Long time no blog; some snippets!

Sat at home, feeling yuck, just watched Federer/Tsonga and then the McLaren F1 car launch, loving the Button and Hamilton banter already. Glad it doesn't seem to be the Norovirus, however! Just a few musings :)

• The big news of this week of course, is that Andy Murray is through to the Australian Open final against Roger Federer. At this point, the majority of anyone reading this is likely to exclaim, "Go Roger!" or anything along the lines of pro-Fed or anti-Muzza. Consequently, I have to admit I do fall into camp Murray. Shameful I know. Now look, if the title was awarded for being the gentleman of the tournament, most graceful of the tournament, most sporting of the fortnight, or even the prize for "I can keep my mouth shut when I get excited and don't resemble the Mona Lisa", then sure, Federer would win every time. Not only this, but it comes down to the fact the Roger Federer is probably the most naturally gifted tennis player the modern world has ever seen. Federer is Swiss. They are best known for cheese. Murray is British. Now he'll have some remnant of blood contained within him that can also be found within yourselves. However faint, it will be there. My theory is - just get behind him! He's our best hope for any sort of glory for this country in both recent years, and for the foreseeable future. Like I say, Murrary's on and off court demeanour does him few favours; spared by the fact he is bloody good at tennis. And so from me, good luck Andy.

• The first of the 2010 car launches happened on Thursday in Maranello, Ferrari territory. With a striking new design, what's now known as the F10 has a Red Bull-esque front wing and a much wider body designed to incorporate the enormous fuel tanks necessary for the 2010 season. Felipe Massa, who is assuming the position of number one driver, and new capture Fernando Alonso managed to put on an entirely united front for their prestiged launch party. Wonder how long that will last. Also, Luca di Montezemolo revealed this week that had his proposal of three cars per team been accepted for the new season, then Michael Schumacher certainly would not be driving a Mercedes. The prospect of Alonso, Massa and Schumacher at the same team would certainly have any F1 fan, myself included, watering whole-heartedly at the mouth.

• Big, big game this weekend in the Premier League. Fergie calls it the game of the season so far, and he's probably not too far off with that assumption. Arsenal vs United, who won't try and watch it? Rio Ferdinand's ban is justified, he cannot complain too much (God knows what he was thinking) but with Vidic's return you'd have thought we wouldn't have too many problems at the back. The Gooners have their fair share of injury trouble now as well, Vermaelen, Eduardo, Diaby and van Persie should all be missing. And an in-form Wayne Rooney should have some fun against a slightly creaky Sol Campbell - that could well have a large say in the outcome of the match. They must approach with caution though, and I am apprehensive somewhat. You can't write Arsenal off under any circumstances, much like United!

• Finally, as a last side-note, I'm pretty sure that Owen Hargreaves's knee(s) must have exploded. Just that it's been quite a long three weeks, you see. Again.

Manchester United vs Leeds United

Quite frankly that was rather embarrassing. Three shots on target the whole match. Three losses in the last three weeks. Here's mine, and a fellow Internet user's, take on it.

Kuszczak - 6 - Why doesn't he yell at his defenders when they're being complete idiots? He just sits there and takes it. van der Sar would most likely have personally strangled Brown's head off. Should've done way way better on the goal.

Fabio - 6 - To be honest, he's a liability defensively, but he was better on the ball than any of our midfielders, and by quite some distance too. Needs to learn to cross and the idea is you put the ball in the box away from anyone not wearing your colour.
Brown - 4 - Had the right idea, it was just having a clue to go with it. If you asked him to get a glass of water, he'd probably find a glass, find the kitchen sink, then somehow drown himself.
Evans - 5 - Distribution; first, learn what it even means, then, attempt to be less rubbish at it. Better than Brown however, and better at coping with a pacy centre forward who backs into you.
Neville - 6 - Terrible for about half hour, then stopped relying on Brown and Obertan who may as well have not been on the same team. Livelier in the second half.

Welbeck - 5 - Not a winger, not left footed. For the billionth time. Didn't work before, and is most likely related to the whole not actually being a left footed winger thing.
Gibson - 6 - Still showed glimpses of the promise gone before; perhaps should've been subbed instead of Anderson but this is probably due to the fact he actually threatens the goal when he shoots.
Anderson - 6 Great decision to take him off at a time when he was single handedly trying to be our midfield, and replace him with someone who isn't a midfielder. Needs to keep on at that shooting practice.
Obertan - 5 - Today looked like a slightly confused spoon, and needs to actually pay attention to the game more; got in the way of Gary Neville, don't even remember him attempting a cross. And he's a winger.

Rooney - 7 - Very good. Not Peter Crouch, so not too many more long balls that you expect him to win. The best attacking outlet we have, shame no-one else really stood up.
Berbatov - 6 - He's a centre forward, how about we play him as one from time to time? Silky touches and was pretty much pivotal to anything half-decent-to-good that we did the whole match. Only had one sight of goal. Looked like he could've strangled a couple of other players at times.

SUBS:
Giggs - 6 - Good when he was in the middle. The art of standing somewhere to receive the ball, and then passing it forwards to someone wearing the same colour shirt as you. A concept too confusing for either Anderson or Gibson to even comprehend today.
Valencia - 7 - It was slightly embarrassing because all he did was show how rubbish Leeds actually were, and how useless we must be to not be beating them.
Owen - 5 - It's like he only has one foot, and his left leg just drifts around the pitch with him to help him stay upright. Missed the ball from ten yards out with a clear sight at goal. Should've buried it.

Team selection was questionable in my opinion, but I'm not Sir Alex Ferguson, he has his reasons so I won't go into that. Man City on Wednesday. Fingers crossed!