Fabio Capello is not one to give too much away, his demeanour surly enough for ITV’s Clive Tyldsley to describe the Italian as “old poker face” during last night’s dead-rubber win over Belarus at Wembley. But prior to the game, the England manager had given the story-writers plenty to work with by suggesting that his squad for next summer’s World Cup had “seven or eight” spots available.

It would appear that the players had heard this too. Several of the would-be support-cast were given chances to stake their claim last night. Several managed to. Peter Crouch’s brace took his international tally to an incredible 18 in 35 appearances – comparable with the likes of Michael Owen, Fernando Torres or Miroslav Klose. Shaun Wright-Phillips worked hard in an unfamiliar left-wing role and was rewarded with a goal, whilst James Milner, Gabriel Agbonlahor & Ben Foster all showed glimpses of their talents.

The Right Sided Conundrum

Meanwhile, David Beckham’s man-of-the-match award – given to him by former Manchester United colleague Steve Bruce – may have been contested by many, his impact and quality surely could not be. The LA Galaxy media circus/midfielder is certainly the odd one out when it comes to Capello’s right sided options, in that he lacks pace and direct running ability, but he is also unique in the sense that his final ball is reliable and consistent. A January move to Milan will all but guarantee his spot in the squad.

With Theo Walcott’s stock still high despite recent injuries, it means that one of either Wright-Phillips or Aaron Lennon is likely to miss out. Both are very much form players, capable of explosiveness one minute, anonymity the next. The one in form come the end of the season may well be the one Capello picks. James Milner is another option, and his versatility – he appeared last night as a left-back – may well work in his favour. A lack of genuine class and goal threat however, may count against him.

The rest – David Bentley, Ashley Young – have some serious work to do before they are even considered.

Goalkeeper

Capello’s Bete Noire, it has to be said. Gone are the days when David Seaman, Gordon Banks or Peter Shilton could simply be thrown the gloves and relied upon to do England proud. England’s current crop of keepers each have merits, but equally worrying weaknesses.

David James and Robert Green would appear to be the two certainties currently. Green’s dismissal in Dnipro last weekend count more against Rio Ferdinand than the West Ham stopper, whilst James – even at 39 – remains the country’s most reliable, experienced keeper.

The third spot is most definitely available. Foster has had a rough start to the season with Manchester United, but is well thought of in the England setup, and his performance last night will have given him confidence that he can avoid the fate of the likes of Scott Carson and Paul Robinson, both of whom saw their form plummet when in possession of the #1 jersey for their country.

Foster still faces competition: Robinson is back into a semblance of form with Blackburn, and is popular with many of the squad, whilst the likes of Joe Hart at Birmingham, and Wigan’s Chris Kirkland both have their supporters, and should be worked hard enough to play themselves into form come next summer.

Strikers

At the other end of the field, there are similar issues. Capello seems settled on a Wayne Rooney/Emile Heskey partnership as his first choice, but beyond those there is a raft of hopefuls looking for a place on the plane.

Crouch may well have barged his way to the front of the queue last night with his poacher’s double, but Capello may well reserve judgement on the Tottenham man’s reliability against elite opposition. His Spurs colleague, Jermain Defoe, is a much safer bet, especially if he retains the good form with which he has begun this season.

Agbonlahor appears very much a deputy for the deputies. His raw pace and energy was welcome last night, and he showed admirable awareness to lay on the opener for Crouch, but in international terms, the Villa man sits behind Defoe in terms of consistency, reliability and goalscoring.

His replacement last night was West Ham’s Carlton Cole, a player who has improved significantly over the past two years, but also one who has the potential to play his way out of form in the blink of an eye. For all his improvement at Upton Park, Cole has just 20 league goals in 82 appearances for the Hammers.

Michael Owen, on form, outshines them all. Injuries, however, and a lack of playing time at Manchester United, have forced England’s fourth-highest goalscorer way down the pecking order. He was at Wembley last night to watch the young pretenders have their chance, no doubt hoping for one of his own before the final squad is named.

The Squad

So here goes. Attempting to name the squad a full seven months before Capello has to may well be a dangerous game, but the Italian’s comments have inspired me. See if you agree.

Goalkeepers: David James, Robert Green, Ben Foster

Defenders: Glen Johnson, Wes Brown, Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Matthew Upson

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, David Beckham, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott

Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe

1966 was a great year, or so I’m told by those of an age able to remember it.

It has been a long time since England lifted the highest honour in International football, too long in fact, and many have been brave enough to predict South Africa will be the location for the Three Lions to finally end the years of hurt for the England faithful.

Trouble is I’ve heard all this before, and after so many England related predictions that have fallen short I am now perhaps not sceptical, more cautiously optimistic on how the team will actually faire in the pressure cooker environment of the tournament proper.

Even the most cynical of fans must admit however that circumstance is a little different this time around.

Firstly there can be no question marks over the pedigree of the man charged with leading the side into battle. Fabio Capello is as good and as astute as they come. His trophy hall at club level all over Europe is to vast to list exhaustively, but suffice it to say it would be quicker to go over what he hasn’t won than what he has. There have been no signs that he has had any trouble translating his talents at club level to the International stage, his England appearing a very different prospect from that which he inherited.

So no excuses that England have the wrong man at the helm… so what about the players?

If England are to threaten winning the trophy next year then Wayne Rooney will have to have the tournament of his career so far. He has been in great form for club and country this term, flourishing in the new found responsibility thrust upon him at United now that Ronaldo has moved on. This can only benefit England as Rooney is growing into the talismanic, or as the Americans would like to call it ‘franchise’ player that England will need him to be.

The other main protagonists aren’t too shabby either, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand, A. Cole would get in most if not any side in the world. Not a bad spine to the team then either.

The supporting cast have blown hot cold at various points since Capello took charge. Lennon has seemingly shaken off his persistent injury problems and found the sort of form that first got him into the side. Glen Johnson seems to be the only real option at right back for England at present. Better going forwards than backwards he is certainly a pressure point opposing teams will look to exploit.

The Goalkeeping position is still a hotly contested debate, although Capello has stated he knows who his first choice for the tournament is already. He hasn’t told us yet though I notice. Ben Foster has looked much improved for United in recent games but is yet to convince. Again England have many options here and I feel the race is still open for one of them to claim the shirt as their own before the end of the season.

Coming back from injury are Downing, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves who could yet feature for England in South Africa. If fully fit and firing, all three players would be a great asset to the squad although only time will tell what sort of season each will have. England have a number of wide options to choose from when you consider Walcott, Lennon, SWP and Young are also all in contention. (Discounting Beckham and Gerrards new found role in the team playing wide left).

And so it would seem that England certainly have the tools for the job on paper. There is also a new found steel and grit that the team was sorely lacking under previous regimes. However I still feel there is a delicacy about the way England’s fortune is decided. Beaten by Spain and France (although in friendly games) under Capello shows that the side is far from unbeatable when faced with top class opposition. No disrespect to Croatia but I don’t hear anyone touting them as potential winners in South Africa.

As everyone knows this England side are in a now or never moment. The big players are peaking in terms of their age and relative performance levels, and it will be all downhill for them in the main after this tournament. Capello continues to build and improve the side with every passing fixture and I for one would not doubt his ability to pull it all together for the big show next summer.

Still I can’t seem to shake that though in the back of my mind that takes the form of a penalty shootout that prematurely ends what could be a year to remember for English football.

‘If in doubt, get it out!’ It’s a cry heard from many a parent and even coaches every weekend around the country at junior football games.

It’s a cry that can sum up in a nutshell the attitude English football has carried for many years. And looking at some of England’s attempts to win major championships since 1966, it’s a slogan that the national team should have had stitched to their shirts at times.

Especially in recent times with both Sven-Göran Eriksson and Steve McClaren’s sides having the habit when under pressure, of aimless punts up field presenting the ball to an opposition more than willing to punish them. The punishing usually a lesson in how by keeping the football you can effectively dominate the game.

In the 5-1 Wembley demolishing of Croatia and the one hundred percent breeze through World Cup Qualification Fabio Capello’s team have handed the type of footballing lesson to teams that England have been on the receiving end of in the not too distant past.

Although these are promising signs, scratch beneath the surface of the first team squad, and there isn’t a large amount of established technically proficient attacking players waiting in the wings in case of injury. And don’t forget there is still the chance for England to revert to type when the pressure is truly on in South Africa, and come back full circle to “If in doubt, get it out.”

There are other reasons to be positive, and they come from the unlikeliest of sources. While training with the England team at Arsenal’s Colney training ground, he said Arsenal had set “a very important example for the other English academies.” Concluding that the future of English football is in good hands.

The same Arsenal hands that fielded a 16-man squad without an English player in 2005. The hands belonging to the long time enemy of English footballers Arsene Wenger, who has received criticism for not giving British players a chance from numerous sources, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Trevor Brooking and memorably from Alan Pardew accusing Arsenal of “losing the soul of British football.”

Yet the evidence coming from the Arsenal academy seems contrary to Pardew’s statement. Kieran Gibbs holding the Gaël Clichy’s left back position at the end of last season, even being trusted in hugely important Champions League quarter and semi-finals. Henri Lansbury, at loan on Watford, who has captained the England under 19 outfit. And Jack Wilshere who burst onto the scene at the tender age of 16 during Arsenal’s six-goal massacre of Sheffield United in the League cup last season. Wilshere has been widely tipped for a surprise call up to Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

While these three are the headlines, there is also Gavin Hoyte, Jay Simpson and Mark Randall looking extremely promising. The Arsenal 2009 F.A Youth Cup winning squad contained 12 out of 16 English players. Suddenly Arsenal could have a golden generation of English talent.

Liam Brady, Head of Youth Development at Arsenal, knows that this is not due to chance. “I would say this is probably the healthiest state the Academy has been in since I’ve been here.” This is the same Liam Brady who in 2000 launched a scathing attack on the standard of young English footballers, saying “You can’t blame Arsene or any other manager for bringing foreign players in.” So what has changed?

“I think that’s because we are starting to see the first generation of players who have come all the way through the age groups at Hale End. Boys like Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Henri Lansbury, Jack Wilshere, Emmanuel Frimpong and Sanchez Watt have all attained England schoolboy recognition and they have been with us since they were nine and ten.”

Maybe through hard work, organisation and good coaching Arsenal have removed the “If in doubt, kick it out” mentality from English footballers. By following a more continental approach to teaching young footballers England may finally have a conveyor belt of footballers both technically perfect, equally able to control a game by passing a team out of it and to play the ‘English’ high tempo, athletic game. Now wouldn’t that be an exciting thought?

So can Arsene Wenger be the saviour of English football? He seems to think so, “I know how much the English national team means here to people. To contribute to that would be a big pride as well.”

England qualifications are not used to happen this way. Where was the last-gasp heroic goal, the nervous, stuttering qualification that went down to the wire, the sharpening of knives for the manager? Where was the unconvincing qualification, overlooked as assorted players and journalists chest-thumped that, having qualified, England could go onto win it, fooling nobody in the process?

Slaven Bilic wasn’t wrong in some respects when he said England have lost their ‘Englishness’. On the field, the Three Lions came out the blocks flying and never let up. If this were a race, England would be Usain Bolt such was their dominance against Croatia.

Yet manager Fabio Capello hasn’t exactly been talking up his team’s chances just yet, and is probably right not to do so. England go into the World Cup in great form, but there’s still plenty of obstacles in their path to potential glory.

The hand of Fab

Not that you’d know it from qualification. Even if there have been a few unconvincing performances, such as Andorra and the first 45 minutes against Kazakhstan, England have done what was required of them with ease, with Wednesday night the peak, so far, of the transformation of a battered and bruised team who couldn’t each Euro 2008.

Croatia, for all their ineptitude against England, are still not a bad side, even if they’re not quite at the same level as the generation of Suker, Prosinecki et al. But England were unrecognisable from their last meeting at Wembley.

Every ball mattered, every attack seemed capable of producing a goal. There was an enviable mixture of steel and flair and, quite simply, many England players turned in some of their best ever performances in a national shirt.

At the heart of all this stands the influence of Capello, a man who still raged on the touchline when Croatia pulled back to 4-1. Don Fabio is not a man who tolerates lapses, no matter how far in front his team is.

A lesser manager may have bowed to public opinion by giving Jermaine Defoe a start, but Capello persists with the unfashionable Emile Heskey, who is a vital cog to the way England play. Few will bet against the Italian leading England to South Africa after a flawless qualification (there are still games against Ukraine and Belarus to come).

But even while the country celebrates, and tabloids find themselves in the unusual position of showering praise upon the current incumbent, Capello will know the job has only just begun. England can tentatively describe themselves as world class now, even if they are far from being the best in the world.

The contenders

The team that lined up for the 2-0 loss against Spain in February may be somewhat different from the one that took to the field at Wembley, but the European Champions still laid down a marker that night, reaffirming that they are the team to beat in Europe.

Like England, Spain have coasted through their qualification group, their heart composed of Barcelona’s finest who conquered all this season in Europe. Add the likes of Torres, David Silva, David Villa, and Xabi Alonso to Iniesta and Xavi and you have a mouthwatering selection of talents that work well as a team.

Currently Spain should be considered joint favourites, along with Brazil, who look ominously good. It is not inconceivable that England may have to defeat one, or even both teams, if they are to win the World Cup.

For a team that has built itself on the myth of samba football, Brazil are set up to win games, something they do very efficiently. Dunga may not be a popular coach with the Brazilian public, but he gets results.

While Spain are all about passing, movement and generally beguiling opponents, Brazil are built on a ruthlessly efficient counter attacking model. Quite simply, the South Americans can comfortably soak up pressure before breaking with speed and efficiency and giving lesser sides little chance. It is a team built in the model of the playing style of their coach.

Behind Brazil and Spain come familiar faces as the rest of the world jostles for the ‘best of the rest’ title. Holland have walked through their group, although will always be fighting themselves as much as the opposition.

The others

Then you have Italy and Germany, neither of whom are yet through to South Africa and neither of whom have impressed. But qualification form counts for little in the tournaments and somehow you always see these names towards the latter end of the tournament. It would seem strange to even mention Italy given their current state, but they can never be discounted.

From CONACAF, the USA have shown in the Confederations Cup that they will be no pushovers, while Mexico are resurgent following their discarding of Sven, while any of the teams in the South American group will fancy their chances of an upset.

And England would be right to be cautious of a selection of African teams, should they qualify. Cameroon have started to look like a very decent side under Paul Le Guen, while the Ivory Coast contains world class players like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. Both teams may quietly fancy their chances of a good run in the competition.

But South Africa is still a whole season away and much can happen in this time period. England wouldn’t be England without an injury scare and it would only take one of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard or John Terry to drop out and the squad takes on a very different look.

There is also the danger of complacency, although this is something Capello is unlikely to stand for. Nonetheless, forthcoming fixtures against Ukraine and Belarus will come as something of an anti-climax and anything less than convincing wins could attract criticism.

But there’s something different about this England team – the players look like they believe they can win every game. Capello will need to draw every ounce of this mental strength if England are to succeed in a competition where there will be no easy games.

The Three Lions may not yet be the best in the world, and still have work to do if they want to be considered as such, but they are also in the best shape since 1966 to make a stint at taking the famous trophy back to these shores.

On episode nine of the Soccerlens Podcast, Stephen Darwin is joined by FourFourTwo’s man in Madrid, Tim Stannard, to talk about Spanish football and La Liga.

The show will be looking specifically at Valencia and their financial woes, Tim rips into Chelsea and their negative tactics at the Nou Camp and of course there’s just the small matter of El Clasico to deal with too.

Among the points of discussion raised with Tim Stannard were:

• The UEFA Champions League semi-final ties
• Sevilla,Valencia and Villarreal, the race for third place
• Barcelona’s quest for the treble
• Transfer speculation aplenty
• El Clasico and the title race
• Plus more on top of that!

Show Details
Date: Friday 1st May 2009
Host: Stephen Darwin
Co-Host: Tim Stannard

You can listen to the show below:
Download link (mp3, 29mb, 32 mins)

Subscribe to the Soccerlens Podcast

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Remember to leave your feedback on the show in the comments section underneath this post or alternatively e-mail the show at: podcast@soccerlens.com. If you want to make your views heard on the podcast, make sure you email us at the above email address.

England are in pole position to qualify from Group Six for the 2010 World Cup and they’ll move one step closer to that target when they beat Ukraine at Wembley on Wednesday, April 1st 2009.

A win in this fixture will give England 5 wins out of 5, and with tricky away ties to Croatia and Belarus already negotiated safely, the away game to Ukraine in October will probably come at a time when England have already qualified for the World Cup.

Before the Ukraine game, England face Slovakia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday 28 March.

The squad picked for these two games includes Ben Foster, who Capello wants to take a closer look at in training before possibly giving him a role in the friendly, Leighton Baines as backup to A. Cole, Ledley King who will probably only play the friendly if at all, Aaron Lennon who should get a look-in at the friendly and Carlton Cole, who’s there because Capello doesn’t trust Michael Owen, because Ashton is injured and because England really, really lack in good strikers.

Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor are missing, presumably because a) Capello’s had his ‘look’ at them or b) Capello thinks they need more maturity and experience or c) Capello thinks they’re rattled and need a break. I’m going with A and B. Micah Richards is missing as well, presumably for the same two reasons. I still think these three will go to South Africa over people like Upson and Cole, plus there’s Walcott waiting in the U-21s as well.

England Squad

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Ben Foster (Manchester United)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Beckham (AC Milan), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Steven Gerrad (Liverpool).

Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

England’s 2010 World Cup Qualifying Fixtures.

Air Beckham landed yesterday in Milan.

The move has been criticised by some who see it as a ‘glamour’ signing for Milan and a ‘fashion capital’ move for the Beckhams, but Beckham has always had his critics on and off the pitch, it’s the price that comes with being the most famous footballer on the planet despite not being anywhere near the most skilled or most decorated of footballers.

With due respect to his teammates, the spotlight will be squarely on David Beckham for the duration of his stay at Milan. he was presented to the public during a press conference with AC Milan VP Adriano Galliani at his side, here are a few quotes:

“Se poi Beckham volesse tornare o rimanere sa che il Milan è a sua disposizione”. Adriano Galliani, VP of AC Milan.

“Buonasera, è quello che conosco d’italiano” dice. “Grazie di cuore. Amo ‘la’ Italia sono felice”. “Forse è meglio passare all’inglese”. “Si, sono davvero felice di essere qui a Milano. E’ un onore per me. Questo è un momento fortunato della mia carriera. E’ un piacere, io con il club più titolato al mondo. Sono sicuro che lavorerò duro ma mi divertirò”.

David non è pentito di essere andato negli Usa. “E’ stata una decisione importante, un passo della mia carriera. Qualcuno mi ha criticato, ma per me è stata una scelta giusta, una sfida. Mi piace giocare in diverse parti del mondo. E questa è un’altra opportunità  che ho colto al volo”.

“Voglio dare una mano al Milan. Cercherò di essere il miglior professionista possibile. Voglio aiutare la squadra e fare il mio lavoro con Kakà , Maldini e Ronaldinho, persone di grande livello che ho sempre ammirato. Devo entrare nella pelle della squadra, conoscerla: farne parte”.

David ha superato le visite mediche senza problemi; condizioni fisiche perfette, medici sbalorditi. E’ lui il primo a sottolinearlo. Poi parla di Fabio Capello: “Lo rispetto; quando ho deciso di fare questa mossa gli ho chiesto un parere. Lui mi ha consigliato una squadra forte, ad alto livello. Ed eccomi qui nel club dove tutto è storia. So bene che Capello per convocarmi ha bisogno di vedermi giocare. E’ giusto, è il dovere di un manager e io sono venuto qui per questo, per dare il meglio”.

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 20 December 2008.

“If Beckham wants to return or remain he knows that Milan is at his disposal.” Adriano Galliani, VP of AC Milan.

“Good evening is all that I know in Italian”, he said. “Thank you from the heart. I love Italy and am happy. Perhaps it is better to switch to English. I am truly happy to be here in Milan. It’s an honor for me. This is a fortunate moment in my career. It is a pleasure, me with the club with the most silverware in the world. I am certain that I will work hard but it will be entertaining.”

David is content with his move to the MLS.

“It has been an important decision, a step in my career. Some have criticized me, but for me it has been the right choice, a challenge. I like to play in different parts of the world. And this is another opportunity that I took on the volley.”

“I want to give a hand to Milan. I will look to be the most professional as possible. I want to help the team and work with Kakà , Maldini, and Ronaldinho, persons at a great level that I have always admired. I need to enter into the skin of the team, to become acquainted, to become part of it.”

David passed the medicals without any problems. Perfect physical condition, doctors were in awe, and he was the first to underline it. Then he spoke of Fabio Capello.

“I respect him: when I decided to make this move, I asked for his advice. He advised me that it was a strong team at a high level. And here I am at a club where everything is history. I know very well that in order for Capello to select me he has to see me playing. It is proper, it is the right of the manager and I came here for this reason, to give my best.”

Italian translation by Steve Amoia.

Steve Amoia writes the World Football Commentaries blog. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio, Football Media, Keeper Skool, and Soccerlens.

While football success and failure is usually measured season to season, from August to May, the end of an year gives an opportunity to look back on the calender twelve months and see who we think has been worthy of appearing in this column.

Here’s a look at the teams and people who deserve to be nominated as the best performers of 2008. See our list and then suggest your own ‘winners of 2008′ at the end.

CRISTIANO RONALDO

This man has to be the biggest winner of 2008. Nobody else comes close really. Let’s look at what he has won during the year.

• Premier League winners medal
• Champions League winners medal
• FIFPro world player of the year
• Ballon d’Or
• European golden shoe
• UEFA Club forward of the year
• UEFA Club footballer of the year
• PFA Players player of the year
• PFA Fans player of the year
• PFA Premier League team of the year
• Football writers footballer of the year
• Barclays player of the season
• Barclays golden boot
• Barclays merit award

I don’t think I have to say anything else do I?

BARCELONA

A third place finish some eighteen points behind Real Madrid, coupled with a disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United added up to a hugely poor 2007-08 season for Barcelona. It meant the end of Frank Rijkaard’s reign and a new beginning for the Club with the likes of Ronaldinho moving on.

Many people were surprised by the appointment of Reserve team manager and former playing legend Pep Guardiola and early results and performances seemed to support that surprise. However six victories of five or more goals and some quite wonderful performances from the team seem to have established Guardiola as a managerial hero as well.

In Europe, the qualifying round proved a formality and the fact that they topped their qualifying group undefeated seemed to go unnoticed in England as we all talk about which one of our four teams is going to win the tournament this year!

The year has got a whole lot better at the Camp Nou and I have a feeling that 2009 might be even better.

LIONEL MESSI

If this little genius had been fit for the whole of the year there is no doubt that he would have gone toe-to-toe with Cristiano Ronaldo in the player of the season awards.

Not since the great Diego Maradona have I seen a player who glides with the ball so effortlessly and terrorises defenders quite so much. He might not have won quite as much as Ronaldo but to be runner up in the Ballon d’Or, picked in the FIFPro world XI and win an olympic goal medal isn’t bad!

All he achieved was despite picking up an injury ruling him out of some of the season at a crucial time.

Both Pele and Maradona himself have said that Messi may be the best in the world. Recommendations don’t come much more highly than that. If they think he’s good then that’ll do for me!

FABIO CAPELLO

Don Fabio has achieved what was believed to be the almost impossible. He has turned England’s band of overpaid no-hopers into a band of overpaid some-hopers!

The side that looked so disjointed and dispirited under that buffoon Steve McClaren suddenly look like a disciplined and reasonably talented football team.

The 4-1 win in Croatia together with comfortable wins over Belarus and Kazakhstan have made him a national hero already. OK, it isn’t quite the same as beating Italy, Brazil and Spain but it’s a start!

The fact that he calls the England players by their surnames and demands that mobile phones are not used and demands that the players eat together and, best of all, has put a ban on the WAGS, all go towards making Capello one of my favourite people.

Obviously, should we not win the World Cup I will join the English press in absolutely destroying the man and saying that I knew all along that he wasn’t the man for the job!

TSG HOFFENHEIM

It is difficult to know where to start with superlatives about what this German club have achieved. The club was only formed in 1945 and up until the 1990s they were an amateur side playing in the eighth tier of German football.

By 1996 they had progressed to the fifth tier and then in 2000 another promotion followed. Remarkably the club stayed in the fourth division for just one season and the 2001-02 season saw them competing in division three.

The club made it’s very first appearance in the German Cup as recently as 2003. That gives an idea of just how meteoric their rise has been. The 2006-07 season saw the dream almost complete when promotion was earned to 2 Bundesliga but their promotion to the Bundesliga in their first season at that level surprised even themselves.

From Amateur to Bundesliga in fifteen years. From fifth tier to top tier in eight years. They would be bound to struggle wouldn’t they? Not a bit of it. They are battling away at the top of the table with European football within touching distance.

If Hollywood produced a film about the club, nobody would believe that it was realistic!

Well-deserved honourable mentions:

Manchester City deserve a mention because how can any club that comes into a five hundred billion pound fortune be described as anything other than winners?

Sir Alex Ferguson deserves a mention because the grumpy old git has done it again. After being written off by many, he has created an all new Manchester United team that has emulated their 1999 predecessors by winning the Premier League and the Champions League.

Hull City deserve a mention like Hoffenheim. They have started their first ever season in the Premier League with a style and success that few could have predicted. Their rise hasn’t been quite as spectacular as that of the German side but eight years ago, Hull were in the fourth tier of English football and very close to going out of business.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year and I hope it fulfills all your footballing dreams and ambitions.

Who do you think the biggest winners of 2008 have been?

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  We have a lot of juicy bits to get to, including an unlikely career resurrection,  an even more unlikely spending spree, and a family reunion you thought you would see when Hell froze over.

Arsenal to Go on Spending Spree?

The idea of Arsene Wenger spending big is about as foreign a concept to English football as one of the Big Four getting relegated. However, it looks like Arsenal’s board have authorized Wenger to throw some money around in January and reinforce the club.

Analysis: Wenger is stubborn and is seemingly determined to prove that his approach can work. He may bring in some quality players to complement his existing squad, as well as one or two high profile players if he needs to replace Gallas, Bendtner, and Eboue. I wouldn’t expect him to go crazy like Manchester City, though.

The Neville Brothers Reunite?

No, not those Neville Brothers. Could Gary be joining his brother, Phil, at Everton? That’s what the News of the World would have us believe. David Moyes could make a shock bid for the United skipper, who seems to have lost his place and is out of contract after the season.

Analysis: If you can’t trust the News of the World, then who can you trust? Seriously, though, the fact that Gary is now, more or less, backing up an 18-year old kid, and has been benched for most of the big matches speaks volumes. It’s also telling that, in the last week, Manchester United extended Van der Sar and Evans, but not Neville. Gary could very well retire rather than leave Old Trafford, but if he thinks he can still play, then there are clubs out there that would go for him. Even Everton… “Gary Neville is a Blue, is a Blue, is a Blue! Gary Neville is a Blue! He hates, uh, us?”

Solution to Tottenham’s Keeper Woes is – Gomes?

After a dominant performance against Manchester United on Saturday, Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes may have saved his job.

Analysis: Spurs have been linked to almost every single available and semi-available goalkeeper out there, other than Buffon. Gomes certainly looked good yesterday, and if he can keep this up, then the Spurs can throw their money around elsewhere.

Spurs Weigh £4m Bid for Owen

Spurs may be throwing their hat into the Michael Owen Sweepstakes lining up a bid of £4 million for the Newcastle striker. Everton still remains interested in the former England international.

Analysis: Owen (who turns 29 today – man, I feel old), should have his fair share of suitors. I guess it’s nice to be wanted, especially after what Capello did to him.

Chelsea Desperate for Striker

Luis Felipe Scolari has been agitating for another striker for a while now, and he has Wigan’s Emile Heskey, Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones, and Bolton’s Kevin Davies on his wish list. All three figure to cost, at maximum, half as much as last year’s January purchase, Nicholas Anelka.

Analysis: Heskey is in demand these days, so his price could go up. Jones might want out of Sunderland given their current situation. Davies would probably be the cheapest of the three, but does Chelsea really want to reunite Bolton’s strike force from the first half of 2007-2008?

Five goals in three games have announced Wayne Rooney’s return to international prominence. His performance against Belarus last night, and the build-up to it against Croatia and Kazakhstan, indicate that the Manchester United striker is ready to fulfil his potential with England.

His recent performances, particularly an outstanding display against Belarus, are among his best in an England shirt since he burst onto the international scene as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in 2003. He is no longer the impact player who ran rings around Turkey on his first England start or who threatened to single-handedly win Euro 2004 for England before being halted by a foot injury, but he is a more intelligent footballer.

He has probably lost a touch of that teenage energy since those optimistic days of his early England performances, and opposition defences are now acutely aware of the danger he poses. But he now works better as a team player rather than trying to take on the world by himself, and recent performances show that when his confidence is high and he is played in the right position he can still produce magical moments of football.

Rooney himself acknowledges his return to form. He said: “I think it’s probably the best I’ve ever played for England. I’m enjoying my football, getting on the ball and scoring and making goals.”

Fabio Capello and Emile Heskey have to take some of the credit for bringing the best out of Rooney once again. Capello’s decision to omit Michael Owen from recent squads is looking increasingly like a favour to Rooney rather than a slight to Owen. The pair have on occasion played well together – a friendly against Argentina in Switzerland and those Euro 2004 matches spring to mind – but this has not always been the case.

Rooney has been asked to play up-front by himself, which ended in disaster against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup, and with Peter Crouch. The Portsmouth giant may be a big man, but he is not the right sort of big man to bring the best out of Rooney. Crouch is Pele trapped inside a giraffe’s body. He wants to show off his skills and score spectacular goals (or at least attempt to). His aerial ability is not great for someone who is 6ft 7in tall.

Rooney needs to play alongside the stereotypical British centre-forward to be at his best. Someone who will lead the line, be a threat in the air and occupy defenders while he drops deep to work his magic. Rooney and Alan Shearer in his heyday would have been a formidable partnership. In Shearer’s absence, it is Heskey who is best suited to partner Rooney. Capello has not only recognised this, but also decided that it is worth sacrificing another goal-scoring striker in order to bring the best out of Rooney.

On the basis of last night, it is difficult to disagree with him.