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.
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.
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