Rooney looking good

Wayne Rooney wants to make it a year to remember, after last years messed up season he is back to his best. And what a difference it has made, he did get better as last season wore on and arguably had his best game in the final match of the season against the best side in Europe at Wembley.
But right from the first pre-season friendly he has looked 100% fit, his first touch has been there and they seem to me to be the bellweather for him. When they are present, the the opposition better watch out. The injection of youth, both from within through Welbeck an Cleverley and from outside in Jones and in particular Ashley Young seems to have got his mojo working as well.

New recruit and whisper it quietly the man who is really getting older reds off their seats and comparing him to past United greats, Phil Jones reckons stopping Rooney and Hernandez can be impossible at times, the movement is just so good. Jones hopes to be able to continue his run in the team tonight as Europe is one of the reasons he came to United to test himself against the best. I have a feeeling the best he can hope for tonight will be the bench as i expected and Fergie has confirmed he wants a bit more experience in the side tonight.
Scrap that thought i think this news means that he will play.It will be interesting to see him take a step up though who will partner Evans at centre half, the slightly more experienced Smalling or Jones, Smalling has more big game experience at centre half and that would be how i approach the decision.
Though with Fergie talking about Benfica playing thre in the middle it's possible that he could be used as a defensive midfield player. The tactics will be the fascinating aspect of tomorrow nights game for me. Our brilliant start to the season has been based on a fluid 4-4-2. But would he dare go with that in Europe as our superb record in Europe has been achieved with a 4-5-1 4-3-3 formation based around possession of the ball. I'd love to see us let rip in Europe, but i suppose that's being unrealistic to expect.

Fergie wasn't happy with the Kevin Davies challenge that led to Cleverley's early exit from Saturday's encounter. Thankfully it isn't the break that the player and club had feared and he will only be out for a month or so.
As ever with Capello, his timing is all to cock as he announces that now England are all but booked into the European nations cup or whatever it's called nowadays he has told the press that he will be looking to blood youngsters such as Jones and Cleverley. It's a big pity for Cleverley he has picked up that injury now as it would have been good for him and for United if he had been given a start against the Spanish national side.

Hansen argues that though the Mancunian clubs look like they may dominate the title chase this season both are still behind top dogs Barca. The point for me is, though we are almost certainly still behind them, we are not as far behind them as we proved to be on that night in May. How we would approach a game with them now is where the fascination of a future encounters lie. How would we counteract that magnificent midfield, would we go 4-4-2 or match them with a 4-3-3, let's hope that we find out in Munich in May 2012.
Barca's draw after being two goals up at thw weekend was a bit of a turn up, but if i remember they had a bit of a shocker at the beginning last season with that 3-0 defeat.

The reserves took on Fulham last night at Moss lane and triumphed 2-1 with a fair performance if the comments on Twitter are anything to go by. Macheda got a thums down, with Pogba and Diouf getting the plaudits. I still can't understand why Macheda didn't go out on loan, as things stand he has got no chance of making it our club. Even a championship loan would be better than a season in the reserves.
Looking forward to seeing Pogba hopefully getting a chance next week at Elland road, i wonder which other youngster which get a chance with him?

The Vickers report finally came out yesterday and seems to have been broadly welcomed by parliament and the press, not back by the bankers which must be a good sign. Paul Mason looks at the present political situation as Osborne says he accepts it in full but will phase it in as suggested in the report.
Mary Ann Sieghart worries that Cameron has been caught by the banking lobby, well that wouldn't exactly be a suprise, he if rom a banking family isn't he. Will Hutton thinks that the Vickers report will lead to a healthier banking sector but is worried that the tories will try to weasel out the proposals. He also praises Vince Cable's role in the outcome, as Paul Mason tweeted this morning, on Cable's big two policy fights, this and Murdoch, Cable seems to have won.
How do these allegations affect the chancellor and are there any more revelations to come, it sounds more than plausible, though there doesn't appear to be any smoking gun.
Jon Snow asks why no banker has ever been brought to book for the 2008 crisis when everybody knows that there was criminality going on. It contrasts sharply with the swift justice for the looters who as Snow says never threatened the future of the British state as the wrongdoings of the financial elite certainly did. Mehdi Hasan of the New statesman joins in the puzzlement, i think we all know the answer really, don't we.

Stephen King argues that saving the Euro will get more difficult by the day as the politicians fail to reassure the markets.

George Monibot is not impressed with what he argues is the governments total abandonment of the countires planning laws.

Is Lancashire spinner Paul Kerrigan destined for the top, a lot of decent judges think he certainly has a chance. Pity about yesterday's days play, still there are three games to do. If they do miss out on that elusive title, those two defeats to bottom placed Hampshire and Worcestershire will have cost them badly.

Sharon Horgan writer and actress of the brilliant Pulling tells Simon Hattenstone that she likes making men cry. Why that was pulled after two series is beyond me, The peep show is still going and still as good after how many series, if she had wanted to keep writing that was the sort of programme that could have gone on and on.

It would seem from recent reviews the film version of Tinker tailor soldier spy is on a par with the TV adaptation, if that is really true, that makes it a must watch. Gary Oldman's performance as Smiley has been favourably compared to Alec Guiness, i like Gary Oldman but couldn't really see him as George Smiley so another reason to watch.

Music
Bon Iver - Bon Iver: The follow up to his excellent debut hits the mark again, i wasn't sure that it was quite as good at first but it has won me round. I'm still not sure about the last track Bet -rest though, it sounds like it could be a theme tune to some naff eighties big budget movie.

John Coltrane - Meditations: There is out there jazz and then there is this, the first track, the father son and the holy ghost is an assault on the ears. I'm not sure like it is the word, but it does seem to work with the rest of the album. I like the album but oddly the piano led tracks would be my favourite parts of the album.

Matthew Halsall - On the go: Another fine album from the Manchester based trumpeter, this is far more chilled out jazz, i can see why Giles Peterson would be giving him air time on his late night radio 1 show.

Miles Kane - Colour of the trap: The now solo Kane brings out a pretty good piece of indie pop/rock. His The last shadow puppets project with Arctic monkeys front man Alex Turner was pretty good and this kind of follows on from that.

Paris suit yourself - My main shitstain: Hard to categorise French groups debut album is quirkily listenable. The follow up will be interesting to listen to as this veers all over the place, sung in English and French, sometimes in the same song.

Paul Simon - So beautiful or so what: One of the greats of modern music doesn't let us down with this album that fuses different parts of his solo career together. Some cracking tunes on it.

Tame impala - Innerspeaker: This Australian sixties influenced group have been namechecked in a few interviews i have read by various musicians and i can see why as this is very good. All sorts of psychedelic influences and a Beatles vocal influence permeate the album, it's an album i know i'll never get bored off.

Bolton 0 - 5 manchester united

I was as excited as i can remember before the season began, and just four games in, it would seem my confidence wasn't misplaced. If anything United are even exceeding my pre season expectations, the last two performances have been something else.
After the cakewalk that was the destruction of Arsenal i was expecting a much sterner test at the Reebok. But it was anything but, once Hernandez, in for the unfortunate Welbeck had converted Nani' inviting cross the writing was on the wall for the hosts.
Bolton were woeful really, a couple of the goals were on the soft side and United didn't really have to hit the heights of their performance against the gooners to demolish the home side. The one downpoint of the day was the injury to Cleverley,which it seems might be serious.
The positives were Chicarito showing us what a goal machine he is, another masterclass from the masjestic Rooney and a performance from Jones at right back that shows me he probably really could play anywhere. His run that led to Rooney'second goal was magnificent a winger would have been proud of that run.
I thought United easeed off slightly in the second half, which i wasn't too thrilled about, loathing Bolton as i do, but with Benfica away on Wednesday it was to be expected i suppose. It will be interesting to see if how our domestic form translates onto the European stage. Benfica away should be a stern test, over recent seasons our brilliant away record has been around a solid defence and an excellent possession game. Truth be told whilst we have been brilliant so far this season, the defence has not been quite as watertight as in previous seasons, which is quite understandable with injuries and new players bedding in. So can United dazzle Europe as well as England.
I can't wait for the next game, i have a feeling that won't the last time i type that.

Ashley Young thinks his link up with Wayne Rooney at club and international level can only help improve with time. I thought he had his quietitst game for us yesterday, which given the result was probably a good thing for the home side.

Jonny Evans knows that this is a big season for him and admits that another season like last years would probably be the end for him at Old trafford. He has started this season pretty well, which is just as well with the competition for places at the back at the moment.

There was talk that De Gea might not start yesterday, thankfully Fergie left him in. I don't think it would have done much for his confidence for him to have been left out due to Bolton's physical approach. He accepts the criticism but is still confident in his own ability to nail down the number one shirt as his own.

Andy Mitten discusses the Glazer's arguing that unfortunately most reds don't care who owns United and never have.
Football finance blogger, The Swiss rambler looks at Manchester United - The brand, an in depth look at United's financial results. Whilst Reuter looks at the Glazer's two tier IPO plan that risks an investor yellow card for favouring the current owners. I can't imagine why anybody would want to buy a share that allows them no say in the company.

Everton are club seemingly going nowhere fast, this blogger looks at fans concerns. I have a grudging respect for that club, scouse bastards obviously, but a real football club. Daniel Taylor looks at Wayne Bridge and asks is he happy to just pick up the money as he enters the non playing football club.

Sid Lowe looks at thr relationship between the big two of Spanish football and the rest. Surely it is only a matter of time before they see sense, i just don't see a European league working.

What a fantastic performance that was from Lancy yesterday, the dream is still alive. And what an achievement from Simon Kerrigan, nine wickets and when it mattered too. The amount of times Lancashire have come second over the new century, will their luck change, i hope so. I have liked the way they have gone with youth and local talent to boot, and to think, pundits were predicting relegation, not silverware at the beginning of the season.

Israel must be feeling more threatened than ever after yesterday's events in Egypt and the deterioration in relations with Turkey.

Faisal Islam describes recent financial results and forecasts as a deeply perilous moment for coalition economic policy. With the supposed disagreement over the response to the Vickers banking report this really is a crunch time for the coalition.
Larry Elliott looks to the bank of England to act whilst Osborne sticks to his gunsor fiddles whilst Rome burns, take your pick.
Was last week the moment when we really did return to the thirties, the Swiss intervention in the currency markets certainly looked like it. Larry Elliott thinks the move will not succeed in the long term, but can see why they have attempted to do something to protect their currency.
Jeremy Warner asks if the west is doomed to suffer another depression but argues that Osborne is right to stick to his guns with plan A. Simon Jenkins argues once more that instead of quantitive easing being used to rebalance banks it should be used to help consumers get the economy back on its feet.
Barry Eichengreen blogs that Europe is on the verge of a political breakdown.

Richard Fletcher asks if the tax trap is closing in on Amazon, E-Bay and Google, i wouldn't bank on it with Osborne in charge. Richard Murphy argues that the twenty economists letter to the FT demanding the end demand in a cut to the 50p tax rate have got it wrong and wonders where the evidence is to support their claims.

Steve Richards looks at the fallout from the latest memoirs of the new Labour years from Alistair Darling and reckons Miliband should be concerned. How long can Brown go without responding to the criticisms of his premiership?

Smalling on the up

Ahead of Friday's England international in Bulgaria all the press intrusion had been on new signing Phil Jones, which was understandable because he has been a revelation. But Smalling has been just as impressive and his improvement, adaptibility and good form won him plaudits in Saturday morning's press.
He still sees himself as a future Manchester United centre half and presumably he hopes an England one too, as do i, but he is doing a fine job and is gaining invaluable experience.

I suppose it turned out to be a bit of a suprise that Cleverley and Jones played no part on Frdiay night as most of the press had thought that Jones and Cleverley had given Capello food for thought. It's obviously just a matter of time for Jones, Cleverley has more of a fight, but i'm sure he will get there in the end.
Rooney is more relaxed and is looking forward to every game, he was England's star performer even without the two goals in Sofia. His understanding with Ashley Young for England before he came to United must have helped the former Villa man to have settled in so easily at Old trafford. He is looking like a man Capello will find it hard to drop from now on and has given United another dimension. When Valencia gets back into first team contension United will have an embarrassment of riches on the flanks. It will be ineteresting to see whether Fergie plays down the middle at any times during the course of the season even if it is just the latter part of matches.

Gary Neville looks back at his England career in his new book with brutal honesty, claiming that they were good but not quite good enough to get to tournament finals or even to win them, even if Fergie had been their manager they wouldn't have won any. But he has more faith in the future as he reckons the new breed of players coming through understand how important ball retension is at the very top level.

The BBC report on the financial results for the year announced by United on Friday. Andersred Disects Q4 and the full year results for Manchester United and sees a well run money making machine needlessly losing half their profit to paying of the Glazer's debt incurred in buying our club.

The Telegraph ran a piece on Lancashire's former England coach Peter Moores ahead of last week's crunch game against bottom side Worcestershire as the county championship nears its climax. Unfortnately Lancashire's brittle batting line up finally cost them big time as they collapsed twice to get beat by ten wickets.
That was a poor poor performance, the top five or six have been letting them down for too long. I can't see how they can possibly end up gaining that historic title whilst the top order keeps on collapsing game after game.
I heard Moores being interviewed after the game and he said the players knew they hadn't performed and would learn from it. But it's been happening game after game, but this time the bowlers weren't able to rescue them. That's twice the bottom team has beaten them when the crunch has been on, it's hard to be confident for the final games. The weather forecast for this week doesn't look great either.

As time seemingly runs out for Gaddafi, the close relationship Blair's government had with the dictators regime see the light of day as Tripoli is free of Gadaffi but not yet totally under the control of rebel forces. It truly stinks how little value new labour put on human rights, liberal values or any kind of acceptable morality.
Adrian Hamilton looks at the grubby reality of the wests supposedly enlightened intervention in Libya and argues it is never simply humanitarian. The liberal riposte to Charles Moore's Telegraph column, the weekend revelation's must put the grubby deals under danger.
Andy Becket wonders why as our Military capablity shrinks British governments are still alarmingly prone to launching quick wars.

After the serialisation of Alistair Darling's memoirs, John Kampfner thinks Ed Miliband needs to d more than just "move on". Jackie Ashley argues that the memoirs shows that we have to change our culture of lionising strong leaders and stand up to the bullies.

Paul Krugman argues that Martin Wolf "gets it", after the FT columnist ferociously laid into President Obama's political strategy. Paul Harris argues that Democrats complacently looking at the nonentities that the Republicans may end up with as their Presidential candidate may be in for a nasty shock if Obama doesn't get his act together it will be his to lose.
Twelve big banks are to be sued by a Federal government agency over their misrepresentation of the quality of mortage securities the assembled and sold ahead of 2008's credit crunch.

Jonathan Portes, former economics advisor to David Cameron argues that there is a common sense alternative to the governments economic strategy.
Tory Frasier Nelson warns about the dangers of home ownership, yet these people still lionise Thatcher and her time as premier, as one after the other of her flagship policies turn out to have been unmitigated disasters for this country and its economy.
Steve Richards looks at why too much money is as bad for bankers as it is for footballers, the two last bastions of the free market lightly regulated policies that have landed the country in the mess that it is in.

One of my all time favourite songs