When Fabio Capello says he has learnt from the World Cup embarrassment let us hope he has learnt what England fans have known for years, balance is the key to everything.
When I say balance I mean players must play in their best positions. It means that Steven Gerrard must play in centre midfield, and that must not be alongside Frank Lampard. Every England manager has tried to find a combination that includes both of these players, but two impressive wins against Bulgaria and Switzerland has shown the nation and hopefully Fabio Capello that if England are to move on and rebuild England must have a balance that suits every player on the pitch – not two players who want to play in the same position.
With all the positive talk about England’s performance during these two internationals, come October 12th we will see how much Fabio Capello has learnt from this week and the World Cup. With Frank Lampard injured Capello didn’t have to make the decision of does he stick with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard? In an ideal world Capello like every manager would like to play the same XI, but that happens very rarely in International football. Already England is without James Milner after he picked up two yellow cards meaning he is suspended for the next game. Without Milner this leaves the left side of midfield empty and there is a possibility England could go back to Steven Gerrard playing out on the left and Frank Lampard returning alongside Gareth Barry in the centre. Putting it simply one simple change could see England take two steps backwards and going back to how they played during the World Cup and all the positives from these two performances are instantly forgotten and met with groans and disappointment.
Now this is my point, with Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson being in sensational form for both club and country, and as long as Walcott’s ankle injury is not serious, why not move Adam Johnson over to his ‘natural’ left side, keeping Theo Walcott on the right side and continue to build towards the future. Capello if he chose to could follow the modern way of right footers on the left and left footers on the right (think Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry – Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard) put Theo Walcott left and Adam Johnson right allowing them to both cut in and link up with Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Jermaine Defoe.
There is also the option of replacing the suspended Milner with former team-mate Ashley Young who has made his reputation playing on the left side; cutting inside delivering killer balls with someone like Jermaine Defoe would thrive on. But let’s hope Capello does not go with Shaun Wright-Phillips who somehow managed to sneak back on the pitch replacing Wayne Rooney during England’s convincing 3-1 victory over Switzerland.
England will no doubt finish top of this group, whether they perform or not, but what England need is something to build on and work towards. A new revolution and less pressure can sometimes work in the favour of International teams – such as Germany in the World Cup this year. What Germany had that surprised others was a system they knew, a real balance that allowed Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger to influence the game the way England need Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney to do in England’s quest for qualification for Euro 2012. What Germany also had were players who could come in and instantly fit into a system, something England showed signs of developing this week as long as they keep everything ‘balanced’. There is no better replacement for Steven Gerrard in a central midfield position than Frank Lampard and whether it is Theo Walcott or Adam Johnson who starts right-side they have the other waiting in the wings to instantly fit into that position.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Fergies envious truth behind Manchester City's spending
So in the words of Sir Alex Ferguson the spending of Roberton Mancini's Manchester is 'kamikaze' and the wrong way to about achieving success.
This is coming from the man who has broken the British transfer record on several occasions and demanded that Real Msdrid must pay £80 million pounds for Christinao Ronaldo.
This is also the man who this week admitted he spent £7 million on an unknown Portuguese striker named 'Bebe' without seeing the player live or even watching footage of him. Now this could turn out to be a stroke of genius one day, should the player develop but there is a good chance this player could never represent Manchester United with Sir Alex in charge. If this isn't a 'kamikaze' move then what is?
Spending around £130 million on six players compared to Manchester United's modest £24 million on three is a huge difference. The reason of Sir Alex's modest transfer spending is 'there is no value in the transfer market anymore'. What Sir Alex Ferguson is doing is protecting Manchester United Football Club, something Roberto Mancini never has to worry about.
Lets look at Sir Alex's transfer record, in 2002 Rio Ferdinand cost Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United £30 million, at the time being a British transfer record and the most expensive price ever paid for a defender. Since 2002 Manchester United have won four Premiership Titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup and three League Cups. Ferdinand has played 221 times and has become captain of club and country, you could say that justifies 'value for money'.
Manchester United also paid out £25.6 million for Wayne Rooney in 2004 just two years after he made his Premiership debut for Everton at the age of 17 in 2002. Since 2002, Rooney has won the Premier League title three times, the 2007-08 and two league cups. He has also been awarded the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2009/10. With this deal United paid for potential, idenfiting Rooney as a future sstar knowing £25.6 million would be value for money.
Other notable successes in the transfer market include Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic who were signed for fee's under £10 million and become players up there with the best in their position. But Sir Alex Ferguson has not always got it spot on with transfers - just like Roberto Mancini wont and like Mark Hughes didn't. Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djema are the two obvious transfer flops who come to mind but what about Juan Sebastian Veron (£28.1 million), Owen Hargreaves (£17 million), Fabien Barthez (£7.8 million) and most recently Dimitar Berbatov (intial fee of £23.4 million) who is yet to prove himself to be worth his inital fee.
If anyone can explain what value Manchester United got from buying Juan Sebastian Veron for £28 million only to sell him on for £13 million less to Chelsea two years later I'd be welcome to hear it. You could even argue buying Owen Hargreaves for a fee of £17 million in 2007 from Bayern Munich for Owen to play 26 games before becoming a regular customer for every knee specialisit across the world. That works out at £653,446 per game. Where is ther value in money in that I may ask.
There is no hidng that Manchester City has spent a huge amount of money in the transfer market this summer but what Fergie describes as 'kamikaze' buy may be switched on it's head and called a huge investment for the club in years to come. With Yaya Toure as an exception all Manchester City's signings this year are 24 years old or below. David Silva, 24 (£25 million app), James Milner, 24 (£24 million p/x Steven Ireland), Jermone Boateng, 21 (£12 million), Mario Balotelli, 20 £24 million) and Aleksandar Kolarov, 24 (£16 million) all have their best years ahead of them and will all feature in the Manchester City first team this season and the years to come.
Sir Alex Ferguson was blessed with the greatest generation of youngsters a team in England has ever seen and maybe only have been bettered in recent years by Barcelona. Ferguson had the right of youth and experience and assembled a team that every billionaire tychool could ever dreamt of. Just how much would Roy Keane and Peter Schmichel been worth in current climate of players? It is still impossible to put a price on players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes who still feature for Manchester 12 years on from the famous treble winners at the peak of their powers. But what is forgotten is Sir Alex added and bought quality to that team, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheingham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were all bought to in join Andy Cole who once upon a time was a British record transfer of £7 million from Newcastle United.
Sir Alex has bought many youngsters under the age of 24 in attempts to build his squad. Christinao Ronaldo (£12 million - sold for £80 million), Nani (£17 million), Anderson (£20 million), Antonio Valenica (£16 million), Rafael and Fabio Silva (unkown price), Nemanja Vidic (£7 million), Wayne Rooney (£25.6 million), Rio Ferdinand (£30 million), Ben Foster (£1 million - sold to Birmingham for £6 million) and Patrice Evra (£7 million). This summer Sir Alex invested in Chris Smalling (£8 million) from Fulham who two seasons ago was playing non-league football and Javier Hernandez for £12 million. So with all of these players with their futures ahead of them at Manchester United what are Manchester City doing that Manchester United have not done in the past?
What Manchester City is trying to build is a legacy, a legacy that is bigger than the one created by Sir Alex Ferguson and the red side of Manchester. What we could be talking about in years to come is the technical qualities of David Silva, the determation of Nigel de Jong or the penalty save from England and Manchester number 1 Joe Hart or the skills of England's brighest prospect Adam Johnson. If City does win the title in the coming years as it seems they eventually will given the financial backing they have Sir Alex Ferguson could be foreced to eat his own words and watch 'kamikaze' transfer prices decide the Premiership title race.
This is coming from the man who has broken the British transfer record on several occasions and demanded that Real Msdrid must pay £80 million pounds for Christinao Ronaldo.
This is also the man who this week admitted he spent £7 million on an unknown Portuguese striker named 'Bebe' without seeing the player live or even watching footage of him. Now this could turn out to be a stroke of genius one day, should the player develop but there is a good chance this player could never represent Manchester United with Sir Alex in charge. If this isn't a 'kamikaze' move then what is?
Spending around £130 million on six players compared to Manchester United's modest £24 million on three is a huge difference. The reason of Sir Alex's modest transfer spending is 'there is no value in the transfer market anymore'. What Sir Alex Ferguson is doing is protecting Manchester United Football Club, something Roberto Mancini never has to worry about.
Lets look at Sir Alex's transfer record, in 2002 Rio Ferdinand cost Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United £30 million, at the time being a British transfer record and the most expensive price ever paid for a defender. Since 2002 Manchester United have won four Premiership Titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup and three League Cups. Ferdinand has played 221 times and has become captain of club and country, you could say that justifies 'value for money'.
Manchester United also paid out £25.6 million for Wayne Rooney in 2004 just two years after he made his Premiership debut for Everton at the age of 17 in 2002. Since 2002, Rooney has won the Premier League title three times, the 2007-08 and two league cups. He has also been awarded the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2009/10. With this deal United paid for potential, idenfiting Rooney as a future sstar knowing £25.6 million would be value for money.
Other notable successes in the transfer market include Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic who were signed for fee's under £10 million and become players up there with the best in their position. But Sir Alex Ferguson has not always got it spot on with transfers - just like Roberto Mancini wont and like Mark Hughes didn't. Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djema are the two obvious transfer flops who come to mind but what about Juan Sebastian Veron (£28.1 million), Owen Hargreaves (£17 million), Fabien Barthez (£7.8 million) and most recently Dimitar Berbatov (intial fee of £23.4 million) who is yet to prove himself to be worth his inital fee.
If anyone can explain what value Manchester United got from buying Juan Sebastian Veron for £28 million only to sell him on for £13 million less to Chelsea two years later I'd be welcome to hear it. You could even argue buying Owen Hargreaves for a fee of £17 million in 2007 from Bayern Munich for Owen to play 26 games before becoming a regular customer for every knee specialisit across the world. That works out at £653,446 per game. Where is ther value in money in that I may ask.
There is no hidng that Manchester City has spent a huge amount of money in the transfer market this summer but what Fergie describes as 'kamikaze' buy may be switched on it's head and called a huge investment for the club in years to come. With Yaya Toure as an exception all Manchester City's signings this year are 24 years old or below. David Silva, 24 (£25 million app), James Milner, 24 (£24 million p/x Steven Ireland), Jermone Boateng, 21 (£12 million), Mario Balotelli, 20 £24 million) and Aleksandar Kolarov, 24 (£16 million) all have their best years ahead of them and will all feature in the Manchester City first team this season and the years to come.
Sir Alex Ferguson was blessed with the greatest generation of youngsters a team in England has ever seen and maybe only have been bettered in recent years by Barcelona. Ferguson had the right of youth and experience and assembled a team that every billionaire tychool could ever dreamt of. Just how much would Roy Keane and Peter Schmichel been worth in current climate of players? It is still impossible to put a price on players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes who still feature for Manchester 12 years on from the famous treble winners at the peak of their powers. But what is forgotten is Sir Alex added and bought quality to that team, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheingham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were all bought to in join Andy Cole who once upon a time was a British record transfer of £7 million from Newcastle United.
Sir Alex has bought many youngsters under the age of 24 in attempts to build his squad. Christinao Ronaldo (£12 million - sold for £80 million), Nani (£17 million), Anderson (£20 million), Antonio Valenica (£16 million), Rafael and Fabio Silva (unkown price), Nemanja Vidic (£7 million), Wayne Rooney (£25.6 million), Rio Ferdinand (£30 million), Ben Foster (£1 million - sold to Birmingham for £6 million) and Patrice Evra (£7 million). This summer Sir Alex invested in Chris Smalling (£8 million) from Fulham who two seasons ago was playing non-league football and Javier Hernandez for £12 million. So with all of these players with their futures ahead of them at Manchester United what are Manchester City doing that Manchester United have not done in the past?
What Manchester City is trying to build is a legacy, a legacy that is bigger than the one created by Sir Alex Ferguson and the red side of Manchester. What we could be talking about in years to come is the technical qualities of David Silva, the determation of Nigel de Jong or the penalty save from England and Manchester number 1 Joe Hart or the skills of England's brighest prospect Adam Johnson. If City does win the title in the coming years as it seems they eventually will given the financial backing they have Sir Alex Ferguson could be foreced to eat his own words and watch 'kamikaze' transfer prices decide the Premiership title race.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Fantasy Football: The Golden Rules, the must haves & possible bargains
The Barclays Priemership kicks off this weekend and it's that time of year where all football mad fans pick their ultimate fantasy XI or a squad of XV. Whether you are using 'The Sun', 'Sky Sports' or 'Fantasy Premier League' decisions are now tougher than ever with prices of the stars rising meaning no more fantasy front three of Rooney, Drogba and Tevez which was easily possible last season. Everybody has their own personal opinions on how to pick their fantasy teams, some go for players from their own team, some go for a balanced team that will play every week and some choose to pick the star players and rely on these players to score the majority of their teams points. Personally there are golden rules you must follow:
1) Have either Didier Drogba or Wayne Rooney in your team at all times.
2) Pick Frank Lampard - he will be the midfield top scorer no matter what league you play.
3) Favour attack over defence even in defensive positions.
4) If there are teams playing a double week chose players from those teams and more often than not make one of these players your captain. So now you have the golden rules and the must picks in Fantasy Football here are a few possible bargains that could become popular choices over the season. Gareth Bale: (Tottenham Hotspur)
After a real impressive end to the season Gareth Bale became a must have in your Fantasy Football back-line even though he is playing in midfield. This year Gareth is listed as a midfielder which could be off-putting for a few Fantasy managers but Harry Redknapp is a big believer of Gareth Bale and I expect him to play a big role for Tottenham this year. Bale assisted 5 goals and scored 3 last season, with all of these coming at the end of the season as Tottenham beat Manchester City to a top four spot. Listed at £6.5 million on 'Fantasy Premier League' he is fairly priced this season and could be a high point scorer in support to your big name of either Lampard, Fabregas or Gerrard. Jonny Evans: (Manchester United)
Not a big point scorer last season but this year Jonny Evans could well become a regular in the Manchester United first team. With Rio Ferdinand out for the start of the season and becoming more injury prone Jonny Evans could have the chance to make a big impact on Sir Alex and many Fantasy Football managers. Beginning against newly promoted Newcastle United at home gives Manchester United a real chance of completing their first clean sheet of the season. Priced at £5.5 million on 'Fantasy Premier League' he is again like Bale fairly priced this season and is unlikely to be picked by the majority of managers in the first couple of games. Adam Johnson: (Manchester City)
After arriving at Manchester City in January of last season Adam Johnson's career has gone from playing Championship football to becoming an England International and a big part of Roberto Mancini's plans for World Domination. Eight assists last season saw Johnson offer a real attacking threat and although Manchester City have signed David Silva Johnson will surely still be ahead of Shaun Wright Phillips for a starting place on the right hand side of midfield. With players like Ashley Young and James Milner highly priced this season Adam Johnson at £6.5 million could be a bargain for Fantasy Managers. Matthew Etherington: (Stoke City)
Stoke City's player of the year last year and the highest point scorer of any of his team-mates, when it comes to Stoke City creating anything, (other than a Rory Delap throw-in) it comes from Matthew Etherington. Five goals and nine assists last year saw him score 146 points and this season is valued at a modest £6 million on Fantasy Premier League making him £0.5 million cheaper than Adam Johnson and Gareth Bale. His place unlike Bale and Johnson is guranteed so every week you are guranteed 90 minutes from Etherington as well as bonus points and assist points.
1) Have either Didier Drogba or Wayne Rooney in your team at all times.
2) Pick Frank Lampard - he will be the midfield top scorer no matter what league you play.
3) Favour attack over defence even in defensive positions.
4) If there are teams playing a double week chose players from those teams and more often than not make one of these players your captain. So now you have the golden rules and the must picks in Fantasy Football here are a few possible bargains that could become popular choices over the season. Gareth Bale: (Tottenham Hotspur)
After a real impressive end to the season Gareth Bale became a must have in your Fantasy Football back-line even though he is playing in midfield. This year Gareth is listed as a midfielder which could be off-putting for a few Fantasy managers but Harry Redknapp is a big believer of Gareth Bale and I expect him to play a big role for Tottenham this year. Bale assisted 5 goals and scored 3 last season, with all of these coming at the end of the season as Tottenham beat Manchester City to a top four spot. Listed at £6.5 million on 'Fantasy Premier League' he is fairly priced this season and could be a high point scorer in support to your big name of either Lampard, Fabregas or Gerrard. Jonny Evans: (Manchester United)
Not a big point scorer last season but this year Jonny Evans could well become a regular in the Manchester United first team. With Rio Ferdinand out for the start of the season and becoming more injury prone Jonny Evans could have the chance to make a big impact on Sir Alex and many Fantasy Football managers. Beginning against newly promoted Newcastle United at home gives Manchester United a real chance of completing their first clean sheet of the season. Priced at £5.5 million on 'Fantasy Premier League' he is again like Bale fairly priced this season and is unlikely to be picked by the majority of managers in the first couple of games. Adam Johnson: (Manchester City)
After arriving at Manchester City in January of last season Adam Johnson's career has gone from playing Championship football to becoming an England International and a big part of Roberto Mancini's plans for World Domination. Eight assists last season saw Johnson offer a real attacking threat and although Manchester City have signed David Silva Johnson will surely still be ahead of Shaun Wright Phillips for a starting place on the right hand side of midfield. With players like Ashley Young and James Milner highly priced this season Adam Johnson at £6.5 million could be a bargain for Fantasy Managers. Matthew Etherington: (Stoke City)
Stoke City's player of the year last year and the highest point scorer of any of his team-mates, when it comes to Stoke City creating anything, (other than a Rory Delap throw-in) it comes from Matthew Etherington. Five goals and nine assists last year saw him score 146 points and this season is valued at a modest £6 million on Fantasy Premier League making him £0.5 million cheaper than Adam Johnson and Gareth Bale. His place unlike Bale and Johnson is guranteed so every week you are guranteed 90 minutes from Etherington as well as bonus points and assist points.
Friday, 13 August 2010
My Premiership Predictions:
Champions: Manchester United
Champions League Spots: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool
Europa League: Manchester City & Tottenham
Relegation: Blackpool, Newcastle & Wigan
Over Achievers: Bolton
Under-Achievers: Sunderland
Top Scorer: Fernando Torres
Top English Goal-scorer: Jermaine Defoe
Player of the Year: Steven Gerrard
Young Player of the Year: Javier Hernandez
One to Watch: Robin van Persie
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Premiership Mini-League: Top 4 has now become the Top 6
With the gap between the top six teams bigger than ever the Premiership Mini-Leagues are now getting bigger and more important than ever. A couple of seasons ago people used to talk about the 'top 4' and the rest with the three promoted teams being the favourites to go straight back down. This year I believe their are more mini-leagues than ever. I will come onto that point later in another post but first lets start at the top. All the talk for the title used to revolve around four teams and that still maybe the case but this year I believe the top four has now become the top six. The top four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have now been joined by Manchester City and Tottenham. Last year Tottenham beat Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool to finish in the top four with Manchester City and Aston Villa finishing above Liverpool leaving them finishing in a very disappointing seventh. Unfortately with the news of Martin O'Neill leaving Aston Villa and James Milner rumoured to leaving too I find it hard to believe Villa will be challenging up there again this year. It's very hard to look past these six teams to finish in the top six, although when it comes to the title challengers I can only seeing two teams being real challengers over 38 games. Sir Alex Ferguson has said in pre-season if you finish above Chelsea you'll win the league - meaning Chelsea are the favourites. Therefore I make the first mini-league just of two teams - Chelsea and Manchester United. Real Title Challengers:Chelsea
Manchester UnitedThe next mini-league to me involves four teams - three of these will believe they can post a title challenge. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City will go into this season believing they have the quality to win the Premiership as long as they stay injury free and they beat the teams around them - where as Tottentham will go into this season aiming for a top four finish after last season's success. Who knows what the end of the season could of been for Arsenal should Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin had all been fit but the reason I don't have them as 'real title challengers' is because of how convincingly they were beaten by rivals Utd and Chelsea. Manchester City have improved the squad from last year but with such a large squad Roberto Mancini needs to find his first XI and quickly in order for them to challenge. Although Liverpool have many problems behind the scenes with Roy Hodgson in charge and with the signing of Joe Cole they look to have a more balanced approach this season as long as Fernando Torres spends more time on the pitch than the treatment table. Tottenham finished in the top four last year but with European commitments this year they must balance the expectation of now competiting in four trophies. Breaking into the top four is an achievement Harry Redknapp must be proud of but staying in the top four is Tottenhams's biggest challenge yet. Potential Europa League but not Top 4/6:
Arsenal
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester UnitedThe next mini-league to me involves four teams - three of these will believe they can post a title challenge. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City will go into this season believing they have the quality to win the Premiership as long as they stay injury free and they beat the teams around them - where as Tottentham will go into this season aiming for a top four finish after last season's success. Who knows what the end of the season could of been for Arsenal should Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin had all been fit but the reason I don't have them as 'real title challengers' is because of how convincingly they were beaten by rivals Utd and Chelsea. Manchester City have improved the squad from last year but with such a large squad Roberto Mancini needs to find his first XI and quickly in order for them to challenge. Although Liverpool have many problems behind the scenes with Roy Hodgson in charge and with the signing of Joe Cole they look to have a more balanced approach this season as long as Fernando Torres spends more time on the pitch than the treatment table. Tottenham finished in the top four last year but with European commitments this year they must balance the expectation of now competiting in four trophies. Breaking into the top four is an achievement Harry Redknapp must be proud of but staying in the top four is Tottenhams's biggest challenge yet. Potential Europa League but not Top 4/6:
Arsenal
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
The Premiership Mini-League
Real Title Challengers:
Chelsea
Manchester United
Top 4/Europa League:
Arsenal
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham
Potential Europa League but not Top 4/6:
Aston Villa
Everton
Comfortable Mid-Table or Relegation Candidates:
Birmingham
Blackburn
Bolton
Fulham
Newcastle
Stoke City
Sunderland
West Brom
West Ham
Wigan
Wolves
Doomed:
Blackpool
(listed in A-Z)
Scott Loach? Frankie Fielding? Robert Green may as well retire now
This England squad becomes more and more laughable every day of the week. First Paul Robinson and Wes Brown retire after being called up for the squad, five first team players don't train on the Monday and then Darren Bent and Ben Foster withdraw from the squad through injury. This leaves Fabio Capello with Joe Hart and no back up. Hart is a goalkeeper with great potential and if we are building towards the future Hart is the way to go, but this season there is a serious possibility that he won't even be first choice for his club Manchester City and could face another loan spell to another Premiership club. With the retirement of Robinson and the withdrawal of Foster, Fabio Capello has called up Watford's Scott Loach and Blackburn's Frankie Fielding into the squad as cover ahead of the friendly. Fielding who has not yet made a competitve appearence for his club Blackburn started last nights friendly victory and did not have to make a save as England Under 21's strolled to victory past Uzbekistan. Fiedling will now join up with the full England squad to provide cover for Scott Loach. So where does this leave Robert Green? During the qualification campaign for the World Cup Robert Green was England's number one and in early June Green was competing with David James for Fabio Capello's number one spot for England's World Cup opener against the USA. Now before the season has even began Robert Green's international future is over. After making the biggest mistake of his career helping Clint Dempsey's tame long range effort cross the line Robert Green has not been forgiven by Capello and possibly may never get another chance to prove his worth. This shows just how many options England have between the sticks. Chris Kirkland's fitness problems means his England career was over years ago and West Brom's Scott Carson has not been mentioned since he made his own clanger against Croatia when England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. David James who has now turned 40 has said he won't retire but it looks like he Capello has already told him he has no International future and it will really take a mircale for Robert Green to be given a second chance. Lets just hope Joe Hart does not have a great deal to do tonight because should Joe Hart become the next England goalkeeper to make a mistake who knows where Capello goes from here.
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