Charity shield ahead

Given this mornings statement emanating from Spain it would seem the Fabregas saga has gone the way that a fair few of us cynics thought it might. I'm not a massive fan of Fabregas, though he would have improved the squad, no doubt, but he's not what we need in my opinion. We need a deeper more defensive minded central midfield option, either to play alongside Carrick, or cover him, or even to replace him eventually.
That said, the new post Fergie Glasnost era of Woodward has got off to a start of epic fuckwittery proportions. First Thiago and now Fabregas couldn't be enticed to the club. Despite labelling ourselves as the biggest club in the world, truth be told, we are "one of" the biggest clubs in the world. In a city renowned for a climate designed not to excite any footballer of a Mediterranean or South American extraction, going after the two said was always going to be a long shot. It's always a gamble for any English team, never mind Manchester team to go after that type of player. Even the oligarch money of Chelski or oil based money of City have problems attracting the very best players in the world.
I've no problem with us competing for the best, it's the way you go about it, and as is now obvious to the whole watching football world, it's been about as inept as you could imagine. I'll shake my head and hope we are going to learn from this, but i have a nasty feeling we won't. After the mirth Gary Cook gave United fans, I've got a feeling it's payback time.

I have said during the summer that a defensive midfield option and a left back were what i wanted to see. And reports are gaining traction that as well as Fellaini, Baines is back on the menu. So some would say that i should be happy. But i won't be if those are the two signings we make. They would improve us as a squad, i like Baines, Fellaini less so, but it's not much of a statement of intent for a so called biggest club in the world, is it, to go back to your new manager's old club to show the rest of Europe you mean business.
If those are our only two summer signings under Moyes, i fully expect Rooney to be told he's going nowhere, for sponsorship reasons alone, the Glazer's probably can't afford to lose him. We'll probably see Nani and Anderson at the club for another season as well.
I really wanted to see the end of all three of them, the younger players coming through, need players that have never really done it consistently enough for United, or in Rooney's case want to be at the club, to move on to let them get the playing time they need to develop their game. If Nani and Rooney stay, i struggle to see how Januzaj, Lingard and maybe even Powell will get that time.


Music

Ethan Johns -If not now then when: Usually a producer and session man for acts such as Ryan Adams and others, Johns assumes the spotlight on this solo album, pretty successfully. I suppose it's not a million miles from the early country rock of early Ryan Adams, there aint much filler on it.

Iron and wine - Ghost on ghost: I suppose you'd class Iron and wine as Americana, but i always band them together with Calexico, i love Calexico but on his day Iron and wine is as good an act as the mid western outfit. This is definitely an on his day moment, classy album.

Kyle Eastwood -The view from here: His last album was a cracking album, a hard one to follow. This isn't as immediately excellent as its predecessor, but when it gets under your skin it's another cracking listen.

Queens of the stone age - Like clockwork: There is no better hard rock group in the world than Josh Homme's band for me, so Mojo's critic suggested it was their best album since songs for the deaf, i had to listen to it as soon as. I'm not sure whether it is or not still, It is definitely different, it's slower, with a final track that's almost a ballad. Of course it still rocks, amps up to eleven, it's a superb album, but i thought it's two predecessors were.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II: This is the second album from the US west coast based outfit, and if the first is anywhere near as good as this I've got to get around to listening to it. There are a lot of retro, psychedelic garage 60's influenced bands around at the moment, I'm not complaining, i love that genre, these are one of the best. You do wonder how long a career they and others will be able to survive on this sound, though.

Veronica falls -Waiting for something to happen: This UK indie outfits debut album a couple of years back was pretty good, so this was eagerly awaited. I think it's a pretty decent follow up, it has to the same, at times 80's to early 90's indie pop tunes that are perfect for a hot summer's day.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito: When I think of the best indie bands of the last decade or so, this lot don't really figure in it. And yet they probably should, they have got their own unique sound, the guitarist and drummer combine superbly. Maybe it's the fact they have never really managed to emulate that brilliant debut album. They've made no duds though, and their latest album is certainly something to proud of, it delivers the goods.

United on tour

It's been a reasonably encouraging tour as far as I'm concerned so far, given that I'm of the opinion that flying half way around the world is no way to prepare for the new season.
It's always nice to see some youngsters get valuable time on the same pitch as some of our big guns and we have seen plenty of that so far. In fact our three stand out players so far have been Januzaj, Lingard and perhaps the most impressive has been Zaha. There has been talk of Zaha going back out on loan for six months, i really can't see why that should happen. He's nowhere near the finished article, sure, but he showed enough for Place last season and has shown enough on tour so far to believe that he has got more than enough to offer our first team this season. In fact if Nani goes, as we all expect, he would be the only wide man left at the club who actually likes to take his man on, and is capable of beating his man.
Lingard hasn't surprised me to be honest, i believe wherever he ends up during his career, of course hopefully it'll be United, he will score goals. As ever for me, it's finding a position and a formation to suit him. I'm not really sure he's fits a static 4-4-2, he seems to be best in the kind of formations the reserves play, a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, he's at his best floating behind the front man, not a number ten though. I'd like to see him stay at United myself, introduce him gradually into the first team squad as a substitute and getting the occasional game against the premier league's lesser lights. But it will all be dependent on who comes in and who goes out i suppose.
Last player I'll mention will be Januzaj, who it seems has finally caught the eye of the United support that doesn't follow the younger lads. I like the way Moyes has used him, showing faith in him giving him almost a free role at times. He's showed the class he's got, i definitely want to see him around our first team squad. As we saw over the last six months with the under 21's he will rise to whatever challenge is thrown at him. Again he's not the finished article by any means, but i believe he is already more than good enough to have an impact in the premier league as long as he is handled correctly.

I can't say I'm very impressed by the all new singing dancing Ed Woodward transfer strategy of leaking to all and sundry, including apparently telling people such and such is a done deal. I don't blame anybody for losing out to Bayern for the signature of Thiago, given the Pep connections, though that was the player i really wanted. But it seemed strange to then go out the very next day and tell the world you've put on official bid in for Fabregas. Given what's happened to that club since, it wasn't the best timing. We'll look pretty stupid, if we don't land Fabregas, because i can't see us landing either Bale or Ronaldo.
Gary Neville got some stick for his comments that he'd sooner see us stick with our up and coming kids than go out and buy for buying stakes. But I'm totally with him on that, sure I'd love at least one central midfield replacement, but he would have to be of the requisite standard. Some of the players I've seen us linked with, don't shake any trees for me, I definitely don't want to see Fellaini or Cabaye anywhere near Old trafford next season.


Music

Bill Ryder-Jones - A bad wind blows in my heart: The second solo album from the ex Coral man, continues the good impression of his debut. More singer/songwriter than the film score style of its predecessor, it hits the spot again.

British Sea Power - Machineries of joy: One of the best UK indie bands of the last decade, it's another impressive set of songs.

Charles Bradley - Victim of love: I saw the documentary that floowed the lead up to his first album, an what an amazing back story to a superb vocalist it showed. He's still on form with this second, he and his Daptone backing band deliver the goods again.

Charlie Byrd - Brazilian Byrd: I loved his samba album in collaboration with Stan Getz, but to be honest couldn't stand this. Instead of Getz and his band is a schmaltzy string section, and i could only get through the album without turning it off a couple of times.

Mavis Staples - You are not alone: This was the first album where she collaborated with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, she's just brought out another. Great modern soul with Tweedy providing a gritty musical backing.

Primal Scream - More light: I saw one critic describe this album as their best since Screamadelica, i thought it was probably hyperbole as they have made some pretty decent albums since then, i loved XTRMNTR. But it's pretty darn good and definitely has a claim to that accolade. It starts as it means to go with the superb 2013.

u-ziq - Chewed corners: I'll be honest, as much as do love good electronic music, i probably listen more to guitar music as far as modern music goes. So i can still only be getting around to listening to an artist as good as this guy. Absolutely superb album, not as experimental as his earlier stuff, so I've read, every track is a cracker.

Off off and away

It was interesting to see the squad taken out to the far east, some reds have moaned at the lack of new faces. I'm afraid i looked and saw Rooney still at the club, I'm hoping that won't be the case come seasons start. And i saw the name of Anderson and i start to fear that he is to be given yet another season to prove that he can bring something to the party. I know it's a new manager, and the usual mantra is to wipe the slate clean and give everybody a fair crack of the whip. But i can't believe he ever looked a United midfield, whilst Everton manager and didn't think he'd have a better chance with our rotund Brazilian in it.
Moans aside, I'm looking forward to seeing Zaha in a red shirt and to see how the three young lads, Michael Keane, Lingard and Januzaj go on. I think all three of them have a chance, in fact I'm as certain as you can be that Keane and Januzaj will be first team players at some stage in the near future. It's a pity for Larnell Cole that he was away with England under 20's because i would have liked to have seen him travel. I though Will Keane might have travelled, i can only assume he is going to be introduced gently back into the playing side after his lengthy lay off with that bad knee injury.
As for the trip, welcome, David Moyes, to the crazy pre-season world of Manchester United. If our squad are anywhere near 100% for those vital first few games after globe trotting for the Yankee dollar, I'm a Dutchman.


Music

Deerhunter - Monomania: One of my favourite indie groups of the last few years, they have come up with another cracking piece of alternative rock. Groups like Deerhunter, Deerhoof and others haven't forgotten the alternative element of indie, yet still deliver memorable songs and albums.

James Blake - Overgrown: He seems to be a bit of a marmite artist, you either like him or hate him, his vocals seems to put a lot of people off. I'm in the pro camp, though i have to admit once I've finished listening to his latest album i don't generally go back to them very often. This carries on from his debut, no great changes to my ears.

Lady - Lady: Another belting slice of soul from this trans Atlantic duo, there have been some cracking neo soul albums over the last couple of years, and you can add this that list, chocca full of catchy tunes backed by an excellent backing band.

Savages- Silence yourself: This all female UK indie bands debut was pretty heavily hyped when it came out, and it didn't take me too many listens to agree with the hype for once. Very post-punk, bass led, it's got the tracks to back up the hype.

The 24 carat black - Ghetto: Misfortune's wealth: A bit of a lost classic, a tremendous album of early 70's funk/soul with the emphasis on the former. The groove builds as the album gets into its stride, excellent.

The Knife - Shaking the habitual: I haven't heard this Swedish electronic act before, this had very good reviews, and it it's well worth a listen. It's on the experimental side of the genre, it overstays its welcome a touch by the end, but there's a lot to recommend it.

Vampire weekend - Modern vampires of the city: The New York based indie/world music crossover's third album carries on a run of excellent albums. Another US indie band that don't forget the alternative element, yet bring out albums full of great tunes.