Thursday, August 22, 2013

Signing, what singing!

It seems as if it's not just us mere fans, non plussed by United's transfer strategy this summer as Mike Phelan describes the joint £28 million bid for Fellaini and Baines as cheeky. He also wonders whether Woodward is as au fait at the art of spending money, as he was at bringing it in.
It's been a mess, that is for sure, i don't blame the club for going after Fabregas, if that's who they identified as the main recruitment for the central midfield vacancy we all know exists. What has been astonishing has been the ham fisted way they went about it. Even before the weekend, they were talking as if the deal could be resurrected. I presume Sunday evening's annihilation of Levante by Barca, masterminded mainly by Fabregas has finally put that to bed. What an embarrassment to La Liga that was by the way.
I'm of the school that would sooner we didn't buy anybody, if nobody of the requisite level is available. Some of the names the reds who would buy for buying's sake come up with, scare the life out of me. We all moan at Anderson and to a lesser extent Cleverley, so what is the point of buying another player who you can guarantee, wouldn't set the premier league alight never mind the rest of Europe.
As it happens, i think we will eventually snap up Fellaini, Everton have to sell at least one player every summer, which they haven't done yet. It seems United want to pay the minimum price which would suggest it will probably be nearer to transfer deadline day than next week. I can't say that was the summer transfer i was looking for, but if Moyes is right about his ability to be effective at the highest level as a holding central midfielder, it would strengthen us, and that's all you can ask for in a new player.

I was disappointed at the reports that whilst Januzaj is close to signing a new five year contract, he was told that United would like him to go on loan. And disappointed on a few levels, to me he's good enough now, look at Young and Valencia's form last season, if he keeps improving as he has been doing, he would be a far better bet against some of the lower lights than either of those two. And i don't care about keeping your squad happy, this guy is going to be a big part of our future, hopefully, I'd sooner keep him happy than those two.
I wasn't as pissed off with Pogba's departure as others, i didn't like his attitude much, his form for the reserves was piss poor for the most part. But Januzaj has said that Fergie had told him that he was going to be part of the first team squad this season, it doesn't look great that now we're apparently telling him he isn't. Especially as I've said, when he must know he's got far more in his locker than certain first team squad members we could all mention.
I watched him again on Monday playing for the under 21's in the disappointing 4-2 defeat to the dippers and once again he was fantastic. Yet another thing to like about his game, was the way that during the second half as United chased the game he took the responsibility as he team mates increasingly fed him the ball, even Cole and Lingard were searching him out. His football was majestic, he does things with a ball that defenders just can't anticipate. When he does make the move up, he won't disappoint. Since Ronaldo left, we haven't seen much fantasy football at United, we will see some when he breaks through, that's for sure.

Music

Avishai Cohen -  Triveni II: A pretty good mostly bop but sometimes modern jazz from the Israeli trumpet players band.

Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's harvest: The scottish electronic outfir aren't the most prolific, but they make up for that with the quality of their work. This another excellent down tempo piece of techno.

Laura Marling - Once i was an eagle: Her first two albums grew on me slowly, and this follows the same script. At first it sounds sort of decent singer/songwriter material, but grows into something far more interesting.

Mikal Cronin - MCII: Most of my favourite new indie at the moment seems to originate in California, and you can add this guy to the list. This is his third album, but the first i've heard, it's an excellent piece of garage guitar rock, it rocks and it's catchy.

Neon Neon - Praxis makes perfect: Is there any project that Gruff Rhys is involved in that doesn't have the stamp of quality. As with their first album, this is influenced by 80's synth pop and it's just as good.

The Fall - Re-Mit: The last two or three Fall albums have been excellent, whilst it definitely has it's moments and is a thoroughly good album, it's not quite up to that level. It starts excellently, but the best songs are at the beginning of the album, it tails off a touch towards the end.

The Orb Featuring Lee Scratch Perry - More tales from the observatory: A pairing made in heaven, the ambient electronica of the Orb mixed with the dub meister Perry. It works pretty well, starting with the excellent Fussball. Critics thought it was a downgrade from their previous collaboration, i 'll have to get around to hearing that if that's the case.


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