Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell were introduced to the press yesterday at the end of the first week of pre-seasons training. Watching it, it could be entertaining watching Fergie trying to handle the Japanese press as the season goes on, i'm presuming United's commercial department would want him to treat them with kid gloves.
Kagawa told us he was impressed with everything so far, he prefers playing behind the main striker, he can handle the pressure of being the first Japanese player at the club and he is eager to improve. I don't think he will play in that preferred position every game or in even for every 90 minutes in his first season at the club.
Gary Neville reveals why he see no problems in Kagawa fitting into the Manchester United family quickly and reveals he can't wait to see how he fits in. He also makes the point that it takes a good player to help a club knock Bayern Munich of their perch as Dortmund have for the past couple of seasons, especially last year when they did the double over them.
Fergie revealed that United have been following Powell for most of the season and went ahead and did the deal to sign him before the play off's. He laso revealed that United see him as a central midfield player, something which the player was happy with. That looks like there won't be any more midfielder's coming in the transfer window then.
More news on the youngster front, Pogba;s move to Juve will supposedly see Uniteed receive £800,000 in compo. Sky sports claim that John Cofie will go to Sheffield United on loan, i thought he would have been championship level, but at least he should see plenty of action. I can never quite make my mind up what level he will end up at, he's big powerful, quick and knows where the goals are, he won't make it at United, but could be a premier league player eventually, working his way there a la Ebanks-Blake.
Next season will be a big one fo Josh King, i was hoping he would impress out on loan last season, but his injury at Broussia Monchengladbach set him right back. He was another who looked like he had a real chance of making it at United, it looks less likely now, which is why this will be such a big season for him.
With the presumed move of Fryers move to Tottenham, the England football blog takes a look at Tyler Blackett, the reason some of us weren't that suprised United didn't bust a gut to keep him. I'm not saying i think Blackett's acert to make it, because he's not, but he has more of a chance of making at United than Fryers had. I will be looking to see what progress Blackett makes over the coming season. He is a big lad and some times you can't help feeling that these players look great at youth level until their opponents grow and fill out at around 19 to 20 years old. I thought he played well in the Youth cup run, but when he played against Chelsea, whom matched his pace and build, he tended to run inside with the ball when blocked and especially at their place lost the ball too often. I actually though he looked better at centre back, but United seem to see him as a left back.
There had been rumblings around twitter and the various United sites that United would be open to bids for Anderson now that Park had left the club. Does this interview on the official website mean that we are to be stuck with him one more season.
Whilst never having been a big fan of Park i recognise that he was a more than decent squad member and especially whilst Ronaldo was at the club, was an essential part of it. Apart from a couple of months during his first season, whilst Scholes was out injured, i've never seen the qualities that have convinced others Anderson would make the grade. His inability to find a red shirt when passing, his goal scoring record, his fitness, his lack of positional sense, his injury record over five years and the lack of progress, suggest a player we really should have shown the door to by now.
Things don't sound too promising for Darren Fletcher's future as a professional footballer as Fergie announces he won't be going on United's pre-season tour and that there would be a place for him at the club, if things don't work out for the lad.
I suppose given his condition, the ridiculous amount of travelling involved in the summer's pre-season would be the last thing his body needs. Still it's hard to see him ever getting back to the condition that hurt us so much when he was ruled out of the 2009 chaampions league final in Rome, where he was so badly missed against Barca. He has been a big miss to us over the last couple of seasons, if we'd have had a fully fit Fletcher we wouldn't have bemoaned our paucity of recources in midfiedl half as much.
Andersred postulates on the real reasons for the Glazer's IPO of United and reasons for their about turn on the club's debt. I suppose if that were true, you would have to wonder how serious for the siblings it would be for the IPO to go tits up. I have wondered if apart from the obvious financial restrictions, one of the reasons Fergie has not signed any central midfielders was because he was waiting for youth set up to start producing first team players over the next few seasons.
The theory went up in smoke last season, with Morrison self destructing his own career and then Pogba leaving the club, though he hadn't shown enough for me to show that he would have made it at the club anyway. I like the look of Mats Daehli from last years youth set up, but he is at least a couple of years away from the first team. I suppose the brightest prospect from last years reserve outfit is Larnell Cole, he talks the official site about last year's campaign, his hopes at the club and his willingness to go out on loan.
My worry for him, if he goes on loan is to how many minutes on the pitch he will get and whether the loanee club's manager would be brave enough to play a small'un in the middle of the park. As with all last season's reserve squad this will be a big season for him. He is obviously highly rated at the club, Scholesy picked him out whilst coaching for the reserves, a three year contract really is a signal of faith in his ability.
Music
Dirty three - Towards the sun: This was the first time i had heard this Aussie trio, a situation i'm glad to have rectified as i really like their latest album. I'm not sure who you could compare them to, it's a kind of psychedelic wig out type of affair, but the electric violin gives them a unique sound.
Flaviola E O Bando Do Sol - Flaviola E O Bando Do Sol: The only album released from this Brazillian artist in the mid seventies, it sounds like kind of seventies tropicalia, latin progfolk you could call it. It's pretty good, short but sweet.
Gang colours - The keychain collection: A decent debut album from this UK techno artist Will Ozanne, a slow burner, it grows on you. It's reasonably radio friendly, not in a dancefloor way though.
Jack White - Blunderbluss: The White stripe man's first proper solo album is yet another triumph for the man. I read one reviewer arguing it fused the best of his first group with his later stuff with The Raconteurs and Dead weather. When i read that i thought yeh right, but it's near the truth, though i,m not sure its best tracks are as good as the very best of his White stripes and Raconteurs albums, still excellent though.
Jackson Browne - Jackson Browne: The west coast singer/songwriter's debut album is a pretty good first effort. I've heard bits and pices of Browne, but i never really given him a chance, on the two albums i've listened to so far, i'd say he was good, but i haven't heard anything to compare so far to James Martin's sweet baby James or Gene Clark's No other
Spiritualized - Sweet heart sweet light: Every time i hear Jason Pierce's latest album it sounds like he's trying to recreate Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space. There's nothing wrong with that i suppose, it's a classic album, but i always have to get that out of my head. This is another pretty good effort that doesn't really get near the brilliance of said album.
Kagawa told us he was impressed with everything so far, he prefers playing behind the main striker, he can handle the pressure of being the first Japanese player at the club and he is eager to improve. I don't think he will play in that preferred position every game or in even for every 90 minutes in his first season at the club.
Gary Neville reveals why he see no problems in Kagawa fitting into the Manchester United family quickly and reveals he can't wait to see how he fits in. He also makes the point that it takes a good player to help a club knock Bayern Munich of their perch as Dortmund have for the past couple of seasons, especially last year when they did the double over them.
Fergie revealed that United have been following Powell for most of the season and went ahead and did the deal to sign him before the play off's. He laso revealed that United see him as a central midfield player, something which the player was happy with. That looks like there won't be any more midfielder's coming in the transfer window then.
More news on the youngster front, Pogba;s move to Juve will supposedly see Uniteed receive £800,000 in compo. Sky sports claim that John Cofie will go to Sheffield United on loan, i thought he would have been championship level, but at least he should see plenty of action. I can never quite make my mind up what level he will end up at, he's big powerful, quick and knows where the goals are, he won't make it at United, but could be a premier league player eventually, working his way there a la Ebanks-Blake.
Next season will be a big one fo Josh King, i was hoping he would impress out on loan last season, but his injury at Broussia Monchengladbach set him right back. He was another who looked like he had a real chance of making it at United, it looks less likely now, which is why this will be such a big season for him.
With the presumed move of Fryers move to Tottenham, the England football blog takes a look at Tyler Blackett, the reason some of us weren't that suprised United didn't bust a gut to keep him. I'm not saying i think Blackett's acert to make it, because he's not, but he has more of a chance of making at United than Fryers had. I will be looking to see what progress Blackett makes over the coming season. He is a big lad and some times you can't help feeling that these players look great at youth level until their opponents grow and fill out at around 19 to 20 years old. I thought he played well in the Youth cup run, but when he played against Chelsea, whom matched his pace and build, he tended to run inside with the ball when blocked and especially at their place lost the ball too often. I actually though he looked better at centre back, but United seem to see him as a left back.
There had been rumblings around twitter and the various United sites that United would be open to bids for Anderson now that Park had left the club. Does this interview on the official website mean that we are to be stuck with him one more season.
Whilst never having been a big fan of Park i recognise that he was a more than decent squad member and especially whilst Ronaldo was at the club, was an essential part of it. Apart from a couple of months during his first season, whilst Scholes was out injured, i've never seen the qualities that have convinced others Anderson would make the grade. His inability to find a red shirt when passing, his goal scoring record, his fitness, his lack of positional sense, his injury record over five years and the lack of progress, suggest a player we really should have shown the door to by now.
Things don't sound too promising for Darren Fletcher's future as a professional footballer as Fergie announces he won't be going on United's pre-season tour and that there would be a place for him at the club, if things don't work out for the lad.
I suppose given his condition, the ridiculous amount of travelling involved in the summer's pre-season would be the last thing his body needs. Still it's hard to see him ever getting back to the condition that hurt us so much when he was ruled out of the 2009 chaampions league final in Rome, where he was so badly missed against Barca. He has been a big miss to us over the last couple of seasons, if we'd have had a fully fit Fletcher we wouldn't have bemoaned our paucity of recources in midfiedl half as much.
Andersred postulates on the real reasons for the Glazer's IPO of United and reasons for their about turn on the club's debt. I suppose if that were true, you would have to wonder how serious for the siblings it would be for the IPO to go tits up. I have wondered if apart from the obvious financial restrictions, one of the reasons Fergie has not signed any central midfielders was because he was waiting for youth set up to start producing first team players over the next few seasons.
The theory went up in smoke last season, with Morrison self destructing his own career and then Pogba leaving the club, though he hadn't shown enough for me to show that he would have made it at the club anyway. I like the look of Mats Daehli from last years youth set up, but he is at least a couple of years away from the first team. I suppose the brightest prospect from last years reserve outfit is Larnell Cole, he talks the official site about last year's campaign, his hopes at the club and his willingness to go out on loan.
My worry for him, if he goes on loan is to how many minutes on the pitch he will get and whether the loanee club's manager would be brave enough to play a small'un in the middle of the park. As with all last season's reserve squad this will be a big season for him. He is obviously highly rated at the club, Scholesy picked him out whilst coaching for the reserves, a three year contract really is a signal of faith in his ability.
Music
Dirty three - Towards the sun: This was the first time i had heard this Aussie trio, a situation i'm glad to have rectified as i really like their latest album. I'm not sure who you could compare them to, it's a kind of psychedelic wig out type of affair, but the electric violin gives them a unique sound.
Flaviola E O Bando Do Sol - Flaviola E O Bando Do Sol: The only album released from this Brazillian artist in the mid seventies, it sounds like kind of seventies tropicalia, latin progfolk you could call it. It's pretty good, short but sweet.
Gang colours - The keychain collection: A decent debut album from this UK techno artist Will Ozanne, a slow burner, it grows on you. It's reasonably radio friendly, not in a dancefloor way though.
Jack White - Blunderbluss: The White stripe man's first proper solo album is yet another triumph for the man. I read one reviewer arguing it fused the best of his first group with his later stuff with The Raconteurs and Dead weather. When i read that i thought yeh right, but it's near the truth, though i,m not sure its best tracks are as good as the very best of his White stripes and Raconteurs albums, still excellent though.
Jackson Browne - Jackson Browne: The west coast singer/songwriter's debut album is a pretty good first effort. I've heard bits and pices of Browne, but i never really given him a chance, on the two albums i've listened to so far, i'd say he was good, but i haven't heard anything to compare so far to James Martin's sweet baby James or Gene Clark's No other
Spiritualized - Sweet heart sweet light: Every time i hear Jason Pierce's latest album it sounds like he's trying to recreate Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space. There's nothing wrong with that i suppose, it's a classic album, but i always have to get that out of my head. This is another pretty good effort that doesn't really get near the brilliance of said album.
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