United no to Ljajic

This came out of the blue, i and a lot of others i suspect thought he had been signed when Tosic was and then lent back. Only 6 weeks ago Fergie was praising him and saying he was looking forward to seeing him. It looks like another Glazer cost cutting measure to me i'm afraid. Even if he wasn't a sure thing United usually take the punt and according to reports he has been playing well. Purely on the playing side i am not too upset because i would sooner see talent from the British isles coming through. But it makes me think that the finances aint looking too great for our despised owners.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-deny-cash-crisis-claims-after-failing-to-land-serb-1832981.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-deny-cash-crisis-claims-after-failing-to-land-serb-1832981.html

At todays press conference Phelan said he thought it was down to not being able get a work permit for the lad. Sounds like they are singing from different hymsheets, whatever that means.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/04/manchester-united-adem-ljajic
The plot thickens

United miserly spenders under Glazers shocker
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6720847/Manchester-United-quiet-in-transfer-market-since-Malcolm-Glazers-takeover.html
What kills me is that it seems that the media know there is something rotten in the state of Denmark at Old Trafford but there are no proper investigations of the situation. Echoes of the credit crunch !

Ronaldo says he doesn't want to play United. A bit bizarre thing to say after you have got your dream move to one of our biggest competitors in Europe. Surely when he went there saying he wanted to win the champions league in the white of Real he would have thought there was at the least a fair chance that he might have to play against the red of Manchester.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/cristianoronaldo/6716425/Cristiano-Ronaldo-I-dont-want-to-play-against-Manchester-United.html

Robert Fisk on Obama's faliure to learn from history
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-this-strategy-has-been-tried-before-ndash-without-success-1833133.html
I suppose he thinks he can get out without the loss of face suffered by the Soviets et al, it would be a surprise if that happens.

I used to think that this man was a liberal, he seems to have got into bed with the neocons thinking the west can go anywhere in the world and sort out everybody else's problems when we can't even sort out our own mess.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6943372.ece

When two tribes go to war, new labour versus news international as Mandelson lays the media empire.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/02/peter-mandelson-rupert-murdoch-war

Ex MPC member David Blanchflower is not too confident of economic recovery any time soon and critical of bank governor for keeping secret loans to RBOS AND HBOS during the crisis.
http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2009/12/bank-loans-fell-news-economic

Anatloe Kaletsky points out the bleeding obvious over the RBS bonus's. I enjoy reading him seeing as though he is definitely not on the liberal left and writes for one of the most malign forces in the western world since the second world war.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article6943418.ece
It is so obvious that this is the correct way to proceed that you can't believe the government don't bite their hands off. I'm afraid the fact they didn't shows us as if we needed showing all this class war talk is just for show and new labour are as in thrall to the pre credit crunch establishment as they ever were. Still it's nice to hear the Cameroons to be shown up for what they are. It's just a pity we don't seem to have a party that has the bottle to do something about it, now this golden, maybe even once in a lifetime opportunity that has arose.

Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham

Not a great game or performance but another semi final to look forward to. Redknapp had said he would not be picking his strongest line up as he fancied a top four place and a champions league spot as his priorityover a league cup final at wembley. It looks like he was doing a Fergie as that looked more or less like his first eleven to me. Fergie was reasonably true to his word although he did leave Macheda on the bench giving Berbatov some much needed match time after his recent spell injured. Gibson and Anderson were again paired in the centre of midfield with Welbeck up front and Park and Obertan out wide. The only change at the back was De Laet coming in at left back.
Spurs started the game better controling the bulk of possession and creating some presentable chances but fortunately for us their finishing was poor. It seemed to be just a matter of time before the cockneys took the lead when United, completely against the run of play, took the lead. I am not sure how good Gibson is going to be, he doesn't look really top class to me. But the one thing he has definitely got going for him is a great shot and the ability to get a fair amount of goals from midfield if he is given a run in the team. And we saw that last night as he was the difference between the two sides. The first goal came from a fine shot as he got the ball just outside the area and fired his shot into the corner of the net giving Gomes no chance. The second saw Berbatov find him approaching the penalty area where he played a one two with Welbeck and took aim and hit a curling sidefooter into the corner of the spurs goal to make it two. That as good as killed the game stone dead.
If i was a spurs fan i would be pretty disappointed punter as they completely faded out of the game after that. An as Kevin Bond said if anything got worse the longer the game went on, they almost didn't look interested in the second half. Berbatov came off with half an hout to go with a precious hours match time under him. He had been our best player up to that time for me holding the ball up and knitting things together. Macheda came on and played reasonably well without shaking any trees. Of the younger players Gibson and Anderson were the stand out players as Fergie rightly said after the game. I have liked the look of De Laet but although he did have one or two good moments i didn't think he was too convincing last night, maybe it was nerves at getting his first full game for the first team this season. Welbeck tried hard but couldn't really impose himself physically into the game. Of the senior players i know Park needs minutes on the pitch but it is hard to see what he is going to bring to the side now Ronaldo has gone and we don't need the other wide man to tuck in to make up for our former No. 7's lack of tracking back. Of course he sells shirts back in Korea so a role will be found for him no doubt.

Fergie happy with Gibson and Anderson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8389615.stm

Paul Wilson on the youngsters
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/dec/01/darron-gibson-manchester-united-tottenham-youth

Another article on the youngsters and a mention for 16 year old Ravel Morrison in the Times
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/12/sir-alex-ferguson-right-to-keep-his-faith-in-young-ones.html

Macheda signs a new four year contract, they must rate him very highly to give him that length of contract.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8390621.stm

Ariana Huffington hits back at Rupert Murdoch over the future of journalsim
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/01/arianna-huffington-murdoch-ftc

Whilst google allow media firms to limit free visits
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/google-allows-newspapers-to-limit-free-visits-1832438.html

Darling still in thrall to the city
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6939895.ece

Is a referendum on proportional voting system getting closer
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ministers-force-debate-on-voting-reform-1832220.html

Simon Jenkins on the US troop surge in Afghansitan announced by Obama
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/dec/02/barack-obama-afghanistan-taliban

The future is bright : Fergie

Fergie unhappy with journalists writing off our youngsters, he has faith, they just need experience.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6938278.ece

United the brothers club, first the Greenhoff's, then the Neville's and now the Da Silvas look like being joined the Evans brothers with Corry aiming to match Jonny's achievements
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/corryrsquos-star-rising-at-manchester-united-14581522.html

Redknapp would sooner get in the champions league than win the carling cup. Well i was thinking that there was every chance our run in the competition might come to an end tonight with them having a strong team out. It will still be an interesting game as they do have a bit of strength in depth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/30/harry-redknapp-tottenham-carling-cup

Messi rightly wins the European ballon d'or
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/6697871/Barcelonas-Lionel-Messi-named-European-Footballer-of-the-Year.html

We need a green industrial revolution according to Larry Elliot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/30/green-technologies-low-carbon-economy

Does the Dubai finacial crisis show what lies ahead
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/stephen-king/stephen-king-dubais-november-pain-provides-a-glimpse-of-what-may-lie-ahead-1831256.html

Music

Blk Jks - After Robots: A stunning debut rock album from South Africa that has been likened to TV on the radio amongst others. Indie, prog are amongst the influences on one of the best albums of the year.

Bob Marley - Catch a fire: The album that brought Bob Marley to the international stage and recorded with the original Wailers. And classic reggae it still sounds great.

Buena Vista Social Club - Buena vista social club: I heard this when it first came out and didn't really get what the fuss was about. Now i have come back to it, i suddenly get it. There is some classic music on here, i don't love all of it, but there is nothing that i wouldn't mind hereing again. Chan chan is superb.

The Good the bad and the Queen - 1st album: Damon Albarn's latest solo adventure to see the light of day, though it was began a few years before. It was originally recorded in Africa which is odd since it seems the nearest thing to sound like Blur since they were put on hold. A decent album as it should be with the line up it doesn't hit the heights though.

The pain of being pure at heart - The pain of being pure at heart: Whilst not being at the level of the Blk Jks effort this is still a pretty good effort. There is nothing groundbreaking to it, it's indie power popish but the songwriting is good and it's an enjoyable listen.

The Chameleons - Script of the bridge: The Mancuinan's debut from 83 that i have never heard before. I had heard of them but never got round to listening to them first time around. I can see why they were popular even if they never sold much. A classic 80's indie sound, it sounded at first, but the guitar sound is superb. And some of the tunes are superb starting with opener Don't fall to closer view from a hill.