Perfect Rooney hails Capello

 The Italian is very happy with Rooney after he decided to play the United man in his old position, the hole behind the centre forward. What was noticeable to me was how disciplined he was in the role. What was no surprise was the vision and quality of his passing. The only trouble for me, is that we want him forgetting all about that when he comes back to United, when he plays with Berbatov anyway. I suppose if he is paired with Hernandez, Rooney dropping into the hole could well be a good way to make that work. But do we really want to see a player who terrorised opposition defences all over Europe last season playing further away from goal. 

Capello brings the Scholes decision to turn down the chance to go to South Africa up again, this time saying he originally agreed to go before sleeping on it and changing his mind. Fuck me, he can't let it go, it's gone, move on

During the recent Paddy Crerand interview with Giggs and Scholes, the ginger prince revealed that last christmas he was so disappointed by his form he thought he would have been retired by now. It's great that he didn't, but what standards he has, ok he hadn't been great during the first half of last season, but he was still far and away our most creative midfielder even then.

Our new Portugese signing Bebe's former agent alleges that his former client was offered to PSV for nothing, but the Dutch club turned him down because they knew nothing about him. From what i can understand, its the agent angle, that seems to be fascinating journalists. I saw Bebe playing for Portugal's under 21's against England last night, unfortunately the lack of service he got made it hard to judge him. We did see one great run and shot in the second half, but we didn't see enough to make any kind of judgement on his potential.
Cleverley, Smalling and Welbeck started for England and they all did ok in helping to a deserved win. Cleverley again caught my eye, he helped set up the first goal and another great run and pass in the last minute of the game should have seen him add another assist to his name but for amiss almost as bad as Tevez's against Sunderland.

The Telegraph's Mark Ogden reports that there is to be an anti-Glazer protest with United fans urged to wear pre-Glazer United shirts. I wish things like this wouldn't be reported as " the next step " when as far as i know it's just some guys idea on facebook, and that guy for all i know doesn't even go. If if i read a proposal for a " next step " in a fanzine, or messageboard or get a MUST e-mail i would be more inclined to take it seriously. I cannot see this taking off.

Old united flying winger Kanchelskis has a bit of a pop at Arsenal's Arsharvin, describing him as over rated and inconsistent. What's to argue with their, the perils of buying a player on the back of a good summer international tournament. To think of how some journalists lauded him as the real thing when he first came, oh well half of them know diddely squat, we have always known that.

It looks like Coulsen is going to have questions to answer as the phone hacking scandal during his time at the news of the world erupts again. This always stunk, there was no way Cameron should have hired him, as it was obvious to anybody with half a brain that he knew and probably encouraged what was going on. Unsurprisingly the Police force's relationship with News international i scoming under the spotlight once again, and it doesn't look kosher.

The coalitions Thatcherite approach to the economy is starting to take its toll on the lib dems as resignations and defections are starting to accelerate at local council level. I would sooner see them stay and if it comes to it force the party leadership to abandon the coalition than defect to the labour party. I'm not sure how you can defect to a party that doesn't seem to have any fixed policies until they have a new leader.
At the end of the day the country needs a liberal party, who else is going to stand up for civil rights, thirteen years of new labour showed that they are not the party to protect them. I still can't understand how the party elected as its leader such a right wing leader as Clegg. That was a mistake of historic proportions, just at the time it was clear this was should havebeen the time for the country to swing to the left after 18 years of Thatcherism followed by 13 years of Blair and Brownism which of course was Thatcherism with a human face as Simon Jenkins wrote last week.

Simon Heffer gives us a view from the right of Hagues judgement.Supposedly there may be more news to come on this front, this time on the Christoher Myers front.

Larry Elliot writes that all the latest economic results are pointing to another slowdown and potential double dip.

Morrisey puts his foot in it again calling the Chinese a sub species over their treatment of cats and dogs.

Are GMG taking channel M seriously again after the news that they have appointed ex ofcom man John Furlong as its new controller. I hope so, there is definitely a role for a Manchester channel to play, from sport to music to local news there are loads of opportunities.
The music output was pretty good, but they could really go along the ordinary fan route as far as its sport coverage goes. The Andy Mitten video diaries were a great idea, and instead of the United and City shows having ex players, why not have fanzine writers and just ordinary fans. Instead of just United and City why not start a Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale etc half hour show. I can't say i would religously watch that kind of thing, but i'm pretty sure i would dip in from time to time to see what is happening in the lower leagues.
Rugby league, rugby union and cricket too, make it a proper community sports channel dedicated to the ordinary fan. As well as having old players reminice over their careers you have old fans reminiscing their lives following their team. Lets face it, an uncut version of that would be as, if not more entertaing than hearing old plyers revisit their careers.

Music

Chemical Brothers - Further: It starts slowly but starts to hit the spot in the middle of the disc with the cracking Dissolve. It's a decent album but nowhere near their very best.

John Grant - Queen of Denmark: Mojo gave this a five star rating and i can see why because it is superb. There are a few influences but i hear John Cale's 1919 when i listen to it, except Queen of Denmark has better tunes.

Puressence - Puressence: The debut album from the north Manchester outfit and it points the way to the futurewith cracking tunes and a belting album. I still don't know why these aren't bigger

I hadn't seen this video before, Barton swing bridge.
Soft Machine - Volume 2: I really love this group, it's hard to understand why they didn't seel more records. Yes it's progressive and not easy listening, but it's easier listening, or should i say a lot nicer on the ear than a lot of the progressive groups to come were.
Stanton Moore - 111: A cracking album. I read it described as a soul funk album, i would have described it more as rock funk album. The musicianship is spot on the money.

Steve Mason - Boys outside: A new solo album from the Ex Beta band man. Its a decent effort, not brilliant but very listenable.

The twilight sad - Forget the night ahead: A decent album from the Scottish outfit. It sounds at times like a cross between fellow Scots outfits Mogwai and Glasvegas without quite htting the heights of either of those groups.