Music

Earth - Primitive and Deadly: On first listen, I thought this wouldn't be getting too many listens, the sound is a kind of slow one paced instrumental heavy rock, it's a sound that hasn't done to much for me in the past. But surprisingly I did start to get into it, I don't love it, have to be in the mood and all that but it's reasonably good.

Esben and the Witch - A New Nature: A decent album, not one to listen to again and again , but to return to now and again, suits the winter months, I think.

Nine Black Alps - Candy for the Clowns: Manchesters next big thing from the mid noughties, it never happened for them after that promising debut album. This is a return to form, probably won't break them, but it's a very enjoyable slice of loud indie/slacker rock.

Robert Plant - Lullaby And The Ceaseless Roar: Who'd have have though when Led Zep split, that it would be the vocalist who'd go on to have the most successful, varied and critically acclaimed solo career. Another album that appeared in almost all the best album of the year lists and rightly so. This time back to his fascination with North African music plus the whole gamut of his past influences.

Sleaford Mods - Chubbed Up: Another album that graced those same lists, this is a very different beast indeed. Just as good, but in a totally different way, musically at times a lean programmed The Fall, lyrically it made Mark E. Smith sound like a pussycat, bonkers, very angry and fucking brilliant. It sounds new, but they've been going a bit apparently, awaiting their next effort with relish.

Sun Ra - The Heliocentric worlds of Sun Ra volume 1: I had read all about Sun Ra a couple of years back and expected that I would like his music, but the first album I did listen to, can't remember what it was now, didn't do that much for me. This album from the mid sixties is far more like it. Obviously from the out there school of jazz, it's a minority audience that appreciate this kind of stuff.

The Juan Maclean - In a Dream: He makes some of the best accesible electronic albums of the present time and this is no different. It does add a new dimension, a kind of soft rock guitar riff, notably on the opening track that works brilliantly. It's as good an album as he's put out to my mind.

The Pierces - Creation: The fifth album from the US Folk/indie rock sister duo continues the good work from the last album, there are some fine female du acts around aat the moment and they're up there with any of them. They're probably more radio friendly than the rest of them, not always a bad thing.

Yeovil Town 0-2 Manchester United

Well we're through to the fourth round, I suppose at the end of the day that's the main thing. It was another awful performance though, given the opposition, embarrassing even.
He started with a three man back line of Blackett, McNair and Smalling and it was every bit as bad in practice as it looked on paper. We went to a back four in the second half as Shaw and Rafael were replaced, but as they both, apparently suffered injuries, that was probably enforced, rather than tactical. Carrick was rested and replaced by Fletcher who did nothing to dispel the notion that his days in a United shirt are numbered. Who knows, his days as a footballer may be numbered, he looks a million miles away from the player he was pre-injury.
Falcao was partnered by Wilson, both had to live on scraps, but at least Wilson gave a few glimpses of his potential. There was one instance where Falcao, for once, received a reasonable through ball and looked favourite to reach it, but was so easily beaten to the ball by the Yeovil defender, that it took me aback. He can't have been that slow when he was knocking them in for fun at Athletico, that injury must have taken its toll.
Behind them Rooney and Hererra toiled to little effect, Rooney had a poor game, his form has gone backwards in recent weeks. The through ball for Di Maria's clinching second goal was completely out of keeping with the rest of his display. The same could be said for Hererra's opener, it was a hell of a shot, but came from out of nowhere, at the time I couldn't see us ever scoring. Even after he scored he was caught in possession and dispossessed far too easily. I haven't made my mind up on the Basque yet, he has ability, but seems a little lightweight and wants too long on the ball. Of course he probably needs a decent run in the side, but in what position and in front of who?
Not a game to live in the memory, but we're in the hat for the next round and given this is our only realistic chance of silverware, the win was the most important thing. We can't keep playing like this and expect to win anything though, I'm starting to worry about the champions league spot I was taking for granted, to be honest, the away form could come back to pinch us on the bum.

Stoke City 0-0 Manchester United

Well despite going through the festive season unbeaten, I would still regard it as a disappointment. Beat Newcastle convincingly, should have beat Tottenham but ended up hanging on and didn't deserve anything other than the point we took at Stoke yesterday. Worryingly, yet again, when you hoped United would really be able to go for the jugular during the last quarter an hour or so of yesterday's game, it was actually the home team who went closest to scoring.
Van Gaal decried our away form after the game, but whilst the players may not be good enough to adapt to his "philosophy" it's also him who's not adapting to English football at the moment. Why on Earth are we still plodding on with three at the back, when we haven't the players to make it work. And if he insists on proceeding with it, how about a little adaptability. Why didn't he go to a back four during the latter stages when we needed to go for it, instead he brought Januzaj on as a left wing back, and then the Twtitterati get on the young Belgian's back!
I've rarely been enthused at the Dutchman's use of substitutes and yesterday was another classic example of United seemingly being in control of a game away from home only to see a set of baffling substitutions see us lose all our momentum.
He's right about the away form though. It has to be remembered that under dismal Dave we had as good an away record as there was in the division. Two victories so far, and both of those were flukes is nowhere near good enough. Christ if we don't improve on this, that champions league place that we all assumed was already in the bag, will be right back in contention, never mind the players going on about title bids.
We never really play that well at Stoke despite our excellent record there, it's usually more a case of get the job done and get out of there. But those were the day when we had a top class back four. It's noticeable that we've started to struggle there since the Vidic-Ferdinand axis days. It took just two minutes for Stoke to take advantage of our defensive indecisiveness as Crouch got an unchallenged header in and Shawcross, also unmarked, coolly slotted it home. Evans was a disaster waiting to happen all afternoon, he is surely starting to live on borrowed time.
Whilst we had periods of domination of possession, it rarely led to much in the way of an attacking threat. The equaliser was almost as soft as their opening goal, a set piece that saw Falcao finsish off a near post nod on. Much was made of Falcao's performance and substitution yesterday, especially be Gary Neville. Yes it was an improved performance, and maybe he was unlucky to be taken off ahead of Van Persie who was very quiet until the Colombian went off. But Jesus he wasn't that good, his first touch was still very hit and miss and the appreciation of his game seemed to centre around his improved work rate. Maybe we should be putting a bid in for Crouch.
As I said the second half seemed to be going to plan in so much as we were bossing the game, even if we were still not creating that much. Then the substitutions were made and, nothing very much happened at all after that. To top everything else, possibly our outfield player of the season, Ashley Young pulled up with a hamstring, that seemed to sum our season up.
I'm hoping there are no experiments lined up for Sunday, along with a fair few older reds, i really want to see us go all out for a first FA cup victory in a decade. I'm afraid it doesn't matter who we play, when we play with three at the back, I'm never that confident of victory. Fingers and everything else crossed.