Un-fancied newly promoted side beat Champions, failing Arsenal batter Everton, ball nestles in the bottom corner of the net but the goals not given, a team winning 7-1 lose their manager to the side they beat, forgotten England man scores twice against Holland and then a hat-trick against Hull, Birmingham and Portsmouth nearly under new ownership, cracking goals from Rodallega and Assou-Ekotto to name but two, a League Cup draw that sees West Ham play Millwall in the next round- My how I wish the football season would get exciting sometime soon, there's just nothing going on at the moment!
The list above provides many talking points that I could dig into- Who United need? Why Arsenal still need to buy or Why Everton should sell Lescott? Is goal-line technology needed? Why would you move to Norwich? Can any one save Portsmouth? Will anyone survive Milwall vs West Ham! But it is the man who has scored 5 times in 3 games so far this season that intrigues me most. Enter Jermaine!
Some weeks ago now I blogged about the England team and it's need for a hero, one willing to put his body on the line, it was slightly tongue in cheek, I would never hope to have an England hero only on the basis that he's almost constantly injured. But the point remains the same if the 'Golden Generation' are to grab the FIFA World Cup Trophy at their last attempt then they really will need some inspiration from somewhere.
There is obvious choices amongst the pack, I don't need to introduce you to Messers Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Terry, Cole (Joe or Ashley). In fact many of the starting line up already have their place. But now the World Cup is well and truly a squad competition, 11 Lions and 11 kittens will just not do, Mr Capello will be wise to avoid the next Walcott fiasco, sorry Mr Wilshere maybe in 2014.
Before the season started the search for the other 11 lions began in earnest. Of course those all but on the flight wanted to give the newbies something to do, so they purposely went 2-0 down against Netherlands and let Defoe, Cole, Wright-Phillips, Carrick and Milner really work for their seats. And they did! Milner is a player who has done a lot at international level long before making his full debut, after all the man has more U21 caps than any other England player ever. He is also a man whose best position is probably wide right, it's a good job for him England don't have Walcott, Beckham, Wright-Phillips, Lennon who can all play there...oh wait! But in all seriousness Milner is a player who could and should find his way to South Africa as a man who can play anywhere across the midfield and even upfront. Player's with versatility, especially those with the ability to go upfront, are key, especially when you remember the lack of options in that position 3 years ago.
Other than a goalkeeper, it is the striking department that is England's main worry. After Rooney you would find it difficult to find a definate choice to go to Bafana Bafana. We know that Capello likes a tall man for Rooney to play off, and he likes Heskey to be that man, but even the ex Liverpool player is only pencilled in. Heskey's main opposition will come from the ever growing (in stature rather than height) Carlton Cole. Finally Cole is showing the promise that he had all those years ago at Stamford Bridge and if his form for West Ham continues from the back end of last season he may well find himself in the starting line up for the World Cup. Another man looming large though is Darren Bent, just signed for Sunderland, the ex Spurs striker will flourish with regular first team football and could just overtake Crouch and Heskey in England's pecking order, he may have to wait for an injury to get himself in the squad in one of the matches before the squad announcement though.
The position of 'Not Rooney' is perhaps even more interesting. This is of course the man who can come off the bench when Rooney is not playing well or is producing too much red mist, or who perhaps will start if England's talisman is injured. I'll give you the contenders- Gabriel Agbonlahor, Michael Owen, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young. Those are the main one's, and it's slightly depressing reading- don't get me wrong all very talented but not a great list, and here's why. Agbonlahor has done very little, other than looked impressive at times his figures aren't great. We know Capello does not like Owen, this may change during his time with United and you can never count out Owen, but you can't count on him either. Young and Walcott will possibly already be at the World Cup as wingers and of course as I mentioned earlier, the ability to play in many positions is very useful. And so we're left with Defoe- amazingly talented, and a man who will score goals, it is now up to the the ex West Ham striker to play well for Spurs and keep Capello thinking about him. How he wasn't taken to the World Cup three years ago is ridiculous, this time round though, he may end up being the explosive weapon England so desperately need.
And so, 10 months early, here's the England squad of 23 I'd like to see on that plane!
Foster, James, Green
Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Johnson, Bridge, Lescott, Upson
Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Milner, Ashley Young, Walcott, Hargreaves, Carrick
Rooney, Carlton Cole, Bent, Defoe, Owen
If Mr Hargraves would like to get fit and stay fit and Mr Capello would like to read my blog then maybe I'll get my squad... Of course you lot won't agree, so let me know who you'd take!
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