The defence

A look at how i thought our players fared this season.

Rafael - I have to admit there have been times where i wondered whether he would cut the mustard in a red shirt. He has always had the ability, going forward he has always been superb, as has been Fabio, but you always worried about him at the back. Not so much in the big games, he's always done reasonably well against Bale et al, but his concentration didn't always last the 90 minutes.
He still isn't the finished article, but he has come on in leaps and bounds this season. His concentration has improved, the mistakes have been few and far between and i love the way at times during the season he has got stronger during games where others have started to wilt. He has the position sewn up for the time being.

Evra - A return to form of sorts, he's not the player he was for the first 4-5 years at the club, but thankfully he hasn't been the defensive disaster waiting to happen he has been, since his travails in South Africa with the French national team. He's even chipped in with a few goals, one of the plus points from the season has been goals from all of our back four. Evra, Rafael, Evans and even Buttner.
Of course father time is catching up with him and i would think he only has one more season in him at the very top level. Full backs have so much running to do in their career, they don't seem to get to the mid thirties without dropping standards more than other positions. Of course with Moyes taking over, all eyes will be on Leighton Baines this summer.

Buttner - I'm not a fan I'm afraid, i still can't really fathom the reason for his purchase. I suppose Fabio's departure on loan to QPR saw a vacancy for a back up left back, but i thought Evans could have done that.
As for the Dutchman, it's simple, he's just nowhere near United standard. His defending is an accident waiting to happen, the roasting he took in the first half at Stamford bridge in that thrilling league cup tie said it all. He looked like a nervous wreck, i wondered what that was all about, as it didn't seem to faze Michael Keane or Scott Wooton. He's erratically decent going forward, but what use is that when a left back can't defend.

Phil Jones - I have got a lot of time for this lad, he started like a house on fire last season before injuries started to hit him during the second half of the season. Unfortunately that carried on into the first half of this season. It was only from the new year on that his season really got going.
Whether at full back, central midfield or centre half he has done a job and more. As with last season you wonder what his best position will be. He was tremendous doing a defensive job in central midfield at Tottenham and in Madrid, but the position he really stands out in has got to be centre half, his performance during the disappointing defeat at home in the derby was about the only good thing to come out of that night. For me the question, long term is who will be his central defensive partner, and there is some competition there.

Chris Smalling - Another to have suffered an injury ravaged season, but unlike Jones when he has got onto the pitch he hasn't really looked the player that he suggested he could be earlier in his time at the club.
Of course it could be just the injuries and playing games at right back where he never looks entirely at home, he's not at home overlapping his wide man. It's hard to really see him getting many more games at centre half next season with the revival of Vidic and Ferdinand, which probably isn't the greatest news for his career.

Jonny Evans - During the first half of the season when our defence was the cause of so many problems, he was one of the few shining lights. In fact, it's hard to remember now, but until Christmas he was looking far more solid than Ferdinand at times.
Inujuries and the return of Vidic have limited his appearances during the second half of the season. Worryingly his form took a bit of a down turn during the last couple of months of the season when he did get into the team. Some players need to be playing week in, week out and it will be interesting to see how the new manager handles this next season.
Squad rotation was never really on the agenda at Goodison and for all the jibes of Tinkerbell aimed at Fergie's feet, he was the master of squad rotation, keeping the squad fresh and players happy.

Vidic - I have to admit i wondered whether we had seen the best of him during that first half of the season, firstly when he struggled to find his best form and then spent another couple of months on the sidelines to another knee problem.
As the season went on he got better and better, even starting consecutive games, though only once or twice. Ferdinand and Vidic together are not what they were, but they can still do it at the top level.

Ferdinand - Another to struggle every now and then during the first couple of months, when he found his form, he was sensational, not relying on pace anymore, when he was against Bale, we saw the consequences, his reading of the game, always superb, generally makes up for his lack of mobility.
I'm not sure how many more seasons he has got left in him, but I'm glad Moyes will have him in his first season at the club.

Michael Keane - I know he didn't really figure as such for United, but his performances during the league cup games, especially at Chelsea when he was outstanding and during his loan spell at leicester City suggest to me, that if he keeps on improving he could well be the man to partner Phil Jones long term at centre back.
Of course we'll have to see what happens to him next season, another big decision for the new manager. Personally i would like to see him go back out on loan, but this time to a premier league club. Given the United connections and the paucity of their squad, Hull City would seem a great destination for him, as you'd like to think he will get plenty of games there, even if it's at right back.


Music

Atoms for peace - Amok: It's not supposed to be a Tom Yorke solo project, but it sounds most like that to this listener. If you don't like Kid A era Radiohead, you aren't going to be liking this, as for me, it's a grower, not a Kid A class grower though.

Endless Boogie - Long Island: The name of the group tells you everything about the group's sound, if you like your rock heavy and guitar orientated, rather than song orientated, they're for you. I have to admit for the first few listens, whilst i liked the sound, i found the album far too long for the material. But it's really grown on me and whilst I'd like a couple of shorter snappier tunes, i grew to love it.

Frightened Rabbit -  Pedestrian verse: The first album from the north of the border indie combo that I've heard and it's a winner. There's nothing earth shattering about them, but they can play their instruments and can bang out a memorable tune. Four earlier albums to try and get around to listening to.

Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a man: The first studio album from the late US visionary, is an absolutely classic album, packed with brilliant tunes, styles ranging from soul/funk to jazz mean it's never threatens to become run of the mill.

Johhny Marr - The messenger: I have to admit i never heard his first album after seeing some so so reviews, so this was a bit of a surprise. It's pretty darned good, guitar excellent as ever, but he's got a fair singing voice as well. It's a pretty bog standard Indie/rock sound, with faint echoes of his former band, but the tunes are excellent for the most part.

Kraftwerk - Kraftwerk 2: I'm slowly making my way through the German masters very early stuff and this doesn't make that much of a departure from the first, not exactly rock, but there are still guitars on there, going away from Krautock though. Side one's only track, Kling Klang is excellent.

Pissed Jeans - Honey's: Back to guitars for this one, i don't know what you'd class this noisy US guitar group as punk, hardcore, for me they sound almost grunge at times, there's some Nirvana in there for sure. It's pretty good, angry young men make pretty good loud guitar rock.

Various artists - The story of Trojan records: I have slowly been making my way through this 5 disc reggae box set, it was well worth it, absolutely superb. Disc 1 for all time classic hits and there's some brilliant stuff on the other four discs as well.

West Brom 5-5 Manchester United

I'll admit i wasn't really expecting much from the match yesterday, you could see last week that the players had lost that 5% that really matters, but that game being at home, we just about sneaked home. West Brom have had a pretty good season, and nobody has really took them apart on their own manor. So when the third goal went in, i had to tear up the script in my head i had expected, a low scoring tight match.
Fergie picked a reasonably attacking side, unfortunately Anderson and Buttner both made an appearance, and Lindegaard was picked between the sticks for possibly his last appearance at the club. Given his performance, i would be more than happy for that to be the case, i have long thought Amos to be a better number two and i hope he is given a choice to prove it next season.
United started the game a bit demob happy with Carrick hitting one brilliant if dangerous cross field at the back that I'm fairly certain would not have been tried a couple of months ago. The first goal was totally unexpected as Hernandez turned creator with a superb cross from the right for Kagawa to make no mistake heading home. Not long after Valencia starting at right back, crossed hard and low and the ball was turned past goalie Foster by the home teams own centre half Olsson. It seemed as if the script was being written for Fergie to go out on a real high. When Buttner added a third on the half hour it seemed as if he was going to go out on an almost perfect note.
The goal pulled back with five minutes to go pulled us back from that fantasy island scenario, it was a bit soft, but to be fair we looked vulnerable at the back all afternoon. Buttner may be decent going forward, but he can't defend to save his life, and i always think sticking Lindegaard in goal affects the men in front of him as they really don't seem to have much confidence in him. As the second half was to show that's a pretty good assessment of his capability in goal.
The home team got the second after just five minutes of the second half as a fairly tame shot from outside the box still managed to beat Lindegaard's outstretched hand. With the substitutions that Fergie was bound to make on an emotional day, i thought West Brom might then come on strong at us. But it was United who went  back to the other end and took the score to five with Van Persie and Hernandez adding the goals.
You couldn't really see West Brom coming back from that, but i'm afraid United just fell apart at the back for the remaining ten minutes, the home team scoring two in a minute, how often does that happen to us ? The equaliser was the most disappointing goal to give away, that was almost comic, thankfully it didn't really matter, five five wasn't a bad way to go out for Fergie and Scholes. Scholes made sure he didn't go through his last thirty minutes of professional football without picking up an obligatory yellow card, some things never change.
So that is that, the last we see of the ginger prince, who will not be replaced, not like for like anyway, and of Fergie, they'll never be another Fergie either. I have to admit i'm in the school that's excited by the thought of next season, but I'm sure that first game of the season with David Moyes in the dugout will still feel strange as fuck at first.

One last time

So the final weekend of the reign of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United is here and Fergie is talking of making changes, no change there then. No I've no problem with that, of course you'd want to go out with a bang and the three points, but it doesn't work like that, we all know that. It's professional football and it's West Brom's final home game of the season and they will want to leave their fans on a high for the summer as Fergie acknowledged this morning.
So I'll have to wait until i see the team, but i probably wouldn't be too unhappy with a point from the afternoon. I would like to see one or two of the reserve team squad get a place on the bench, but with the under 21's final at Old trafford, it probably won't happen. I have a feeling that a few of the players that will be on their way in the summer will find their way onto the pitch on Sunday. That's not really what i want to see, but i suppose it will be that kind of day. Saying that, with a new manager to come in, maybe we haven't seen the last of Nani, Anderson, Lindegaard, hopefully they have already decided they want to move on.
No doubt transfer speculation goes into over drive on Monday morning, I'll admit i have no idea who we'll be after this summer. I really can't see the Ronaldo speculation, i can see him sticking around for at least one more season in Madrid now the ego has left. My gut feeling is that Rooney will go, Ive felt that as much as Rooney has been unhappy at United for a while, Fergie has been even more unhappy with him and was almost trying to force him out. And for all this talk of a new start under a new manager, he's not a new manager for Rooney is he. I may be wrong, maybe the paucity of suitors will persuade him to sit tight, we'll see.
I'm hoping that Powell and Januzaj start to see a little more first team action next season, let's not forget Will Keane coming back into the fold, I'm sure Moyes knows all about him. Will brother Michael come back to the club, or spend another season on loan, given Ferdinand getting one more year, i expect him to spend a full season out on loan, maybe at Hull City, given the United links. Anyway that's next season, let's hopefully enjoy Sunday first.


Music

Darkstar - Music from nowhere: The second album from the UK electronica/indie pop trio doesn't quite live up to the promise of their debut. It's a reasonable listen, but there aren't enough memorable moments to make want to put it on again and again.

Dutch uncles - Cadenza: I missed this when it first came out, so with them having a new album out, i decided i better give it a listen. A wise move, because i quite like this, the XTC and post punk influences are pretty obvious and whilst they have a way to go before they get anywhere near XTC, it's an enjoyable listen.

Fionn Regan - The Bunkhouse vol.1:Anchor black tattoo: This guy is a serious artist, i was late to get around to him, but each new release will be a must listen for me. Even more of an acoustic sound than his last album, it's just as good a listen.

Foals - Holy fire: I think this is the best album that they have produced so far, the math rock sound is still there at times, but there's much balls and a even a bit of a groove at times. A couple of stand out tracks don't harm matters.

Josephine - Portrait: Another album from last year that was well received that i've only just got around to listening to. For all Manchester's musical heritage, female artists haven't really figured that much, but now after Ren Hervieu it's found another gem. It veers mostly towards soul/pop, but i'd categorise her more as a singer/songwriter.

Nick Cave and the bad seeds - Push the sky away: They have dropped the loud guitars of the last album Dig Lazarus dig, but not the cracking songs that they're renowned for. It reminds me a little of Tindersticks for some reason at times, no harm there as that's another group i love. It's just you couldn't have compared Lazarus to Tindersticks.