Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United

Three points, another game chalked off, a new league record, if that floats your boat, but otherwise, pretty much a game to forget. Which for as much as i can't really say i enjoyed the 90 minutes too much, i can't complain too much at. The game that really matters for me, and Fergie by the looks of things is tomorrow morning's game in west London.
With two games in three days it was always going to be a much changed team, and when both Buttner and Anderson start, you can also say weakened and that's exactly what it was. Still it was a fairly strong side, one that should have been much too strong for O'Neill's side. Saying that i wasn't as confident as i usually would be going into a game like this. Given Sunderland's current free fall and United's weakened team, you never know whether the opposition will show up and give you one of those fighting for everything type performances.
I needn't have worried, the home team's first half performance was up there with Fulham's at Old trafford in the cup, as the worst we have encountered this season. They improved in the second half, they could hardly do otherwise they had been so abject in the first half, but by then we had got the goal. United completely dominated the first half, but it was one of those days where United were content to do just enough and no more.
The second half was a forty five minutes to be endured as United never really got going, as much as United had Monday on their minds, we really should have been beating that mackem side by more than one goal. But we got through it, not totally unscathed unfortunately as Rafael went off in the first half, that could be a blow if it's serious with the fixtures ahead.
Carrick was easily the outstanding player in red, he is in as rich a vein of form as he has had in his whole career at the club, at present. I thought Kagawa was excellent in the first half, but faded in the second, but i felt that was due to the players around him, more than through any fault of his own. Van Persie did reasonably well in general, aside from his goal, but i still wouldn't be surprised to see him start on the bench on Monday.
Negatives, as usual Anderson didn't last the ninety minutes and at times might as well not have been on the pitch for all that he contributed to the game. Some were more impressed by Buttners display than usual, i can't really count myself amongst them. Sure he had a couple of good moments, but he still looked like an accident waiting to happen against a better team to me.
The sacking of O'Neill was a surprise, it goes without saying, i wouldn't have been surprised if he had gone in the summer, but to sack him now, doesn't really make much sense. He hasn't improved this Sunderland side one iota since he arrived at the club though, i know they have been unfortunate with injuries, but that was a really spineless performance yesterday. Not one you would ever really associate with a team managed by Martin O'Neill. You have to wonder whether we'll ever see him managing again in the premier league after this.
So to tomorrow, a game to get you licking your lips and not one that i can expect to say i had to endure it come half two ish, tomorrow afternoon. I really fancy us for this, we will be fresher than we were for the first tie, no running out of legs in the second half in this one. I can see Rooney Welbeck and Nani all starting this, question is, as part of a front three or will we go 4-4-2. It's a biggie anyway, a crack at a bit of revenge against City for that semi final defeat should be all the incentive they need.

Rio says no

Most of the back pages earlier in the week, were taken up by the Rio Ferdinand recall, rebuff story. I wasn't surprised by Hodgson's attempt to bring him back, Englands last game against Brazil had been fairly promising for Hodgson, for the most part. But the obvious weak spot on the night and going forward has to be centre half. On the night, neither Cahill or Smalling looked up to the job.
So for that forward line and that three man midfield to be able to fulfill that promise this year and next, Hodgson needs an experienced classy man at centre half alongside a promising youngster with the legs that Rio has now lost. So for Hodgson, it was a no brainer.
I honestly thought when it was announced, Ferdinand would accept, whatever that meant to his relationship with Fergie, like Beckham, the feeling has always been that he put England before United. So i have to say i was surprised that he told them he couldn't make the two matches, either Hodgson really got his back up over the Terry affair, or he really does want to prolong his career with United, another years extension, looks odds on now.
It's obviously great news for United, after the decline of the last couple of season, he seems to have adjusted to his new elder statesman role in the squad superbly. If Evans has improved no end this season, which he has, no doubt having Rio next to him for the majority of the season has helped him greatly. It probably means that Fergie will not have to dip into the transfer market for a new centre half this summer, especially with something like the old Nemanja Vidic reappearing over the last month or so. And another season for Jones, Smalling and even Michael Keane, on loan probably, in his case to gain experience and ease into the role.

Music

Bad Brains - Into the future: The Washington DC hardcore/reggae carry on their unique sound on their latest album, i suppose you have to be able to appreciate both forms of music to be able to last the albums they produce. Luckily for me i do, it must limit their audience though. Anyway it hits the spot.

Divine fits - A thing called divine fits: US indie collaboration that justifies the effort, at times straight forward indie and at others a more reasonably radio friendly 80's electro/pop influence.

Godspeed you! Black emperor - Allelujah! Don't bend! Ascend!: My first listen to the Canadian epic, almost orchestral rock, what have i been missing, because i absolutely love this. Definitely not radio friendly, it probably would have been labelled prog rock in the 70's, i love this kind of heavy guitar led instrumental music.

Matthew Halsall - Fletcher Moss park: The latest album from the Manchester based jazz trumpeter/producer continues along the acoustic/chilled out jazz that would get him airtime on Giles Peterson. The type of music i could listen to on repeat and just get lost in it.

School of seven bells - Disconnect from desire: The second album from the US indie/pop group when they were still a trio carried on the promising ethereal dreamy indie of the debut. It's a mile away from Ben Curtis original band The Secret Machines indie/rock, though this track isn't/

Willy Mason - Carry on: This third album is full of the same kind of great indie/Americana sounds that made his first two albums so enjoyable. He's got so many cracking songs, it's hard to know why he isn't more successful.

Manchester United 1-0 Reading

It's been a curious season, before christmas, when nothing was decided we saw some cracking football, not always great performances, but enough memorable moments to be more than happy with the entertainment we had been served up. Since City started to fall away, the football, the Madrid games apart, has become more and more mundane. I'm not complaining too much after last season, we just want to get that title sewn up.
The team was completely reshuffled, with Buttner and Anderson in the starting line, a pretty sure sign, that Fergie didn't rate the opposition too highly. Unfortunately once again, both those players showed why neither will ever make it at Manchester United. Smalling came in at right back, and whilst i think he's a reasonable centre half, he is not really a right back. He can do a job there, defensively, but he gets a nose bleed when he crosses the half way line, so creatively, we were lacking a bit from the start.
Given the result at Goodison, earlier in the day, United's start to the game wasn't what was hoped for, or what i expected. Never mind not having a shot on goal during the first ten minutes, we didn't even muster an attack worthy of the name. Eventually United started to look a bit livelier, and eventually a goal came, even then it needed a deflection to ensure it beat the Reading keeper Taylor. It was a great run from Rio Ferdinand that led to the goal, a rare excursion into the opponents area that rolled back the years.
The rest of the game was just completely forgettable, i could say Anderson faded out of the game as usual after an hour, except one surging run apart, he might as well not been on the pitch. Van Persie is still a way off the form we saw until around a month ago. And when Carrick is rested, you don't half know about it.
Reading had a couple of decent chances, and should definitely have had a penalty when Vidic lost his marbles for a moment and rugby tackled a man out of the way to try and win a header. But United saw the game out comfortably enough in the end, to see that twentieth league title hove into view.
I'm not sure why everybody was so surprised at City slipping up, after last week's debacle against Everton, that was the perfect fixture for us, as Everton had to put up a show for their fans, and they did that to a tee.
It will be interesting to see the team selected at Sunderland next week, as i'm sure United really fancy a trip to Wembley and i think we'll see the stronger eleven start st Stamford bridge. At least we can be certain that won't be a dull forgettable encounter.