United's made a first pre-season visit to red mad Scandanavia in a years and came away unbeaten, but goalless as well. With just a couple more games to go it's not too easy to know what to expect at Goodison park on Monday 19th. I thought United played pretty well against Valengra and should have won, but couldn't concert superiority and chances into goals.
The better test was the Barca game, and i suppose we came through that decently enough. I was a bit worried when i saw the team and the formation played, i'm not convinced we'll ever get the better of Barca playing 4-4-2. And especially if Anderson is one of the two in the centre of the pitch.
The first five minutes brought back bad memories as United sat back unable to get the ball, it was Wembley all over again. But slowly United got into it, and looked as threatening as the Catalan's going foward. It was great to see Scholes spraying it around sublimely, but the comparison between the 38 year old and the man next to him was embarrassing. Carrick and Scholes badly need Cleverley to stay fit this season, if we are going to stay with this system.
I think we all thought that this season might see us slightly alter our tactical approach this season after some of the maulings we have received in Europe recently, but it's not looking that way so far. I'm not convinced about starting Valencia starting at right back, as dangerous as it allows us to be going forward, he isn't the best defender as was shown when we were ripped completely open twice down the right hand side in the first half, but Barca were unable to profit either time. It's a good option when we are chasing a game and really going for it.
Nani was at his frustraing best as Crerand coined it, but all that frustration aside, when he's at it, he can open up the best defence's. Rooney is a concern, forget the penalty miss, he was miles off the pace in both games, he really does seem to need longer to reach match fitness, given his age than seems reasonable. The only forward who seems in touch and looking good for the start of the season is the new signing Kagawa, if we are going to call him a forward that is.
It was nice to see Michael Keane get a start in Norway, and given he was played out of position at left back, i thought he did reasonably well. One thing i liked about his performance was the lack of nerves he showed and his ability to play his natural game, he got in goal scoring opportunities a couple of times and wasn't afraid to take his man on. I'm coming to the conclusion that both the Keane brothers will eventually be first team squad regulars for Manchester United eventually.
Talking of Van Persie before, makes me wonder what will happen to brother Will when he recovers from his cruciate injury. Will there be suitors to take a young lad with no pre-season on loan for the second half of the season. And it definitely makes me wonder about the season after, if, big if again mind, the Dutchman is prised away from the gunners, that would leave us with a strikeforce of Rooney, Van Persie, Welbeck, Hernandez and Will Keane. That seems one to many in my eyes.
Music
Bass Clef - Reeling skullways: This outfit don't seem to make any headlines or threaten the mainstream, but they don't half hit the spot for me. The classed as drum and bass, but there more than that for me.
Hot chip - In our heads: The critics darlings, each of there efforts have been loved by the crtics, and whilst i have liked the two albums preceeding this, i haven't thought they were quite as good as the reviews they received. This album is their best effort to date for me, absolutely no fillers on this.
Regina Spektor - What we saw from the cheap seats: A bit of a marmite artist, you either love her leftfield quirkiness or you don't. I can't stand marmite but i like Regina Spektor and this is another cracking album.
Ruben Blades and Willie Colon -Siembra: If you'd have told me i'd like salsa when i was in my teens, i'd have laughed in your face, but the laugh would have been on me, because here i am now and i just love that hypnotic groove. This is supposedly one of it's classic discs and it is superb.
The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet: Completely different fair this, prog meets punk from the duo formerly in the recently reformed At the drive in. It's good without being anywhere near their best.
The soundtrack of their lives - Throw it to the universe: The Swede's last album isn't a bad way to go out, chock full of cracking tunes as ever. The more you listen the better it gets.
The better test was the Barca game, and i suppose we came through that decently enough. I was a bit worried when i saw the team and the formation played, i'm not convinced we'll ever get the better of Barca playing 4-4-2. And especially if Anderson is one of the two in the centre of the pitch.
The first five minutes brought back bad memories as United sat back unable to get the ball, it was Wembley all over again. But slowly United got into it, and looked as threatening as the Catalan's going foward. It was great to see Scholes spraying it around sublimely, but the comparison between the 38 year old and the man next to him was embarrassing. Carrick and Scholes badly need Cleverley to stay fit this season, if we are going to stay with this system.
I think we all thought that this season might see us slightly alter our tactical approach this season after some of the maulings we have received in Europe recently, but it's not looking that way so far. I'm not convinced about starting Valencia starting at right back, as dangerous as it allows us to be going forward, he isn't the best defender as was shown when we were ripped completely open twice down the right hand side in the first half, but Barca were unable to profit either time. It's a good option when we are chasing a game and really going for it.
Nani was at his frustraing best as Crerand coined it, but all that frustration aside, when he's at it, he can open up the best defence's. Rooney is a concern, forget the penalty miss, he was miles off the pace in both games, he really does seem to need longer to reach match fitness, given his age than seems reasonable. The only forward who seems in touch and looking good for the start of the season is the new signing Kagawa, if we are going to call him a forward that is.
It was nice to see Michael Keane get a start in Norway, and given he was played out of position at left back, i thought he did reasonably well. One thing i liked about his performance was the lack of nerves he showed and his ability to play his natural game, he got in goal scoring opportunities a couple of times and wasn't afraid to take his man on. I'm coming to the conclusion that both the Keane brothers will eventually be first team squad regulars for Manchester United eventually.
Talking of Van Persie before, makes me wonder what will happen to brother Will when he recovers from his cruciate injury. Will there be suitors to take a young lad with no pre-season on loan for the second half of the season. And it definitely makes me wonder about the season after, if, big if again mind, the Dutchman is prised away from the gunners, that would leave us with a strikeforce of Rooney, Van Persie, Welbeck, Hernandez and Will Keane. That seems one to many in my eyes.
Music
Bass Clef - Reeling skullways: This outfit don't seem to make any headlines or threaten the mainstream, but they don't half hit the spot for me. The classed as drum and bass, but there more than that for me.
Hot chip - In our heads: The critics darlings, each of there efforts have been loved by the crtics, and whilst i have liked the two albums preceeding this, i haven't thought they were quite as good as the reviews they received. This album is their best effort to date for me, absolutely no fillers on this.
Regina Spektor - What we saw from the cheap seats: A bit of a marmite artist, you either love her leftfield quirkiness or you don't. I can't stand marmite but i like Regina Spektor and this is another cracking album.
Ruben Blades and Willie Colon -Siembra: If you'd have told me i'd like salsa when i was in my teens, i'd have laughed in your face, but the laugh would have been on me, because here i am now and i just love that hypnotic groove. This is supposedly one of it's classic discs and it is superb.
The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet: Completely different fair this, prog meets punk from the duo formerly in the recently reformed At the drive in. It's good without being anywhere near their best.
The soundtrack of their lives - Throw it to the universe: The Swede's last album isn't a bad way to go out, chock full of cracking tunes as ever. The more you listen the better it gets.
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