a comparison as any. There aren't really any stand out tracks which you hope she might develop over future albums but she definitely has her own sound, and good it is too.

MGMT - Congratulations: The follow up the very successful debut oracular spectacular. But they have left the radio friendly stuff behind for a more musically adventuous record. I have read it called psychadelic and there are definitely elements of that on it. I love the tack Brian Eno.

Paul Weller - Wake up the nation: Another very good Paul Weller album. Not as good as his last, 22 dreams, but that was a storming record. I love the adveture he has shown on these two albums.

The courteeners - Falcon: I've got to admit i hadn't really listened to the latest Manchester big thing before, but had been put off by some of the hype. How wrong i was if their second album is anything to go by. It's a pretty good indie album with plenty of memorable tunes and not quite as meat and two veg, music wise, i had thought it would be.