Bridge's Announcement Disguising Deeper Issues

Wayne Bridge’s declaration that he will effectively end his international career may have pulled the personal issue between himself and John Terry to the forefront of our minds again, but in truth its contributed to cover up a greater problem in the selection of England’s world cup squad.

While it seems likely that Stephen Warnock will join Ashley Cole in South Africa instead of Bridge, solutions to other areas of the pitch are more difficult to predict, with some unfilled spots in mid-field leaving some England fans and I’m sure Fabio Capello, scratch their heads.

However the progression of James Milner this season has been nothing short of fabulous.

He’s firmly broken into an Aston Villa side that looked full to the brim with wingers are the signing of Stuart Downing, but Milner hasn’t let the signing of the former Middleborough player trouble him.

His form, and the disappointing showing of some of his rivals for the position mean Milner, for me, is a sure starter for England against USA on 12^th June.

He’s overtaken Theo Walcott for the position, who after his hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb, had all but secured his place at his second World Cup tournament, but his form of late has hardly been encouraging.

When everyone is fit at the Emirates Arsene Wenger uses Walcott sparingly, but that hasn’t been the case this season as injuries throughout the squad had meant his opportunities has been more frequent, but he’s hardly taken advantage of that break.

In some of Arsenal’s bigger games this season, particularly in the recent league encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Walcott has gone missing, and with one league goal to his name this season it’s hardly been the ideal time for his form to drop off.

Some of Walcott’s inept displays might be blamed on tiredness after he was taken to the Under-21’s European Championships last summer, something Wenger was hugely against, but Milner, who captained the side in Sweden, has had no such problems this season.

Fatigue is liable to be a factor, and we can’t expect Milner to continue to produce the form of displays that we’ve been treated to this season all the way till May.

Elsewhere in this troublesome position we have Joe Cole, forever England’s solution to their left-sided problem under Sven Goran Eriksson, but now back in the blue of Chelsea he has failed to break back into the side, and when selected been unable to re-produce any of the magic we once enjoyed.

After such a long rehabilitation, has the World Cup come too soon for Cole? Capello’s squad selection for the friendly against Egypt will tell us all we need to know.

After Cole come Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon, who both, for different reason will do well to make it on the plane for England.

Wright-Philips, by his high standards hasn’t been at the top of his game for Manchester City and has, like he was at Chelsea, been a victim of their embarrassment of riches.

Yes, more often that not he plays, but too inconsistently to gather any momentum in his league form.

As for Aaron Lennon, well lets first not forget that he hasn’t kicked a football in 2010 yet, and as a result will miss out on selection for the friendly against Egypt.

Lennon has had a terrific first half of the season, but it’s painfully obvious that he lacks a final ball and amongst other things he looks short of a trick or two from a standing start, more often than not he needs help from a galloping full back to create space for him.

When I selected my own World Cup squad in October, I omitted both Wright-Phillips and Lennon, and I’ve seen nothing in the previous four months to suggest I should overturn that decision.

I did mention the name of Adam Johnson as the future for England, but that the World Cup had come just too soon for him, and not for the first time I may be wrong.

Although I was disappointed that he left Middleborough for City on deadline day, he’s given himself a chance to prove he belongs at the top level and with a few injuries around, I think he deserves a punt, in this squad at least.

There’s always one player who makes a late break and makes the squad, and now that Milner looks a certainty, Johnson will have his heart set on a World Cup spot.

In addition I also feel there is a spot unfilled for another central mid-field player, and given the way the England team is structured Michael Carrick seems primed for the spot, but Lee Catermole, another who traveled to Sweden last summer must also be considered.

So while fans might be fretting over who will replace Bridge in the squad, England fans might want to turn their attention to England's mid-field dilemma.

Decision Time for Title Rivals

During a week where attention has turned to Jose Mourinho’s clash with Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League, the Blues' title rivals, Manchester United, cut the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just a single point, with a comfortable 3-0 win over a home sick West Ham United.

Just one win on the road all season has contributed to the Hammers plight at the foot of the League and another defeat here came after the side more than held their own in the opening 30 minutes.

Gianfranco Zola’s team secured a vital win over Hull City at the weekend, meaning they could travel to Old Trafford and play an open, expansive game while knowing they had done the hard work at Upton Park last weekend.

As is always the way with visiting teams at Old Trafford, their game is raised to try and keep up with the home team's standards, and as a result many onlookers will admit that if West Ham can replicate the sort of form they showed in the opening half an hour at the Theatre of Dreams, they’ll comfortably retain their Premiership status.

Whereas most of the attention was on Wayne Rooney, whose brace all but put to bed this Premiership encounter before the hour mark, eagle eyed supporters would have acknowledged the defensive pairing at the heart of West ham’s back four.

Despite seeing three goals, and many other chances created against them, both James Tomkins and Matthew Upson can come away from this fixture with their heads held high with both being terrific from start to finish.

With Rio Ferdinand, now looking like a severe doubt for the World Cup this summer after a re-occurrence of a long standing back injury, questions will arise as to his replacement in the team, and with Upson effectively the third choice centre back, this performance shows England fans should have no worries about the ability of the former Arsenal defender.

United fans should however have reservations about the loss of Ferdinand, with the inept displays their second string defender have produced of late.

Jonny Evans was dropped to the bench for this one after being found out badly at the San Siro, the venue of his making as a United defender last season, and at Goodison Park on Saturday.

At the top of the pitch, Carlton Cole looked lively, but again lacked a goal or two to cap off a fine performance, a factor that will see him miss out on selection for England World Cup squad.

The only way the 26-year old might force his way into the squad will be if Rooney endures an injury before the end of the season, a loss neither England nor United can afford.

While Rooney showed that he is potentially the best player on the world right now with two goals and a host of other nimble touches, he further proved how vital he is to the Red Devils chance of securing any one of the three trophies they crave this season.

On this occasion however, others did come to the party, Antonio Valencia, a player crudely dropped in recent week in place of Nani, provided both of Rooney’s goals, Paul Scholes looked at his brilliant best as he continues to benefit from a run in the team and Dimitar Berbatov looked more willing to contribute than he has in recent weeks.

As ever the close season run-in is crucial to the destiny of the Premiership title, as well as the European Cup, and it might be a case that United and Chelsea will have to pick their priority even at this stage of the season.

Chelsea travel to the San Siro to take on Inter Milan tonight, three days before taking on fifth placed Manchester City, who themselves face Stoke City in an FA Cup replay.

Carlo Ancelotti’s love affair with the Champions League, and Roman Abramovich’s infatuation with the competition means it’s possible domestic affairs will have to take a back seat as a challenge for Europe’s premier club competition takes precedence for the Blues.

In addition Sir Alex Ferguson’s obsession with usurping Liverpool as England’s most successful club side will mean surely the Premiership title will become the important entity for the Scot.

I stress this is just a theory, both managers are still winners after all, and neither will relent in their quest for either trophy, but in a modern era where teams play over sixty games a season, is it really possible to fight for trophies on three levels during a single season?

It highlights how great an achievement United’s treble triumph was in 1999, although Barcelona’s own treble last season shows it can be done, albeit with a winter break.

And although his love for the club is still strong, Mourinho will be first in line to attempt to throw a spanner in the works of Chelsea’s own treble ambitions, and as we know he’s never been one to turn down a challenge.

Beckham's Return a Reminder of What Could Have Been

Football fans of my generation will always look at Euro ’96 at being their first football experience.

The image of Alan Shearer’s near-post header against Germany, or Paul Gascoigne’s dazzling volley against Scotland are such distinctive moments of English football history than even the most forgetful among us couldn’t possibly overlook these iconic pictures.

However neither Shearer, nor Gascoigne, were characters that fans of the younger generation could really relate with.

Just 76 days from that infamous semi-final tie with Germany we were introduced to a man whose ability with the ball, as well as his boy band good looks and charismatic personality would capture our hearts in a way no footballer had since the late, great George Best.

David Beckham signed for Manchester United in 1993, and within three years had established himself as the Red Devils’ leading threat on the right hand side of mid-field.

Sir Alex Ferguson had so much faith in the mid-fielder that he sold Russian winger Andrei Kanchelskis to league rivals Everton, to make way for Beckham to have a run in the team during the 1995-96 season and the Scot’s gamble paid off immediately.

It wasn’t until after Euro ’96 though that Beckham came fully into the public spotlight, and a single kick from what was to become an iconic right foot in the closing minutes at Selhurst Park from fully 50 yards saw him etched into football folk law.

The rest as you say is history, and for millions of supporters across the world a new star was born and the eulogies for Beckham haven’t since relented, even as he reaches the twilight of his career.

Too often when players leave football clubs they are forever revered and ridiculed by supporters for being traitors, or being hopeless flops, Beckham however comes into a totally different league.

It’s sometimes very difficult to disagree with Sir Alex Ferguson, yes he may hurl abuse at referee’s like its going out of fashion, or he might make sarcastic quips at journalists because they’ve asked him a awkward question, but his decisions within the walls of Old Trafford have always been in the club’s best interests.

The sale of Beckham, a transfer completed in July 2003, was the one-day I almost fell out of love with football forever, and almost lost faith with our talismanic manager.

Everything that I felt United stood for, honest, hard-working and dam right committed was sold off like it was a bit of unwanted furniture, and all to fuel the ego of a Scotsman whose personally feelings had finally crossed over into his working life.

I never have, and never will forgive Ferguson for selling Beckham; a sale that he knew would impact on the team’s results as United went on to endure three seasons without the League Championship.

It wasn’t that barren run without a title success that hurt me and most of the fans the most, no; it was that a player who loved his club unrelentingly was shipped off without even a consideration, another in a long line of players who were more like commodities than actually people.

I was in-fact was party to the first cracks in the Ferguson-Beckham relationship, when the England International was left out of United’s crucial title decider against Leeds United after choosing to look after his poorly child Brooklyn rather than turn up for a training session.

The decision seemed vindicated at the time, with United stealing a 1-0 win at Elland Road, but you kind of felt that things wouldn’t be the same, it was as if Ferguson was waiting for Beckham to slip up so that he could ever so slowly force him out of Old Trafford.

He of course got his wish via a thrown boot and after lashing out at Beckham preceding a Champions League tie against Real Madrid the penny finally dropped.

On Tuesday evening Beckham will come face-to-face with the man who banished him from the club seven years ago, and despite the way he was treated, watch the 34-year old be the first to shake Ferguson’s hand before kick-off.

That’s something Beckham has always been able to show, a little bit of decorum when pressured the most, something the FA took into account when recruiting him to boost the countries 2018 World Cup bid.

The glory hunting United fans out there will argue Ferguson has vindicated his decision of ridding Beckham from Old Trafford, because of the major success he's provided since he departed.

But part of me will always wonder whether it could have been the other way around, and whether with Beckham at the helm United’s success could have been equally as prolific.

For me, and for many others he was the first footballer, and even when he retires, potentially after this summers World Cup, he will always be close to my heart.

England Save The First Test.

If there’s one thing that England Cricket supporters have come to learn from following their team is that win, lose or draw they’re in for a bumpy ride- and on the final day of the first test at Centurion against South Africa the nations cricketers didn’t upset the form-book.

England eventually fought off a late South Africa resurgence to claim a draw in Pretoria, after seeing six middle order wickets fall for just 46 runs in the final session of the test.

The collapse was sparked by a crazy run-out involving Kevin Pietersen, who was cruising towards his 17^th test century before going for a single that partner Jonathan Trott stood motionless for, resulting in the run-out of the South African born player.

Pietersen and Trott’s 146-run partnership had looked as if it would all but seal England a draw in this opening test, with the duo combining solidity and carefully selective stroke play in their match saving innings.

The dismissal of the two will spark discussion for plenty of reasons, Trott’s because of the marvelous catch that brought the wicket, from AB De Villiers, and Pietersen’s because of the softness of the dismissal.

The hosts had seemingly run out of ideas heading into the final session and Pietersen’s run out gave them the initiative and the belief that they could in-fact go on and win the match.

In predictable fashion, the wicket has become the catalyst for some harsh criticism towards the England batsman with his exuberant batting style resulting in him unnecessarily trying to rotate the strike- with dire consequences.

This comment on the BBC Sport Website reflects the majority of the feeling towards the former England skipper.

"What a shambolic waste from KP. A typically senseless way to give up your wicket when the situation needs the exact opposite. Kevin may be a supreme hitter of a cricket ball, but great batsmen are far more shrewd and tactical than KP seems able."

This is a typical comment from one of the many fickle sporting fans this nation accommodates and is something better left for a rant on Radio 5 Live’s 606, or one of Talksport’s numerous discussion forums.

Pietersen’s contribution to England’s cricketing success, however limited it may have been during the last four years, can mainly be attributed to his quality with the bat and his unique match winning ability.

The odd mistake from him should not be scrutinized to the extent that he’s been made the scapegoat for England’s batting collapse.

I did mention his dismissal opened the floodgates for England’s collapse but it didn’t mean England’s batsman were suddenly obligated to give their wickets away, five wickets fell after his remember.

The circumstances surrounding the collapse did highlight how much work England have to do if they are to turn there fortunes around after a match in which they never had control of their own destiny.

From the instant Andrew Strauss sent South Africa into bat on the first morning of the test, England shattered any chance of drawing first blood in this test, and they failed from then on to wrestle the onue away from Graeme Smith’s side throughout the five rain-free days in Pretoria.

The fact that we saw five full days of cricket and the team batting fourth was still over 100 runs from parity proves how flat and lifeless the Centurion pitch was.

We’re expecting a bit more grass on the pitch for the Boxing Day test at Durban, and both teams’ selection policy is sure to different from this opening test for contrasting reasons.

The hosts have the luxury of being able to welcome back Dale Steyn into their bowling attack, and with Jacques Kallis also set to be able to bowl at 100% Smith can be confident ahead of the second test.

England on the other hand have to decide the worth of playing a sixth batsman, and whether they are willing to put any faith in Matt Prior batting higher up the order.

The hosts showed a depth and quality in their bowling attack that England couldn’t match, so a natural all-rounder, either Luke Wright or Liam Plunkett will have to be brought in to even up the England attack.

Frankly I’d be tempted to go with Ryan Sidebottom as the fifth bowler, given that both Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann make up for there not being an out and out all-rounder.

The selectors are however uneasy with the idea of Broad batting at No. 7, and therefore I expect to see Liam Plunkett given a chance to make his first test appearance since 2007.

Elsewhere in the team I’m worried about the form of Alastair Cook, who after averaging just 24.22 during the Ashes series made pitiful scores of 15 and 12 in this test and it highlights an area of concern in the England team- but one that won’t be delved into in the middle of a test series.

My final point surrounds the thrilling ending we saw to this test, and it was true testament that only test cricket could have seen an ending as exciting as what we saw today.

Even it’s biggest detractors, such as West Indies captain Chris Gayle for example couldn’t have argued that today’s climax to the game wasn’t electrifying, and rarely in other forms of the game could a game swing with such vigor as it did in the final session of the test match.

James Anderson’s tweet sums up the feeling behind test cricket, and Gayle apart, most of the players seem to be huge fans of the notion.

JimmyAnderson9: We are single handedly trying to keep test cricket alive!

Let’s hope for the future of the form of the game that he’s not the only one, otherwise we’ll be seeing decreasingly less of the types of finishes that we saw unfold this weekend.

British Swimming Set for Duel in the Pool

Great Britain’s everlasting memories from last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, excluding our cyclists, was of our swimming team who while in the Water Cube in Beijing won six medals, which included two gold’s for Rebecca Adlington.

Seven further medals were picked up at the world championships in Rome earlier this year with Liam Tancock and Gemma Spofforth this time the heroes.

For the years climax to the swimming calendar a concept called ‘Duel in the Pool’ something largely only used in America, has been revamped to incorporate more countries to create a Europe vs. America a model based on Golf’s own Ryder Cup.

A team from Great Britain will be joined by their German and Italian counterparts as they take on the might of the USA, which will of course include Michael Phelps.

The USA have consistently held the upper hand at previous world championships, Olympic games and earlier Duel in the Pool competitions, but never have they had to face three countries at once.

A points system has be introduced to score each of the top three finishers in each race, with five points available for first place, three for second and one for third.

The event is to take place in Manchester over this weekend and is sure to further boost the profile and awareness of British swimming in this country and beyond.

The biggest draw of the weekend is sure to be the American Phelps whose seen controversy and loss of form trouble him since his Olympic heroics, and during his first trip to the UK he’ll be looking to make up for those mishaps

Whether the same ability to become a team player will occur like it does for Tiger Woods in Ryder Cups is difficult to say, but either way he’s sure to be a big draw for the crowd and the other competitors.

Phelps will be unable to compete in more than six events over the two days, but expect him to dominate the events he is involved in.

It will be a chance for Britain’s golden girl Adlington to re-assert herself as the world’s No.1 800m swimmer with Jo Jackson set to miss out, and the double Olympic Champions year has been dominated by her decision not to wear the soon to be prohibited swimming suits.

She was left short at the World Championship failing to pick up a gold medal at the event as Jackson amongst others showed the vast difference between the two suits.

It’s the only sour note on what should be wonderful few days for British swimming, and at the end of the day it’s sure to be the difference between a winning European team, and a loosing one.

The medal table at the Olympic Games and World Championships suggest USA should just sneak the win overall, with the combined medals earned from those events by Italy, Germany and Britain, just short of the Americans.

But in truth the British Swimming Association won’t mind too much if the team come up short, because it’s sure to be days full of showing off the depth of Britain’s swimming talent, and along with the brilliant facilities they have to host the event it can only boost the sports importance.

Solid Kallis Halts England’s Charge

An unbeaten 112 from Jacques Kallis took South Africa to 264 for 4 at the close of play on day one of the first text against England at Centurion.

Early wickets had looked to justify Andrew Strauss’ decision to insert the hosts after winning the toss, with Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Graeme Swann all striking early on to leave South Africa 93 for 3.

But Kallis showed patience that many of the teammates had lacked as he hit his 32^nd test century in the typical unyielding style we’ve come to expect from the all-rounder.

Even with a slight injury- one that will deny him the chance to bowl in the match- he strolled to his century without serious alarm.

England will be encouraged by a terrific early start for their bowlers, the two wickets for spinner Swann who also saw for AB De Villiers, but will worry about little niggles that seems to have eroded some of the confidence from the England seam bowlers.

It did seem like a strange decision however to field just three seam bowlers in the team and then insert Graeme Smith’s side to bat, surely a selection geared towards taking on what was a slow pitch with the bat, rather than the ball.

JP Duminy should be praised for his rearguard performance, as he was able to rotate the strike and give Kallis the chance to put England to the sword.

The 34-year old's unnerving ability to keep his nerve at the crease means he’ll be odds on to make his first double hundred in test match cricket.

Yet again the referral system, a system that isn’t favored by the players, was involved in some controversy as England had two successive referrals rejected.

The second of which involved De Villiers, who Swann claimed to have had caught behind, and after the umpire didn’t raise his finger, he referred the decision.

The decision remained however because the television company covering the game don’t have the technology available to confer on caught behind decisions.

Why on earth would you implement the referral system, and then not have the technology to back it up when the players want to use it? You either have it or you don’t.

Yes Swann and keeper Matt Prior will be criticized for asking for the referral despite possessing this information about the abilities of the TV company, but surely this should have been sorted out before the test series begun.

The ICC really has to drop the referral system sooner or later, or put their money where there mouth is and fund this technology, something they’ve failed to do up till now, and that would have prevented a situation like we saw today.

It was the only blip of the day however, one that was dominated by one of the current era’s greatest players. Onlookers will be craving much of the same for the days to come.

Notts County Proving Financial Power Isn’t Always the Best Medicine

It may have only been five months, but Notts County’s ‘five year’ plan, which included promotion to at least The Championship within that time frame, looks like little more than a pipe dream after yet another big name departed the club on Tuesday.

Manager Hans Backe, who had been in charge for just seven weeks, has resigned from his post-just days after the club underwent yet another ownership change.

Munto Finance put the club up for sale last week, with Peter Trembling, a representative of that company, purchasing the club for a nominal fee.

Backe seems to have been unsettled by the constant speculation behind the owner’s intentions and identity and this latest episode, that was cleared up over the weekend seems to have been the last straw for the Swede.

He also has a case for being provided with little or no funds, unlike his predecessor Ian McParland and it was unclear whether he would have any money to spend during the upcoming January transfer window.

County’s second managerial departure of the season will only add to the dressing room unrest and unsettle the fans, who for the most part have been subjected to some hugely entertaining and successful football at Meadow Lane.

This time last season Notts County had just been beaten 2-0 by Chester City, now bottom of the Blue Square Premier and facing a second successive relegation, and were languishing in 16^th after four wins all season.

This season the club find themselves 6^th in League Two just five points off the third automatic promotion place after a near perfect home record this season.

Their single home defeat came last weekend at the hands of Accrington Stanley and proved that the off-the field goings on has maybe affected the players confidence.

Of course the astronomical wages and fees being paid out at the beginning of the season may well have to be toned down, now Munto Finance have sold the club, and that might mean a complete re-structure of the wage system meaning many players will have to either take a pay cut, or leave altogether.

But it’s this sort of conjecture that Magpies fans don’t want and it’s sure to continue until Trembling and director of football Sven Goran Eriksson reveal their intentions.

Whether they have the financial power necessary to keep County challenging in the higher echelons of League Two is again difficult to say but its unlikely they’ll have the same sort of financial power as the previous owners did.

Eriksson’s relation with the club means that high-profile international names are sure to be linked with the vacant managers job, with Roberto Mancini almost certain to be a strong front-runner as he was after McParland’s departure.

I was never a supporter of McParland’s sacking to begin with, yes he wasn’t highly thought of in League Two, and was lucky to retain his job after the clubs takeover, but given that he was allowed a chance to start the clubs meteoric rise and that he faired pretty well, why was he rid of when the club were flourishing?

Since his sacking the club have gone from 5^th, four points off the top, to 6^th, 10 points off the top; where’s the progress there?

What’s more the club have been completely embarrassed by the scenario surrounding Sol Campbell and now this ownership squabble, wasn’t it so much simpler before the takeover?

It brings up the question; does a financial injection create more problems than it’s worth?

QPR for example have had six different managers in the two years following on from the massive money boost at the club, and are as a result no closer to their ultimate dream; promotion to the Premiership.

Portsmouth have had three different owners during their foray into the Premiership, and are becoming unstuck on and off the pitch as a result with administration reportedly looming over the south coast club.

And finally two of English footballs most illustrious clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool have debts topping £600 million between them after respective American takeovers and are finding success on the field an absolute necessity if the clubs are to survive in the short term.

It will surely take the liquidation of one, if not two of the countries best loved clubs for fans and chairman to realise success can’t be pushed- the best things come to those who wait, remember?

Not that its likely, but maybe Trembling and Eriksson will take these wise words into account when deciding what to do next at Notts County, the football leagues oldest ever club don’t deserve such an uncertain future.