The future is bright

Andy Cole's column in the Independent lauds Welbeck
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-andy-cole-column-world-cup-is-not-beyond-reach-of-welbecks-talents-1810958.html

Obertan's impressive debut did not go unnoticed
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/markogden/100002908/gabriel-obertan-shows-nani-how-to-replace-cristiano-ronaldo/

Paul Wilson thinks the interpretaion of the rule book is subjective and that United haven't got the steel of past sides. They haven't for the last thre seasons if we are honest but how many trophies have we won. I would still like more steel in myself though.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/28/manchester-united-liverpool-referees

Oliver Kay thinks United fans away are a different kettle of fish away from Old Trafford
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6894747.ece

The moston rats get namechecked in the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/teenagers-behind-united-trouble-1810960.html

Pellegrini is in trouble at Real Madrid after the 4-0 drubbing in midweek according to Sid Lowe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/28/real-madrid-alcoron-copa-del-rey

Ronaldo tells the Spanish press he is not Real's saviour, i am sure Barca will let him know he's not
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/cristianoronaldo/6465691/Cristiano-Ronaldo-I-am-not-Real-Madrids-saviour.html

David Shepherd one of crickets best umpires is remembered by Derek Pringle
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/news/6453879/David-Shepherds-loss-mourned-throughout-cricket.html

George Soros is helping to fund a centre for the inititiative for new econimic thinking
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/28/economics-alternative-theories-stiglitz-regulators
Well it's needed, and it's not going to come from new labour or the tories in this country

Latin America and the emerging economies are already onthat track
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/27/bolivia-ecuador-economy

Well if the polls are right and the tories win the next election 9 which i have my doubts about myself ) they will deserve what they get as the sleazy side of the Tory party lifts it's head in Belize.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ashcroft--belize-the-only-thing-he-respects-is-dollars-1811725.html
Not exactly the party to sort out the financial world are they
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tropical-storm-hits-ashcroft-1811697.html

Barnsley 0-2 Manchester United

A pretty encouraging performance by our Carling cup team, it's a pity about the Neville sending off as that meant Fergie wasn't able to give Josh King a run out for the last 15 minutes. But we got a frist glimpse of Obertan in the first team and he certainly showed a lot of potential. Welbeck gave the performance in the first team that he has been capable of. Macheda and the Da Silva's did ok and we got the result, so it was a pretty good night.
The team looked pretty good on paper the only surprise being Rafael in central midfield. I say surprise, but i wouldn't be that surprised if neither him or his brother end up at full back to be honest. He did ok without really standing out, but he has good energy and he could end up being a decent option there.The game got off to a flying start for us as we scored from a corner after just 6 minutes. It was a pretty soft goal from Barnsley's point of view but Welbeck still had to put it in and that he did easily. Welbeck's record of goals scored from games played is more than decent for his age if you look at it. And he is definitely a big part of the future at United. He had a good first half and should hace done better with a chance shortly after when he shot straight at the goalie when he could have crossed for Owen. I can't blame him for having a go, after that brilliant first touch he was entitled to. But if he wasn't going to cross he should have hit it across the goalie as he did against Derby last year. He didn't link up as well with Macheda as he might have done but that was the fault of the pair of them as they both held onto it at times when they should have passed. But that is what these games are for, to learn their craft, before they hopefully become first squad regualars.
The other big plus point of the night was Obertan. He has come straight into the team and almost straight away looks a proper United player. He has a good first touch, pace, a good appreciation of his fellow players, an eye for a pass and the abilty to play the obvious pass that somehow eludes Nani. He was very promising indeed and if the future was him on one wing and Valencia on the other and they both live up to their potential we will see some exciting football. Worrying times for Nani i would think if he would like his future to be at Old Trafford.
Barnsley did come back at us in the first half and did have a few chances but mainly from corners. Considering the size of the side i suppose that shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.
The second half saw Barnsley come much more into it as the match became end to end.
Welbeck had to go off a few minutes into the second half with an injury and was replaced by Tosic on the left. Almost immediately he saw a shot go agonisingly wide after a great shot.
Owen then produced the moment of the match as he turned and beat a couple of defenders before hitting an early shot into the corner of the net to put us two up.
It looked like the rest of the night was going to be pretty easy until Gary Neville was sent off. I thought he was unlucky, even if he did follow through he didn't do it with much venom and he didn't hurt him. I thought it warranted a yellow at the most, but maybe we aren't going to get too much from ref's in the " current climate". Barnsley had a bit of a go at us now but due to some decent instinctive saves from Foster and some dodgy finishing from Barnsley we ended up with the two goal vitory.

FA to launch probe into crowd trouble
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8329580.stm

Oliver Holt is worried about the Glazers and the debt
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/oliver-holt/Beware-Manchester-United-fans-the-Glazers-are-happy-to-pass-the-buck-article202663.html
We are all worried about the debt, but i don't mind us buying players with potential and seeing them come on. After all that is what we did with Ronaldo. My problem with the debt is that is us poor fans that will end up paying for that debt as we are asked to buy ever dearer season tickets in a deteriorating economic climate. When proper United fans will get priced out of watching the club they love as has been happening since they appeared on the scene.

The Mirror appear to have forgot about the credit crunch and our debt with a story that is crap.
£40 million for the pair of them? Villa will probably cost that on his own and i still think he will end up at Barca or Real. Benzema hasn't been setting the world alight at Real, i never thought he was worth the money that they paid Lyon for him.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-United-close-in-on-50m-Spanish-transfer-targets-article202703.html

Nationalised banks to be broken up as Labour starts to get raidical, or is being pushed into by Europe.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/government-to-break-up-the-banks-1810494.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/sean-ogrady-first-the-16312-trillion-bailout-now-its-payback-time-1810497.html

Worries over Ferdinand

It looks like it's not jus me that thinks that we may have seen the best of Ferdinand as worries over his ongoing back problem and the lack of sharpness to his play.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matt_dickinson/article6891330.ece
I hope the scouts are out and about because i fear that it's true.

Oliver Kay thinks Fergies patience is running out with the amount of passengers we are carrying. The only part of that theory i would argue with is the Berbatov part as i think he has started to hit some form recently . I can't se what he can do when the defence is all over the place and the midfield is overrun as it was on Sunday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6891327.ece
The centre half to be leaving next summer will be Vidic and i can't argue too much with that especially if we get a good price. With Evans, Wes Brown and hopefully Craig Cathcart proving he has got what it takes at this level Vidic will be adaquately replaced. I can't see Ferdinand's replacement though.

Obertan to make his debut and boy don't we need this lad to turn up trumps.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6444543/Gabriel-Obertan-to-make-Manchester-United-debut-against-Barnsley-in-Carling-Cup.html

James Lawton thinks the FA should throw the book at Fergie after the Wiley incident. It looks like it's coming i'm afraid. One thing it does show, to me at least, is the last time you should be interviewing players or managers is straight after a game. But that's not going to happen is it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-why-the-fa-has-to-give-ferguson--a-taste-of-the-hairdryer-treatment-1809971.html

A silly non story in the torygraph as Fergie says Mark Robbins goal didn't save him from the sack, but then says then again who knows.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6444173/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Mark-Robins-goal-for-Manchester-United-did-not-save-my-job.html

The BBC interviwed Warren Buffett the other night and it was quite interesting as he argued for a more progressive tax system. The right must hate him as lays bare the argument that rich get what they deserve for the crap that it is.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/26/warren-buffett-bonuses-bankers


Music
Bill Callahan - Sometimes i wish i were an eagle: I like this, it reminds me of Lambchop on one of their better albums. It gets inside your head after a few listens.

Graham Nash - Songs for Beginners: Another singer songwrier but this time early seventies west coast california. Not quite as good as Stephen Stills first solo albums but still a pretty good listen. I saw the BBC's documentary on the scene and he had a go at the Eagles on it for being safe and when you listen to Stills and Nash solo albums you know where he is coming from.

Papercuts - You can have what you want: Not bad indie pop with a couple of very good tunes on it. Maybe a little on the samey side, if you don't like the first track you might as well turn off there and then.

Regina Spektor - Far: I like this hard to categorise album. Apparently this is her most commercial album to date so i will have to give her earlier stuff a try because this isn't exactly pop music.

Reverand and the makers - The state of things: I am still not really sure how much i like this. I didn't have much time for it on the first few listens, it just sounded like another average indie band although this time heading back into early 90's territory. But it does hook you a bit after a few listens.You have heard it all before though and better at the end of the day.

The Dead Weather - Horehound: Jack White comes up trumps again. Another group of musicians and another triumph. Maybe not quite as good as the Raconteurs but still some cracking tunes.