Wolves 2-1 Manchester United

It's been coming, only the most blinkered red could disagree. You can't keep playing so badly away from home and keep on scraping results. And once again the game was lost in midfield, the defence may not have covered itself in glory with the goals conceded, but we had a great start and we had plenty of time to pull ourself back into the game. But we just weren't good enough.
It was a blow losing Ferdinand during the warm up, but it was only Wolves away. Losing him for next weeks derby is a far more serious affair. Evans came in for Ferdinand, and whilst he didn't have a great game, the question must be asked who did. I would have liked to have seen Scholes in the starting line up but with the run of games coming up and the strength of the opposition i could understand the decision to leave him on the bench. The inclusion of Nani, Giggs, Berba and Rooney looked to have given us plenty of goal threat.
It didn't take long for that prediction to seemingly come true as Fletcher looked up and found a rare successfull long ball into the corner to find Nani who cut inside to beat his full back and smash a fine shot into the back of the wolves net after just three minutes. Everything seemed set up for United to really get a stranglehold on the top of the table, taking advantage of Arsenal unbelievable collapse at Newcastle after being 4-0 up.
And yet seven minutes later it was all square as United fell asleep as Wolves decided to take a corner and the resuling corner exposed the lack of marking leaving the bid Camroon defender Elokobi all on his own to head home. United didn't fall apart and did create chances but it was an even game which you felt we would have to work hard to win. Yet again we weren't dominating the middle of the park or the possession. And then five minutes before the break we conceded yet another goal from a set piece to go into the break 2-1 down. I don't know why we have become so susceptible from set pieces when we have always defended them so well.
Scholes replaced Carrick at half time as Fergie must have realised we needed to get a grip of the midfield and the importance of the day. It seeemed to work at first as United looked like they were going to get a stranglehold. But it didn't last long as Wolves slowly got into the game and United struggled to gain any momentum or to create a chance worthy of the name. The longer the game went on the less it looked like we would score. Berbatov was replaced by Hernandez to no great effect as we were incapable of opening up the Wolves rearguard.
So the crap invincibles tag can be put to bed. I've got mixed feelings about the day. If we were going to lose, and i think most of us knew this team was always going to lose, i would sooner it would have been at somewhere like Wolves than at Anfield or at home to City. But what a day for it to happen as we could have killed off Arsenal at least psychologically after their disastrous second half at St. James park and we could have put big pressure on Chelski ahead of their grudge match with the mickeys. With no improvement on our shocking away form seemingly imminent it's hard to believe it will be our last defeat. All we can hope is the recent improvement in our home form continues, especially next week.

Fergie is proud of the players despite the loss. They have been very consistent but missed a good chance to put distance between us and the pack. He admitted we didn't deserve anything from the game. This run has shown how pack like the press are in this country. All they have been interested in was the run, whilst most United fans have been alarmed at the woeful state of our away form it's hardly been raised in the national press.
Ahead of the match Fergie had argued that 10 wins and 84 points would see United lift the title. If he was trying to apply the pressure it backfired a bit. I think i would rather he sticks to the one game at a time cliche. I wasn't sure we were capable of achieving that even before the game, i'm certain we aren't after it.

Ferdinand has been ruled out for two weeks according to Sky sports, i hope it's not longer.

The Mail reckon United are to offer Evra a new contract as the rumours he wants to go in the summer abound.

More plaudits for Gary Neville as Liverpool's Jamie Carragher applauds Neville as the best right back the premier league has seen. Andrew Cole writes that Gary Neville knew that nobody thought he had a sense of humour and that he played on it. I have heard the plane story before but Cole puts a new slant on it. Paul hayward talks about the devastating right sided partnership where Neville contributed greatly to Beckhams success.
Piers Morgan describes him as the most annoying player in world football but also one of the best. 

Sid Lowe reveals the behind the scenes moves of the Fernando Torres move from Liverpool to Chelsea.

Faisal Islam writes about rising world food prices and their effect on world events such as the revolutions in North Africa. Joseph Stiglitz looks at the events in Tunisia and how they will or should effect the economics and politics of the future. As he says it should never be forgotten how the bond markets and credit ratings agancy reacted to the events in North Africa. After their record since 2008 how do the credit ratings agencies still have any influence.

William Keegan looks at Mr Osborne who like Mrs Thatcher and plenty before him is not for turning. And wonders why they do it. It does make you wonder why  the phrase " when the facts change, i change my mind. What do you do sir" Even that bit of Keynes is too much for todays political establishment.

Noam Chomsky claims it's not radical islam that worries the US political class so much as Arab independence.

The Quietus look at one of the best British groups of the last two decades, Teenage Fanclub, one of Glasgow's finest. One of the classic British acts. The Telegraph's Neil McCormick thinks there was nowhere else for the restricted template of the White stipes duo to go, but what a live act.

Matthew Fort reviews Heston Blumenthal's latest venture and likes what he sees. Some of those dishes sounds mouth watering.

Lest we forget

Red nev retires

Because of the unjury problems he has had over the last few years his retirement doesn't hurt as much as the retirements of Scholes and Giggs will. In fact a lot of us hoped and thought he would retire at the end of last season. But not everybody can go out like Cantona
But what a player and servant for Manchester United football club the guy has been. Looking back to his career in his pomp his fitness levels and drive were absolutely phenomenal, and though he made the odd mistake, who doesn't, he was a vital part of both the defensive part of the side and almost as much a part of the attacking side, overlapping to great effect.
In all the tributes to him his attitude and the determination to make the most of his ability stand out the most. First he had to make him himself into a right back good enough to get into Manchester United's first team around a squad that had gone from 26 years without a title to the team to perrenial title favourites, after coming through the ranks as a centre half. Then when Beckham left he maged to turn himslef into the best and most consistent crosser of the ball at the club, no mean feat.
The fact that he was red through and through and showed it out on the pitch always endeared him to the Old trafford faithful. Of course that meant he was pretty much reviled everywhere else in the country. What i could never get though, was i could understand how they would hate him, if he played for the mickeys or City i would have detested him, but to make out that he was over rated as they, almost to a man did, i could never understand.
I have always thought it was a tragedy for him and United that he picked up the injuries when he did. In that 2006-2007 season he had started to from almost as good a partnership on the right side of our team with the emerging world class Ronaldo as he had formed with Beckham. Although Wes Brown was solid enough for a season he never gave the side the attacking threat that Neville in his prime did, we have been making do at right back ever since. Though this season Rafael has started to look like the real deal.
The one disadvantage being that Rafael hails from Brazil, not Bury, and if Real Madrid or Barca come calling for him, two or three years down the line we he really want to stay in rainy Manchester. It would be nice to see some home grown talent come through to replace the likes of Neville. Tom Thorpe looks good, but i would like to see more home grown talent, Mancunian if possible to come through to give the club the heartbeat Gary Neville has examplified over the last sixteen years

Richard Williams looks back at the career of Gary Neville, in his opinion, and mine, the finest right back of his generation. Fergie has hailed his loyalty to the Manchester United cause and said having him in the Manchester United dressing room was a great help to him and to all the youngsters to come through the ranks at the club.
Henry Winter hails the man that England have never been able to replace. Quite correct, i would go further and say he never really had any serious competition for his place once he was given his head by Terry Venables. Which is both a testament to Neville's talent and the dearth of quality English full backs.
The dearth of talented English defenders was one of the root causes of last summers South African debacle. When you look back to 2006 England had Neville, Ferdinand, Terry and Cole, as good as any England back four in all the years i have watched international football. Last summer you had Johnson at right back, the best i can see for him is he is as good attacking right back against struggling premier league teams. But even against struggling premier league teams he is a defensive liability. Upson who wasn't good enough or quick enough to make the grade at Arsenal and showed at the world cup why. Terry who isn't the player he was and has always needed a quick centre half next to him to compensate for his lack of pace. And Cole the only defender to come out of South Africa with any kind of credit.
Matt Lawton salutes Neville the fighter who bristled with attitude. And who reminds us that as the Neville brothers came through the youth system it was brother Phil was regarded as the more talented.
Arsene Wenger pays tribute to Gary Neville, the best English right back who was a great example to young pros everywhere for making the most of his ability.
Robbie Savage remembers his United youth team colleague whom his team mates nicknamed busy busy.

Rooney praises Nani and hopes for more crosses like the one he was played in for his second goal the other night. I'll translate that as come back quick Valencia who puts them on a plate for me. Shades of Van Nistelroy's impatience with the young immature Ronaldo.

The Telegraph report on Andersreds latest detective work on the finances and ownership of Manchester United. And don't mention Qatar. Whilst there is bad news for the premier league model and hence bad news for the gimps as it looks like European regulations mean that pub landlords will be able to continue to screen premier league games through foreign channels.

IMF chief Dominque Strauss-Kahn is worried that the recovery in the world economy is built on unstable foundations and that the imblanaces that led up to the crisis of 2008 are still there. He is also worried about global unemployment as the US and UK may be about to suffer jobless recoveries and the young people of North Africa start to get rid of their corrupt rulers and want to see a better economic future.

Dean Baker feels sorry for the UK, but is glad that at least the economic experiment the deficit hawks are carrying out in this country will help to show that the US has followed the correct path of putting growth before cutting the deficit.
William Keegan reports that from the CBI to the chancellor the nerves are beginning to show as the austerity consensus begins to crumble. Matthew Norman has fun at Osborne's expense writing the Osborne's presription could turn into his epitaph.
The latest IFS report argued that Osborne was right to plug ahead with the cuts, but that they would prove harder to achieve than is commonly believed. They also think it would be prudent to have a plab B tucked away.

Martin Wolf of the FT looks back and asks if we have learnt any lessons for the crunch of 2008. His main observation is that many of the emerging trends of the world economy have been hastened, hence the the balance of power shifting from west to east. He wonders whether the Chinses are ready for the responsibilty that this will bestow on them.
Will Hutton returns to one of his recurring themes, leadership, though he is looking at global leadership this time, not the absence of leadership in this country.

The Economist warn that the Eurozone's bail-out strategy has failed and it is time for a plan B to save the Euro. Euro sceptics are gleefully predicting the end with Jeff Randall claiming the Euro as we know it is finished. 
Ambrose Pritchard-Evans has a go at Europe's shoddy attempt to vilfy Ireland for all it's own problems. I have some time for that, though they surely do deserve a fair slice of the blame. What went on over there surely bordered on the corrupt at times.

Bennedict Brogan is predicting trouble ahead for the tories as the impact of Lansleys health reforms slowly start to sink in. Whilst Steve Richards warns of trouble ahead as the coalition attempts to decentralise whilst still holding the purse strings from the centre.

So its bye bye to the White Stripes, one of, if not the best band of the noughties. I'm not sure that could put any other album above White blood cells for the title of best album of the decade. I played that to death when it first came out, it had been a long time since i had done that.
The NME's Mark Beaumont gives us his ten finest White Stripe moments.

Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa

If our away form has been as bad as it has been for years at least our home form of late has really bucked up. And last night we were graced by another top performance and for once a pretty competitive contest as Villa had a bit of a go and put in a performance that belied their position in the lower reaches of the division.
After the weekend's FA cup exertions the line up reverted to something more like full strength with Ferdinand returning to the heart of defence and Rooney and Berbatov up front. United got the dream start as long punt from Van Der sar was controlled first time by Rooney who then unleashed an ubstoppable shot to put us one up with just a couple of minutes on the board.
I thought last night was an excellent game but i'm not sure the first half was as good as some around me were making out. I thought after getting the early goal United seemed to be content to keep the ball when we had it and get everybody behind the ball when Vill had it. Meaning Villa had a fair amount of possession but didn't really threaten Van Der Sar's goal. Villa passed it nicely but didn't threaten but i don't really think United did to be fair. The second goal also came at an excellent time, right on the stroke of half time. It was another excellent goal on a night of good goals with Nani putting in a cross just asking to be put away and Rooney made no mistake. It was clinical but a tad harsh on the away team i thought.
The second half was probably the best 45 minutes of football we have seen at Old trafford this season. It was end to end with Villa more than playing their part, though United always looked the more likely to score. In fact when United lost the ball in the middle of the park and Villa broke to score through Bent it looked like it was game on. But it took United just five minutes to restore a two goal lead as Rooney held the ball up in the box and fed the ball back to Vidic of all people who hit an absolute screamer.
United created plenty of chances after that to make it four with Berbatov missing a sitter and Rooney being denied a hatrick by Friedel. Nani was on fire and would have scored the goal of the match for me when he beat his man on the left but couldn't beat the goalie froma very tight angle. He got a bit of stick from the crowd for being greedy but not from me. Ashley Young clpipped the bar for Villa and they commendably kept coming forward but the three points were never seriously threatened.

Rooney hasn't written the rent boys off and reveals he is happy enough with his own form depite his lack of goals. He played well enough last night, whilst Berbatov was superb once more. The standout players were Nani and Giggs for me though. Giggs has been brilliant the last three or four games, it has taken him a while to get back to his best form after his injury lay off, but he is right back to the kind of form that is as good as probably more consistent than at any time in his career. The same could be said about Nani, though he wasn't out as long as Giggs he seemed to have lost his cutting edge when he returned to the team. It's well and truly returned now and that's bad news for the premier league's full backs.

Andersred's latest blog asks whether the fact that the fans have no way of knowing what is going on with the clubs finances is really good enough. 

Paul Wilson asks how United will fit in the form man Berbatov into their European formation when the champions league resumes later this month. It's a fair point, especially seeing as though Rooney's performances on the left this season has been underwhelming to to say the least. If we are to play 4-3-3 it's hard to see how he can leave Berbatov out on his current form.

New acqusition Anders Lindegaard reveals he was happy with his Manchester United debut and that he has not come just to warm the bench up. He wants to be the man to replace the Big Dutchman next season. He made a reasonable start on Saturday.

I don't think anybody saw this coming, though to be fair to him, he seems to be being fairly realistic. Laurent Blanc was spot on the money with his comments after we had signed him when he said he had the talent but he wasn't sure he had the determination. After seeing a season and a half of Obertan that is as good a summing up as its possible to give. To make it at United you have really got to want it and i'm afraid he just doesn't want it enough.

Andy Mitten talks about Guiseppe Rossi who is garnering rave reviews for his performances and goals for Villareal and about life in general for life after United for the boys who came through the youth system. I loved watching Rossi play for the youth team, he was a real talent. I thought he was a cert for the first team. Nice to see that he still speaks highly of Fergie and United in general.
It must be horrifying for the Glazer's to think how much Pique and Rossi are worth now compared to what we sold them for. The goal Rossi scored against Espanyol at the weekend was the kind of thing we saw at youth and reserve for United.

Steve Richards points out how events in Egypt are a reminder of the errors that the Iraq war. Daniel Korski pens a ludicrous piece in the spectator claiming that maybe the neoconservatives have been proved right, laughable. It seems to be going under the radar at the moment but there seems to be major concerns the unrest in the middle east may well spread to the Arabian peninsula. Ambrose Evans-Pritched reports on the worries. What a terrificly daily Telegraph name that is.

Gary Younge reports on how the US is moving on from Afghanistan whilst its soldiers are still dying there. Needless to say that's still happening here as well.

Christopher Hitchens argues that whilst the kings speech may well be a good film, historically it's all over the place. Has there ever been any film about the British monarchy that remotely gets anywhere near the historical truth.

Labour's craven attitude to Murdoch exposed, even out of government still sucking up the wanker, not a massive surprise.