Rooney lands ball in Glazer's court

Reports Herny Winter as Rooney's people point out United's lack of ambition as part of his reason for wanting to leave the club. Whilst i believe that to be partly true and i hope he gives us chapter and verse on this topic before he goes what happened to the non existant relationship between player and manager. If he left us, went to Real or even Chelsea at a pinch and aimed that parting blow i would still have some time. Of course everyone knows he's going to the boo camp, so all i can say, if he does do that is fuck you and good riddance.
This sounds like the briefing that Stretford was promising to give the media as Rooney's response to yesterday's press conference. All true of course, but no mention of big pay days all round. Supposedly Stretford has a good relationship with City's Marwood, it makes you wonder if he has as good a relationship with Tevez's owner. The sun go particularly strong on the story. At least it's all fucking terrible PR for our beloved gimps, even if this wasn't totally of their own making.
The briefing has already started, we are in for Torres, Kaka and god knows who else. If Rooney miraculously regains his form once he has left, i don't think that is a total given, but if he does, there is nobody we can afford, available injury free and in form that is available who will replace him. Torres if anything, is in even worse form than Rooney is, he is injury prone and would he really want to leave one sinking ship for another. If Torres leaves the scousers, it's more likely to be for Chelski than us. As to Kaka, he is a good player, but i have never been convinced he is the player he is cracked up to be and his time at the Bernabeu has done no more to convince me on that score. What's more the track record of Brazilian players in Manchester, either United or City for that matter isn't great is it.
Of the players that could be available and we could afford i would be looking at Schneijder, a big if i know and maybe Gareth Bale and then hope Hernandez comes good. At the end of the day it's our midfield that is really below par.

David Conn argues that English football should have listened to Triesman's debt warning. What Scudamore listen to common sense, we are having a laugh, aren't we?

I think everybody knew when Warne, McGrath and co retired Australia wouldn't be the same side but it has really started to hit home for them. The great times never last in sport, always make the most of the good times. I could be talking about United, it all has that end of an era smell to it.

Jonathan Freedland argues that Miliband and Johnson have to find a believable narrative to diasbuse the electorate of the theory that Labour was to blame for the debt, otherwise it will be the opposition benches for more one term. Peter Oborne agrees saying today will show us whether the labour party will matter for the rest of this term. He sounds as if he is not too sure that Alan Johnson is up to it, he did argue that Miliband should have appointed Ed Balls as his chancellor.
Tony Blair's ex political secretary argues the Blairite case for Ed Miliband.

Almost every pundit i have read has thought the armed forces are to going to get off lightly in this spending review. Robert Peston reports on the embarassment of admirals on the need of two super carriers. I agree on the need to keep those skilled workers in jobs because they have the kind of skills that if we are to export our way back to a balanced economy we will need. But let's have them building something we actually need.
Simon Jenkins also wonders how the threats that this country supposedly needs to plan for has been served by the results of the spending review on the armed forces budget.

Joseph Stiglitz wonders where the investment is going to come from to give us the growth the economy is going to need to counter the devastating effects of the cuts to be announced by the chancellor Osborne to day. We need an update on Healey's nickname for Howe's early 80's cuts, sado monetarism.

John Pilger reports on the "other" side of Chile that doesn't make the western new stands. Luis Hernandez Navarro reports on the mixed fortunes of the left in South America, even as it still wins elections. The battle for the progress of the continent is still being waged.