Derby fever starts to hot up

Darren Fletcher tells the press that United are not taking the title for granted, they realise that a 19th title will not be handed to them on a plate. It's hard to predict anything this season, so i aint going to bother. A win on Saturday would obviously go some way to delivering it, it's hard to see how City could come back from it to win the title.
Kevin Garside thinks United were handed a reality check on Saturday by Wolves  in a season where maybe it shouldn't come as a shock when bottom beats top. Some of us think it was a defeat that has been a long time coming as our midfield fallibilities couldn't be glossed over for once. I'm glad Scholes will be playing on Sarturday, though i presume he will be playing in a three man midfield. I suppose the big question is who will he play up front, Berbatov or Rooney. On form it would have to be the Bulgarian but we haven't really seen the best of him as the front man of a 4-3-3. I think Barbatov will get the nod but wouldn't be amazed if he went with Rooney.
Apparently captain Vidic is our only fully fit centre half ahead of Saturday and that was why United asked for Vidic to be allowed to sit out the Serbian friendly with Israel. The absence of Ferdinand will be felt on Saturday, all those goals we have conceded from set pieces when he has been missing. I'd definitely be more confident if he was playing.

Recently retired right back Gary Neville is comfortable that United have at last found his long term replacement in Rafael Da Silva, who he feels has made the position his own over the last six months after his consistent un of games this season. I couldn't agree more, i just hope his outstanding form continues on Saturday as he is stll bound to make the odd mistake.

Writing on Monday after last weekends games Alan Hansen thought that Arsenal were still in the title race after their collapse on Saturday proved less than fatal due to our defeat and the rent boys defeat at home to Liverpool. If we don't go on to win the title this season, we will look back on that weekend and that performance at Wolves as the weeknd where we failed to put clear blue sky between us and our chasers. The one thing i still can't see though is Arsenal finishing above us come the end of the season.

Irish boss Trappatoni has once again urged Darron Gibson to leave United for a club where he will play every week. I can't help thinking that if United don't show him the door at the end of this season, then this time he will take the advice of his national boss.

United loanee Macheda scored a late penalty to hand the Italian under 21's a dramatic victory over England yesterday. With Welbeck's injury there were no United players in the English side, i'm not sure why Cleverley didn't appear, as far as i know he still qualifies for that age group.

The Glazer's London operation is having to move to bigger and more expensive premises, though they don't want the press to publisise it, which unfortunately it already had. Nice to know where the proirities lie.

Barca boss Guardiola is set to sign a new one year extension to his contract with the Catalan giants. I was surprised that he put so much of his teams success down to the Argentine Messi. I am in total  agreement with him that Messi is the best player in the world. But Xavi and Iniesta are a little bit special too and as we saw in the summer Messi didn't look as special for Argentina in the world cup finals as he does when he has Xavi and Iniesta behind him at the Nou camp.
I have a lot of time for Guardiola, he seems an impressive character.


Europe's top clubs are running out of patience with FIFA according to this Bloomberg piece. This does not surprise me at all, i was amazed so many people believed that FIFA would get away with a summer world cup in Qatar in 2022 when the idea was floated. As if our money obsessed football clubs were going to allow their business models to be torn up just like that.
The only worry for me is just how far behind these fair play proposals the top clubs really are.

Iain Martin predicts a middle class explosion over income tax for the coaltion when goverment tax thresholds go up in May. Gary Gibbon wonders whether Cameron's big society message is getting across and what it says for the prime minister's communictation unit if it isn't. Robert Peston wonders whether the news that 50% of tory funding comes from the city of London means that hedge fund managers are the tories trade unionists.

David Prosser of the Independent counts yesterday's commons encounter as a Pyrrhic victory for Osborne after his announcement of the £800 million bank levy. Bennedict Brogan agrees with that assessment claiming the days events made Osborne look like Gordon Brown, too tactical and too clever. Iain Martin thinks it was a decent day for Osborne but with one or two stings in the tail, though the stings he saw were from Osbornes own side.
It looks like Osborne's ideological plans for the private sector to pick up the slack from the cuts in the public sector are about to hit the hard rocks of real life. The FT report a feeble uptake on Osborne's flagship tax policy for entrepreneurship. How eighties does that sound.
Faisal Islam describes why he is deeply sceptical about project Merlin. I'm sceptical about everything to do with the coalition and still wonder how Lib dems can be comfortable working with them. I still think Laws and maybe Clegg will one day end up on the tory benches.
Simon Jenkins warns the tories that they are digging their own grave as the nations councils start to accuse the government of forcing the savage cuts that are starting to be announced. As he says it was the tories that started the process of taking powers away from local government. So it would be a poetic kind of justice if that comes back to bite them hard. As far as decentralisation goes the tories have always talked a good game but never played it.

George Monibot argues that it's the same old tories, the financial worlds best friend as he explores the meanings of changes to the nations corporation tax laws for big business. Offshore tax havens and mass tax evasion aren't enough! Whilst Simon Johnson argues that those that argue that the poor ( US poor mainly ) caused the economic crisis are wrong and not only that it is infact the poor who are paying the price for it.
When the credit crunch happened i presumed that the era of the neoliberal was coming to an end. But i watched Newsnight last night and it amazes me how they have discussions about where Britain and the world economy goes from here and it's as if 2008 never happened. last night they had some clown from Next and Nicola Horlick arguing the future and they both professed that the free market more or less left alone would provide all the answers, though to be fair she did argue  that we should look towards the German model which he airily dismissed.

Whilst the tory right seem to have Mervyn King in their sights David Prosser lists an unfortunate hatrick that has given his critics plenty of ammo.

Were the hawks on Chinese inflation right. The chinese have announced a second interest rise in six weeks which will be enforced next week. This report suggests that the US back Brazil in its fight with China over future currency wars. The last time that Brazil warned of currency wars it was the US ploicy of QE it was a attacking.

John Pilger argues the floods and freak weather storms that have been battering Australia are the countries Katrina moment. An example of when Murdoch is and like minded chums are allowd to completely dominate a countries political life. Over to you Jeremy Hunt.

Matthew Norman looks at the latest revelations of the Al- Megrahi affair and as humourously as ever explains that one expects hypocrisy, but the amateurism is unforgivable. Another fine foreign policy moment in the life of new labour, it really was down hill all the way once Robin Cook returned to the back benches. The only Labour politician to have come out of that period with his reputation enhanced.

I hadn't noticed that the BBC were about to repeat Kenneth Clark's BBC series civilisation in HD. I hope that doesn't mean that the price of the box set is about to go back up as i have been meaning to buy that. I have never seen it, but it has always looked like a must see documentary from the clips i have seen.

Classic blues

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.