United on tour

It's been a reasonably encouraging tour as far as I'm concerned so far, given that I'm of the opinion that flying half way around the world is no way to prepare for the new season.
It's always nice to see some youngsters get valuable time on the same pitch as some of our big guns and we have seen plenty of that so far. In fact our three stand out players so far have been Januzaj, Lingard and perhaps the most impressive has been Zaha. There has been talk of Zaha going back out on loan for six months, i really can't see why that should happen. He's nowhere near the finished article, sure, but he showed enough for Place last season and has shown enough on tour so far to believe that he has got more than enough to offer our first team this season. In fact if Nani goes, as we all expect, he would be the only wide man left at the club who actually likes to take his man on, and is capable of beating his man.
Lingard hasn't surprised me to be honest, i believe wherever he ends up during his career, of course hopefully it'll be United, he will score goals. As ever for me, it's finding a position and a formation to suit him. I'm not really sure he's fits a static 4-4-2, he seems to be best in the kind of formations the reserves play, a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, he's at his best floating behind the front man, not a number ten though. I'd like to see him stay at United myself, introduce him gradually into the first team squad as a substitute and getting the occasional game against the premier league's lesser lights. But it will all be dependent on who comes in and who goes out i suppose.
Last player I'll mention will be Januzaj, who it seems has finally caught the eye of the United support that doesn't follow the younger lads. I like the way Moyes has used him, showing faith in him giving him almost a free role at times. He's showed the class he's got, i definitely want to see him around our first team squad. As we saw over the last six months with the under 21's he will rise to whatever challenge is thrown at him. Again he's not the finished article by any means, but i believe he is already more than good enough to have an impact in the premier league as long as he is handled correctly.

I can't say I'm very impressed by the all new singing dancing Ed Woodward transfer strategy of leaking to all and sundry, including apparently telling people such and such is a done deal. I don't blame anybody for losing out to Bayern for the signature of Thiago, given the Pep connections, though that was the player i really wanted. But it seemed strange to then go out the very next day and tell the world you've put on official bid in for Fabregas. Given what's happened to that club since, it wasn't the best timing. We'll look pretty stupid, if we don't land Fabregas, because i can't see us landing either Bale or Ronaldo.
Gary Neville got some stick for his comments that he'd sooner see us stick with our up and coming kids than go out and buy for buying stakes. But I'm totally with him on that, sure I'd love at least one central midfield replacement, but he would have to be of the requisite standard. Some of the players I've seen us linked with, don't shake any trees for me, I definitely don't want to see Fellaini or Cabaye anywhere near Old trafford next season.


Music

Bill Ryder-Jones - A bad wind blows in my heart: The second solo album from the ex Coral man, continues the good impression of his debut. More singer/songwriter than the film score style of its predecessor, it hits the spot again.

British Sea Power - Machineries of joy: One of the best UK indie bands of the last decade, it's another impressive set of songs.

Charles Bradley - Victim of love: I saw the documentary that floowed the lead up to his first album, an what an amazing back story to a superb vocalist it showed. He's still on form with this second, he and his Daptone backing band deliver the goods again.

Charlie Byrd - Brazilian Byrd: I loved his samba album in collaboration with Stan Getz, but to be honest couldn't stand this. Instead of Getz and his band is a schmaltzy string section, and i could only get through the album without turning it off a couple of times.

Mavis Staples - You are not alone: This was the first album where she collaborated with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, she's just brought out another. Great modern soul with Tweedy providing a gritty musical backing.

Primal Scream - More light: I saw one critic describe this album as their best since Screamadelica, i thought it was probably hyperbole as they have made some pretty decent albums since then, i loved XTRMNTR. But it's pretty darn good and definitely has a claim to that accolade. It starts as it means to go with the superb 2013.

u-ziq - Chewed corners: I'll be honest, as much as do love good electronic music, i probably listen more to guitar music as far as modern music goes. So i can still only be getting around to listening to an artist as good as this guy. Absolutely superb album, not as experimental as his earlier stuff, so I've read, every track is a cracker.

Off off and away

It was interesting to see the squad taken out to the far east, some reds have moaned at the lack of new faces. I'm afraid i looked and saw Rooney still at the club, I'm hoping that won't be the case come seasons start. And i saw the name of Anderson and i start to fear that he is to be given yet another season to prove that he can bring something to the party. I know it's a new manager, and the usual mantra is to wipe the slate clean and give everybody a fair crack of the whip. But i can't believe he ever looked a United midfield, whilst Everton manager and didn't think he'd have a better chance with our rotund Brazilian in it.
Moans aside, I'm looking forward to seeing Zaha in a red shirt and to see how the three young lads, Michael Keane, Lingard and Januzaj go on. I think all three of them have a chance, in fact I'm as certain as you can be that Keane and Januzaj will be first team players at some stage in the near future. It's a pity for Larnell Cole that he was away with England under 20's because i would have liked to have seen him travel. I though Will Keane might have travelled, i can only assume he is going to be introduced gently back into the playing side after his lengthy lay off with that bad knee injury.
As for the trip, welcome, David Moyes, to the crazy pre-season world of Manchester United. If our squad are anywhere near 100% for those vital first few games after globe trotting for the Yankee dollar, I'm a Dutchman.


Music

Deerhunter - Monomania: One of my favourite indie groups of the last few years, they have come up with another cracking piece of alternative rock. Groups like Deerhunter, Deerhoof and others haven't forgotten the alternative element of indie, yet still deliver memorable songs and albums.

James Blake - Overgrown: He seems to be a bit of a marmite artist, you either like him or hate him, his vocals seems to put a lot of people off. I'm in the pro camp, though i have to admit once I've finished listening to his latest album i don't generally go back to them very often. This carries on from his debut, no great changes to my ears.

Lady - Lady: Another belting slice of soul from this trans Atlantic duo, there have been some cracking neo soul albums over the last couple of years, and you can add this that list, chocca full of catchy tunes backed by an excellent backing band.

Savages- Silence yourself: This all female UK indie bands debut was pretty heavily hyped when it came out, and it didn't take me too many listens to agree with the hype for once. Very post-punk, bass led, it's got the tracks to back up the hype.

The 24 carat black - Ghetto: Misfortune's wealth: A bit of a lost classic, a tremendous album of early 70's funk/soul with the emphasis on the former. The groove builds as the album gets into its stride, excellent.

The Knife - Shaking the habitual: I haven't heard this Swedish electronic act before, this had very good reviews, and it it's well worth a listen. It's on the experimental side of the genre, it overstays its welcome a touch by the end, but there's a lot to recommend it.

Vampire weekend - Modern vampires of the city: The New York based indie/world music crossover's third album carries on a run of excellent albums. Another US indie band that don't forget the alternative element, yet bring out albums full of great tunes.

 

Attack part 2

Antonio Valencia - What happened, he ended last season in pretty good form, think of the goal at Blackburn amongst other impressive performances. He isn't a really top player, anybody who has as much problem using their left foot as he does can't really be. But he is a he is a one trick pony who could keep on delivering that trick to the benefit of the forwards in the box.
Almost from the get go this season, he has been a shadow of what we know he can be. He has become loathe to ever try and take his man on, when that was what his game was all about. There are rumours that he had been playing with an injury or had an injury that has effected his performance. Whatever the reason, he can't really carry that form into a new season, especially with a new manager to impress. The coming season will be a big one for a few players, but none more so that our number seven.

Ashley Young - He had flattered to deceive with his blistering start to last season, but was one of a host of players to be afflicted with injury problems for the rest of the season. So whilst i wouldn't say his first season was a failure, he didn't really shake the perception that whilst he was a decent squad man, you wouldn't be seeing him too often for the really big games.
His second season wasn't too different really, he had the odd decent game, but had too many games where he just couldn't get into the game. By the end of the season he was generally a leading candidate for first to replaced, when he did actually start a game, never really a good sign with Fergie as manager. From what I've seen and read, the fact that he doesn't shirk the defensive side of things will probably mean Moyes will give him a chance. He needs to up his game considerably though if he is to remain at United into next season.

Nani - What's to be said about this guy, for all the unbelievably dire performance we get from him, he is still capable of putting in performance in like the one he gave against Real Madrid before being unluckily sent off. The talent is there, but something is missing.
You would imagine he will leave this summer, but who knows, Moyes could see him as a challenge, can he get the consistently good form out of him, that seems to have eluded Fergie and his coaching staff. Let's face it a consistent Nani is definitely worth keeping, it's just that the inconsistent Nani is what we see far more often. If he does leave, he will be one player i will try to keep an eye out for, not really something that i normally do.


Music

Alvin Lee - On the road to freedom: I have never really heard much of Lee or Ten years after surprisingly enough as i've always thought i would probably like them. Listening to this early solo album, i was right. Blues/country rock, it's middle of the road i suppose, but it's a sound that i love.

Billy Bragg - Tooth and nail: The latest Bragg album is a bit of a humdinger, more acoustic than electric, the songwritings pretty consistent.

Bob Dylan - Tempest: i can't remember which critic argued that his the reviews for Dylan's last two or three albums have been a touch over the top and whilst they have been pretty good, they're nowhere near his classic periods. There isn't much more to be said really, this is a decent album with a handful of really good songs interspersed with a couple that outstay there welcome a touch for me.

Brandt Brauer Frick - Miami: I enjoyed this from the German techno group, minimalist at times, electro/pop at others, it's a definite grower.

.Jackie Deshannon - Keep me in mind - The completeimperial liberty singles 1964-1967: I enjoyed this from the influential pioneering female singerof the early 60's, the originals are good and the covers work reasonably well. I didn't know she had been a partner of Jimmy Page both musically and personally for a short while.

Suede - Bloodsports: I wasn't that enamoured with this return when i first heard it, especially since i had heard good things about it. It's since grown on me, it's a cut above what passes for a lot of UK indie nowadays, but it's not really got the songs to compete with their back catalogue.

The Lions - This generation: Reggae seems to be enjoying a bit of renaissance at the moment, and this excellent album won't harm it's renewed popularity. Towards the easier listening end of the spectrum, naturally enough i suppose for a group based in LA.