Everton 0-1 Manchester United

Unspectacular but three points and hopefully the shows back on the road. It was nice to see Vidic and Cleverley back and both showed why we have missed them. It wasn't really a suprise that Fergie packed the midield after last week's disaster, but i was suprised that he started Rooney so far back. I'm afraid i don't subscribe to the theory that as his career progresses he will end up in this position, to me it's just a waste basically. He didn't do anything wrong on the day but he doesn't affect the game to anything like the same degree as when he is up front or in the hole.
Another suprise was the inclusion of Welbeck on the left, i wasn't suprised that Young was left out, his form has dipped of late and though he has been working as hard his confidence seems to have dipped a bit. I was screaming for him to run at Richards in the derby but he seemed reluctant. Of course Welbeck played out wide for Sunderland last season and did the same job in the youth team, i though he was excellent again. Fergie seems to have a lot of time for him, when things aren't going as well as hoped, he stays on the pitch.
It was the kind of performance where United do just enough, we had periods in the first half where we dominated possession. But it seemed that Fergie had told them the most important thing on the day was defence. The goal came during one of our good periods as a good move down the left saw Evra cross for Hernandez to score. It seemed a touch on the soft side from an Everton perspective, but it gave us something to hold onto.
And that was how United seemed to set their stall out in the second half, as the longer the game went on and Everton had to commit more men forward, i was hoping we would catch them on the break. But though we did have a couple of chances, Welbeck's being the best, United never showed much inclination to get forward. I suppose it was to be expected after last week, but it was disappointing we were so negative.
I was worried when Cleverley went off but Fergie said it wasn't too serious and that he should be fit for next week. Good news of course, the midfield looked a lot better when he was on the pitch. The return of Vidic was even more significant, he does the ugly things so well. A long run of games from him would be just what the doctor ordered, especially with the news that Smalling will be out for a month.

The forgotten man, Rafael is close to a return after three moths out with a shoulder injury. Park tells Sky that the derby defeat is already a distant memory, alas maybe it is for the players, it isn't for us.

Great news from Norway where Ole Gunnar Solskajer has managed Molde to their first championship title in 100 years. That's some achievement, he has had a lot good press over there, could he come back some time, you can only hope.

A brilliant column from Matthew Norman who puts us right about the wronged John Terry. That slip at the end of Saturday's clash with the gooners was pure keystone cops.

The New statesman talks with Jeffrey Sachs, the man who advised the Russian government in the early to middle nineties. He has shifted his position nowadays, there was another interview with him recently where he called the Democrats the party of Wall street and the Republicans the party of the oil industry. I suppose that's where having a demcratic system where money plays such a big part in the process leads.
Bloomberg argue it's time for Swiss tax secrecy to go, as Richard Murphy argues the tide is swimming against the Swiss and Britain's dodgy deal with the gnomes of Zurich.

Martin Wolf wonders why the anti capitalist protests have taken so long and thinks the protestors are asking big questions.

Simon Jenkins argues that in trying to save the Euro, the Germans are making demands that cannot be met. Joschka Fischer argues that anything less than a United states of Europe will see the Eurozone doomed to failure.
Will Hutton argues that the tories vision of Europe and this countries future will probably see the end of the union with Scotland as the Scots will prefer Europe to a future an offshore tax haven. I believe that is a real probability, but only if Europe gets its act together. I fear he is being far too sanguine over Europe getting its act together.
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard makes the arguement for the Eurosceptic case, i have to say i agree with most of that.

Martin Kettle claims that the Tory addiction to the Europe myth could cost them the 2015 election as the electorate will be far more interested in the economy. Fraser Nelson shows that they are as obsessed as ever as he argues Cameron risks being stranded over Europe.

Con Coughlin argues that the west shouldn't have allowed Gaddafi to have been murdered in cold blood. It spared some red faces all round though didn't it.
Ann Applebaum wonders if America can survive without its backbone, the middle class, she argues American society is starting to fracture.
Will Self argues the monarchy must go, i couldn't agree more, things like this make me wonder what type of country i actually live in. And once again new Labour cringing at the feet of reaction.

Howard Jacobson explores English comedy, calling Mark Rylance's performance in the play Jerusalem the greatest most people have seen in their lifetime, praise doesn't come any higher than that.

Aldershot 0-3 Manchester United

The best thing you can have after a disaster like Sunday's is another game as quickly as possible, so last night was a blessing. I suppose it was nice to have a fairly easy game as well, as Fergie was always going to pick a pretty experienced side so an embarrasing defeat was pretty unlikely.
The only youngster to get a start was Zeki Fryers who started his second carling cup tie for the club. I'm a bit surprised that he has been picked out for two full starts as when i saw the youth team last season, the defender to stand out was Tom Thorpe. I can only surmise that Fergie thinks that Fryers is more physically advanced than Thorpe. That isn't to have a go at Fryers though, as against Leeds he didn't do anything wrong and gave a very mature performance.
The return of Cleverley to the ranks was the big plus of the night and for the hour that he was on, he played as well as he did at the part of the season. His energy and first time passing was what we have been missing over the last few weeks. Fingers crossed he stays clear of any long term injuries. It's been said since Sunday, that it's putting too much pressure on his young shoulders, citing him as our saviour. I'm afraid Fergie has put that pressure on him by not reinforcing the midfield during the summer, it's not exactly been a secret how short of real class we have been in this part of the pitch.
United completely dominated the opening half an hour eventually taking the lead through forgotten man Berbatov. The Bulgarian played well and could have had more goals on the night going close a couple of times in the second half. Valencia seemed to be more like the player that came back from injury so well last season and even graced us with a great goal early in the second half.
The most pleasing aspect of the night was seeing Pogba and Morrison coming on to get a touch of the big time. Morrison wasn't on for long but showed glimpses of his talent and showed that he will never want for confidence. Amos spent most of the night a spectator but when he was called upon right at the end he made a fine save. It would have been nice to see a couple more youngsters involved, starting or being brought on but, with some of our experienced players not getting games we were always going to see this type of team.

Henry Winter likes the look of Morrison, as do we all, but who knows if he will make it or not.

Mark Ogden claims Rio Ferdinand and others will suffer the consequences for Sunday's humiliation. This just seems to be conjecture, he picks the right three players in my opinion, not just because of Sunday though, Sunday was just the cumulation of where all three players form has been leading.
To be fair to Ferdinand, it's not that he been playing badly, more that as somebody has commented since Sunday, he can't run anymore. It's ironic really, because the first time it struck home that his athleticism was on the wane was also against City in a much more memorable game for any red the Owen last gasp 4-3 victory.
As for Evra his defending has been hit and miss for a couple of years now, but it always seems to go mssing in the biggest games. I don't know if Fabio is going to be his long term replacement, or if Fergie is in the market for a left footed left back. Maybe Fryers has been earmarked, if that is the case, it's a few years off.
And to Anderson, to me he has only really ever had one good consistent run in the side, in his first season when he came in for Scholes who was out for a couple of months. He has never come close to that form or consistency since. It must be time to admit defeat, he has had chance after chance. I thought he looked big again on Sunday and it seems i wasn't the only one who noticed this. Fergie must know he isn't good enough, how many times is he the first player hoisted off when things aren't going well.

As Andy Mitten writes here the last time reds saw their team ripped aprt like this was at Wembley in May. I actually thought of that when i was coming out of the stadium on Saturday, because if we are honest it could well have been six that night as well. And at the end of day it was down to the same problems, a lack of quality in midfield and dodgy defending.
Of course there was a bit more of an excuse on Sunday with Jonny Evans sending off. But even though we dominated possession in the first half they looked classier in possession when they had it. And just as at Wembley in the semi, once they had weathered the early storm, they gradually strengthened their grip on the game.
He also bemoans the existence and amount of half and half scarves last Sunday and at Anfield the week before. The amount of day trippers for Sunday's game for the biggest league derby between Manchester's big two was off the scale. I and others have said it before, but if post Fergie we ever hit a real lean spell that lasts more than a season or two, the amount of empty seats at Old trafford will be unbelievable.



Has the Eurozone crisis been taken off emergency care for the time being after Thursday morning's agreement. Faisal Islam thinks it's better than a lot of people expected, but the devil will be in the detail.
Larry Elliott thinks even if the Euro has been saved, the hard work has only just begun. He isn't very sanguine about the prospects for growth as all available solutions have big problems attached to them.

It's been and still is a big week for David Cameron, but it hasn't started too well. Bennedict Brogan argues that the referndum vote tells us that the tories are divided over Cameron, not Europe. Nicholas Watt of the Guardian writes that Cameron is both weak and heavy handed over Europe as his backbenchers vented their anger at an aloof prime minister hamstrung by his coalition partners. Tim Montgomerie thinks that the tory rebellion crystalises the parties deeper suspicions of Cameron's leadership.
Steve Richards claims the rebellion over Europe is a proxy battle and finds it ironic that as the country moves further away from the real Europe, the Eurosceptics rage about"Europe". I'm not sure that a referndum would be lost myself, for one what would the question in the referendum be. Richards called the Voting reform early and wrong, it's a bit early to call a referendum on Europe when we haven't got a clue on what we would be voting on.
Gary Gibbon wonders "where next for David Cameron" after a vote that has dented his leadership of his party. Matthew Norman wonders whether Cameron's luck has finally ran out as the week has implanted long term doubts about his judgement.

Richard Murphy blogs that the US demands tax justice from the Swiss unlike a certain country just of mainland Europe.
Andreas Whittam Smith writes that the bankers are to blame for this mess and still don't get it. They won't agree to reform so stop wasting time asking them, just do it.
Adam Posen wishes he could have persuaded his fellow MPC members that QE needed to be introduced once again six months ago instead of waiting for the economy to start "cratering".

Two differing takes on the state of the German economy, Phil Mullan argues that the success for the German economy has been overdone whilst John Kampfner argues that whilst some parts of the experience of living in Germany in the eighties did his head in, the way they have ran their economy has proved far more successful than the deregulation mad little England policies beloved of the tory backbenchers.
Ben Chu writes about the battle waged between the Bank of England and the ONS over whose statistics are proving more accurate.

Stewart Lee is always interesting to read whether it's his own stuff or being interviewed, i'm going to read the book mentioned in this interview over the next few weeks.

Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City

If the semi final defeat at Wembley hurt, and it did, this was on a whole different level, 6-1 at home, this was as bad as it gets. I couldn't say i was that confident when i saw the teamsheet, no Cleverley, and Anderson and Fletcher in the middle of the park didn't inspire confidence. And i had remarked on Evans one mistake a game on Saturday, why Vidic was missing i have no idea. Ferdinand didn't do anything wrong in particular, but he looks short of this level now. I would be amazed if he was still here next season.
And yet we started the game better than i had expected, dominating possession, without it has to be said, particularly looking like scoring. The worrying thing was that we saw that when Young and Nani were tied up and unable to raise their game United looked very ill equipped to break a strong City rearguard down. City didn't break forward much but when they did they looked more dangerous, mainly it has to be said because they had the best player on the pitch and maybe the best player in the premier league right nowin David Silva. He started well and really came into his own when we went down to ten men. You can have all the workhorses you want in midfield, but there is no substitute for class and now Scholes has retired we are well short of where we need to be.
United responded reasonably well to going a goal down, attacking with more purpose and forcing Hart into action with a couple of long range shots. But our best chance came from a cross that saw Rooney tap a perfect pass straight to the feet of Evans who managed to completely miss the ball. It wasn't to get any better for the Ulsterman.
We didn't start the second half as well as i would have liked but we still managed to create a gold plated chance Young conpsired to make a right mess of. It didn't take long for United to rue the miss. One of Jonny Evans biggest weakspots is how easy he gets turned and yet again it came back to haunt him and us. How he let Balotelli get away from him only he can answer, but once he had he should let him go and hoped De Gea would get him out of jail. It was awful defending and sooner or later Fergie will have to admit defeat and pick Smalling or Jones in front of him to partner Vidic.
To have any chance had to get the next goal and hope for the best, i couldn't see it happening and it didn't. Not for the first time United were completely opened up on our left hand side where Evra may have looked good going forward but had an absolute mare, again defensively. When Balotelli got the second it was effectively game over, because as far as was concerned we were now playing for pride. As much as it pains me to say it, the divs are now a top side and you don't come back from two down with ten men.
When the third goal went in from Aguerro i just wanted the whistle to go there and then, 3-0 at home was a disaster but you could see that this could get worse. The Flethcer goal was a great strike but it's probably true that if we hadn't have got that we wouldn't have commited as many men forward and suffered those desperate final minutes where we basically just fell apart. The final three goals all came United mistakes.
The season isn't over, United will come back from this but next weekend's game will be a test, Goodison isn't the place i would have picked for us to go and start rebuilding our confidence.
It's hard to pinpoint any positives from the game, but if i was to pick one it would be that Welbeck, though he did make mistakes, showed the kind of attitude that i want to see from a United player, still giving his all when the game was well and truly gone.

Fergie described it as his worst ever day at the club and had a go at our suicidal display. Mark Larwenson describes this as the day City finally announced themselves as real title contenders but thinks United will bounce back. He is right to say this defeat has been coming and right to wonder exactly what Anderson brings to the table.
After the first few games i was discussing United with a fellow red at work where i said that i thought United would be much more exciting this season but with new young defenders to be in and a more open style of play i thought that we would probably get a real hammering at some point of the season. I just hoped it wouldn't be in a game that mattered. Famous last words. Alan Hansen thinks City now have a great chance of the title and points out United's problems in defence.


Paul Waugh wonders how Cameron and his team could have got their European strategy so wrong as he continues to alienate his Eurosceptic right. Mary Ann Sieghart can't understand why Cameron has picked a fight over Europe when he had no need to.
Alistair Campbell reveals that Cameron's strategy for everything seems to be to blame everybody else. But his bizarre fight against his own backbenchers will likely end up with him looking weaker. Bagehot thinks that the tory right are wrong headed, Cameron needs room for manouevre. Paul Krugman blogs that he believes the Eurozone is doomed and that it will go the way of the gold standard. He hopes it won't but he can't see how it can survive.

Will Hutton has had enough of Mervyn King and his la la land economics. Larry Elliott runs with the same theme in todays Guardian, arguing that you can't blame current economic woes on the crisis in the Eurozone. Whilst fellow Observer columnist looks at the scandal of HMRC and its chief Dave Hartnett claiming it's welcome to Britain a haven for tax dodgers.

Full squad to pick from!

At last we have the squad that started the season on fire all back available to us. And of course the big news is that this means Tom Cleverley must fit be fit and ready to go. It's an absurd state of affairs that a 22 year old who has only started about four full games should be so important to us, but there you go, he is.
From the press conference i toook Fergie to mean we had a full squad, but the official site reads slightly different, if Cleverley isn't back on Sunday, one i won't be as confident and second when will he be back, he has been out for a long time now.
Eric Harrison argues that in his opinion Tom Cleverley is the pick of the youngsters coming through at the moment and claims the youth coming through at the moment is the best crop the club has seen since his team, "the class of 92". He also backs up my point that Cleverley made the team tick at the begining of the season.
He is probably right about the youth coming through, but we shouldn't forget that Pique and Rossi played in the same youth team and they are aren't a bad pair of players.
Danny Welbeck, who Harrison also tips to be a regular for United and England, is in talks to treble his wages in yet another long term deal binding our youth to the club for the medium and long term. Harrison tipped Cleverley to be the best of the bunch at the moment but there is every chance it could just as easily turn out to be Welbeck, he is a completely different type of forward to the ones we have at the club and is only going to get better. When Pogba and co start to come through, the competition for places will be frightning.

The official site tells us that Rio is back to fitness after his absence in midweek, but does that mean he will play. Vidic is a given but i'm not sure who will partner him, Smalling reminded us in midweek what a fantastic centre half he is going to be and i haven't forgoten what a fantastic game he had against these lot during the 2-1 win at home last season.
As Daniel Taylor warns in this Guardian column, time is runing out on his United career and there is every chance that this could well be his last season. I think that will probably suit both parties to be honest, as we saw with Pique you can't talanted young players waiting forever and both Jones and Smalling have got what it takes to be top Manchester United centre halves.

Mark Ogden looks back to last season's Old trafford derby and the stunning winning goal scored by Wayne Rooney and looks at how it was seen around the world. Unfortunately i can't really say i care what somebody from AON or Nike think. Yes we know that the world will be watching, but couldn't he have found one red from Manchester to ask what it meant to them.
If the unthinkable happens tomorrow, town will be a pretty dry place tomorrow, does that not tell you how much it matters in Manchester.

This is actually a pretty decent article from a blue, describing what the derby means to the city, plenty of stereotyping but that's alright with me. Although they never really get it do they, they meant so much to us because they were such a joke it was unreal. I mean just where do you start and where do you finish with those classic City moments, Alan Ball and the 2-2 draw that meant relegation to the balloons at Bramhall lane, the list is endless.
Even now flush with Arab money and with as strong a squad as there is in the premiership you had Cook making the one gaffe too many that has been inevitable since the day he walked into the club and the Tevez affair which is almost certainly behind the reason that he had to go, comedy club still.

Paul Parker thinks that City have a slightly stronger squad than United but also thinks that they must lose the arrogance. They have to start winning trophies regularly before they start bragging "United are scared of City".

Nani is looking ahead to playing a central role in tomorrow's game, a far cry from the man who two years ago was critical of Fergie's handling of him and would have probably left in the following summer transfer window if he hadn't have turned it around.
I can't say i will ever love the player or that i think that he will stay with us in the long term but there is no arguing with his importance to the current team. I agreed with Fergie's decision to leave him out at Wembley, but have to admit it was well of the money, he should have played. He can still be infuriating at times, but even when he isn't at his best he can and does pop up with the crucial goal or the crucial cross. And that is where he has improved out of all recognition.
In his earlier inconistent days, when he was good, he was very good and when he was bad, well, oh dear. Even then he could and did score when it wasn't going his way but he very rarely created anything in fact, moves would often break down with the ball at his feet. That is where things have changed, that very rarely happens now. He makes things happen and has become a player for the big occasion.

Jonny Evans reveals the support he received when his United form dipped and how he was aware that he wasn't playing well after honest analysis from family and friends. He has played in almost all the big games this season, it will be interesting to see where he fits into the picture tomorrow. He has been much improved this season but has still had a moment or two, and we don't need any moments tomorrow.

David De Gea seems to be silencing his critics, as too quick to judge as they so obviously were. Mark Ogden who didn't jump on the bandwagon reported last week that he passed his big test of nerve with his assured display infront of the Kop.
He has done reasonably well so far, the biggest praise i can give him is that i have not once said if only Van Der Sar was in goal that wouldn't have happened. Unfortunately when Kuszczak or Foster deputised for the big Dutchman that was always on your mind. So it's a thumbs up, so far from me. And with Lindegaard having done nothing wrong either, this as strong a goalkeeping situation as i can remember at the club.

Tariq Panja of Bloomberg reports on how Manchester United conquered the world to become the valuable sports brand in the world. Well it could be because they have the best manager in the country, a history second to none and are the most successful club in the most watched football league in the world.
No United fand would disagree with the fact that the club know how to make money nowadays, just that it would be nice if these articles gave Fergie's achievements the credit they deserve for helping to make the club even more of a money machine.
It would be nice if those profits could be used to subsidise ticket prices, who knows when the gimps have gone, hopefully that will be on the agenda, well you live in hope.

Andy Mitten with a MEN column looking at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who is on the verge wining the Norwgian title wth his club Molde at the first attempt. He is gaining a lot of plaudits for his achievements over there and for the way he has gone about it. If an ex player became manager of United there would be none more popular than the baby faced assasin. And from everything i have seen written about him he could indeed be the one eventually.

These appear to be worrying times for Cameron, seemingly out of nowhere the European question is threatening to tear them apart once more. Steve Richards bemoans government by petition.

Meanwhile the Eurozone crisis rumbles on and on as France and Germany squabble on. Simon Jenkins compares the blindness that aflicts European leaders to the 1930's. Jeremy Warner argues that Britain can't save Europe but might still save ourselves, but surely for us to have hope of a better future we have to try to help save Europe. We will not be immune from the blowback of European disintegration, Eurosceptics can dream all they like, but the fact is we are intriniscally a part of Europe from trade to sport to holidays and the rest of the world sees us as a part of Europe.

Andreas Whitam Smith joins Paul Mason in comparing the current situation in mainland Europe to 1848 and argues that revolutions don't give much warning that they are about to happen. If revolutions happen, and they might, they will happen in the south first, but would the contagion spread?
It was interesting to note how Gaddafi's execution, for that's what it was, took all eyes of what was happening in Athens the same day. Communists fighting anarchists outside the Greek parliament on the day a crucial vote was taking place.
So farewell to Colonel Gadaffi, or more suitably good riddance. As has been said it would have better to have seen him tried. But let's face it how many of the NRC that had defected from his regime and were almost certainly complicit in some very murky deeds would have wanted to see him in the witness box. And how many western governments, corporations and former leaders would have dreaded that scenario as well. So whether it was spontaneous revenge in the heat of battle or something more cynical it suited all parties, as Robert Fisk implies.
Sabotage times look at the unorthodox diplomacy carried out by the originator of the green book.


Former LSE teacher Leonidas Pitsoulis explains that returning to Greece after years abroad opened his eyes to the way corruption pervades every corner of life. He argues that they need to start afresh, but how?

Richard Murphy applauds financial journalist Michelle Perry for posing the question to finance directors, " why do you use tax havens", as the country cannot have an argument about their use until they openly acknowledge they use them. I think we know why they won't admit that they use them, because their arguments will not stand up to scrutiny and will be shown to be gree pure and simple.

So RIP, the whole Neocon strategic agenda has finally bitten the dust with the news that the US will finally remove all their troops from Iraq fullfilling one of Obama's electio pledges and that the Iraqi's have rebuffed the US request maintain military bases in the country after the withdrawl. Iran are already pulling the strings behind the scenes in Iraq, how long before they are pulling the strings in public for all to see.
Saudi Arabia can't be very happy with this development, their close ties to the Bush regime didn't work out the way they expected. The tension between Iran and the Saudi's will go up another notch.
The Economist's Lexington's notebook column isn't impressed with Michelle Bachman, the Minnesota congresswoman's reaction to the news, wondering whether she really understands the maning of democracy.
Meanwhile Obama's foreign policy gets the thumbs up from Paul Abrams as he acclaims the President's concept of leading from behind. If that really is his strategy, then i too would appalud it. I always thought that should have been their strategy from 9/11 on, quietly getting their revenge, as the saying goes, don't get mad, get even.


Matthew Norman warns Ricky Gervais not to follow the path of John Cleese in becoming the persona of the people he portrays in real life as he comments on the twitter row over his use of the word mong.
Richard Herring who i follow on twitter had blogged pretty intelligently on the furore earlier in the week, only to cop a load of abuse from Gervais twitter followers.

Music

Eric Dolphy - Last date: This is argued to be his final recored performance, it's shows off the full range of his talents from Sax to flute and if you loved Out to lunch you will love this.

Platikman - Sheet one: The first recording from one of the most influential artists in the techno genre in the 90's. Though i love minimalist techno, it took me a few listens to really get this, but grow on me it most certainly did, it's not a classic, but i can listen to it again and again.

Puressence - Solid state recital: It's a mystery how Failsworth's finest are so little known after releasing some fine albums down the years. This could well be their best, though there is healthy competition fo that accolade. Will this break them, it's not that different to their trademark sound, so i would guess not. It's the public's loss though , because they are a cracking group.

Tindersticks - Claire Denis film scores: I'm a big fan of this group, but wondered how they would fare on a soundtrack album. The answer was like a duck to water, this is abolute quality.

White Denim - D: Their first British released Fits album was a tremendous affair and this doesn't throw that away. When i first heard this i though there were a load of guitar overdubs before reading they had added a second guitarist. I was wondering how on earth they would transfer that sound live. The muscianship is absolute top notch, they won't be knocking on the singles charts any time soon but i don't think it has as hard an edge to it as D did.

Wild Beasts - Smother: The critics have lauded this to the skies and whilst it is very good, i'm not sure it's that good. The songs are even stronger than before though it's a smoother sound and i'd have liked a couple of more powerful tunes to vary the pace a bit.

Otelul Galati 0-2 Manchester United

This was one of those games to be endured rather than enjoyed, but at least we came away with the three points. Even though the game was very important, sandwiched between the trip to Anfield and the weekend's little local tussle it was understandable that the players never really rose above doing more than was necessary.
It was nice to see Vidic back, though not so nice to see him sent for an early bath, maybe it was a good thing he didn't appear at Anfield on Saturday. Only kidding, it was a joke of a decision from the man in black. I know European refs don't like to see a foot raised but there was no danger or malice in it, he totally over reacted.
At least by that stage of the game we had got the goal that had looked like it might never come. It was as blatant a penalty as you will ever see and with the Vidic sending off in mind how the hosts defender didn't see a red for that i don't know. Last time i read the rules a deliberate hand ball was an automatic sending off. Rooney tucked it away nicely.
The first half had been dreadful viewing, as the home team got everybody behind the ball for the most part and a United team with one eye on Sunday struggled to show the skill to open them up. The passing, first touch and movement were all mssing in action,the only real chance came when the reds best player on the night Evra cued up Carrick who blazed over the bar when he should have at least hit the target. That aside i thought Carrick had a fair game, he impressed more than Anderson anyway.
I'm not sure 4-4-2 is working in Europe, it certainly won't work with a central midfield pairing of Carrick and Anderson, i really fucking hope that Cleverley if fit for Sunday. I don't think the pairing of Rooney and Hernandez really worked either. In games like these Chicarito doesn't really offer to much, as it's the box he comes alive in. If Fergie was saving Welbeck for Sunday, which i think he may well have been i would have started with Berbatov and brought Hernandez on when the home team had tired.
Yet again one of the twins couldn't last the ninety minutes as Fabio had to come off to be replaced by Jones at right back. The twins future prospects aren't looking as bright as they were at the back end of last season. What with the competition for places at right back and their inability to last ninety minutes or put a run of games together.
The referee evened things up by sending off one of the Galati defenders for a second bookable offence right near the end. Nani was very unlucky to hit the upright in an otherwise forgettable day for him. And Rooney put the game to bed with a second successful penalty, converted in injury time.
So at last we are up and running in the group, hopefully the group will come down to the Benfica game at home where if we win we would top the group. The way we are performing in europe this season though, that Basle game seems to me to be a tricky proposition.

Fergie was already looking forward to the weekend's derby when quizzed by the press after the game. I don't know where he gets the idea that Anderson was one of three players that helped change the game in the second half. That must have been an alternative reality viewing of the game i watched.
There isn't much i can argue with this piece on United's encounter and the group stage in general, it aint going to change any time soon though.

Richard Evans of the LMA alleges that foreign owners are looking to alter the premier leagues rules to stop relegation .That should come as no suprise really. From foreign owners to foreign managers the Indy report on France's realtionship to it's most successful managerial export, Arsene Wenger. Jonathan Freedland compares the state of our national sport to the state of our economy.

Well i thought this would never come to pass, but last week's rumours were proved to be well founded yesterday when the Stone Roses confirmed that they are to reform to play two gigs at Heaton park followed by a world tour and the best news for me, that they are working on a new album.
Rob Hastings asks was it Ian Brown's divorce that sealed the deal after Sean Ryder's weekend joke, Ian Brown didn't have a pop back. Dave Simpson claims that last Reading disaster is the reason why the group should reform, to show the world the world how good they really were. They have made his day.

Stephen Pinker argues we are becoming less violent in his latest work, reviewed here by John Gray who is less than convinced. Well the next ten to twenty years of economic crisis will give us a good idea if Pinker is really on the money.
John Naughton interviewed the man himself in last Sunday's Observer where he argued why he thought mankind had turned its back on brutality. I have to admit to being pretty sceptical myself, it seems a very western idea, and even the west itself maybe on the brink of revisting its darker past.
But China faces problems with the communist party fighting to stay in control, Burma is no nearer an end to military dictatorship and Afganistan will probably revert to a warlord era when the US finall decides it's no longer worth it. And as for the Arab world who can say where that is heading. Will the Army really relinquish their grip on Eygpt, will Syria descend into civil war, will Israel ever establish a peaceful co-existance in the Arab world and perhaps biggest of all, how will the Saudi Arabia-Iran cold war resolve itself.
There seems more than a hint of Francis Fukuyama's end of history nonesense about it.

Hamish McRae argues that in a world where the population continues to grow, Europe and the west will matter less and less. He is also not impressed by the higher than forecast inflation figures released yersterday arguing higher inflation means lower growth. Benedict Brogan focuses on the dangers of this for Cameron and his prospects of re-election.
Mary Ann Sieghart swims against the tide in thinking that Cameron didn't handle the Fox affair as well as he should have done. The Guardian report on the O'Donnell Fox report and the unanswered question's. Craig Murray thinks it was a whitewash.

It had to be really,

Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United

I think we can sum up Fergie's thinking ahead of this game as get in and out as quickly as possible, hope to snatch three points but be more than happy with one. I had expected Fergie to leave Nani out, i know some reds were less than thrilled with that decision, but Ronaldo never did anything at Anfield and neither has Nani. I didn't forget Nani's reaction to Carragher's admittedly diabolical challenge on him last season and maybe Fergie couldn't. You need to stand up tall in the heat of the battle at Anfield and that was what Fergie went for.
With our lack of real class in midfield, especially with Cleverley not quite ready, Fergie went for a mix and match engine room, with Jones enjoying a first outing there alongside Flecther and Giggs. For what Fergie was hoping to achieve, i thought it worked to an extent, especially in the first half as we contested the midfield and quietened the crowd. The problem as it was always likely to be, was we were unable to create much up front.
The big suprise of the day was the decision to leave Rooney on the bench and stick Welbeck up front on his own. With the lack of service that Welbeck received, Rooney wasn't really missing much. That said i thought Welbeck did excellently, living off scraps, as he was, he still caused the home sides defence some sticky moments.
It looked like one of those forgettable days where both sides cancel each other out, which of course was Fergie's aim. But then twenty minutes from time United gave away yet another soft goal at Anfield, we can't seem to help gifting them goals in this bad run that we are suffering there. Giggs of all people, the perpertrator as he peeld off the end of the wall to gift Gerrard the gap he needed from the free kick to give De Gea no chance.
It was pity for our young Spanish goalie because he had possibly his best game yet for the reds. He made some crucial saves, one from Suarez at the end of the first half and another excellent near the death from Jordan Henderson especially.
The goal was the cue for United to abandon the containing approach as Nani and Rooney were brought on immediately. Six minutes later Hernadez came on for Jones and Rooney was dropped deeper into midfield. At last for the first and only time in the second half United built up a little head of steam and a corner from Nani saw Welbeck glance the ball onto the incoming Hernandez who buried the header to put us level in the match.
I now expected United to go all out guns blazing in a search for the three points. It wasn't to be, it was the home side that had the chances with Rooney making one great saving header in the six yard box to salvage the point for us.
I had said before the game that i had hoped Smalling would be available for the trip and that his early season form had not been given the recognition it deserved. Well he was back yesterday and he confirmed how much we had missed him putting in a magnificent defensive display that made him our best player in my opinion. If we can get Vidic back for the derby i will feel a lot happier in the state of our defence.
I would have gladly taken the point before the game, even though it would leave City the chance to go top later in the afternoon that they duly took. City still haven't played anybody so i'm not worrying about them too much yet. Of course if they took the three points of us next week that would be a worry.
The one major disappointment for me yesterday was the way we failed to really create any chances to win the game after we had equalised. That must be partly down the lack of real quality in midfield that meant we could never really build any kind of real pressure on the home teams goal.
Ian Ladyman tweeted last night that United fans weren't taking into account that our European game this week was argubaly a bigger game. I don't know about bigger but it is big after the disappointing home draw to Basel, United could really do with taking 6 points from the home and away games to Champions league newbies Otelul Galati.

Fergie wasn't happy with the soft free kick and presumably was as unhappy with the collapse of the wall. I didn't think it was a foul, but i'm afraid you always expect to be on the wrong end of decisions when you travel there. If the wall had done the job it should have done, it wouldn't have cost us.

Henry Winter argues that yesterday's performance showed why Rooney and Welbeck must be aboard the plane bound for Poland next summer. Rooney actually did reasonably well when he dropped into midfield. I still don't see that as the position he will eventually settle into though. It was interesting to see that Fergie left Welbeck on the pitch when he started to bring his subs on and started to reshuffle the team. This shows how highly Fergie must rate him and how versatile he can be and will obviously do his chances of being on that plane any harm.


This New York Times editorial accurately describes the coalition's economic policy as a deliberate ideological choice that has failed and will fail and could well lead to a lost decade of no growth. It argues that if the Republican party has their way the US will suffer the same fate.

As if the global economy wasn't in enough trouble the Telegraph reports that those who forecast a rocky time ahead for Chinese economy may be about to be proved right. China's carefully managed soft landing turns harder by the day, threatening to deflate the torrid credit bubble of the past three years.
This FT article also argues that China might have used up most of it's heavy artillery after the 2008 crunch and as with Europe and the US seems ill equipped to deal with any further economic crisis.
The bail-outs are coming thick and fast in China reports Ambrose Evans-Pritchard as its debt spree returns to haunt the authorities.
The Economist reports on the growing links between China and Germany, the big trade surplus countries of the world economy. Will either see the light and help to rebalance the world economy.
Peter Foster claims that the reasonable aspirations of the Chinese people cannot be denied indefinitely, spending money on it's own people would be one way help internal consumption and help recailbrate the massive trade surplus it runs to the detriment of the global economy.
The Economist reports on how Chine's hallowed "non inteference" policy is coming up against hard reality of the Libyan uprising. They haven't won any friends with the Arab world with their backing for the "Violent" Assad regime in Syria either.

It does seem that Craig Murray's source on the Fox-Werrity affair was definitely onto something as the drip, drip revealtions keep on coming. This Independent on Sunday report links Werrity to Mossad and the Iranian opposition. George Monibot is unimpressed by the accountibilty of free market think tanks masquerading as charities, lobbying and given free reign on the BBC.
Most commentators have been giving Cameron warm plaudits for the way he has handled the affair to insulate himself from blame amongst the Tory right wing. I'm not sure the public will care too much about that, they will though see that they are still the same old dodgy, sleazy tories with links to organisations that won't go down with the electorate come the next election, especially if the economy carries on flat lining or even implodes if the Euro goes down.

Roy Harper interviewed in the Guardian reveals how he fought like hell to stay alive and how he feels vindicated by the new artists who claim him as an inspiration. Stormcock is a magnificent album.

United protect future

United protect the future of the squad giving new more lucrative and longer contracts to Hernandez and Cleverley. That means United are really safeguarding the medium to long term future of the club, securing almost everybody bar Berbatov to the club for the next three years at least.
Reports circulated alleging Real Madrid were sniffing around Hernandez, who knows, how true those were but the guy is a born goalscorer. He still needs work on his all round game, but if Fergie is going back to a four striker rotation policy he fits into that very well. To my mind he would be a Solskjaer type squad member who has the potential to be even better than the baby faced assasin.
I'm glad Cleverley has also been sorted out, though i'm sure there were never ever any worries that he was looking elsewhere having come through the clubs ranks. Amazingly after just a handful of games he has shown himself to be our best and most important central midfield player. I have rated him ever since i saw him have a stormer for Watford in the championship a couple of seasons ago. I was a bit concerned the way that Wigan used him last season, but it seems to have been a great learning curve to his career.
He brings an energy to our midfield that we have lacked and that we will need if, or more hopefully when we come up against that great Barca team. Obviously he also brings great technique and a very clever football brain. The next step for him is to start to scoring the goals we know he is capable of. Given a decent run of games, i am sure they will come.

The press are speculating that Cleverley will be back for Saturday's biggie at Loonypool alongside the captain Vidic who hasn't been seen since the opening game of the season. The inclusion of both players would obviously be a huge bonus. I can't say i would be as confident as i would like to be if Fergie was forced to pick Anderson and Carrick. I saw Fletcher put in the best shift i have seen from him for a while for the jocks on Tuesday against Spain and if has come through that unscathed my midfield pairing if we go 4-4-2 would be Cleverley and Fletcher. If it's a 4-3-3 i would still have them as part of the 4-4-2.
Needless to say the return would be a big boost as well, even if Anfield has been a bit of a bogey ground for him in recent years. The form of our defence over the past few games has given cause for concern and he would help instil more confidence in it. Ther has been no mention of Smalling recently, i don't know why, out poor defensive form has also coincided with his loss to injury. The return of the big centre half would be almost as good news for me.
The presumed retirement of Vidic from international football for Serbia seems a bit premature, was it a reaction to the missed penalty. Is he looking at Ferdinand and looking to prolong his United career, i suppose some conspiracy theorists will think he is looking for a move for one last big pay day. We are going to need him at United for the next couple of season to help bring Smalling and Jones through, so i hope there is nothing to that.

United blogger Written offside looks at Danny Welbeck and hopes to see the local youngster partner Rooney up front if Fergie sticks with the 4-4-2 formation. I would totally concur with that we need energy, workrate and commitment before our superior skill comes to the fore, hopefully. And Welbeck provides that better than any of the available strikers to be paired with Rooney. Of course he isn't a bad player too.
I haven't been as suprised as the blogger has been with Welbeck's impact since his return from his loan season at Sunderland. I have watched him since he was 16 in the youth team and he has always looked the part. I have to admit though, even i did wonder if i had got it wrong after his dismal display during the FA cup defeat at home to Leeds a couple of seasons ago. He was hardly on his own that day though, and as he has said you need to be playing regularly to hope to make an impact in the first team when the chance arises and he wasn't playing regularly.
Along with Cleverley he is an example to all our youngsters that going out on loan is looking like it's the way to go if you want to make it nowadays as youngster coming through the ranks at Old trafford. Which stil makes me wonder why Macheda is still at Old trafford and not out on loan. He should be banging on Fergie's door asking to go out on loan, even to a championship club, he needs to be playing regular competitive football.

Ther was a lot of claptrap written about Rooney's sending off last week. Hansen warned Rooney he was risking it all if he doesn't learn to control his temper. I'm not going to sit here and condone what he did, but if we have learnt anything with Rooney it's that we are going to have to live with these moments and that's United as well as England. All we can hope for is that he doesn't do it when it really matters.
As for Capello warning Rooney he will have to fight to get his place back, well yeh of course he will, your only world class player. This is an opportunity for the Italian though, England are far too reliant on the number ten and he should be using this opportunity to experiment up front. I have nod doubt that Welbeck will be a big part of those experiments.

Liverpool's new owners break ranks to argue that Barca and Real Madrid are showing us the way forward. Despite United's statement that they supported the collective TV premier league deal they had been in contact with their fellow yanks about how to chart a way forward. Well there's a suprise.
Any fool can see why this would be bad for the premier league, where is Scudamore and his laissez faire attitude to foreign owners now. David Conn explains why this is just yet another plan for the rich to get richer or more to the point for rich foreign owners to make money from their purchses of EPL franchises (sic).
David Whelan has been angrily having a go in the papers this morning claiming what they really want is a European super league. That just holds so little appeal to tha average soccer fan it's a laughable idea, it would be the ultimate TV sport played in front of the prawn sandwich brigade. It would possibly kill football of in this country.
All this when the British government is at last threatning to get involved in the running of the British game, is it a case of too little, too late or are they just in time?

Of course some people couldn't care less about the wellbeing of the game as long as their cut keeps them in the lifestyle they have been accustomed to, of the back of the little players who actually pay their money, naturally.
Peter Harrison has fallen foul of his fellow greed merchants and is now threatening to name names. This was reported a few weeks back, still no sign of any broadcast though.

The most serious event yet in this tumultuos year in the middle east and the Arab world. It seems after the Wikileaks brought the emnity between Saudi Arabi and Iran out into the open things can only get worse after the US revealed a plan to assasinate the Saudi Ambassador who urged the US to "cut of the head of the snake".
Shashank Joshi warns that things will indeed only get worse in the Telegraph as both countries regimes feel under pressure as the Arab spring changes facts on the ground. And old alliances go to the wall.

Craig Murray reveals on his blog the real story behind the Fox/Verrity scandal that they don't want us to know. If true this would be dynamite, whatever the truth i don't see how Fox can survive, because it all stinks enough as it is and the changing defence just seems pathetic.

Steve Richards argues for a supposedly non ideological government it's ideology that is the biggest danger to its longevity and success. If the Health secretary won't be accountable, the who will?

Alistair Campbell takes aim at the herd mentality amongst the political press to argue that Labour are a lot more relevant than news-comment fused media think, and makes a persuasive case.

Bagehot explains why the tories are backing Euro zone integration and the answer is that they are as passionately anti Europe as ever but in an emergency, warily any lifeline will do.
Mick Hume describes why he thinks the bankruptcy of democracy in Europe is too high a price to pay for saving the Euro-elite. I can't really argue with most of that except to argue how long have some of these countries actually been democratic and i don't mean just eastern Europe. And who has helped them ovecome their past to embrace democracy, but his hated European union.
That is the tragedy of what is unfolding, Timothy Garton Ash puts the Europhile case whilst acknowledging the massive flaws that need to be addressed if the Germans see the light and save the whole project.
As for the financial plans he objects to, so do i, but they are not the sole preserve of Europe, bailing out the banks and the finaciers is the global elites answer to the crisis and it's why we are slowly sinking into another great depression.

Stephen King looks at the divergient views on the economy from Osborne and Balls and observes they can't both be right. But whilst not coming down on either side, though i assume he leans more to Osborne he does acknowledge that the so called economic rebalancing that Osborne stressed he was looking to achieve was pie in the sky.
Well that wouldn't have anything to do with austerity, cuts and a global lack of growth now, would it? I know it's a lot more complicted than that but it surely hasn't helped.
George Monibot contines with the economic doom theme arguing that if professor Steve Keen is right we are doomed to another great depression. I certainly wouldn't put my money on Bernanke, King et al getting us out of this mess, they have been as much part of the problem as part of the solution since this crisis began in 2008.
Larry Elliott is as down on the prospects of an economic recovery as the previous two commentators as he argues that Britain's rising cycle of debt and dependence on consumption to drive growth make it unlikely the economy wil bounce back any time soon. David Blanchflower argues the scale of the financial shock is getting clearer and that Osborne's mettle will be tested when Greece defaults as it surely will. Given Osborne's record in 2008 ans since where he has got every big call completely wrong, that is a scary thought.
Robert Skidelsy carries on explaining that the boom was the illusion and thinks that the best we can hope for is for a managed retreat from the wilder sgores of globalisation. The alternative being the collapse of the Euro, protectionism and war.
On a less serious note how does that fit in with the US vision of the future of British football.
And finally Martin Wolf of the FT is terrified of the prime ministers pre-Keynesian views, as are we all.



Dan Hartnett a man who encapsulates where the British establishment is rotten to the core, Private Eye has been on his trail for a while. Have they finally got their man, even a Tory MP has called for him to go after Goldmans appear to have been given preferential treatment over a bankers bonus tax avoidance scheme.
Richard Murphy blogs that a new report shows that the 98 of the FTSE 100 hundred biggest companies use tax havens. It truly stinks.
Paul Krugman thinks something maybe afoot as the Occupy Wall street grows and even spreads its wings. Well we have to live in hope, i'm just not getting my hopes up too much.

Brett Anderson picks his baker's dozen which is fairly predictable, but i can't deny that i also love almost all of his list.
Andrew Pulver asks quietly is a golden age of British cinema, well as he cites it's certainly an improvement on the sad state of affairs that led to sex lives of the potato men.

I saw this recently on one of the BBC programmes celebrating the old grey whistle test, it's a brilliant cover of a great song, Johnny Winter.

Neville doesn't believe in England's chances

Gary Neville states the obvious, England have no chance of winning the 2012 European championship. I have said since the last world cup that whoever the manager was, they should have got shot of Capello, it was time to identify the best young players around and blood them. Take the pressure of by admitting we are building for the future and know that we are nowhere near as good as Germany, never mind Spain.
I do believe that we have got good players coming through, biased i may be, but most of them are at United. Jones, Smalling, Cleverley and Welbeck are all going to be top players. But Wilshere at Arsenal is another that can propser at the top level, Hart is a better keeper than England have had for a while. The new manager has to go for players comfortable with the ball at their feet and a good deal more adaptable than the Gerrard and Lampard's have turned out to be. Of course you could do with experience in the team but Rooney and Cole aside i'm not sure England have many to see out the next couple of years.
I'm not saying that this will lead to England reaching the holy grail of actually winning tournaments but at least we wouldn't suffer such embarrassing campaigns as last summer. Playing decent football should lead to England at least recovering it's status as a team that is equipped to reach quarter and semi finals again. It won't happen overnight though.

Henry Winter thought that Capello's gushing tributes to Phil Jones, premature, but agrees that Jones certainly could be special. But he needs to be played in his proper position in the heart of the defence. He is going to be an abolute world class player as hopefully will be Smalling, his future centre half partner for United and England.

United are to open new contract talks with last seasons loanee youngsters Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck after their impressive starts to the campaign. Last week former Chelski and AC Milan boss Ancelotti spoke of his admiration for Ferguson and namechecked Cleverley as a very strong player to watch.
The start of the season and the games we have seen since Cleverley's injury have only reinforced my view that Cleverley is the best and most important central midfield player at the club. But for us to really start to challenge Barca we need more players of his standard in the middle of the park to choose from. The question is do we wait for the youth to come through or do we go out and buy a Sneijder. I was hoping that Pogba would get more of chance, but if Fergie doesn't think he is ready you have to trust his judgement.

Was the reason for Jonny Evans poor display at home to Norwich last week because he is nursing an injury. He was withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad with an on going ankle problem. He seemed to have an on going ankle problem all last season.

Zonal marking asks why are Manchester United allowing so many shots on their own goal this season. Defensive injuries and not being able to keep a settled back four must be a big part of the problem. As the article says we have been playing an incredibly open game, since the game against City at Wembley in the chahrity shield it's been attack, attack, attack. But though Cleverley is not really a defensive player we have struggled to protect the back four since his injury.
At this moment in the season i can see us having a great chance to gain another league title, but with a more pourous defence than we have seen since the mid noughties it's hard to see us reaching Munich. That's not to say we won't, we have the experience of getting to three finals in four years and that is invaluable. But that was bulit on a pretty settled back four and Van Der Sar behind them. I suppose a lot will depend how well De Gea and the back four gel as a unit.

Gill seems to have been at the mushrooms as he talks of a potential United valuation of £2.5 million.

UEFA admit United fans had a case when they attacked French policing before, during and after United's game at Marseille in the Champions league last season.
Fergie told the press that he was concerned by the lack of full allocation's United fans continue to receive in the premiership. There are mixed views on this amongst United's away faithful, with some thinking it's United fans own fault, not for standing but for blocking the stairway's.

It was nice to see United step in last week to buy the medals put up by Tony Dunne for auction last week.
There was an interesting debate last week on one of the United message boards last week, i can't remember which about what the modern day players will do with their medals and gongs in later life. They won't have to seel them to provide for themselves or their families, or will there. I could see that there may be some that still will have to do this myself, what with the modern day footballer lifestyle and all.

After Fergies claim that Rooney can become United's leading goalscorer of all time, the Evening news look at United's goalscoring greats. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, Denis Law has a new book out, My life in football.

I have had a look at it and it looks excellent, there are some great photos of him in it.

Roy harper pays tribute to his fellow folkie and brilliant guitarist Bert Jansch who passed away earlier this week. Ken Hunt describes a guitarist who influenced his peers across five decacdes in an Indie obituary. Barnaby Smith remembers in the folk guitarist and Pentangle member a unique talent in the Quietus.
I have only heard a couple of his early solo albums, but they are very good. His last album, The black swan was also excellent but i have heard a fair bit of Pentangle and have to say when they were good they were superb. His interplay with John Renbourn and the rhthym section of Danny Thompson and Terry Cox that were so superb produced that unique mix of folk and jazz that made them so unique.

Paddy Considine's directorial debut Tyrannosaur has been getting glowing reviews, Ryan Gilbey compares Olivia Coleman's performance to Kathy Burke's in Gary Oldman's brilliant Nil by mouth. The latest Quietus features an interview with Considine which focuses on how much his recently diagnosed Aspergers syndrome influences his work.
Peter Mullan takes the opposing lead role and he is usually a guarantee of something well worth watching. I watched him in On a clear day a couple of weeks back, and whilst it's no masterpiece, it is a pretty criminal state of affairs that most people in this country will never have heard of it, never mind seen it.

John Gray reviews Christopher Hitchens latest ( last ) book, Arguably. Whether you agree with him or not Hitchens is always a riveting read. I prefer his arguments against religion to Dawkins as he can't help but pepper them liberally with his unique brand of humour.
Gray makes a suprising but probably correct interpretation of Hitchens as a believer, he has never renounced his support for the neo con project, even after it has patently failed both in it's own terms and in realpolitik terms.

Steve Richards leaves the party political conference season distinctly unimpressed, he claims epic times call for better than this. Andrew Rawnsley continues the theme arguing that the conference season was like spending three weeks in Liliput.
The Economist argues that with the economy struggling David Cameron must raise his game. And goes on to urge him to continue with the same old failed neo liberal ideas that have brought the country and the world economy to the brink of ruin. Now that magazine really can be described as a believer.

As the Telegraph reports the occupy Wall street protests spreading across the States and across the world, Will Hutton argues that George Osborne will have to drop the pretence that he is a conservative chancellor and fully embrace the philosophy which proves everything he has believed is false. Ouch. Rupert Cornwell wonders as capitalsim's heart is occupied, where it will all lead.
He has failed to take his fellow travellers with him, Frasier Nelson was unimpressed with Osborne's new found Keynesian credit plans, they really want to go down with all guns blazing, just blazing away at the wrong thing, inflation, when it's deflation that we ought to be fighting. Jeremy Warner agrees with Willie Walsh that we're talking ourselves into a crisis, but their perfect markets don't seem to agree.

Larry Elliott warns the market panic reflects a growing mood thatGreece will default triggering another great depression. Richard Murphy issues a memo to Mervyn King after Frday's press briefings: please don't understate the crisis.
David Blanchflower writes that Mervyn King can't be pleased, the MPC is in a hole and as in the US our economic forecasts were wrong all along, which of course he has been warning about since he left the MPC.
Paul Mason, one of the journo's King didn't brief, which Mason tweeted ironically, blogs on why we need to think outside of the 1930's box. I'm no fan of the kind of free market globalisation that we are governed by at the moment, but whatever replaces it, as replaced it must be, it's to be hoped we don't fall back into 1930's isolationism of countries doing their own thing in their own interests. When you think about it you realise how fundamentally it would change our whole lifestyle and quality of life.

Richard Lambert uses this Prospect column to ask can Britain make it? Can Britain start making things again. It will be very hard, especially whilst the city of London dictates government policy. Unfortunately the history of this country shows we are second to none at inventing, but not very good at expoliting those inventions. At least that's from where the yanks and Germans caught us up from the 1870's onwards. But as Will Hutton wrote in his column that can be put down to the establishment's decision to prioritise the city of London over our manufacturing base. When that stops, maybe the country has a chance, but there isn't much chance of that happening this side of another financial collapse.

A briilaint piece by Theo Padnos on the importance of the Sunni-Alawi rivalry and the role of the Alawi faith to the ruling elite under the Hassad family. I have to admit to knowing next to nothing about the importance of the Alawi creed to the regime.

Welbek to repay the faith

Danny Welbeck is eager to repay the faith that Ferguson has shown in him. He has looked good so far this season, he offers more all around the pitch than Hernandez and has more pace and dynamism than Berbatov. Five goals so far, is a pretty good return as well. Kevin Mcarra is suitably impressed with the youngsters attitude as he talks to the press ahead of England's final qualifier.
Interesting to read the interview with Scholes in yesterday's Observer namecheck Will Keane. If he is right and i like the look of him as well, we will end up with two homegrown strikers in the squad. Keane seems to have that extra bit of class you need for the top level, he defintely knows where the goals are.
I agree with Scholes when he says that Mancini is messing Tevez about, but the Argentine has nobody to blame but himself for that. Even if City cut their losses and sell him for a cutprice £20 million in the January window, i'm not sure who will be willing to take a chance on him.

Rory Smith believes that United desperately need Nemanja Vidic back in the heart of defence. I can't really argue with that, but United have done well to go through this period of so many dfensive injuries unbeaten, however unsure we have been over the last three or four games. I would like to see the end of the Valencia at right back experiment though.
I'd like to see Cleverley back in the fold as well, but Fergie beleives that our injured players need to get some proper training in the bank before he will think about playing them at Anfield.
The manager reckons he has three or four years left in charge of the club, and that when he finishes he will leave a strong youthful squad for the new manager. It seem to me he wants to be in charge to bring the present generation of youth players through the first team. Jose won't be very happy.

Ro Ferdinand was left out of the England squad named last week, it may well be that he hasn't proved his fitness, but i think his days as England regular as well as a United regular are effectively over.

Steve Richards was one of the political commentators to applaud Ed Miliband's speech, let the battle of idea's commence is his hope. Peter Oborne agrees arguing whether you like it or not, Miliband has redefined the future of British politics.
Will Hutton says the right and Blairites may sneer but Ed Miliband was right to challenge the old order. Charles Moore writes that Cameron needs to do more than whistle in the dark.

Mary Dejevsky asks never mind if their will be a Palestinian state, will Israel even exist in 2048, it's a fair question.

Martin Wolf of the FT argues it is time to think the unthinkable if we are to avoid a lost decade that would leave no positive legacy and start printing again. The BBC's world servive asks leading figures whether they thought western capitalism had failed. Lord Desai seems very pessimistic, i would argue that the neoliberal capitalistic model has failed. Germany doesn't seem to be doing too badly, though if it doesn't bail out the Eurozone periphery it will have shot itself in the foot.

Richard Murphy is happy that a Robin Hood tax is back on the agenda. It's obviously not a bad idea but it's very much a minor matter compared to the restructuring of western capitalism to serve the people and not the lite. Robert Peston asks how scary is a financial transactions tax, not very would be the answer.
Jeremy Warner thinks the idea smacks of protectionism, i would say it sounds like going out on a limb, doing the right thing and setting an example to the rest of the world. Lord Turner who thinks such a tax would be a good thing, argues the free market cannot be trusted to deliver the credit needed to allow the economy to function and grow.

Robert Reich claims America faces a jobs depression and argues that President Obama has to campaign at the 2012 election on a bold plan for growth and jobs.

Music
Charles Mingus - The black saint and the sinner: I'm not generally a fan of big band music, though i like film score music. But i make an exception for Charles Mingus who who really explores the outer fringes of where this music could go. This is brilliant, he thought it was possibly his best work.

Mathias Eick - Skala: Ambient jazz doesn't sound a promising genre, but after a couple of listens i got into this. It's nothing special but an enjoyable listen.

Metronomy - The English riviera: Highly rated new UK indie outfit's third album hits the spot. Formerly a kind of dance/rock band this has more of a quirky kind of 80's indie feel about it to me. It's one of the better efforts by a British band this year.

Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones: Of course i have heard the brilliant Chuck E's in love, but i have never heard the debut album it sprang from. It's an excellent female singer/songwriter's album with multiple influences such as the jazz that pops up from time to time.

Seasick Steve - You can't teach an old dog new tricks: When he first came to the attention of the music press, i thought the hype was a little over the top. But i have to admit to really liking this, there is some great slide guitar playing on this and the pace varies. The slower folier songs are as good as the more rockier blues numbers.

The Japanese popstars - Controlling your allegiance: The album starts with a bang with the excellent Let go and the quality doesn't lessen on this album from the Northern Ireland electronic trio. Take froever with Robert Smith of the cure is one of a number of excellent collaborations to adorn the album.