Now for United, Jones is ready for the challenge

Phil Jones can't wait to get started at United after he has a break after the under 21's got knocked out of the European championships oin Sunday. I only saw Sunday nights game all the way through, but if that was really their best performance i didn't miss much. But the good reports that the Jones and Smalling pairing seemed justified on that showing. They were by far the best two England performers on the night and apparently of the tournament. I would imagine Smalling could well top his 30 appearance next season, he seems to get better and better. It can't be long before he replaces Rio in the England line up as well.
They seem to appreciate the pairing as well which is no bad thing. One of the really eye catching aspects of their performance the other night was that when one of the two did get in trouble the other player was invariably on hand to snuff out any danger. It seems that we have the long term replacements to the Vidic/Ferdinand partnership and that it could end up just as good a pairing. That's great long term news for whoever takes over from Fergie.
As to our other two England performers, Welbeck managed to score two goals after receiving next to no service from the non existant England midfield which is suppose is some kind of achievement, but he can play better than that and i expect much better for United next season. Cleverley started two games and was replaced in both and you couldn't really argue with that as he failed to impose himself in both appearances. Despite what he says about his time at Wigan i felt his career stood still and am hoping that his return to Old trafford next season playing with better players sees him recover the kind of form that hinted at a big future at United. I'm not as confident as i was that confirm that promise.
The People are talking about Ravel Morrison going on the pre season tour of the States, i wouldn't be surprised if Pogba and Tunnicliffe join him over there.
I'm not sure how much credence to give to the reports linking us with Xabi Alonso but if there was anything in it, that is a transfer that would definitely strengthen the squad and would make sense in that he would fit right into our system of play. Still it's probably just made up newspaper bollocks, it's hard to see Real Madrid letting him go.


Our other probable signing Athletico Madrid goalie De Gea is still in the tournament as the Spanish under 21's seek to emulate their senior squad. Any pretence that he might not be coming to Old trafford seems to have evaporated. Apparently he played well against England and when called upon has looked the business.
Athletico team mate and ex red Diego Forlan tips big things for De Gea at Old trafford as long as he can settle into his new surroundings. I have to admit that is always my worry when signing southern European players and even more so if they don't speak the language.

Paul Scholes reveals that Fergie asked him to carry on next season but the ginger prince reveals that he didn't feel physically right and felt that this was the right time for him to retire. Does our lack of central midfield transfer activity point to Fergie pinning his hopes on our three youth team prospects as the future for the club. He also denied that he was ever a nasty player. As much that makes me smile there is actually something in that. Put aside a mid eighties midfield of Robson, Moses and Whiteside he wouldn't be talked about as a dirty player. I suppose that shows how football has changed.
As much as i like Modric, who would have been the player i would most liked to have bought, he is no Scholes. And if the transfer fee does go above £30 million we are doing the right thing in not pusuing that transfer avenue. The other player we keep getting linked with Sniejder, i just don't see at all. First he isn't really a creative midfield outlet more an attacking midfield goalscorer. And i don't see how he would fit into our squad and can't believe that we would pay the money to attain his services when i'm sure he wouldn't play every game.

According to reports, if we are to believe them, Park Ji Sung could be open to leaving United. He has been a decent squad player for us, but if Cleverley comes up to speed, we could afford to lose him. And in two finals against Barca his limitations as a footballer have been cruelly exposed.


With Bebe going to Turkey's Besiktas on loan next season it will be interesting to see who follows him out of the door over the next month, Obertan must surely be on his way. It doesn't look like O'Shea, Gibson and Wes Brown will all be heading to Sunderland, where will they all end up.

The ticking time bomb that Andreas Whittam Smith forecast along with a host of others over the last few weeks and months seems to have arrived this week as events in Athens unfold. Robert Peston reckons that the Eurozone Greek crisis isn't Europe's Lehman brothers crisis, if it unfolds it will be worse. Dominic Sandbrook continues the theme warning of the dangers and whilst i can't criticise his attack on the irresponsibilty of the Greeks and Europe's elites, i can ask where is the criticism of Europe's financial elite. It takes two to tango and the Greeks couldn't have borrowed that money if Europe's big banks hadn't lost their moral compass.
Will Hutton can't believe the complacency at the highest levels of the British state about the ongoing travails in the Eurozone as if the worst happens, despite us not being in the Eurozone we will not be spared the painful consequences. Paul Mason wonders if the Lehman brothers analogy is overblown and argues a case why that could be the case.

William Keegan thinks Ed Balls proposal to reverse, even if only temporarily, Osbornes VAT rise is a good idea. But that it wouldn't fit in with this intensely political chancellors long term plan of offering tax cuts at the next election. I can't see the economy being in a strong enough place for Osborne to follow that tried and trusted tory strategy.
John Cassidy with a view of the British economy from across the pond, rational irrationality, the IMF applauds the UK economies return to the 1930's. Roger Bootle gets radical and advocates no plan B, but suggests suspending the aid budget. Cameron won't do this but no doubt some of his backbenchers would be more than happy a proposal like this.
Samuel Brittan argues that good servants can make bad masters as the power of the financial markets id bad for democracy and for our financial well being. A long way from the Samuel Brittan of the 1980's, that column. If the Telegraph and Spectator didn't exist the tories economic startegy would be virtually friendless.

Boris Johnson argues for a network of canals to transport the north's surplus rain to the drought stricken south. Maybe the north should declare UDI and live off said exported water.

The Economist talks to us eastern European specialist historian Timothy Snyder author of Bloodlands, a book i really have to get around to reading. He also took an Economist Q & A comparing Hitler and Stalin.

It looks like Berlusconi's grip on political power in Italy is at last starting to slip, it has took long enough. Mind you the end has predicted that many times only for him to emerge triumphant i wouldn't take anything for granted.

Simon Jenkins argues that Eisenhower was on to something when he bemoaned the emergence of the miltary industrial complex as he argues that we invent enemies to buy bombs. I'd go along with that 100% and they almost always have the backing of the popular press.
Craig Murray argues a similar point, bemoaning the stench of western foreign policy. Jon Snow revisits a contentious episode in western arab relations looking at whether bribery was at the heart of Megrahi's Lockerbie conviction? I don't believe we have got anywhere near the truth of that matter which will almost certainly not reflect well upon anybody.

Ryan Gilbey looks at the pop eyed genius of Jan Svankmajer, the Czech film maker. I watched his Little Otik a few months ago, a really left field film that i absolutely loved. Needless to say i will have to try to get around to watching this re-release.

Norman Lebracht revists Mahler's first symphony and finds an unexpected influence, Manchester.