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.