Nev the red is a green

Gary Neville's passion for ecological issues is the main feature of this Independent profile yesterday. For all the Neville haters out there, it looks like you are going to have to get used to seeing him on your screens and possibly in print to make your blood levels rise dangerously high.
I thought he was a little bland on Sky last week during the game against Blackburn, but i suppose there wasn't much to get your meat into with a game like that. It will be interesting to see and hear him next season, because i know he has a lot to offer after listening to him during youth and reserve games on MUTV.

Fergie argues United should only be criticised for fielding a weakened team against the seasiders tomorrow if we lose the game. He also told the press that he will be picking a team with energy levels in mind for the final against Bara. I think i would have slept better knowing Van Der Sar wasn't going to play tomorrow. If anything happened to him tomorrow and we had to rely on the PIG next week i would be mortified.

Arsene Wenger thinks Barca's small squad size may play it's part next Saturday as he thinks the games against Real may have taken their toll and three weeks may not be enough for them to regain the energy levels required for next Saturday night. Fergie has mentioned more than once this season how Barca manage with such a small squad.
All of which says to me that the first goal next week could well prove to be crucial, if they get it they may well be able to try and keep hold of playing their usual possession game. But if United get it and they have to chase the game United could end up winning the game more comfortably than anyone currently envisages.
To be honest United seem to be flying at the moment so maybe it wouldn't be as disastrous as in Rome if we were to concede the first goal. My main worry is still our poor away form and our poor record and poor form at the new Wembley. Looking on the positive side we are due a performance at the stadium, so let's hope they have saved it for the most important night we have had their so far.

Daniel Taylor writes that Fergie is still hopeful of persuading Scholes to stay on for one more season. He is to have one more meeting with the ginger prince after the season finishes. As this Iniesta of Barca interview shows he still commands enormous respect within the game. If there were two players in Europe you would take to replace him it would be either Iniesta or Xavi. As great a player as Messi is, and he is the best player in the world for me, those two are just as important to the way the Catalan giants play. You only have to watch the performances Messi puts in for Argentina where he doesn't have those two around him to see that.

The FA slaps Rooney's hands over his Twitter " banter " as Fergie say United may have to look at it's use by our players.
Fergie and Vidic won the Barclays manager and player of the year awards, can't be much argument with that. Thw riters players of the year has become a farce, how many times does it go to a London based player. I wouldn't mind, but if London based Modric had won it i could have understood, but Scott Parker, he is decent player and an honest pro, but absolutely nothing more.

Four four two's talentspotter asks if United have found their very own Patrick Vierra. I can see the similarities, but all i will say is we look like we have got ourselves one very good player in Paul Pogba. He has great technique, a great physique and a commanding presence not forgetting an knack of hitting some wonder goals. And that knack of scoring from long range from midfiled would be a great addition to our current midield where our lack of goals is alarming.

Shane Warne played his last game yesterday as his Rajasthan royals beat the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Possibly the second greates cricketer of all time, but definitely the best bowler, never mind spinner of all time. I was a big fan, we all know why he never became the captain of Australia, but if he had become the captain i'm sure that their would be no debate about him being the second best cricketer of all time.
In this Telegraph article he goes through some of the highpoints of his career.

This Guardian piece looks at the current political scene in Iran and claims that "Ahmadinejad's enemies scent blood" and he may not even finish his second term it's that serious for him. How much good news that is for the opposition forces of a more open democratic Iran i'm not sure.

Prospect asks if liberal faith in India misplaced whilst Vivek Dehijia asks what next after the robber Barrons in India's economic transformation. The Economist looks at China's princelings, the countries revolutionary aristocracy.

Martin Wolf writes about the Bank of England's inflationary nightmare, as he wonders whether it has a grip on inflation. He still believes on balance that it should not raise interest rates but argues it is becoming harder to judge.
Vince Cable in an interview in the Guardian claims that the serious deterioration in the British economy caused by the credit crunch has still not been convincingly explained to the British electorate. We are a poorer country and we are only at the beginning of the reconstruction of the British economy.
Whilst i don't agree with his and the coalition's argument in favour of its economic policies and the cuts, there isn't anything else in that article i could quibble with.

Robert Skidelsky looks at a future where economic growth has gone and looks at job sharing as a cure to unemployment.

Paul Mason looks at why the arrest and now resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn matters. Larry Elliott's Monday Guardian column also looked at the Euro as he asked could Greece be the next Lehman brothers, he thinks it could and it would be even worse.
Morgan Kelly declares that Ireland's future depends on breaking free from the bailout, if it doesn.t it faces economic ruin.

Music
Astrudo Gilberto - Beach Samba: A decent album that gets better with each listen, there are a few numbers that a little bit twee, but more that are cracking tunes.
Esperanza Spalding - Chamber music society: I wasn't sure what to expect from this and it took a few listens to get it, but when id did get it i loved it. She is some musician and some singer. It's classed as Jazz but are elements of all sorts in it.

Liars - Sisterworld: Not an easy listen but a reasonably rewarding one from the US indie band. Not the type of music to break you through to the big time though.
Midlake - The courage of others: Mojo seemed to big this up and whilst i do like the album, i can't say i think it's that good. It seems to mix in a lot of folk influences with their usual indie sound.
Mugstar - Lime: This is cracking stuff, they sound like a cross between Hawkwind and Neu amongst others. I love that kind of driving space rock and they do it very well. Another cracking scouse oufit.
The Volebeats - The Volebeats: A US indie act influenced heavily by the Byrds and other country rock and folk rock acts this is the first album of their's i've listened to. And it's a pretty good album with some memorable tunes on it.