Still Following the Trawler

Top (yet dissapointingly 'lazy') blogger Rossobianchi  has written a crafty little piece for the Oval Log  about United's average yet potentially 'invincible' season. So much did I enjoy the read that I thought I should point you, my dedicated readers in the right direction too. Enjoy! Manchester United: The (Possible) Season of Being Average, Yet Invincible

Here is awesome United blog Republik of Mancunia's awards of 2010. Enjoy! 'Who Are You Again?' Award Nominations: Wes Brown, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves And the winner is... .......................................................................................................................... Most Successful Ex-Red Nominations: Diego Forlan, Gerard Pique And the winner is... .......................................................................................................................... Youngster of the Year Nominations: Anderson, Rafael da Silva, Chris Smalling And the winner is... .......................................................................................................................... Scapegoat of the Year Nominations: Darren Gibson, Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans And the winner is... .......................................................................................................................... Biggest Disappointment of the ...

Mark Ogden in The Telegraph discusses the title race so far. A couple of interesting, comprehensive reads on the Payment In Kind (PIK) loan and the Glazer's promise that the £220million loan will be payed off without nipping into United's own funds: The Telegraph , The Guardian Jim White's take on Rooney's return, and what he needs to do now to win over fans. RoM looks at the very modern debate of regional power-shift in the league. Who'll come out top? North or South?? 

A few decent Match Previews ahead of our game at home to Wolves tomorrow afternoon: Football Fanhouse Daily Mail Sporting Preview The Manchester Evening News look at Fergie the record breaker. An interesting story here by the Stretty Ender... Some good questions asked, and answered, by  the Telegraph after revelations that Rooney's heading to Nike's complex in America to treat his ankle .

United blog  Between the Lines  talks about  Fergie's decision to go to Spain and watch Valencia vs. Athletico Madrid  rather than his own team's Carling Cup game at Scunthorpe. The pressure and constant presence of the media is finally getting to our Wazza,  according to Fergie . RoM has a nice little  compilation video of Bebe's debut  against Scunthorpe. The brilliant  Liverpool blog   on TheOffside.com gives a  fair and honest review  on last week's game at OT. The Telegraph preview Sunday's game at the Reebok .

£7million for an unknown playing in the third tier of Portuguese football? Scott at Republik of Mancunia spells out exactly what we all think of Fergies claims that their's ‘ no value in the market ’ now. Read Mike Norrish at the Telegraph's claim that Wazza’s on the decline (for England , anyway), and that Capello’s focus should be on ‘fixing’ him rather than falling out with Becks. After Giggsy’s beaut against Newcastle on Monday – confirming this as his 19th  consecutive season scoring in the Premier League – the Telegraph look back at Ryan’s 5 best goals . Another Scott one here. I was literally creasing my pants at the responses  to this picture in RoM's competition: Personal favourites: daveob82   says: I need an adult! vika09   says: Shh Shh. Where you’re from, this is legal. shabadu84   says: Smith: Oh Chicharito, my precious, I am so happy that you have joined me in England. I’ve been watching you in the World Cup you know. You were magnificent. I alw...

Some interesting analyses of United's debt after news emerged that we made a £48.2million profit this year (without Ronaldo's sale it would have been a £31.8million loss) and that we will be raising £500million through the selling of bonds. Here's  TheTelegraph  and  RoM  looking at the situation in detail. Apparently we're after Benfica winger di Maria ...but we've got to go head-to-head with Morinho and Inter for his signature. This is The Telegraphs predictions for 2010.

BBC's Match Review of tomorrow's FA Cup tie with Leeds suggests that Scholes (hip) and Neville (groin) are set to return from injury. Gabriele Marcotti gives a little food for thought with regards to - in his opinion - Europe's best striker. Mark Ogden wishes Sir Alex a Happy 68th Birthday and remembers, 20 years on, 'the goal that saved him'. As easy as it is to get carried away with the instant hype that was immediately attached to a rare and unfamiliar United thrashing on Wednesday night, A Kick in the Grass   brings his typically brilliant level of realism into the mix when analysing a certain under-performing striker.

Four Four Two has a pop at the top 10 goals of the Noughties. RoM looks at Fergie's   best and worst signings of the decade . ManUtd24 looks back at the decade's top 6 moments. Harsh but completely fair reviews of the awful performance at Craven Cottage by   United Rant   and   A Kick In The Grass . The Times's Oliver Kay   assesses our season so far. I was also alerted by Between the Lines about a brilliant article in the Guardian by Jonathan Wilson , about the Noughties tactical revolution that seemingly emancipated during United's Champions League defeat to Real at the beginning of the decade.

Scotts awesome defence of Ferguson's youth-selection policy in Republik of Mancunia . A Kick in The Grass  looks ahead to the semi-final clash against City in the Carling Cup. Oliver Kay  and Gabriele Marcotti  do their 'team of the decade'. Red Rants , Between The Lines  and me at Football Talent Spotter  discuss the harsh (possible) reality of why the Ljajic deal fell through.

Some brilliant articles this week; about Ferguson and the FA, as well as Nani's pathetic display of pity: Henry Winter ,  RoM   and  Rob Smyth  of the Guardian discuss Sir Alex's touchline ban following his thoughts on Alan Wiley's (lack of) fitness; Winter looking at how Ferguson helped define and develop the English game and so how more respect should be shown to him. And this is   Des Kelly   of the Daily Mail's view on how needlessly this issue has escalated. This is my Blog on www.FootballTalentSpotter.com.   This week I discuss  Nani's comments in The Sun ,  and how he's better off following the example set by Fletcher and Anderson.