United tour comes to life

Well that was more like it, the first game i don't stop up for and United really turn it on. I suppose the early goals helped, but that was easily the best performance of the tour so far. It probably helped that it was a bit more like an exhibition match, end to end stuff, than a proper MLS side wanting to show that they could stop United playing their normal game.
But there were plenty of good things to come from it. Macheda took his goals well. Giggs and Scholes, whilst on the field showed that they are still our best central midfield men for the vision of their passing. Of course that is both a blessing and a curse as we have got to have either someone coming through or the money to buy a replacement for both of them over the next two years, and how much would that cost in todays market. Once again Cleverley looked like a proper Manchester United player and took his goal superbly. Welbeck was another who impressed again, doing superbly well when he came on and looked like another with a big future at the club. And lastly Hernandez came on and looked the part and topped it off with a superbly executed goal with a great finish after being found by a superb Scholes pass. It would have been a nice way to end the tour, but now it's off to Mexico.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/markogden/100011170/mls-all-stars-2-manchester-united-5/

Little pea Hernandez was to be the big draw for United's trip to Houston. That's as maybe, but he was bought to do the business in the premier league. Doubtless Dong would have got a heroes welcome in China and we know what happened there.
One thing that Hernandez will recieve when he plays for United is good service, far, far better than he received with Mexico on South Africa that's for sure. He made a decent start last night but the real test is to come. It will be interesting to see who he can strike a partnership up with. It might seem odd, but to me i would think it best for United if he struck up a rapport with Berbatov. That would leave Rooney free to concentrate on his own up front in the big games,to start with at least.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/7912818/Javier-Hernandezs-Manchester-United-debut-is-headline-material-in-Texas.html

The reserves got back to winning ways on Tuesday night with a 2-1 win at Oxford United. This report from United youth
http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/reserves-oxford-1-united-2-reds-ride-their-luck-as-ajose-nicks-the-winner/
I saw some of United's 2-1 milk cup defeat by Aspire the same night. It wasn't very impressive i'm afraid. The first half was alright, they kept possession and looked neat and tidy but didn't have enough penetration. Though the game could have been different if a first half goal disallowed for offside been given. But the reaction to conceding the first goal in the second half was terrible, they just fell apart. It could have easily been more than three before United's late consolation goal.

Ferguson forgets he is supposed to be a man of the left as he says nice things about the Glazers again.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/7915206/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-tells-Manchester-United-fans-he-has-no-complaints-about-the-Glazers.html

I watched the excellent Spanish under 19 team defeat England yesterday and there was no disgrace in getting beat by such a good side. But that doesn't disguise the fact that the English side put out were that far behing in terms of first touch, technique, vision, movement and tactical awareness it was hard to believe that in football terms we are a first world nation. It has to be said the coach who could be heard continuosly barking out the same instructions over and over again throughout the game didn't cover himself in glory either.
But back to the Spanish and the quality of their play. The second and third goals were just wonderfuly inventive and perfectly executed goals. As with the national team the vast bulk of the side came from Barcelona and that must help with team understanding. It looks like Barcelona and Spain's time as competitors for the top prizes will be long lived not a flash in the pan.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/27/spain-england-european-under-19-championship

Just what is going on at Barcelona as they confirm bigger losses than expected. As Andersred's blog says you always have to take politics into the equation with the Catalan club.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-confirm-huge-financial-losses-2036610.html
http://andersred.blogspot.com/2010/07/be-sure-to-be-prudent-fc-barcelonas.html

Gill tries to convince us that is black is white as once again as he trots out the line that we do have the money to buy, if the quality is there.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/7912661/Manchester-United-might-rather-than-will-buy-more-players-this-summer-says-David-Gill.html

Will the war of stadiums between Cas and Wakefield help Salford become a serious super league force wonders Dave Hadfield.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2010/07/28/rugby-league-salford-could-be-the-winners-of-castleford-and-wakefield-stadium-battle/

Simon Jenkins explores the role of technology that the Afghan war logs reveal.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/jul/27/folly-war-wikileaks-afghanistan
As he says war is war regardless of technology, it was always be muddled and deadly. And this war also happens to be completely unwinnable. Maybe it will take twenty years of hindsight for the general public to face it, but it's a fact nonetheless every western soldier that dies or gets maimed in Afghanistan or Iraq for that matter will have done so, for no better reason than our politicians don't want to lose face and admit defeat.

Interesting speculation from James Macintyre as to if and what Bank governor King said to Clegg during coalition talks.
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/public-accounts/2010/07/clegg-establishment-coalition

CBI in common sense talk shocker
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/27/cbi-calls-for-takeover-rules-tightened

Steve Richards on the contortions that all three main parties are currently going through as they prepare their positions ahead of the referendum on AV.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-a-debate-that-turns-politics-upside-down-2037832.html

Martin Kettle wonders whether the shadow cabinet's current strategy means they are a party of reform at all.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-a-debate-that-turns-politics-upside-down-2037832.html

I was sorry to read that BSkyB have bought the exclusive sole rights to HBO's entire catalogue. Just as they bought there way into the world of sport it would seem they will try to challenge the BBC with the best of US imports. Let's hope the BBC can oversee a renewal of homegrown British TV.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/29/bskyb-buys-hbo-tv-catalogue

This new five part series of a Maddox Ford group of novels turned into a screenplay by Tom Stoppard sounds like a start.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/stoppard-back-on-the-bbc-after-an-interval-of-three-decades-2038077.html

Roy Harper