Manchester United 3-2 A.S. Roma

Back down to Earth, as far as I'm concerned, playing against decent opposition, we were far less impressive, regardless of the scoreline. Even during the first half when we scored the three goals, we never really got a hold of the game.
The three goals that came in quick succession during the last ten minutes of the opening half, came from nowhere really, as we had hardly been in the game. Obviously the fact that we have the quality to be able to do that, augurs well, but it would have been interesting to have seen how our team would have reacted if Roma had have taken one of the chances they created during the first twenty minutes or so when they were the team in the ascendency.
The wholesale changes that were made at the beginning of the second half probably didn't help our cause, but Van Gaal has said he's going to give everybody a chance, so that's fair enough. One thing I have noticed so far, is he seems quite keen on Blackett as the left sided centre back. I don't rate Blackett as first team material and can't believe Van Gaal will stick with him once the season begins. But it does lead me to believe he would like at least one left footer at centre half, which may well mean that another centre half could arrive before the transfer window closes.
I was happy to see Will Keane get at least 45 minutes, it was a pity, it couldn't have been in front of a more creative United side, but I thought he showed some signs that he could still make it at the club. I suppose the question there will be, does Van Gaal?


Music
Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana - Mehliana - Taming the dragon: US Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau   joins forces with drummer Mark Guiliana to produce a genre busting record, electronica/jazz/avant garde, however you class it, it works, an excellent left field album.

Marissa Nadler - July: My first exposure to this US alt/folk singer songwriter, pretty good album.

Moodymann - Moodymann: Detroit house bigwig teams up with Amp Fiddler, Andres and Jose James for this excellent eponymous album, that ends with a susperb tribute to P-Funk with a version of Cosmic Slop.

Morrissey - World peace is none of your business: The latest album from the Mancunian miserablist, par excellence, delivers the goods. I'm not sure it's quite up to the critics " his best album of the last 20 years ", but it's very enjoyable. Still it has to be said, his solo work has never remotely hit the heights of his "former band".

School Of Language - Old Fears: Field Music's David Brewis side project lifts off again, and once more succeeds. I never really see that much difference between their solo work and the main project Field Music, but who's complaing with records like this.

The Fleshtones - Wheel Of Talent: The US garage rock outfits nth album delivers their usual brand of uncomplicated back to basics rock 'n' roll, no classic, but enjoyable enough.

The Men - Tomorrow's Hits: US indie with some pretty obvious influences, it's entertaining enough, rock influenced from NewYork and New Jersey.

Todd Terje - Its Album Time: The debut album from the Norwegian DJ/electronic act, delivers on the promise of his earlier output, a real "summer" album.

LA Galaxy 0-7 Manchester United

The Van Gaal Giddyometer keeps on building, fresh from the Dutch failing to reach the world cup final with a pretty limited squad, only by a semi final penalty shoot out defeat, he begins his United career with a 7-0 victory, even if it was a friendly. I'd seen the press conference and a little of the training session and there was no doubting who was in charge. It's almost as if last season didn't really happen, David Moyes tenure was all just a bad dream.
I suppose the seven goals are what will catch the eye, but for me, it was the formation, the way we kept the ball and how natural the new tactical approach seemed to a team that two players apart was the same squad Moyes could only manage seventh position with. The build up play, the passing, the ability to create chances, which always seems to have been a problem for United in the past when they have flooded the midfield, all caught the eye. Herrera did excellently for his opening 90 minutes in a United shirt. Playing two different roles, the first half as a holding player and the second as a more advanced creative player and looking the part, and more, in both. I actually thought Mata was the player who really caught the in the first half, he was everywhere, short passes or long seemingly popping up all over the shop. Luke Shaw did well, if his wasn't as eye catching as Herrera's.Playing as a wing back, it would have been interesting to see how much joy he would have got down the left hand side if he'd have done the 90 minutes.
It's hard to judge the three centre half formation, LA Galaxy didn't provide much of a test in all honesty. I suppose the coming games in Denver against superior opposition will give us a better idea of that. Van Gaal did confirm that his preferred formation will be three at the back, so those games will be worth watching.
Even though we managed to get another four during the second half, I thought the first half told us more about the season to come. Never the less, the mixture of squad players, such as Nani, Young and the Keane's and James coming through the ranks that came on for the second half were impressive. I've never really seen James as first team material, but I'm starting to wonder whether Van Gaal will prove me wrong.
Anyway, last night was a nice little taster for the start of a new era at home to Swansea in three weeks time.
 

A new chapter begins

I'd forgot about the meaningless 3rd place play off, but next week a new chapter begins as Van Gaal takes the reigns at Manchester United, apparently he's not going to do a Moyes, he's taking charge straight away, no holidays.
A fair few reds seemed to get giddy at how far he took the Dutch during this world cup. I'm not really sure it's told us much about how he will approach the job at Old trafford or to what we can expect next season. As last night showed he was working with a very limited Dutch squad. Getting that team to the world cup semi finals with equal dashes of tactical brilliance and a touch of luck, doesn't really tell us anything about what we can expect from a Van Gaal led Manchester United next season.
I'm not sure Van Persie was fit, but he along with with Robben and to a lesser degree Sneijder they were the only real quality in the squad, so you could understand why he played him. The alternative of course could have been that Van Persie's body was creaking. If that were to be the case, I'm not sure where that would leave the supposed Van Gaal/Van Persie led United we have been led to expect.
At least we can be sure that there will be no repeats of the two home performances against Liverpool and City and that's no small mercy. I'm not sure what he's going to bring tactically or if we have the players in the positions he'll want to cope with his tactical switches. What I'm hoping for, is what we were promised last season under Moyes, wrongly as it turned out, for a manager unafraid to blood youngsters and put faith in them. I really want to see Michale Keane given a go this season, at centre half or right back, this is the season to see whether he can make the step up. If he can we'll one hell of a centre half for the next ten years. Jesse Lingard deserves a go, it's about time some dead wood was let go to enable the youngsters to get a crack of the whip. As usual every summer, the cry is for signings in almost every position, but to me, left back and central midfield were the priorities, one more central midfield signing and I could live with that. Without knowing what formation he's going to concentrate on, it's hard to know where else we need make signings. But whatever formation he goes with central midfield had to be strengthened and at least we've made a start.
It can't and I'm pretty sure it won't be worse than last season. I may being wildly unrealistic, but I expect us to be back challenging for the title, and at the very least to comfortably make the top four anc champions league qualification. I can't wait for the season to begin.

Music
Danny Brown -Old: A decent piece of left field hip hop, it took a few listens to get into it, but it was worth it.

Jimi Goodwin - Odulek: I wasn't that overstruck on this on the first couple of listens, regarding it as sub standard Doves. But i gave it time and it's grown on me, still don't think it's as good as the Doves at their best, but it definitely has its moments.

Linda Perhacs - The soul of all natural things: The comeback album is whilst still pretty left field, still a more conventional piece of music than the lost classic that was her debut. A convincing comeback, though not maybe as singular a work as that debut.

Lorelle meets the Obsolete - Chambers: An excellent album of indie/psych from this Mexican, who i will have to listen to more of.

Patten - Estiole Naiant: First album I've heard from this Warp records artist, he doesn't let the album down, pretty good slice of experimental electronica.

Reboot - Deep V: Chilled out dance music for the late hours, and it does the job.