Ferdinand to return?

Ferdinand has been to Germany for treatment on his injured calf and if he responds well he could be back in a red shirt sooner than thought. Which is obviously good news, with our defensive problems he can't back soon enough.
Ex United youth Craig Cathcart sticks up for his ex team mate and Northern Ireland colleague Jonny Evans over the Stuart Holden challenge that saw him receive a red card and holden miss a semi final and the next six months of football. I always thought Cathcart would make it at United, good to see him fulfilling some of his potential at Blackpool. I'm sure if the worst happens and the seasiders are relegated he will find plenty of premier league suitors.

The FA have brokered peace talks between Fergie and the BBC reports the Mail. As neither side will back down, in the BBC's case correctly, i can't see much coming from them. I don't expect Fergie to talk to the BBC until after he has retired, if that. Patrick Collins argues that the FA  wouldn't have done this for any other manager and shouldn't really be doing so with Ferguson.

James Robson with some fantasy football reporting has United going on a spending spree of Cityesque proportions. The fact he can name all those targets and not mention one of the hot young prospects coming up through the youth system tells you all you need to know about his credibility on United and Fergie's future plans. We may buy Young at a knock down price, a goalie and one of Rodwell or Henderson, but i can see no further than that, unless he really does start to cut adrift some of the deadwood in the squad in the summer.
Fergie tells the press that all our on loan players will come back next season to join up with the first team squad. I have to admit i had forgotten about Diouf, whom when i have seen him has done well.

United have set up a deal with Dutch club FC Twente to act as a holding club for five promising Brazillian youngsters. I don't really like this, there should be some kind of way of stopping the big clubs indulging in this sort of thing, but what, i have no idea. City will be bound to follow suit.

The Glazers show they haven't lost their cuddly side as they decide to sue one of their own clubs fans for posting names and addresses of its corporate clients on the internet. Amazingly their chances of winning any kind of meaningful victory would appear to be small, little consolation to the man who did the worthy deed.

Robbo feels lucky after successful operation to cure the recently diagnosed throat cancer, great news for captain marvel and those of us that had the good fortune to see one of the greatest players to ever put on a Manchester United side.

The Guardian's football man in Manchester Daniel Taylor gives an interesting interview about his job and time as the football correspondent for the city and his thoughts on the club and especially Fergie. I loved the Fergie quip about him being the bass player for Oasis and the United staffer who was quoted saying of Bebe " it's like watching competition winner".

Paul Wilson on the global spread of rugby league, it's a great game that deserves to be a far more successful sport than rugby union. I can't help being cynical about any future expansion though, i'm afraid.

Ahead of the budget Faisal Islam looked at the implications for the rumoured proposals for merging national insurance and income tax. I can see why small star tories would love to merge the two taxes in an effort to stop any future Brown type tax rises by stealth. But if the economy does go down the sink and Osborne's plans to bring down the debt in the lifetime of the parliament with it he will be looking for stealth taxes of his own.

Post budget Larry Elliott welcomes us to planet Osborne, where his modest plans to turn the UK into a rival version of Germany run into the ever so slight problem that his current policies risks plunging the economy into a spiral of low growth and inflationary problems.
Martin Wolf writes in the FT that Osborne made the best of a bad hand, which of course is partly his own fault. He salutes some of the budgets measures for helping business, but like Elliott he is sceptical they will do much good against the current economic background.
Will Hutton was singularly unimpressed by the so called growth plan announced in the budget and argues the return of Martin Sorrel and his conglomerate WWP sends out all the wrong signals. 
Unsurprisingly David Blanchflower argues that the budget will be a failure and predicts that OBR predictions of future growth, whilst lowered, are still too optimistic. William Keegan thinks Osborne has boxed himself in, though he agrees with Elliott that at least manufacturing is being taken seriously again.
Mary Ann Sieghart believes the Lib dems can't have been happy with last weeks budget and wonders if the governments actions which could very well cause a structural cyclical deficit which will leave todays unemployed still unemployable in five years time are quite the legacy Osborne and the coalition government had in mind.
Craig Murray a liberal who sees the merits in a smaller state thinks of Osborne "as a petty man for a great task".
Philip Stephens concurs with the consensus that the real action happened during the last budget and that the chancellor is locked on autopilot to plan A. As Larry Elliott wrote in his budget analysis he will need a plan B. Robert Skidelsky and Felix Martin chart a possible plan B with proposals for a way out of Britain's grwoth dilemma.


A fascinating blog that looks at the thesis that big government has served the interests of capitalism rather more than free market, small state ideologues would ever let on. Jon Snow blogs after having watched the oscar winning documentary inside job which sounds well worth watching.
David Prosser writes of an industry even less trusted than the bankers as OFGEM accuses the six leading utility providersof rigging the market. Another 80's tory success story, i'm convinced that they will be renationalised again one day, especially when oil starts to run out. Speaking of which George Monibot writes why the events at Fukushima have made him stop worrying and come to love nuclear power, as he argues that atomic power has to be part of a future mix of resources used to replace fossil fuel energy.


Robert Fisk with one of his latest pieces on the Arabian democratic uprising, written before Syria became the latest country to kick off, now that country could make Libya look like a tea party.

Simon Reid-Henry argues that Obama is right to restart to court some of his troublesome neighbours to the south. Whilst the Economist's correspondent writes that Brazillians like Obama, but would like him even more if policy changes were to be announced on the trip.

The Economist's Blighty column wonders why politicians have such an obsession with choice in the NHS. As he states most people just want a good local hospital, as i would argue most people just want a good school as well.







Music
Aretha Franklin - I've never loved a man the way i love you: I have heard most of her classic tunes but have never listened to one of her classic 60's albums before. It is excellent, with a mixture of covers and Franklin originals and the band as usual with 60's soul is excellent.

Beach house -  Teen dream: I had never heard this US indie duo before, which was my loss because this is a pretty good album. The songs have just a hint of 80's electronic pop added to the left field indie of today, and it works well.
Darkstar - North: Dubstep outfit morph into a more progressive/regressive sound. Once again hints of 80's electronica but moody and dark, but with the dubstep influence hasn't been totally lost.

Deerhunter - Halcyon digest: I hadn't heard this US indie outfit either, another mistake as this is even better than Beach house, in fact this really is the digs proverbials. Not as progressive as Animal collective but this is almost as good as Merriweather post pavillion.

 Laura Marling - I speak because i can: Another artist that has been around for a couple of years that i have only just got around to listening to, this time UK singer songwriter Laura Marling. I have been missing out again because this is another excellent album.

Radiohead - The king of limbs: I finally got around to listening to the surprise new album from one of the best bands in the world, and it doesn't let you down. It's not as good as In dreams, but that was a woefully under rated album. I'm not sure the songs will work as well live, as that albums, but they are brilliant live so they will probably fit right in.

Manchester United 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

If we do manage to make it nineteen, it looks like we are going to do it the hard way. I had this down as a tough fixture, and it didn't let me down. In fact i can't see us having any walkover's from now to the end of the season. When Evans got sent off, with about ten minutes to go, United looked out on their feet, and even though the reds brought Jaaskaleinen into the game regularly for the first time in the second half a goal didn't look like coming. So when the goal did come, the celebrations by fans and even more so by the players themselves were as if we had just won the league.
In fact with Arsenal dropping two points, a draw wouldn't have been a total disaster for United, but it would have been another missed opportunity for us to give ourselves a little breathing space. Fergie was right to welcome the international break as we definitely look in need of a recharging of the batteries. With all our defensive injury problems the last thing we needed was to see the returning Jonny Evans get sent off, let's hope Vidic will be back soon.
On the evidence of the first half Fergie dropped a bit of a clanger starting with Hernandez ahead of Berbatov. He was obviously looking to get the Mexican in behind the big Bolton rearguard. But with Bolton coming to take the game to us, United could never get a grip of the midfield in the first half, and with Hernandez unable to compete physically with Cahill and Wheater United were unable to build any momentum as we didn't have anybody to hold the ball up front. United should have had a penalty in the first half, but the ref missed the raised arm that stopped Hernandez's goalbound effort. saying that we wouldn't have deserved to have go in at the break in front.
Fertgie rectified his mistake by bringing on Berbatov for Hernandez at the start of the second half, he also brought Fabio on for Wes Brown. I don't know whether that was injury related or tactical. Whilst it didn't really make us look any more like scoring, it did make Coyle change his tactics as Bolton eventually dropped deep and only rarely through men forward.
United pressed forward in search of that winning goal, but it looked like it might be one of those games, as we never really looked like breaking through that Bolton defence. At the match i thought the Evans dismissal may have been a touch harsh, as he had gone for the ball, but after seeing the replay, i would have been unhappy if that tackle had gone against us without a red card, so i can't really complain.
Rooney seemed to be out on his feet for the last ten minutes of the game but he and Nani had their best spells of the game, both driving forward and forcing Jaaskeleinen into his busiest spell of the game. It was ironic that it fell to Berbatov to hit home the winner, as to be honest he hadn't really that much of an influence, but we will take it. The celebrations from the players showed how important they knew that goal could be.
I still can't see Arsenal pipping us to the title, especially with the soft goals they keep giving away. But as for Chelsea, i am worried about them, they seem to be fresher than either us or Arsenal and it was around this time of the season that they moved into an extra gear last season. Thos two games against Arsenal and Chelsea are huge, and i have to say if i have any confidence of us getting results in those games, i would be more confident of us getting a result at the Emirates. We can only hope Chelsea have left it too late to really take advantage of our problems.

Fergie hails United character, that was definitely what got us through Saturday. Mark Ogden argues that Berbatovis still out in the cold despite his 88th minute winner, he notes that seven other first teamers have signed new contracts, but Berbatov hasn't and that the club holding all the aces in contract negotiations. Acclaim from Jaimie Redknapp as he praises United's never say die attitude, whilst his  dad reckons the rest of the league is trying to hand the title on a plate to United.

Wayne Rooney assures the press that the rumours of him leaving United in the summer are nothing to do with him, he wants to stay at United until he is in his thirties. Jim White believes that Rooney is the key to United's season, he has improved, but i wouldn't go that far. He still blows hot and cold but the one thing he does seem to have got back is his drive, now if he could only get his touch back we would really be back in business.

The latest news on Rio Ferdinand wasn't what the doctor ordered, but has Mark Ogden gone slighly over the top describing Rio as a man fighting to save his United career.

This blog takes a look at the taken for granted brilliance of Michael Carrick, but whilst i would agree that the stick he gets is sometimes over the top, i can't go along with that. He came with an eye for a pass, but over the last two seasons he seems to have completely lost. I would agree that he i asked to keep it simple in his more defensive role nowadays, but there are times when he attempts what used to come naturally and more often than not he doesn't find his man. He does do a good job defensively when the game is not a battle, but as at Liverpool, where he wasn't alone by any means, he can be found wanting.
What there can be no denying is that he isn't the player he was for us in those first three title winning seasons.

Gerard Pique interviewed in the Indy has warm words for his time at Manchester United. I always thought he was going to be a great player, but wondered whether we were the club for him. At least Arsenal have got their worth from Fabregas who will also surely end back back at Barca in the near future. At least with Tunnicliffe, Morrison and Pogba, if they make they will hopefully be at the club to fulfill all their dreams.

James Forsyth looks at the current state of morale in the tory camp, which he belives is surprisingly low and thinks the budget maybe Osborne's last chance. His shadow Ed Balls believes Osborne is defying history in this interview in the Telegraph. His response to the budget will be fascinating to watch.
Will Hutton is pessimistic over the future course of the British economy as budget day approaches and is another commentator to talk of coaltion panic behind the scenes.
Steve Richards wonders whether Cameron will come to regret his hawkish stance ove Gadaffi, as he notes the similarities between the press reaction he has received and that which Blair received at first over Iraq. I'm not sure about the no fly zone, though id do support arming and giving logistical help to the rebels. I do not support sending any British or foreign troops into the country.

Tim Wu predicts that we are at a watershed moment in the history of the internet.

Steve Hillage
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/the-master-switch-tim-wu-internet

Manchester United 2-1 Marseille

Due to now having to work a 2.30-10.30 shift for the next 8 months, which i'm really thrilled about, you will have to make do with the views from the press. Sam Wallace reports that United did it the hard way, in a season of living dangerously. To be honest if we don't get Ferdinand and Evans back soon, our season could begin to resemble last years campaign that choked at tha last. Henry Winter reports in a similar vein, writing that United never do things the easy way.

Rooney fears no one in the next round writes Mark Ogden, funny how he seems to have come alive all of a sudden. Is that due to the resumption of champions league football, the return of Antonio Valencia or a final flourish before he ups sticks in the summer as the rumours suggest.
Even though Barca aren't totally at the top of their game at the moment, i dread to think what they would do to us at the moment. With a very ordinary midfield and defensive injuries galore, we could well do with avoiding them, and if we do play them, as late as possible.

Ironically, seeing as though he wasn't picked again, Ian Herbert had written before the game that United needed Berbatov to quickly rediscover his brilliant best form in Europe. On the evidence of last night for all his goals, fergie still doesn't really trust him. After sitting out most of the big games we have just played, which saw Rooney enter the period with his form as inconsistent as all season, i thought he was a certainty to start last night. I can't imagine Berbatov has been happy to have spent so much time on the bench over the last few weeks. Fergie may well have been right to have left him on the bench, but those suggesting he hasn't scored much recently, slightly overlook the fact he hasn't actually played very much.
It seems even more weird if Rooney is going to seek pastures new in the summer to either help pay the debt or help bring in finance to buy new blood. You would have thought Fergie would have wanted to keep the striker that is definitely staying at the club sweet.
As for that man Rooney, maybe the return of Valencia will rekindle his enthusiasm for the club. It has been obvious he has missed the service from Valencia as much as United have missed the brilliant south American. The return of Valencia is an enormous boost to our hopes of regaining the title, seeing him come on against the Arsenal and then putting in a performance just reminded us what we have missed all season, Fergie was right to call him brilliant. He is obviously not as talented an individual as Ronaldo but as a team player he is just as vital to the red cause as the Portugese man was.
Speaking of which, the news that Nani and his agent are considering their options doesn't come as a massive surprise. He was our best player of the calender year 2011, and is probably our player of the season so far. But he can revert to his former self at times when it's not going for him. He didn't do himself or United any favours during the Chelsea and Liverpool games whilst he was on the pitch. When the opposition seems to have his measure, he reverts to the inconsistent winger who almost always seems to pick the wrong option. To be fair to him, Ronaldo never really shone at Anfield or Stamford bridge either, but with such a lousy midfied at the moment, the last thing we needed was Nani having an off day. Still i'm not sure we can afford to let him go next season.

The news that Bryan Robson is faing a battle against throat cancer has come as a complete shock. One of the all time great Manchester United footballers, anybody that followed the reds that in the eighties will know that, what a footballer.

There will not be " one more year " for Edwin Van Der Sar as he made clear after the Arsenal game, he wants to go out at the top. He will be a big, big miss.

Capable hands proves to be a little uncapable at the houses of Parliament, well he doesn't have any political ambitions, does he.

Sky sports coverage of Spanish football gets the once over in this piece in four four two.. I have to admit there i times i watch and wonder why the fuck they have Terry Gibson commentating on football full stop, never mind Spanish football a country he never played in as far as i know

David Blanchflower reveals that a former number 10 adviser fundamentally disagrees with boy George Osborne's economic policies. Every piece of economic news and every piece of global news seems like a nail in the coffin of the growth deniers economic strategy. Larry Elliott agrees with Mervyn King that the global economy and the power of finance has to be reformed if a global slump is to be avoided.

Steve Richards argues that Ed miliband and Balls face a more difficult political challenge to define a successful opposition strategy than that which faced Blair and Brown.

Roy Greenslade questions why the usually excellent Henry Winter decided to omit any hint of the darker side of the already cynical enough side of Don Revie in this piece he recently wrote. As he says, the guy was a proven cheat, and his team were universally loathed, not just in Manchester.

I thought The Wire creator David Simon's response to Felicia "snoop" Pearson's arrest was interesting.

George Monibot explains why the west will not trouble Saudi tyrants whilst they crave their oil. There wasn't too much reporting of the Saudi's excursion into Bahrain, i hope we get no wikileaks showing US compliance in that.

The Keynesian Liberal blog presents an egalitarian approach to the future of pension reform, those figures seem pretty fair to me. 

Spiked salutes a new documentary charting the life of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, it sounds interesting.