Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United

It seems we have left the boring 1-0's behind and are back to the more free flowing football of the beginning of the season. Trouble is we seem have to have forgotten how to win temporarily, hopefully. If i'm honest i would prefer to watch the last two games all day long compared to the run of 1-0 victories we ground out recently. Trouble is if we are going to challenge for the title the 1-0's are the way forward.
Unlike Tuesday night though, this was a game we should have won by a hatful. Though we produced a cavalry charge at the end creating chance after chance that somehow wouldn't go in, it was in the first half and in the period between Hernandez flukey goal and the barcode equaliser that we let ourselves down.
The first half was a mixed affair, we played some cracking stuff with some brilliant counter attacks, but the finishing had gone absent without leave. Hernandez seemed strangely hesitant in front of goal, missing a couple of decent chances, where you would normally have expected him to
convert at least one of them. Newcastle's goalie Krul made an outstanding save from Giggs as the game was swung end to end. The vistors were not slow in coming forward and did have a couple of chances, De Gea making a couple of fine saves. But it was United who looked more dangerous , albeit not when they got into the box.
The second half saw United really take a grip on the game, and it was only what they deserved when they finally took the lead. The irony being that after the great moves and great chances United had earlier created, when the goal came, it was a total fluke, the ball hitting Hernandez rather than the other way round.
Now United stepped up a gear, going for the geordie jugular, Fabio missed a great chance and when a brilliant flowing move ended with Ashley Young taking past his man on the edge of the box and then firing wide you wondered whether there might be a sting in the tail.
There was but of course, there shouldn't have been. Fergie has said the only person in the gound who thought it was a penalty was the linesman, and i would think that was not an exageration, it was a howler. Newcastle's Ba converted the gift and it was game on.
Newcastle did have one more decent chance, saved well by De Gea, but from now on in, it really was one way traffic. When Guttierez was sent off with about ten minutes to go, i wondered whether that would be a good thing or not, as you knew theywould now put everybody behind the ball and hope for a draw. And that they did, how they managed to stay level, i don't know as United completely pulverised them for the reminder of the game with an unbelievable amount of chances. Great saves, goal line clearances, the woodwork and bad finishing conspired to two points dropped.
Because of the disappointment, i don't think Giggs got the credit he deserved for an absolutely outstanding performance in central midfield. When he puts in performances you have to pinch yourself to remember that he is 38. Until Cleverley gets back Carrick and Giggs is our best midfield pairing. I thought Fabio had a pretty good game, he hasn't had that many outings this season, so it was a nice reminder that when Jones and Smalling become our first choice centre half pairing, we have the future right back in the squad already as well.
The one player i'm worried about, even though he got better as the came progressed was Ashley Young. He could hardly put a foot wrong in the first half, his crossing was piss poor, he doesn't seem able to shield the ball at the moment and he can seem a bit of a one trick pony at times. It's all a far cry from the beginning of the season. I suppose we have got to hope it's just a lack of confidence that will return. What makes it worse for him is seeing the man he is really replacing on the left, Giggs put in such an effortlessly brilliant display inside him.
All that said, it was a great game of football, you can't win every game, and if you are going to suffer, at least it was an exciting couple of points lost. With the result the day after leaving us exactly where we were i suppose it really was two precious points dropped, but there is still a long way to go.

The Telegraph wonder whether Fergie has talked himself into a ban from the FA again, it would be pretty scandalous if he got done for this, if you can't criticise the officials when they make a mistake that bad, he might as well not talk to the press.

Contrasting news for two members of our central midfield as Fergie announced last week that Anderson would be out until at least next February with a knee injury which will see him travel to Portugal to visit the man who operated on it last time. It's not a nice thing to say, but as far as i'm concerned he will not be greatly missed.
At least we had some potential good news with the Mirror reporting that Cleverley is ahead of schedule in his bid to get back to full fitness. Two caveats there, it's the Mirror and if they are right, let's hope that he hasn't been rushed back as the rumours had it, after his injury on his return at Goodison. It will be good to have him back as we know Giggs can't do two games on the trot any more.

Andy Cole talks of his liking for 4-4-2 and his dismay for it currently being regarded as outdated. Well i like it, but i think the order of the day is for tactical flexibility, and i think United are as good anybody out there for that.

Fergie explains the process of singling out youth team players who have a chance of making it to the first team at United and how United go about introducing them to the first team. It's interesting that he mentions Michael Keane but not Will, unless he has mixed them up that is. The fact that Michael made his debut at Leeds would suggest not.
Fergie is hinting that we may see some of the youngsters involved on Wednesday against Palace in the league cup with Pogba close to a full game. I have been disappointed in the couple of games i have seen him in for the reserves so far this season, that said he was shunted out to the right in one of those and that isn't his position at all. It's now being reported that he is close to signing a new deal, good news.

Peter Oborne wrote this piece about cricket's obsession about money and the risk to test cricket between two aboslutely magnificent test matches, the South Africa-Australia and the amazing drawn test match between India and West Indies. He is absolutely right that it was a nonsense that there wasn't at the very least a third test match in South Africa.

Steve Richards argues that George Osborne is breaking away from his plan A, even if he will not admit it, and doesn't think the tories present strategy is an electorally winning one. Bagehot explains the pressure on David Cameron to go for growth and then argues for the same old neoliberal agenda that got us into this mess, that's a D- then.
Will Hutton thinks that the coalition has started to get constructive, if only in a small way, but it has a long way to go, pointing out some of the measures he thinks it must take to get the economy growing again.
Andreas Whittam-Smith argues that any growth will have to be fairer growth, making the rich pay their tax will be one way to achieve it.

Sir Christopher Meyer shows his diplomat roots warning of the return of the German problem and of British foreign policy which was traditionaly geared to the balance of power theory. Fabian Lindner compares the current crisis with the great depression years and argues that the current German position mirrors the US position of 1931, which is a pretty good analogy.
Jeremy Warner thinks that those who think that the Eurozone crisis is an opportunity for Britain, shouldn't bet on that.

Charles Moore has another column dedicated to the problems of modern capitalism, arguing that Margaret Thatcher knew that it must work for the masses. But paints over the fact that her destruction of our manufacturing base has left us in a poor position to reap any benefit from our depreciated currency. That it was on her watch that big finance was allowed to let rip, that the current housing policy shambles all have their root in the eighties or that that she positively gloried in the trickle down economic theories that have left inequality on the present gargantuan scale. And maybe even that one of her goals was to encourage the left to have a leader as far to the right as Blair, so that under 13 years of new labour, the neoliberal project was followed as happily as under a tory administration. As Frasier Nelson argues at the end of the day there isn't that much seperating Labours approach to the economy, even now.
She was too much in control of her own party and maybe even the zeitgeist of the times to be compared to Harold Wilson, but for all the electoral success she had as little impact on the long term fortunes of this country as pipe smoking Yorkshireman.

Not very good quality, but the album this was from was class

Manchester United 2-2 Benfica

That was the most enjoyable game for a while, shame about the result though. We don't seem able to get that balance between attack and defence right at the moment. Having said that i thought it was an encouraging performance, i liked the way that we managed to really got on top of the game after they had took the lead. The problem was and obviously still is, we just can't stop shipping in soft goals when we are plying the football that we all want to see.
When i read the news that Rooney had sat out training i thought it was pretty unlikely he would start and i hoped that he would go for Berbatov. So i was doubly glad that he was picked and that he had a pretty good game. Not perfect obviously as that late missed volley could yet end up costing us dear. He took his time getting into the game as indeed did United following the Jones own goal conceeded after just four minutes. But once United took a grip on the game he was involved heavily.
Nani was another to have a fair game, hopefully a much needed return to form, though there were still the head scratching moments where he made the wrong decision. And it was from a Nani cross that the equaliser eventually came as Berbatov glanced his best cross of the night past the Benfica number one Artur. Seconds later Ashley Young, playing in the hole, in place of Rooney had a great chance to put United in the lead but could only hit his shot straight at Artur. That seemed to sum up his night, his poor form continued i'm afraid. On the evidence last night i'm not sure i would be tempted to play him there any time soon. He didn't seem to have the vision or awareness of the game to be a viable alternative to Rooney in that role. Which is probably a bit of a blow to Fergie if he is forced to drop Rooney back into midfield later in the season.
The half time scorline was probably a fair reflection of the game, they had started brightly and had pressed us high up the pitch a la Barca disrupting United's game. But the longer the half went on the better United coped and eventually took control of the game which saw us leave the field the team in the ascendency.
United started the second half in the same vein and went close a number of times before another concerted period of pressure ended with Fletcher converting a cross from Evra at the second attempt. The lead lasted less than a minute as United's defence imploded again leaving Aimar to put the vistors level. The defending was comical i'm afraid and you could point to any of Jones De Gea or Ferdinand, but collectively it was their finesth hour. The worst part of it was that it completely punctured our domination of the play as Benfica got back some self belief. Eventually United started to create chances again and they were serious chances, Berbatov and Fabio had great chances. But the night could have turned into a total disaster as the opposition missed a great chance themselves right at the death.
So we need to pick up a point in Switzerland, a point that i'm confident we will achieve. I can't really tell you why i'm so confident as who can predict anything with United this season. I would sooner be in our position than City's anyway.

Fergie was happy with our performance bar the kamikaze defending of course, but thought that we did enough to have won the game. I would pretty much go along with that and add that it was a cracking game of football.

Maybe City's precarious position in their group is even more dangerous than we thought if Nick Harris piece about Shiek Mansoor's greatest gamble is proved right.

Samuel Luckhurst writes of a second rare night of excitement in the qualifying stages of the champions league. I wouldn't write that i don't mind if we get knocked out of the champions league at the first hurdle, but equally i'm not sure i would want us to get to another final that we are ill equipped to win. It's a while since we won the FA cup, i wouldn't mind us adding to our record of FA cup wins even if the idea of two trips to Wembley doesn't greatly appeal.
Andy Mitten writes that Fergie is still a confident man, more confident than the average fan about United's chances this season and about the quality available to him in our midfield. I totally take the point about the fans being spolit, there's no arguing with that. I can't share the optimism about our midfield, but i wouldn't rule us out of the title race. If we could give the Chelsea of the mid noughties under Mourinho a run with a midfield of O'Shea and Giggs, you know there is always hope.

Salford RL haven't took long to appoint a new coach, as Phil Veivers was announced as the replacement fro Matt Parish. That seems fair enough to me, it gives some continuity and even if Veivers is an Aussie he has been involved in the game in this country for years.

Simon Jenkins wasn't impressed with the government using public money to back mortages, equating it as have plenty of others with the sub prime debacle in the States. He argues that instead of subsidising potential tory voters government should be spent on social housing for those in real need.
In the New statesman Ian Mulheirnwarns that we must stop this housing Ponzi scheme that will collapse sooner or later like a fraudulent investment strategy.

Another escellent article by Aditya Chakrabortty that aks is Richard Branson all he is cracked up to be? The unsuprsing answer being in the negative, but for Chakrabortty he symbolises all that is wrong with business class in the country.
The CBI wonder what happened to the governments strategy to rebalance the economy away from finance and into manufacturing and exports. The chairman of a oil rig firm brands the government disgraceful for awarding much needed contracts abroad. Whilst i think he's right it always makes me laugh how business forget they are supposed to be in favour of the free market.

Jon Snow follows his last blog about this country being a haven for tax avoidance by now asking if capitalism can survive without tax avoidance.
Can HMRC chief Dave Hartnett survive the news that a judge has been appointed to the Goldman Sachs tax deal.
On the topic of banks, Laurence Knight asks if our banks face another mis-selling scandal.

David Blanchflower once more calls into question the coalition competence over its handling of our economic woes, this time laying into Cameron instead of usual target Osborne. One of the coalition's austerity supporters, Jeremy Warner, writes of the grim electoral message of the OBR forecast.

Fletcher wants to top group

After admitting that United haven't got the balance right between defence and attack during the mini revival, Flecther looks forward to tomorrow nights game against Portugese giants. He points out the benefits to topping the group pointing out what happened to Arsenal last season when they drew Barca in the first tie of the knockout stages.
As much as they were outplayed in both legs, with a little bit of luck they could have actually got through that tie, though that of course would have been a travesty. Fletcher is right of course though, were we to draw any of the heavyweights first up it would be hard to be too optimistic. Of course that is a long way off and the balance between defence and attack may have been solved by then and the confidence restored. I very much doubt we will be buying any central midfielders in the mid season winter break though. So we would have to hope Cleverley and Carrick are both fitand then wonder who Fergie would play alongside them presuming we go with three in midfield that is.
I don't think tomorrow is going to be an easy game so the news that Wayne Rooney sat out this morning's training session is a bit of worrying news. If he is out i would stick Berbatov into the team for tomorrow night.


Michael Carrick tells the teams critics to judge us after christmas, we may not have been as fluent as we would like, but we keep on picking up three points and we are actually in almost the same position as we were last season when it was Chelsea that got off to a storming start. It is a fair point, United do know how to chase a championship and whilst City are obviously a better side than Chelsea were last season, when push comes to shove at the end of the season, United have been there and City haven't. I see Mancini has told his fans that they will get beaten a some stage this season, there is nothing more surer.
That doesn't mean that they won't win the title, just that it's too soon to count United out, as of the moment City are unarguably the better team. Of course if Silva broke down and was out for any length of time that would balance things up again.
Ferguson described the 6-1 defeat to the berties as a wake up call, all the success we have had has started from a solid foundation at the back. He was happier with our defence on Saturday from the team as whole, describing Carrick's performance as magnificent.
This fascinating Indy piece about a Fabien Barthez interview with Fergie shows the emphasis that Fergie places on the collective. You need the great players, but they will be nothing without a team that believes in themselves and in each other.

Danny Welbeck goes back to his old school and reveals that he is living the dream, playing football for a living, playing for his boyhood team and playing alongside boyhood heroes such as his favourite player Ryan Giggs. Both Welbeck and Cleverley have been a breath of fresh air this season, it's a pity both of them can't seem to put a run of games together without getting injured.

Gary Neville looked at Liverpool's progress under Kenny Dalglish ahead of yesterday's clash at Stamford bridge and compares them to the United of the eighties. They can more than mix it with the best, but fall down by not being able to lift themselves for the lesser games like last week's scoreless draw at home to Swansea. After yesterday's victory over the rent boys, let's hope they can raise there game once more when the face City at home next week. At least we can be fairly certain that Craig Bellamy will be up for it.
Alan Hansen wasn't impressed with Chelsea yesterday, he thinks at least they could argue that they played reasonably well against United and Arsenal where poor defending let them down. But yesterday their catastrophic defending conspired to a defeat that has left them trailing City by twelve points, and a poor performance that must have heaped the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas.

This wasn't really what the doctor ordered for Salford City Reds ahead of a new season at their new ground. I can't say i'm mad on appointing Aussies that haven't any grounding in the game over here. If i was Salford i would be looking at somebody like Brian Noble to guide them through the next couple of seasons. They need to have some continuity if they are going to attract the kind of crowds they must be hoping for at the new stadium.

Nick Cohen looks at the reponse of the left to the events occuring in the Eurozone and doesn't see much of one. If they don't find one and soon, they will leave the door open to some pretty dodgy customers, nationalists, fascists, anarchists and unreconstructed Marxist-Lenninists.
Ambrose Pritchard-Evans sees the Spanish right return to power, but thinks it won't change anything unless Eurozone strategy changes.

Danny Blanchflower thinks that something happened at the end of August that terrified policymakers. As others, Will Hutton for one have let slip, policymakers within the coalition and at the treasury are in a state of blind panic behind the scenes whatever impression they are giving to the outside world.
Paul Krugman thinks at least the Bank of England are putting in a decent performance as they don't cave into the pressure to respond to inflationary pressure.
Larry Elliott argues that we are in for years of depression unless policymakers tackle the debt issue imaginitively, i think they do know that and as far as the Bank of England are concerned that is what we are going to get. Hence the panic amongst the coalition and its friends.
Martin Wolf of the FT looks at Iceland's response to the crisis of 2008 and compares it favourably to the Irish experience. But ends by arguing that the market economy will not endure if it is seen to be a racket run by insiders against the interest of the vast majority of outsiders.
Robert Peston has been filming a two part series on the western world's addiction to debt and what a struggle it is going to be to drive it down whilst at the same time trying to keep the economy growing.

Jonh Snow asks who understands the bubble, why are the financial instruments that helped to get Europe and the US into mess we are currently in, still in fashion or even still legitmate.
Jim O'Neill has a new book out and here explains why he thinks the balance of economic strength will tilt back to the BRIC countries and argues that even he has been suprised by the economic expansion of Brazil. He laso thinks that the next economies poised for promotion to the big league will come from a grouping he labels the N-11 countries that will include Mexico and South Korea.

This government is rapidly turning into one of, if not the worst goverment of my lifetime, have they called anything right? This new housing strategy reek of short termism of the worst kind, as if they have learnt none of the policy disasters that led us to the credit crunch.
The Torygraph's personal finance editor reckons these proposals are barking mad, whilst Mary Ann Sieghart argues that ministers really wish for housing prices to come down, but daren't say that for fear of upsetting the Daily Mail. So much for Cameron learning the lessons of Hackgate!


Music
Africa Hi Tech - 93 million miles: This has grown on me, i wasn't too sure at first about the mix of dubstep and house influences. But the more i listened the more i thought it melded well together.

Bob Dylan - New Morning: Classic Dylan, the more you listen to his late sixties, early seventies output the more you realise that he invented Americana before the term was invented.

David Holmes - Bow down to the exit sign: I'm a big fan of the Northern Irish DJ/techno/Free association man. I honestly thought i'd listened to this but i'd just heard a couple of tracks which at least led me to go back and listen to his pre group era music. Excellent stuff, rocking, funky, i love the eclectic nature of it.

Ian Siegal & the youngest sons: British guitarist and sons of US blues legends deliver up a superb blues album. This is a terrific effort from an atrist i hadn't heard of.

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle spirit: the second album from the California singer songwriter is an absolute blinder, maybe a classic even. This is one of the must buy albums of the year.

Ornette Coleman - Ornette: An excellent album from the free jazz man, though not as far out or as classic as The shape of things to come.

Vintage trouble - The bomb shelter sessions: This didn't get much of a review in Mojo, after listening to it i'm not sure why. It's pretty retro of course, but so what it delivers the goods, with its mixture of blues rock and sixties soul, it hits the spot.