2010-2011 begins

Fergie reminds the press of the importance that he atttaches to doing well in the champions league. At least injuries notwithstanding the squad looks better equipped this season to cope with the twin challenge of league title and champions league campaing. He is right that we weren't far off a third consecutive champions league final. But the fact we didn't was down to bad luck and the fact the squad wasn't quite good enough. Hopefully tha addition of Smalling, Cleverley and especially Hernandez will put that right.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/7945144/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Champions-League-must-be-a-priority-for-Manchester-United.html

Fergie picks City to finish top four, putting the pressure on Mancini already. He also thinks Everton could surprise people if they can keep everybody fit.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/13/alex-ferguson-manchester-city-everton

Carrick is determined to come back strong after last seasons disappointment. Him regaining the form he showed at United in his first two seasons would go along way in helping us regain the title that's for sure.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1302779/Michael-Carrick-admits-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-lost-words-Manchester-United-lost-crown-Chelsea.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Henry Winter thinks City reflect the spirit of the premier league, foreign owners big signings and spiralling wages and wonders how Mancini will fare with his squad this season. I can't say i'm worrying about them challenging for the title, they will be challenging to get in the top four again, is my prediction. Unfortunately Liverpool won't be as bad as last season, but i would predict the same for them.
It will be us and Chelski for the top two with us coming top and Arsenal and Tottenham making up the other challengers for the other top four places. I see Kevin McCarra has picked Arsenal to come top, i have no idea he has come to that decision. They may have two decent centre halfs after the signing of Koscielny to partner Vermaelen but Wenger has never been the best spotter of defensive talent so we will wait and see on that score. But they still haven't bought a decent goalie , Fabregas can't be a happy bunny having been denied the move he wanted and there must be still questions about the mental strenght of the squad. How will Fabregas respond if Arsenal don't start well.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/7944940/Manchester-City-coach-Roberto-Mancini-riding-Premier-League-title-rollercoaster.html

The Guardian review of the season had Chelsea as the collective decision of their football journalists to retain the title and yet when they are all asked individually in this piece far more pick United than the rent boys. I can only presume Chelsea pipeed it on second preference choices.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/aug/13/premier-league-new-season-predictions

Arsene Wenger has a go at the new 25 man squad rule and the new home grown rule. I'm in favour of both myself, but he does make interesting points about the effects on agents. it doesn't change my opinion though. Unfortunately it's also good news for the gimps, i'm presuming.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/13/arsene-wenger-arsenal-squad-limits

I don't know whether it's because the building of the new stadium near Barton airport seems to have finally fallen into place but Salford seem to have really started to make some serious aquisitions for next seasons super league. If they can find a decent playmaker they might start to threaten the top eight.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/aug/12/salford-stephen-wild-signing

Simon Hughes thinks the twenty20 finals day paints the domestic county cricket in a bad light. You can say that again, i have stopped going watching Lancy since the obsession with the twenty over game took precedence over eferything else. The way the fixture and competitions are spread out makes a mockery of the summer. There is no continuity for the teams, players and more importantly for the fans. I'm afraid it's yet another sport run by incompetents, although i can't call them greedy in this instance, it's more like desperate.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/simonhughesanalyst/100011642/twenty20-finals-day-paints-domestic-game-in-a-bad-light/

More reasons for the government to stop and think before axing the film council
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jameshall/100007290/spielberg-casts-axeman-george-osborne-as-screen-villain/

Coalition appoints tax exile to mount a spending review of whitehall, showing their true colours.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/13/unions-question-appointment-philip-green-spending

The telegraph discuss net neutrality
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/7939531/Net-neutrality-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean.html

The book that was supposedly setting the climate for the current political scene suffers a free market counter attack, what a surprise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/14/the-spirit-level-equality-thinktanks

The brilliant Elbow in concert at the bridgewater hall with the Halle orchestra