The Moon of Liberty

FA Carling Premiership

Liverpool Vs Manchester United - Venue, Anfield

With Berbatov making a debut start, Rooney coming off a high in midweek and Liverpool leaving Gerrard and Torres on the bench, Manchester United had to feel confident going into this clash with their old inter-city rivals as they amde the trip down the East Lancs road to Anfield. The confidence showed from the off, United took control of the game and Berbatov tried a snap shot within a minute that was blocked by Martin Skrtel.

The domination continued. Only 3 minutes in a smart passing move by United set berbatov free down the win. After easily mvoing passed Arbeloa down the right he smartly pulled the ball back into a dangerous area. With Liverpool's defensive retreating to the goaline, Carols Tevez had pleanty of time to fire home from the edge of the box and stun the Kop early on.

GOAL - Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1 - TEVEZ (3 MINS)

After this Liverpool began to settle and get a foothold in the match. On 9 minutes Dirk Kuyt went close with a volley just passed the post. A few moments later United keeper Van Der Sar lost a corner but redeemed the situation with a point blank save from Kuyt again. From this point Liverpool began to dominate possession but you did wonder where the goal was coming from.

The answer was forthcoming. Another mistake by the United keeper proved crucil. Xabi Alonso's shot deflected off Evra, it looked an easy one for Van Der Sar to deal with, but instead he panicked by trying to scoop the ball out rather than collect it, in doing so it hit the unfortunate Wes Brown and trickled into the net. It proved to be a bit of luck Liverpool needed. 1-1 was the score at the half time break

GOAL - Liverpool 1 Manchester United 1 - BROWN OWN GOAL (27 MINS)

Into the second half Liverpool took a stranglehold on the game. A smart pass from Robbie Keane put Benayoun away but a slight miscontrol took it away from goal. Kean also miskicked a chance of his own after a forward run from Mascherano.

Liverpool were playing as well as in a while. The movment between Keane, Kuyt, debutant Riera, Fabio Aurellio and Benayoun was hugely impressive. The usually defensive minded Arbeloa was getting forward from right back, Maschero and Alonso were making forward runs when Liverpool were in possesssion. Also Martin Skrtel got forward a couple of times and had a long range effort on target that was easily saved. The mindset was attack minded and going out to try and win the game, in a way Liverpool have been criticised for not doing more of in previous games.

By contrast United were poor in the second half. Substitue Ryan Giggs did manage a clever effort when he tried to chip Reina who managed to turn it over the bar. This however was not a warning of more to come as Liverpool continued to dominate. Manager Benitez put on Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel for the last 20 minutes.

Unusally it was Babel and not Gerrard who proved decisive. with 13 minutes to go Mascherano made another uncharacteristic forward run, he stole the ball from Ryan Giggs at the by-line and pulled the ball back, similar to the United goal, and despite mishitting it slightly Ryan Babel's shot found the back of the net to send the Kop wild.

GOAL - Liverpool 2 Manchester United 1 - BABEL (77 MINS)

Could they hang on for 13 minutes. In truth they were not hanging on but more likely to score again.The forwards continued working hard, and Mascherano and Alsonso ensure nothing would pass them in midfield. What for Liverpool could be a key victory was secured. Today showed with two up front and an attack minded mentality, they could compete with the best. For United, it does notg et easier, Chelsea away is next up for them, a defeat could, even at this earlytime of the season, put them quite a way behaind the leaders.

RESULT

Liverpool                       (1) 2

Brown (OG) 27, Babel 77

Manchester United      (1) 1

Tevez 3

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN - Javier Mascherano - Showed today not only is he a fine defnesive midfielder, but can be a huge problem going forward too. An awesome alround display which laid the foundations for the victory.

The Duchess

Starring - Kiera Knightley, Ralph Finnes, Domonic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Charlotte Rampling

Directed by Saul Dibb

In a film that demonstrates yet again that nobody does period drama films like Kiera Knightley, she playes the Duchess of Devonshire, her marraige to the Duke (Ralph Finnes) is a sham purely to provide the Duke, himself the heir the the British thrown, a male aire for the future. The duchess struggles as she finds her husband does not seem to have much interest in anything beyond providing a male aire to the thrown.

The duchess finds a freinds in Lady Elizabeth Foster, after a woman on woman encounter where Foster shows the duchess that private matter can be about more that child creation, the freindship is shattered when the duchess finds the duke has taken Lady Foster for himself as her mistress. This leads the duchess to respond by formaing a relationship with the man she truely loves, new Parilamenatary MP and possible future Prime Minister, Charles Grey (Domonic Cooper) When the Duke finds out, he forces the duchess to make a series of heart breaking decisions which would define the future for her and the children she dearly loves.

This films best quality is the acting. Knightley is typcially brilliant in playing the woman trying to find herself in a male dominated world, espcially within the Royal Family. Finnes does a great job playing the cold, dull and at times nasty role of the Duke. Hayley Atwell as Lady Foster plays a fine supporting role too, and Charlotte Rampling who playes the duchess' mother, comes across as the throughly dislikeable, selfish character she is supposed to depict.

By contrast to the fine top rate acting, the film fell flat at times. It felt as though something was missing, a true spark that would take the film to another level. The ending fely rushed and unfinished too. That indefinable X-Factor which turns a very good film like this into an excellent one was just for whatever reason not quite there. There is an 'Is that it?' feeling at the end of it all. The quality of the cast does however, still make this worth seeing. And it is still a very good film as a result.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'B+' - Great acting, but leaves you with a sense of dissappointment that it could and should have been even better.

Last night the real England football team finally came out of the ashes of a series of never ending miserable performances. Since the failure of the last World cup, England have underachieved again and again despite having starts who consistantly shine on the European Chmapions League stage for their clubs, the likes of Stephen Gerrard, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney,who play like world beaters at time in European games, have never really done it for England.

Last night something different happened. They went away to Zagreb to play Croatia, a team considered one of the best teams in Europe, recent scapls included Germany at the recent European Championships, they also has a 35 game unbeaten record at home, including a comprehensive 2-0 victory over England almost two years ago.

So would Englands flopsfail yet again against a very good side? No, England played their best game since a 3-2 win over Argentina in a warm up game in the run up to the alst World Cup in 2006. They tore Croatia apart in every department, the players played like they can for their clubs and demolished Croatia by a huge 4-1 scoreline.

Rooney also getting on the scoresheet was also good, as he had not scored for a while. A fine performance as well as result should also help confidence going into future games, however, the star of the show last night was Arsenal's young starlet Theo Walcott. A brilliant hat-trick, taring Croatia apart with his pace and precision, which leads you wonder wonder may this have happened if it was not for one other overlooked man.

That man is the much maligned for England Manager, Sven Goran Eriksson. In the 2006 World cup Eriksson caused a storm when he surpisingly announced the very same Theo Walcott into his World Cup squad. Then Theo was only 18 and had only played a small number of first team games. The press lined up to attack Eriksson's decision, especially as he had no intention of playing Walcott, at that point he was not ready. When the England team failed to get passed Portugal in the quarter final, the decision to take Walcott was again and again attacked as evidence that Eriksson was a poor mananger who had not got clue what he was doing.

Of course, maybe he did know what he was doing. In seeing the potential in Walcott, take him to a World Cup, allow him to get used to the squad elecment, train with the first team, create an environment where a young man who Eriksson obviously was clear had a huge future with England, could get used to the realities of what being an England squad memeber entailed, was all about at every level.

This of course was a huge sacrifice, as Eriksson surely knew he would not be manager after that World Cup, but he was willing to bring through a young man for the future he would not be a part of. Without going to that World Cup last night may never have happened. It would still be being discussed if Walcott was ready to perform, he may have only been on the fringes of the squad, and last night may have been a very different story.

We will of course have no retractions from anyone about how wrong they were to attack Eriksson for his decision, It will be all Walcott, Capello ect. But in hailing those, raise a glass to Sven, proven absolutely right in his judgement about Walcott, and willing to risk his own short term position for the long term good of a young player with potential, and the rest of the England team.

The Orphanage

Starring - Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona

To start a run of films I need to catch up on, I begin with this fairy tale meets supernatrual horror from Spain. Belen Rueda plays Laura, who has just bought with her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) the place where she grew up, a disused orphanage that she intends to restore to its original purpose by turning the place back into an orphanage that she intends to run, a dream of hers. She also has a son called Simon who is HIV positive and adopted, a fact that Simon, aged 7 at this point is unaware of.

At first it seems Simon has a wild imagination. He devlops a sense that he has 5 'imaginary friends' living in the house. Laura and Carlos assume the young boy just has a typical childs imagination. Simon also goes off to play in a cave where he meets another seemingly imaginary friend. However the more time passes strangethings happen within the house that suggest to Laura that their may be more reality to Simon's imagination than meets the eye.

When Simon goes missing it is assumed he has been kidknapped by a strange lady seen earlier in the film, When Laura witnesses her death in a chance meeting, revelations about the history of what went on in the Orphanage, coupled with drawings of Simon's 'imaginary friends' that match the history of the place, Laura heads to the world of the super natrual for help. This begins a journey which leads her face to face with the ghosts of the past which inhabit the Orphanage. Will she find Simon? Are the ghosts of her old friends in the house? Will she survive the journey to the other side?

The context of this film is virtually unique. It combines references to Peter Pan, old fairy tales, and hankering after childhood. It also explores the supernatrual, life after death, and the very essence of death itself. It has dark twists and spine chilling moments worthy of the darkest horror films. A series of combinations this film delivers spectaculuarly well and avoids the trap of becoming convoluted by so many angles like for example 'No Country For Old Men' did by being a fast paced film with new information constantly coming at you. It's was also all helped by the brilliant emotional depth of Rueda's performance as Laura, she throws herself into every aspect of her characters contridictory and complex mindset with enormous passion and emotional energy.

Combine all that with a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, as you are never quite sure where this is going next. The revelations come thick and fast, some of the Spanish backdrops for the film also add t the mysery and suspense, carefully chosen for exactly that reason, in that regard the director got it absolutely right. There are parallels with another Spannish film, 'Pans Labyrinth.' This however has more depth and in my view is even better. Forget the fact this is subtitled and foreign, see this if you can, I don't think there will ever be a film made quite like it again.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'A' - A unique mix of fairy tale, suspence and horror. The finest foreign language film I have ever seen. Belen Rueda's performance is also simply stunning.

It seems to create passions few other things can. The end of the world. Ove the last couple of days there has been no escape from it's discussion. Certainly where I work it's been the topic of many a conversation over the last couple of days, and from what I here a topic in many a home too. Scientists are currently attempting to re-create the conditions of the big bang, the start of the universe as we know it. Apparently the experiment has got off to a great start. 

Scientists state they will be able to learn more about the very start of the universe. faciniating if true, but does beg the question, how can they possibly know if what happens here mirrors the start of the known universe several thousand billion years ago? As nobody was there, how do we know, we don't of course, and neither do the scientists.

As a result of this we have also heard the lazy arguments around this being a waste of money, the UK alone has put £500 million in, thetotal cost is £6bn. Why can't we spend it on fighting climate change, or fighting world povety or whatever more 'worthy' causethey say. Well the reality is scientists may learn something from this, even if it's not to do with the start of the Universe, sometimes we have to stop feeling guilty about everything and expand into other areas, as a result, I say good look to the scientists, I hope you learn something, and well done to the affiliated Governemnts for agreeing to such a large scale project.

The experiment has caused a stir in another way. Endless suggestions that the experiement could create black holes we could die in, or the explosions would destroy the Earth and create the end of the world. The most amusing observations go along the lines of 'wouldn't it be funny if it happened.' Well, no, because if it happened we would be all dead, so nobody would be here to find it funny anyway.

In any case, lets break a world exclusive (well not really, but The Sun and The Mirror would claim it, so hey, why can't I) I'm writing this, and we are all still here, so the World did not end. Thankfully the prophets of the end of the world have a 0% record so far, although i guess they only have to be right once. For now though, until next time the 'end of the world' is nigh, I hope you all sleep well safe in the knowledge, we will all wake up tomorrow to find another day.

This week in Brighton the British political conference season has kicked off as always with the Trade Union Congress. The unions have always been fortunate to be able to gain extra coverage in their timing. While business groups like the Confederation of Business and industry, the Confederation of small businesses and the Institue of Directors, groups who represent the businesses of our nation and who by right should be entitled to equal coverage, don't get it because of the random periods when they hold their conferences. The TUC holds it's congress either one or two weeks before the political parties begin their conferences, so it fits nicely into the schedule.

The trade unions created the Labour Party in the UK and have still give the party money today. However this week they seem to be at war with the Labour Governemnt, seemingly blinkered to the fact that they are helping the Conservative opposition whom should by rights be the real enemy, sweep into power.

The Unions think they are the answer to Labour's problems. They propose huge public sector pay rises that will fuel inflationary pressure, and strikes to ruin the lives of ordinary people if they don't get them, a windfall tax on energy companies that will destroy much needed investment plans that are being put in place to try and secure the long term security of our energy supply. And lets not forget the unions old favourite, tax the rich more and have talented, successful people Britain needs in these tough economic times to other countries.

For poor old Prime Minster Gordon Brown, with friends like these, who needs any enemies. For a PM already looking into the abyss of what seems certain defeat at the election, the rise of the Socialist left among the unions is all he needs. He also must feel a sense of dispair, as to be fair to the prime Minister, then unions are being rather ungreatful.

For Brown has been part of the Government fort he last 11 years which has implemented the minum wage the unions demanded, backed the European social chapter they demanded, has increased public sector pay over the cycle at a higher rate than in the private sector and laid the foundations for an explosion of public sector jobs, a hugely important source of union memebership. He has also implemented maternity and paternity leave changes the unions campaigned for, as well as the winter fuel allowance for the elderly and enacting into law rights for a maximum 48 hour working week.

It is fair to say the unions would not have got any of these things from the Conservatives, and agree or not with the measures mentioned, you would have thought a bit of thanks and humility from the unions would be appropriate. Apparently not. Derek Simpson, The General Secrety of the comically called 'Unite' union has slated foreign secretary as 'Smug' and 'arrogant,' and by the account given here it seems they were some of the nicer things he had to say.  Then there is the plan to vote, a vote expected to be passed, planning strikes over pay if the Government does not give them what they want. They seem happy to use threats of language echoing the 'Winter of Discontent.' A period of mass strikes in the 1970's which ushered in Margaret Thatcher, and 18 years of Conservative rule.

Maybe it will happen again, For the Conservative cause, the phrase 'useful idiots' springs to mind. The unions have so much to be greatful to the Prime Minister for, some would argue much to the deteriment of the country, and yet they are intent on destroying that very same Government. The irony is delicious, the logic nothing short of comical, For the media it's a magnificent feeding frenzy, espcially for those ready to back Cameron at the next election and want to see Labour out, as the unions march on directionless, like lemmings over a cliffe. 

This morning, the first Saturday in September, brought the return of the hugely enjoyable Radio 5 live show fighting talk back to our radios. The idea is simple, the panel are asked questions and then have to talk an answer, and the jokes, cheap shots at others expense, ect they get in, the more points the are supposed to get. Sucking up to the host helps too hwoever, as he determines the points.

The host is normally found on Radio 1, DJ Colin Murray. He loves US sports, Liverpool FC and is from Northern Ireland, attacking either of these three things usually means points lost. Sucking up on any of these three things usually means points gained. The two with the highest score go into the final 'Defend the Inderfensible' round in which they are given a rediculous proposition and have to defend it as well and as humerously as they can for 15 seconds.

There are four panelists, today verbal sparring combatants include olympic badminton medalist from Athens Gail Emms, comedian and Leyton Orient fan Bob Mills, Footballer Pat Nevin and from Toronto, US sports show host Greg Brady, a show regular and friend of Colin Murray's.

Newcastle bashing seems to be the order of this week following Kevin Keegan's resignation. The Mike Ahsely bashing in particular came thick and fast. The panel were asked which football supporters could feel they had been mugged this season already. Brady stated he though it was Liverpool and they were in trouble, not suprisingly he did not get many points for that. Gail Emms, although a Tottenham supporter is someone who has been Nottingham based, seemed to reather enjoy digging the knife into Derby County's plight.

Into the second half of the show Gail Emms olympic experiences seemed to take over as she shot into the lead. First she told of how Andy Murray was comforting to her after she had lost her badminton match in Beijing, then followed up by telling us she was sat next to Tony Blair at the closing ceromany, and yet the Chinese wanted photos of her as they love their badminton. or as Murray paraphrased it 'More important then Tony Blair.'

Emms went into the final against Bob mills and won with her defense that badminton players should wear, tighter, skimpier clothin on court. A deliberate question on Murray's part to create as much inudendo as possible, and of course she got Murray's verdict as a result to win the show. If you have not heard it before, I highly reccommend giving it a listen, it airs 11.00 am on Radio 5 Live, and will be on every Saturday morning for the duration of the football season.   

A number of years ago I sat down to watch what proved to be a fairly dull evening of football. Liverpool were playing German side Bayer Leverkusen in the 1st leg of their Champions league Quarter Final.1st legs of these games tend to be standard fair, the home side tries to establish a lead, the away side plays off the break to try and keep themselves in with a shout for the 2nd leg.

This particular game was a fine example of the pattern. Liverpool were trying to build a lead to take to Germany, Leverkusen played a defensive formation with just the one man up front in order to try and create something on the break. The man up front would be alone with little support most of the night, working as hard as he could to try and give the defense a break, but some time, run down the clock to make it more difficult for the home side to score.

On this night the man up front was not even a first choice striker, they were aving their main men for the second leg. I recall thinking their lead striker would make a great name for a Robot Wars Robot. Entering the arena, and now from Leverkusen ... BERBATOV!!! With Jonathan Pierce then telling us about the robots attacking weaponary and obvious weaknesses. Dimitar Berabtov was that nights man to play up front alone, working tirelessly for no reward, a bit like a robot really. only to be dropped for the second leg. As it turned out Liverpool only won 1-0, Leverkusen went through two weeks later, and Berbatov have done his job for the night.

Little then did we know that a few years later the saem Dimitar Berbatov would be right here in England, being bought by Manchester United for over £30 million as a top rated superstar player. He re-created himself after signing for Tottenham as a top goal scorer and brilliant technical player. From being a small squad player at Leverkusen he suddenly became Tottenham's top striker, and now a few years on he will be back in Europe's top competition not as the lone man up front in a team trying to retrict first leg damage, but as a star in his own right. Jonathan Pierce may also be doing the commentary, in days where Berbatov need not be a robot anymore.

Only time will tell of course if he actually delivers, but the story of Berbatov, a little known Bulgarian who has become a superstar, a man who learned his trade by doing his bit for the squad in his earier days, is an example for all youngsters who want to get into football.

I have not written here for some time. It's time I did. And where better to start than the most exciting election in years. On November 4th the United states will select tehir successor to President Bush. One thing is for sure, forget waffle about landslides and easy victories, this election will be close, very close. There are even scenarios where it could be a dead draw.

How can this be you may ask? The conventional media suggest it's all sown up. On the Democrat side is Barak Obama, aiming to be the first black President. He is young, dynamic, charasmatic, tells a great story, inspires hope, gives a first rate speech everytime he is at the platform. By contrast the Republicans have John McCain, 72 years old, sometimes struggles to give a speech, he represents the party of that hated President Bush. The Republicans are unpopular, McCain lacks Obama's charisma and youth and despite being known as a moderate Republican, surely represents an old America that does not stand a chance against the new, dynamic Obama. So there we are, this race is all over is it? One way traffic, surely?

Well, no actually it's not. In this election most of what you see does not represent what will actually decide this election. Take Obama's speech in Berlin, in Europe seen as a triumph, in the US seen as arrogant. McCain actually gained ground in the polls durin that time, given the almost fanatical coverage from the BBC and other European news networks at the time you would not have known it it the UK or in Europe though.

So lets move to the last week or so. last week in Denver the Democrats held their convention. all the big guns rallied behind Obama, Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton, and Obama finished the show on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech with an excellent speech of his own, complete with all the glamour and razmatazz of 80,000 people in attendence at the home of the Denver Broncos NFL stadium.

Nobody can deny it was impressive. All in tune with the theme we have heard all along of the young dynamic man's march to history and the White House. But how has it really gone down. Had it enabled Obama to stretch out to a huge unassailable lead leaving poor John McCain in his wake. well, according to the historically most reliabally accurate pollster in America, Rasmussen Research, no it has not. As of today on the eve of the Republican convention, coming after a week of wall to wall positive US coverage, Obama's lead is merely 3%. McCain is actually less of a deficit behind going into his convention than Bush was behind Kerry going into his four years ago.

Bush of course went on to win. There is no certainty McCain will, but to understand this election look no further than the postion state by state, do that and you realise despite all the fervour for Obama, this election is actually in John McCain's hands to win or lose. That's right, I said it's in John McCain's hands to win or lose.

Here is Rasmussen's state by state position. The number in brackets is the number of electoral college votes each state is given o a winner takes all basis. 270 are needed to win the election. If you except the states on one side or the other go the way shown (and it is hard to imagine more than one or two at the most won't) the college vote position is Obama 264 McCain 247 with three states so close we can't give them to either candidate. The colours show which way they voted in 2004, red for Republican, blue for Democrat. Notice the three toss up states are red, Colorado, Virginia and Nevada. If McCain wins these, it is almost impossible to see how Obama can win. as the lead in the closest states given to McCain would be won by a bigger margin still.

This means to win this election McCain has to win threestates that voted Bush in 2004, all states won by small margins as a result of christians, gun owners, and supporters of low taxation coming out to support President Bush. They are not asking if they want McCain or Obama in the White House, indeed Obama is not even in the equation. Their concern is whether McCain is conservative enough to be in the White House. They fear his maverick tendencies, they don't like the fact he does not make religion a big issue in his politics.

This week McCain  showed his maverick streak again, picking relative unknown Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, as his Vice-Presidential pick. Many believe this is to exploit Democrat devisions amongst women who wnated Hilary Clinton to be the Democrat nomination. It may or may not have this effect, but Palin is also a very tradition, christian, anti-abortion, low tax Republican. Very reassuring maybe to those in Colorado, Nevada and Virginia who McCain needs on side to win this election. These people will decide it all, not east coast Democrats, left-wingers in the media or Europeans who think all a Democrat has to do is hate Bush to win. To the contrary, these people are conservative, they like Bush, but do they trust the moderate McCain to put him in the White House? It's up to McCain to pursuade them, like I said, despite the Obama hype, it's McCain's to win or lose in reality.