Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona

The final game of the tour saw us sign off the three weeks unbeaten and a very useful workout ahead of the charity shield next week. Of course it was nice to beat Barca, even if it's a Barca without Messi, Xavi and Pique, but the most beneficial aspect of last night was the newcomers gaining the experience of seeing the workrate that the best club side in the world puts into every game.
I thought our youngsters were excellent, Welbeck was superb whilst on the pitch, Cleverley got an invaluable 90 minutes in against a class opposition and didn't look out of place in central midfield and Jonny Evans didn't do much wrong. Welbeck looked more dangerous than Rooney which says everything about his potential. De Gea did alright apart from one terrible clearance that could have been very embarrassing. He made one excellent save and his distribution was swift and creative in another promising performance.
The first half saw us look the more dangerous when we had the ball in their half and saw us match them for possession for about half an hour until they started to dominate the rest of that period without ever really threatning the United goal. Rooney had the first real chance of the match getting on the end of a Nani cross but he hit his shot the wrong side of the upright. Nani was a permanent threat down the right hand side and Welbeck was floating around the pitch causing permanent problems for the Catalans. Young had his quietest match of the tour as he found out how little time you are given on the ball against Barca, which to me highlighted how promising Welbeck's performance was.
As for Barca we saw how important Messi and Xavi are to them, as if we didn't know. They are still a class outfit without that duo but miss the brilliance, creativity and final ball that the two best players in the world provide. I thought United were too happy to let Barca dominate possession in the second half, i know that our system of two wingers means we are always going to see less of the ball. But as we saw at Wembley you just can't allow the best team in the world to hog the ball all night as eventually they will hurt you. As once again happened last night even though it took a cracking strike from Thiago to bring them level. There are some who think De Gea might have done better, but i don't see that, it was a brilliant shot that he was never going to reach.
I have to admit that i feared the worst after that but full credit to the reds as it was United who ended the match the superior outfit after Clevrley's interception and Own's cool finsih to give us the lead. Owen should have made it three right near the end but missed a sitter.
All in all this was a very encouraging night with both teams ending the game with very youthful teams on the pitch. Smalling once again looked the business at full back and Rafael had looked good whilst on the pitch, his injury was the one blot on the night.

Fergie applauds the performance of Cleverley last night whilst denying reported comments regarding Sneijder. Before last nights game Gerard Pique was telling the press how Spain had seen nothing Ferguson and talks glowingly of his man management skills.

Matt Lawton spends 40 minutes with Gary Neville and describes how he was always the England player that the press gravitated too and how he decided that the United dressing room is now a no go area for him. Another now ex red defender Wes Brown looks ahead to life away from Old trafford at the stadium of light with Sunderland. It will be interesting where Steve Bruce plays him, i think his best days at centre back are behind him and for him to prove a successful buy he must play him at right back. We shall see.
The biggest loss of all though was obviously Scholesy and he modestly thinks that replacing him will be no big deal, but we all know that it will. He is right though that there will almost certainly be no like for like replacement as the only two like for likes are at Barca and not for sale.

Flecther was interviewed on his thoughts on the Scottish national side ahead of yesterday's world cup draw, but importantly for United he said that he is now over the mystery virus. Once and for all it's to be hoped as we could do with the Fletcher of two seasons back. The last season and a half have been great to him.

Last weeks Evening news ran a question and answers session with Berbatov where he reiterated his desire to remain at United despite the press questioning his future at the club. Last night's non appearance will have probably done nothing to quell that speculation.

Gill did his bit for the Glazer's talking to the press lauding our owners and citing a post Ferguson plan as evidence that they know what they are doing and claiming that the majority of fans around the world are behind the Glazer's. Well that's alright then, the rest of the world can get behind the owners whilst the match going fans can just lump it.
Does anybody seriously believe the Glazer's have been involved to even the slightest degree in this post Ferguson plan. As Andersred has written on his blog it looks like last seasons retirements and the sale of Brown and O'shea have raised the funds for our summer business with Fergie as good as admitting the fact in one of his interviews over in the States last week. Which begs the question what is going to happen with that Ronaldo money which it would appear is still sittin in the bank.

Europe's top clubs look like they are using the continuing disarray at FIFA to flex their muscles threatning to break away with calls for revolution against footballs global leadership.

Matthew Norman calls for the Lib dems to change their leader to Vince Cable as their only hope of remaining in the game ahead of the next election. It would seem all the papers are agreed that last week saw the ressurection of the sainted Vince, with today's Independent running an interview with the business secretary titled from hero to zero and back again.
Bennedict Brogan thinks that Cable may have actually been on to something when he argued that the government is scared of vested interests with deep pockets and expensive lawyers however much he may have been playing to centre left instincts.
David Blanchflower's adice to Cable after last week's dismal growth figures were for him jump ship, but with plenty of battle still to fight that is probably the last thing on his mind. Will Hutton argues that after those dismal figues Britain needs a economic plan Asian and that only a paradigm shift in the economy will do. Steve Richards wrote that whatever Osborne wants to call it, he needs a plan B and he and the coalition government have only themselves to blame for the state of the economy. Liam Halligan shows that the right still can't stop using Greece as an excuse for it's handling of the economy arguing that Osborne has to stay the course.

Bobby Butcher argues in Propsect that localism is over politicians must think big whilst Jonathan Darbyshire reviews Blue labour's new road map for the British left which argues for that very localism. There is something to be said for both points of view, first and foremost politicians have to save the global economy by taming big finance and making economies working for everybody and not just a small financial elite. And then, in this country at least power and influence must be decentralised as much as possible away from the south east and London.

Paul Mason retraced Steinbeck's footsteps exporing thw woes of America's middle class underclass that are being left behind as the countries economic woes detiorate as the budget impasse deepens.
At least it seems sane voices of the US republican party have started at least some kind of fightback against the hijacking of their party by the " tea party " otherwise known as right wing nutters, as McCain accuses the Republican right of lying to the American public with unrealistic demands.

Charles Moore carries on where he left off last week by arguing that our leaders have lost faith in the powers of their people and that it is time for conservatives to prove that they are for the many not the few.

Simon Jenkins argues the last thing Norway needs is iliberal Britain's patronising, they have handled the tragedy in a surpremely liberal way, you just have to think what the reaction in this country would have been. We would never have heard a politician delare we will win this by introducing even more democracy, that's for sure.

Chicago fire 1-3 Manchester United

The first game of the US tour that i have managed to see the whole ninety minutes and the first to see De Gea, Jones, Cleverley and Welbeck. With Smalling, the De Silva's and Rooney also involved a glimpse of the future perhaps. Unfortunately i always suspected this would mean we wouldn't see some of the fireworks that we saw in the first two games.
In reality there was continuity with United taking their time getting into the game and then starting to produce a goal threat in the second half. The first half was less fluent than the first two games with a new and returning loanee's taking time to find their feet. Of the four Danny Welbeck was the pick looking our most dangerous and inventive player during his time on the pitch. He was partnered with Berbatov who once again looked a bit off the pace, maybe he knows he might be off. You do have to wonder how much Fergie values him with his actions and comments towards the end of last season and even this summer.
De Gea didn't really have too much to do, i didn't really blame him for the goal though it was a soft goal to give away. He looked decisive and his distribution was good and made one really good save in the first half. Jones had a fair game defending well and looking very comfortable with the ball at his feet. His partnership with Smalling looks very promising. I've got to say i was disappointed with Cleverley, he just never got into the game. Hopefully he just needs games, he has never seen the type of player to be short on confidence.
The home team deserved to be in front at half time and had a great chance to go two up before United eventually got back into the game. But once Rooney lobbed home a fine equaliser there only looked one winner, even if they never reached the heights of the furst two games. All the goals were well taken with Rooney again looking like the season can't come quickly enough for him. Rafael scored an opportunistic goal and it would be nice to see some of that next season. We haven't had a goalscoring full back since Denis Irwin and we know both of the twins have goals in them.

Maybe Cleverley will be even more disappointed with his performance after Fergie's post match comments that he is happy in the squad he has and will be looking to replace Scholes with combinations from within the squad. He has been given one hell of an incentive though.
As Carrick said last week it is up to the current squad for replacing Paul Scholes, though we all know we have no one in the current squad who really comes close to the great man. But if Arsenal will not let Nasri leave, Modric wants to go to Chelsea and Sneijder is too dear for Fergie to sanction a bid, Carrick is right.

Mark Ogden writes that United have hit the jackpot on and off the pitch as United are now a big name in the States and the annonymity the players once enjoyed over there has gone. I was impressed with the crowd at the Seattle game, for once when United scored most of the home crowd didn't cheer. I had read that the game has reallt taken off there with average crowds of 30 odd thousand every home game. It does seem that the game is achieving some kind of take off over there.
I think the sport deserves to succeed over there as they seem to have tried to go the right way about growing the game builing up slowly from below instead of the star driven approach of the seventies.

Ashley Young has started his United career well is enjoying being at a club of ths stature of United. I have been very impressed with him and think he will be a great addition to the squad during the coming season. I am waiting to see if Fergie is going to use him in the hole occasionally, because if Fergie is going to use him there that would be part of the reason i still wouldn't be surprised to see Berbatov unloaded.
I was a bit surprised to see that Fergie says that United are to offer Park Ji Sung a new two year contract. Whilst he had a decent season last year, we all saw, and for a second time, that he doesn't really belong on the same pitch as the team we are trying to catch, Barcelona. I don't see him finishing his career at the club, and if he wants one more big pay day or maybe even just a new experience he hasn't got long left.

Beckham interviewed in the Guardian says he has no interest in coaching and would be more interested in an ambassadorial role when he hangs up his boots. After the retirements of his pal Gary Neville he also says that he will see how he feels at the end of this season but hopes to play at least one more season. Daniel Taylor thinks he may want to play in next summer's olympic football tournament. I'm sure his club LA Galaxy will be thrilled to hear that.
I'm afraid he doesn't come near to being a United legend for me, he's miles too mercenary for my tastes. He gave United about six years of service that had it continued would have seen him tagged as a United legend. But around 2001-2002 he began to save his best performances for the national team and i actually wouldn't have minded Fergie selling him the season before he actually went. I definitely wasn't gutted when he went, let's put it like that.

Andersred looks at City's present income taking their new stadium naming rights into consideration and thinks UEFA will pass the deal as in line with their new Financial fair play rules. This has of course put more than a few British and European clubs noses seriously out of joint. Fellow football finance writer the Swiss ramble seems to agree, he thinks they have been very clever. I suppose it's a fair point to accuse the Germans of a touch of hypocrisy.
Jim White thinks that Rupert Murdoch and Sky deserve some credit for their transformation of the national sport, i'll pass on that.

Charles Moore writes that the events of the past three years have left him wondering if the left might have been right after all. Interesting article from a guy that i couldn't stand back in the day ( the eighties and early nineties ).

Martin Kettle argues that whilst Cameron may think his performance on Wednesday has put him in the clear, this saga has far from run its course, after all Watergate took two years to unravel. Deborah Orr wonders whether Ian Kershaw's "working towards the fuhrer" thesis can be applied to the inner workings of the Murdoch empire. There almost certainly is something in that, but that doesn't exonerate old Rupe one little bit for me. They knew what he wanted and knew how his organisations have always worked. They were just using the latest technology.
I think the revelation from a former Fox news executive claiming that the organisation ran a black ops department does prove that point. I hope this ends the with the destruction of the whole of news corp not just the ending of any kind of a Murdoch dynasty.

Ian Katz looks at the Andy Coulson vetting saga and asks damp squib or dynamite? A Reuters article asks is Britain more corrupt than it thinks it is, unfortunately the answer to that is yes. And maybe even more corrupt than some of us have always suspected which is even worse, not on a par with Berlusconi's Italy, yet anyway, who knows what else is to come out of all this.

Peter Oborne goes way over the top arguing the Euro crisis will give Germany the empire it's always desired. Will Hutton couldn't agree less, arguing the survival of the Euro marks a crucial moment in the rebirth of a continent. I don't take Oborne's argument seriously, but i wish i could be as optimistic as Hutton is, but i can't as he says the crisis hasn't been resolved and i don't have much faith in the continent's ploitical elite. As the Guardian argued on Saturday, i think, it hasn't taken the people with it, the democratic deficit is still there.
Fellow Keynsian economist Joseph Stiglitz argues the Eurozone's problems are political, not economic.

Vince Cable launches attack on right wing nutters in USA who arethreatning to cripple the world economy. Our right wing press don't seem to be giving this that much coverage or explaining the actions of the Republican right. Jeffrey Sachs talks of budgetary deceit and American decline, another Liberal who is know fan of Obama he argues that the US desperately needs a third party movement. Sachs argued that the democrats are the party of Wall street in that piece, Paul Krugman argues that present policy can be summed up as go easy on the bankers, Sachs does have a point doesn't he. It can't be easy to be a liberal in ths States.

The New statesman interviews Norman Finkelstein, funnily enough i had just watched the documentary about him last weekend. I couldn't argue with most of his opinions but the scene where he praises Hezbollah didn't go down well with me. I agree they have the right to defend their people, how can you argue with that? But this is a party that allies itself with Iranian theocrats, hardly the friends of democrats.

Christopher Hitchens reviews the latest biography of Mahatma Gandhi and makes a number of important points about the realism of the policies he actually advocated during his lifetime.

A telegraph article looks at the unveiling of Virgin's world's fastest cable broadband that could change lives or spark a second industrial revolution.

Stewart Lee talks about what he really thinks of Michael McIntyre and the Daily Mail, fascinating as ever, i keep meaning to buy his autobiography.
Russell Brand tells the Guardian we have lost a beautiful talented woman after the death of Amy Winehouse, a great singer, but it was always likely to end this way.

United in US

I stayed up to watch the first half of United's first game of their US pre-season tour the other night, and of course managed to miss most of the action which all happened during the second half when the home team tired. But i was encouraged by what i saw of Ashley Young on his first appearance for the club. He linked up reasonably well with Fabio and managed to put some telling crosses in. I wasn't quite as impressed by his habit of always cutting inside and never quite going to the byeline and use his left foot. Saying that even though the full back always knew he was going to cut inside he couldn't stop him delivering dangerous balls into the box.
Rooney looked sharp which is good news, Nani looked good and both twins really looked the part. The only player to disappoint slightly was Berbatov, but friendlies are to get that match sharpness back so i can't wait to see our International under 21 brigade get onto the pitch during this tour.

Fergie cites the example of the rent boys Petr Cech as the reason why he thinks De Gea will have no trouble in having an instant impact in the premier league. I'm still a bit concerned about his command of the English language, but we can't expect him to just carry on where Van Der Sar left off. We will have to give him time.

All the transfer talk now seems to revolve around Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan. I know we need to replace Paul Scholes, but at the price tag being quoted i don't see the Dutchman as the answer myself. Don't get me wrong he is a class player, i just don't think he is what we need, Modric would have been the man for me, but he obviously only has eyes for Chelsea. Sneijder plays too far up the pitch for me, unless we are going to play 4-3-3 all the time, which given all the wide men now at the club, i can't see.
Fergie tried to downplay all the speculation the other night saying we have no interest in him, but as others have said you can never know when he is telling the truth or playing games.

It looks like the season is going to kick off without Darren Fletcher in the squad as the rumour on twitter that he hadn't gone on the tour because of a return of the virus that he suffered from in the latter stages of last season had returned looks like it was true. Unfortunately this sounds serious.

The Mail report that Danny Welbeck will be rewarded with a new contract as the club continue to look after the long term future of the club. It has also been reported that Fergie has told him to forget about going back to Sunderland on loan as he is a part of his plans for the first team squad this season.
We know that Ferguson thinks he is going to be some player and i want him to stay this season as i think he will be a quality player. But looking at the size of the squad and the surprise retension of Michael Owen, just how much playing time is he going to get?

Talking of loanee's, Fredrico Macheda who scored in Boston the other night spoke of his delight at being back at the club. But looking at the size and depth of the squad he will really struggle to get much match time this season if he was to stay at the club. After the disaster of his time at Sampdoria he really needs to be playing next season. Which must mean another spell away from Old trafford over the first six months at least for him. You would like to think he will be loaned out to an English club this time and he does indeed get the experience that he will need. I'm not too sure whether he will be good enough for United, but i won't write him off yet.
As Mark Ogden writes is he really still a teenager, he seems to have been around ages.

Paul Parker argues in his Yahoo blog that he thinks Fergie is paying lip service to some rivals as he thinks our only real rivals to the premier league title will be Chelsea or City. He can't see Arsenal, Tottenham or Liverpool realistically challenging for the title. You can't really argue with any of that, though i would be surprised if City are challenging come the last month of the season. Depending on who Chelsea manage to snap up during the transfer window, they would appear to be our main challengers again.

United's Irish youngster Robbie Brady may be the latest to make the trek over to Hull City, on loan this time. Though if he does do well i could see him making the move permanent. From what i have seen of him i don't really see him having a long term future at United.

The Murdoch saga just gets bigger and bigger, Carl Bernstein asks whether the phone hacking scandal is Murdoch's watergate, and with todays news that Rebecca Brooks is the latest News International to suffer arrest at the hands of the police, the answer must surely be yes.
Peter Oborne who has had a pretty good scandal so far looks at the great Murdoch conspiracy, he doesn't let us forget that new labour were up to their eyeballs in all the rotteness of the corrupt state of this country during Murdoch's hegemony. Gordon Brown may have made some decent points in his speech in the commons but as Matthew Norman wrote in his Indy column, don't pity Gordon Brown.
I'm not so sure that Simon Jenkins has been on top form during the past fortnight's revelations but there is every chance that his pessimistic take on events will prove to be the correct one and nothing much will change. You have got to hope he is wrong but it's still the same set of political pygmies running the country after Murdoch's castration as it was during the sun kings reign. I can't say i have that much faith that they will turn things around.
This blog from Robert Peston is already completely out of date, he asked who was more powerful, Parliament or Murdoch. It was and still is a good question, though it can't be directed at Murdoch or News international either after this scandal has run its course. But the question still has relevance for the world of finance and the corporate world. Democracy has got to use these events and the events of 2008 ot reassert just who is in control runs the world and who they run it for, political and financial elites or the people. As Steve Richards argues we need to know a lot more about these people.
This Torygraph editorial described a scandal that has diminshed Britain, amazingly there is hardly a thing i could quibble with in that piece.

John Kampfner argues that now MP's have won one battle will they now battle for their Liberal values. Margaret Drabble uses the Indy to argue that now we have the chance ourselves of insidious shame. Conrad Black compares Murdoch to Napoleon arguing both were great " bad men ", not the most fitting of men to deliver that message.
Henry Porter writes that we have to take this unique chance to introduce reform and clean up the media but not by sacrificing a free press. There are some good ideas in that column.

As all the furore over the phone hacking scandal continues the future of Europe and maybe even the world's financial system stands on the brink. John Lanchester argues that Europe's fate rests with its economic powerhouse Germany and it's willingness to shoulder the burden thrust upon it. Larry Elliott argues that Eurzone chiefs must realise they are in a life or death struggle.
Newsweek reveals the billion dollar heist or how the financial industry is buying off Washington and killing off reform. Will US politicians stand up to the plate?

New Order have another best of available, but they are still not on talking terms as they give seperate interviews and stick the boot into each other yet again. It doesn't look like i will ever be seeing them live again.

Music
Betty Davis - Betty Davis: I love 70's funk though i haven't actually heard that much of the stuff. This is superb, some great playing and she is a terrific vocalist.

Foresr swords - Dagger paths: A cracking album from Matthew Barnes, i'm not sure what genre it is, but it's hauntingly good. There seem to be quite a few darkly atmospheric projects around at the moment and this as good as anything around.

Lykke Li - Wounded rhymes: She has travelled in a more mainstream directio for her second album which was pretty leftfield. It's a good album with some excellent tunes on it, but i have to admit to a preference for her debut album.

Mazes - A thousand heys: A pretty good indie album from the US outfit. Great energy that will make you want to jump up and down.

The Dears - Degeneration street: This is the first album of the Canadian indie outfits that i have heard and it won't be the last as it is pretty good.

The Uniques - Absolutey rocksteady: Cracking rocksteady reggae with a firm emphasis on an excellent vocal department.

Nasri a no, but youngsters could step up to the plate?

Fergie sounds like he has given up on his attempts to prise Sami Nasri away from the emirates in a press conference held not long after the squad arrived in the States, though some journo's have tried to interpret this as part of Fergie mind games. All the press talk and all the rumour was that it would be one of Nasri or Sneijder and that conference seemd to confirm that this was the case. It would seem from the weekend's Modric outburst that Chelsea will be the Croatian's destination, which is a shame because he was the player i would have liked, and he will obviously make Chelsea a better team.
Bryan Robson will be disappointed if the attempt to buy Nasri does fall through as he was the one that he fancied most to do a job at Old traffoed out of the players we have been linked with.
As for United i still don't see Sneijder leaving Inter for less money at United and don't really see where he would have fitted into the scheme of things at United. So if we have given up on Nasri because either Arsenal won't let him go or he will go elsewhere, it looks like the one position that needed addressing in the summer, won't be again.
Paul Scholes and Fergie seem to hint that the answer could well already be at the club with Fergie being quoted as saying that a youngster may come through to be the answer. Paul Scholes talks about last years youth cup winning team and thinks they are probably the best crop of youngsters to have come through since his 92 squad that has took us through so many years. He seems to think that they will be able to hand the physical side of the job and could enter the equation over the next two seasons. I hope he is right, but that does mean we would have to struggle along with a sub standard central midfieled for a while longer if that is the course Fergie follows.

The newly talkative Paul Scholes was at it again over the weekend giving us his thoughts on why England have failed so dismally over the years. He seems to have had a lot of time for Glen Hoddle as an England manager and blasts English players for being too selfish and compares them to the current Barca line up.
Which is why the next manager should discard the current failed lot and start to shape a new team and should be allowed to experiment in the knowledge that they won't be winning any competitions any time soon anyway so he may as well build a new team that can grow together as the Germans did under Klinsman. Of course i don't expect either the FA or our national press to accept that this is the way forward, it's too sensible and too honest about where we are as an international footballing nation.

One of the players that should be involved in that process would be Chris Smalling who is a cert to fill Rio Ferdinand's boots for United and England and United have shown how much faith they have in the youngster by awarding him a new five year contract.
In our excitement towards the end of season with the goals of Hernandez Smalling's brillaint first season tended to get overlooked, but it didn't deserve to be, they were two brilliant signings and with the addition of Jones the centre back position looks to be as strong in depth as it has ever been.
The under 21 tournament hopefully had five United youngsters who will carry the clubs high expectations lightly, they all look like they have the right character for the club. This North America tour will be worth watching if they get a couple of outings later in the tour. Clevrley and Welbeck both did well last season. It's also where we first started to think we may have unearthed a player in Hernandez. The Telegraph reckon he will be the next youngster to have his contract improved, again it will be deserved, well the lenght of it anyway, i don't want to start going on about how much footballers earn again.

Bobby Charlton declares Old trafford's heritage is too important for Manchester United to cop City's example with their £400 million stadium deal which has upset a lot of European clubs as well as Arsenal and Liverpool.
I can't believe that the Glazer's wouldn't do this if they thought they would get more money and could get away with it. But as far as i'm aware it doesn't fit in with their current strategy. Would Charlton come out against it if they changed their mind?

Graham Hunter looks at the two clubs chasing Barca and whilst he thinks it is possibly an impossible task, he is none too impressed by the way Real Madrid are going about it. The grass isn't always greeneris it Ronnie.

Investigative journalist Nick Davies, the man who has fearlessly exposed the wrongdoings of the Murdoch empire and the rest of the pressif you have read his brilliant book Flat earth news explains how the phone hacking scandal has escalated.


Murdoch biographer Michael Wolf explains why News Corp would do well not to keep it in the family. This couldn't have happened to a nicer lot, my heart doesn't bleed. Charles Moore claims that the spell is broken for the media sorcerer with a touch of evil.
Robert Fisk describes his experience of working for Murdoch whilst at the Times in the early part of his career. Paul Mason's view is that this shows once again that the network has beaten the hierarchy, though he is talking about the British establishment or what passed for it as for much as the possible defeat of Murdoch.
The Economist's Bagehot was as impressed and unimpressed with Cameron's performance on Friday morning as most other commentators. They all thought he handled the first part well but looked very unconvincing when asked to explain his decision to appoint Andy Coulson onto his staff. Peter Oborne thinks that Cameron hasn't escaped the sewer yet and after yesterday's non appearance in the commons he still hasn't. I notice fellow right wing columnists having sly digs at Oborne at times, maybe correctly poiting out his lack of consistency. He has been pretty consistent on the malign influence of Murdoch almost alone in the right wing press so i think he won't be worrying too much what his fellow tory hacks think about him.
Iain Martin, not a fan of Cameron argues that this is a disaster for Cameron and it's all his own fault and will last for the rest of this government's term, if not longer. Henry Porter must feel vindicated as he bemoans the fact that over three decades no one dared the perversion by and for Rupert Murdoch. Although all Murdoch haters must welcome the current Labour stance, if they think we have forgotten the way Blair and the last government bent over backwards to give Murdoch everything he wanted, think again.

Left foot forward argues that we mustn't forget the billions in tax that the amoral Murdoch empire has escaped paying whilst having the British establishment in its back pocket. 

Daniel Sift celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century Joseph Heller's Catch 22. I'm not much of a reader of fiction but i have read that and absolutely loved it.

Armando Iannuci interviewed in the Guardian explains the importance of being online and also branching out from the BBC.

The United states of America, classic 60's

Changing of the guard

It seems that Wes Brown and John O'Shea have decided that Brucie's Sunderland is the club for them after all as it looks like both  of them have been having medicals before they take the plunge and leave United. They have had their detractors but they have both been great servants to the club.
What can be said about their careers at United is that neither ever really lived up to the rich promise they had showed as youngsters. In Brown's case he never really got over the injuries he received early on in his career, in fact it could be said he has done well to have had such an excellent career with the club. The highlight to Wes Brown's United career was easily the 2008 season when he made the right back position his own with a rare injury free season that ended with that brilliant night in Moscow.
O'Shea has been an outstanding utility player for the club, as Hansen once said, this type of player is invaluable to a club and was the type of player that most of our rivals lacked. The type of player who could come in and do a job. His best position was always full back, though he did a reasonable job when asked to fill in, in the middle of the park, your heart sank when you saw him starting their as was never a sign of attacking intent.
Both players i am sure will always get a teriffic reception when they come back as Sunderland players. This isn't meant to be nasty but i hope that Brucie doesn't land Gibson because having sold Henderson, even though i don't rate him too highly, if he replaces him with Gibson i'm sure the locals will not take long to think, what the fuck. If Gibson is a premier league player it's at a lower level than Sunderland are trying to achieve. As a youth player i always thought Gibson had a chance, but he just doesn't have that little bit extra that is needed to convert youthful promise into the real deal. He was never going to replace Scholes but i thought he could be a Lampard type scoring midfielder. I was wildly off the mark i'm afraid.

Stuart Mathieson comments on the erosion of home based talent in the squad with the departure of three home grown talents, added to retirements of Scholes and Giggs last season. I don't think the picture is nearly as bad as he makes out. As points out towards the end of the piece we have Cleverley and Welbeck coming back, and i expect them two to develop into decent squad players at the very least. Add Tunnicliffe and Morrison to that and maybe even Will Keane and things could look very different i three to four years time.
It's to be hoped that will be the case anyway as that nucleus of players were a big big part of the Manchester United renaissance under Alex Ferguson. I think it was Wenger that once said that it was them that gave us the edge of our rivals. And that was a great picture.

As the summer transfer window speculation continues Rene Meulensteen muddies the waters with glowing praise for Inter's Dutch goalscoring midfield ace Wesley Sneijder. He could have only done that with the blessing of the boss, which begs the question what are they up to, was there an unlterior motive. I still  can't see that happening for a myriad of reasons even though Paul Harward of the Guardian also tweeted this morning that Sneijder was our top target. The news that Nasri is to tell Wenger he wants to leave leads me to believe that he is the man we either really want or have decided is the most realistic option. The Guardian have reported that we have already got a £20 million bid on the table that Arsenal have rejected as they want £25 million. That is a lot of money for a man about to enter the last year of his contract. If they weren't about to lose Fabregas as well it would probably be a decent bit of business for them. Wenger and Arsenal have a lot of problems and a lot on their plate and i have no idea how this is going to end.

Paul Scholes has become pretty opinionated since his retirement, he obviously doesn't have a lot of time for Wenger or his methods. You can't argue with the view expressed though, Arsenal could very well be scrapping for fourth spot and i mean scrapping. Maybe it's payback time for Wenger insinuating that the ginger prince was dirty, something it's becoming increasingly clear he isn't too fond off.

At long last the redevelopment of Lancashire C.C.C looks like it can go ahead as they finally defeat Derwent in the courts. The biggest day in the clubs history was how Jim Cumbes described it. I walked down Matt Busby way last night and thenew floodlights were on for some reason and it has to be said they look tremendous. Great news even if i can't stand the plans i would sooner have an ugly looking stadium than no more test match cricket in Manchester.
How the cricket authorities could think that not having test match cricket could be good for the long term future of the game is another thing.

Peter Oborne has gone to town in his stinging attack on the British establishment and it's craven worship of the dirty digger over the last twenty four hours. In the Telegraph this morning he has really slaughtered David Cameron and described his position as being in the sewer. I find it really fascinating that Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger had a private meeting with the tory leader and told him what was likely to come out Andy Coulson and that Cameron still went ahead and appointed the ex Murdoch man. He obviously felt an ex Murdoch man would be untouchable, happily he was wrong. As for Clegg, as much as i would like to say everything he touches turns to shit, i'm not too sure too much blame can be attached to him over this, as far as we know anyway. Vince Cable and his war on the Murdoch empire looks overwhelmingly vindicated, a pity about the stupidity of the Telegraph and their sting. Did that turn out all for the best though?
US online magazine Slate gives praise where that praise is well and truly due as it describes Nick Davies of the Guardian as Murdoch's Captain Ahab as they finally spear the media mogul. They haven't quite finished him off yet, hopefully that day isn't too far away.
Matthew Norman wrote in Wednesday's Independent that now as the moment to stop Murdoch, he was totally right of course but this thing has got a momentum all of it's own. I can't see how the government will possibly allow the BSkyB takeover now or even how BSyb would even now consider being contaminated by the News of the world brand.
Wapping is in turmoil as hacking saga hits Murdoch where it hurts and David Allen Green describes News international's position as that of the bully being bullied.
It is definitely not looking very good for Andy Coulson, he seems to be the victim that News international are trying to offer up as a sacrificial lamb. This piece of blatant perjury on his own could be enough to send him down. It aint good news for Cameron either, what does this say for his judgement. Does he take it lying down and go quietly or very noisily taking the ship with him is what remains to be seen.

Summer rebuilding so far

Messageboard forums and twitter are alive with rumour and conjecture, but we are not really anywhere nearer knowing whether our summer spending spree is over or not. The main player at the centre of most of the gossip continues to be Arsenal's Nasri. When those rumours first surfaced i have to admit i gave them very short shrift, but with what seems to be going on at the Emirates this summer, it would now have to be taken seriously.
I really can't see Wenger being around to take Arsenal into the 2012-13 season and if there is was any truth in Van Persie being the latest player to express unhappiness at the unfolding events it could even happen before next season. There is no doubt that his leading players have seemingly lost faith in him and his project, i can't say i blame them to be honest. How are his many acolytes in the press going to explain this away.
Mark Ogden wrote that whilst United chase Nasri, the player they really ought to be going all out for should be Fabregas. I can't really go along with that, you have got to be going for players who are really going to what to come here. And we all know where Cesc Fabregas wants to go and where he will undoubtedly end up.
Tim Rich looks at Manchester's domination of summer spending so far and argues that whenever Fergie decides to call it quits he will leave behind a far healthier squad than was bequeathed by Busby to McGuiness. I think he will find that the future will see homegrown players in the squad, they just aren't quite ready yet.

But we have landed one Spaniard who did want to come to Old trafford this season, though it was hardly a secret. I haven't seen enough of De Gea to comment on him, though i know a few reds who have seen a fair bit of him on sky playing for Athletico Madrid and they seem to rate him highly. My only concern was his English, apparently he has learnt a little but it will need to be good enough for him to communicate with his defence.
We have no right to expect him to be as good as Van Der Sar straight away, especially given his limited experience, but lets hope he can be reliable enough whilst he learns his craft. Andy Mitten argues that De Gea is the real deal and has risen to every challenge laid down to him so far. He has come to win things and is looking forward to playing in the champions league and sees no reason why United can't win it despite the brilliance of Barca. 

Paddy Crerand looks at our summer transfer activity so far and he thinks that we haven't finished yet. He looks at at the one area where we expected or should that be hoped that we would strenghten the squad, i have to be slightly cynical and say that i wouldn't be surprised if we have finished. Paul Parker is happy enough with our signings so far but is another to want the centre of the midfield to be strengthened, thinking what United lack is a new Roy Keane as he argues that we were too britle away from home last season.
One of the youngsters who some of us are looking at to pick up the mantle of Giggs, Scholes and co eventually is apparently on his way to Peterborough for a six month loan. There is some cynicsm out there with it being Fegie's son Tunnicliffe is going to, which i do understand and have some sympathy with. But in this case i think it's a prety good move that ticks a lot of boxes, he will hopefully play regularly and will play at a reasonable standard. We will end up with a good idea of how far he can go.
I suppose the question now will be what happens with Pogba and Morrison, i can't really guess what will happen with Pogba, it could be a loan or it could be raining with the first team. As for Morrison, i really can't see Fergie sending him out on loan, but am not sure whether he will be fast tracked to the first team squad or not.

One aspect of our transfer activity that has gone quiet and has seemingly gone off the radar is who will be leaving this summer. Nani has assured the press that he is happy at United and will not be one of the players leaving the club. I suppose that now we have finally entered July the player earmarked by Fergie to be moved on will on will start to leave the club.
Barbatov is still insisting that he will still be at Old trafford next season, time will tell on that score. There are good arguments for him staying and long term reasons why Fergie may decide to let him go. I suppose it says everything that as someone who was desperate for us to sign him i wouldn't lose much sleep if he were to leave.

Larry Elliott looks at the state of economy and thinks there will have to be some kind of tweaking of Osborne's economic strategy. But argues it will be a tricky manoeuvre to convince the electorate that this isn't a plan B. David Blanchflower argues that those who call for more austerity are calling for another great depression.

Stephen King compares the situation in the Eurozone with Britain's decision to return to the gold standard in 1925 as the choices facing the Eurozone look equally grim. Paul Mason argues that the Greek Euro crisis poses survival issues for the entire Eurozone and as ever he isn't sure that they are up to the challenge.
Joseph Stiglitz tells Spanish paper El Pais that the European union is not rescuing the Greeks, but German banks. And the city of London into the bargain.

One country that may be worried by Europe's problems will also see big opportunities argues Timothy Garton Ash as he says no wonder Mr Wen is on his way.  Hamish McRae looks at the protests that accompanied premier Wen's visit to this country and describes how little we appreciate how little matter to China.
The Economist argues that tensions between China's prosperous middle class and its poor wil make it a harder country to govern.

Bennedict Brogan looks at the long game being played by Boris Johnson and admires his confidence despite one or two misgivings. I'm no fan of Boris but i'd hate to imagine him up against Ed Miliband.
Banking reform is a danger to the future of the coalition report Toby Helm and Heather Stewart as the Lib dems fear that chancellor George Osborne's ringfencing could prove too weak to protect customers.

Jason Burke reports on and interprets Saudi Prince Turk Al-Faisal's speech ar RAF Molesworth to assorted British and US guests on future Saudi foreign policy direction. Olivier Roy writing in the New Statesman looks at the long war bewtween Sunni and Shia alluded to in that speech.
David Davis argues that Europe and the west should be looking for a 21st century Marshall plan to aid North Africa's transition to democracy that will be in all our interests. I go along with that 100%, but to say there is no chance of that happening is surely to state the obvious.

Adrian Hamilton looks at a meaningless promise by Murdoch. The scandal is that everybody knows how meaningless it is. I am generally a believer in the thesis that you get the politicians you deserve, but i'm not sure we deserve the current lot, and that includes Tory, Labour and Lib dem.

Music
Demdike stare - Voices of dust: I liked Forest of evil but this is even better, techno as dark and sinister as the name Demdike infers, don't file under easy listening.

Nicolaas Jaar -  Space is only: Another excellent piece of techno from this US/Chilean newbie, i read somewhere that he was influenced by Rivardo Villalobos, besides the Chilean heritage i don't reall see it myself. Cracking album though.

Tabu Ley Rochereau - 35th anniversary album: Congolese artist and his Orchestre Afrisa international have been one of the continents most influential groups. I love the way he mixed central American music into his African brew to come up with some great catchy music.

The Strokes - Angles: Still to get anywhere near emulating the excellence of their debut album, but this will do to be going on with. The best tunes are the ones that stick to the debut's formula.

The Vaccines - What did you expect from the Vaccines: A good debut from the much hyped indie newcomer, but not as good as the hype would have you believe.

Those dancing days - Daydreams and nightmares: A decent album that i still haven't made up my mind how much i really like. It definitely has its moments there are just a couple of yracks that don't do much for me at all. This is a cracker though.