That's All Folks

So the dust has settled once again, although this time no smoke to clear from the cigar of a Chelsea manager- see June 1st 2009 for reference. And as last season it was all tied up with a lovely FA Cup win for Chelsea. This time though there is no English representation in the Champions League final so it'll be as far away as June 12th till we see some competitive football with Englishmen involved, can you last?

Reading over June 1st's post I notice that I alluded to Portsmouth possibly having some new money from new investors, oh the ironies of life. In fact I was of course wrong with many of the things I pointed out not even a year ago but then predicting the future has never been a skill of mine.

Back to today though and I must say congratulations to Chelsea, they fully deserve their double this season. Those in the past, not me, who have complained about Chelsea's lack of 'history' must now surely be silenced as their 'history' is now created in the present. Their league triumph was especially special, any team who scores over 100 league goals in a season truly deserves to win the league. It was also good to see a well contested final especially when, judging on the league season just gone, it could easily have been a battering.

Talking of a good old battering it would could not have been a more apt way to decribe the season Pompey and their fans must have been feeling this season, they have been utterly battered from pilar to post. And yet they came within the boot of Petr Cech of finishing the season as FA Cup winners. All this has meant their usually amazing fans have looked even more incredible this season and I for once shall miss them being in the Premierleague next season.

The first time I encountered Portsmouth fans in January 2003 at Old Trafford in an FA Cup third round match the season that they went on to win the Championship in. I was in awe at the size and noise of the crown for a mid-day Saturday afternoon kick off in the FA Cup. I thank them for that experience and honestly hope they some how make it back to the Premierleague in the near future only this time in a much better financial state.

And now it's time for me to wrap up the domestic season with a salute to my none PFA team of the year.

Goalkeeper; Where the PFA opted for Joe Hart, and rightly so, I'm going to go with a 'keeper' who has performed well- as he always does- but even more impressively due to his off field problems. It is Edwin van der Saar, coming back after injury and a serious illness to his wife to be as solid as ever.

Defence; My defence is made up of Leighton Baines, Michael Dawson, Vincent Kompany and Carlos Cuellar. It was a difficult choice and certainly many arguments could be made for the inclusion of player's such as Ledley King and James Collins. Baines has been integral to Everton's resurgence and is most likely to be Ashley Cole's understudy at the World Cup. Dawson has had an excellent season coming off the back of a pretty ordinary one last year, his next 12 months may be even bigger if he gets to pit his skills against the best in the world in South Africa and next seasons Champions League. Kompany moved from centre mid to centre back so effortlessly and nearly helped guide Manchester City into the top four, it was a big move for the Belgian as you can't help but think he'd be out at Eastlands next season if he was still in midfield. Carlos Cuellar was a rock at right back for Aston Villa's incredible defence this season in all three domestic competitions.

Midfield; Florent Malouda, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Pienaar. Malouda has gone from a player with lots of promise who underperformed to a player in his element who helped win a double with some truly inspirational displays. If any player shows the value of rolling back the years it is Paul Scholes, another season where he was written off as being past it turned into another season where United could barely do without him- his goal at Eastlands kept United in the title when all seemed lost, just a shame it was all lost in the end anyway. 22 goals from central midfield is almost all that needs to be said about Frank Lampard and yet he brings so much more than that- pure inspiration and a calm enough head to tell Drogba who's going to be taking the penalties (maybe should have chosen Drogba in the cup final). Pienaar has been linked to Manchester United and Arsenal only a week after the season has finished and based on some of his perfromances it's easy to see why. If Arteta, Jagielka, Fellaini and co had been around all season to help out Pienaar, Liverpool may well have found themselves not even in the Europa League next season.

Attack; "When the ball hits row Zed there's one thing you can bet, it's not Zamora" but the Fulham striker, despite an incredible season- especially in the Europa League- still misses out. Instead I've plumped for the strike force of Fernando Torres and Carlos Tevez. Liverpool have often been referred to as a two man team and yet with Gerrard having such an average season that seemed to become a one man team, which isn't too bad when that man is Fernando Torres, who managed 18 league goals despite all the injuries. Imagine a world where Carlos Tevez still played for United- they'd have become Champions and City may not have even been in the Europa League. Not because City are a one man team but because Tevez can galvinise any side with his juggernaut like energy.

The manager; Roy Hodgson might be a good shout but his LMA award rules him out as far as I'm concerned. Zola could be considered after having to deal with Moron Gold and Moron Sullivan, and he nearly sneaked it after bringing out coffee to the press outside his house last week. Tony Pullis could be an outside bet after being the only manager to improve a promoted teams points tally in their second season. But I'm going with the man who this season had the hardest job in football- Mr. Avram Grant!

So that's it for the domestic season! Dust settled and all! Time to pack your bags and jump on a plane, for South Africa is just around the corner- bloody big corner if you ask me!

Name off the trophy?

So the time for all the talking to stop is here, and at this moment it's time for the Sidler to speak up once again.

Yes ladies and gentleman unsurprisingly the announcement of Fabio Capello's provisional 30 man squad for the upcoming World Cup has shot me right back into action. I mean it's not been that long has it? MARCH 1st?!?!? What the hell have I been doing?

I've no idea really but at least the football's been boring right?

Well with all the boring football it's a good job the World Cup is round the figurative corner and the countdown has now really kicked off with, not only Capello but, all the managers picking their provisional squads.

Perhaps the biggest news comes from Brazil where past World Cup winners Ronaldinho and Adriano are not included, though Dunga has gone straight to naming his 23 so any injuries could mean a last minute place for either of these two. The French have left out Premiership pair Samir Nasri and Patrick Vieira. Argentina have left out Esteban Cambiasso. Italy have left out Francesco Totti as he couldn't quite decide whether or not to come out of international retirement.

And talking of players coming out of retirement brings us right where we want to be, talking about England's squad.

Firstly there is the man who hasn't come out of retirement, Paul Scholes. I for one would have loved to see Scholes wearing an England shirt once again. The ginger maestro's retirement was probably one of the biggest tragedies of the Sven era. And with Gareth Barry's injury potentially keeping him out of the squad Capello's inability to get Scholes out of retirement may be one tragedy that keeps the World Cup trophy out of English hands. After all with no Barry it could be left to Tom Huddelstone to fill in the holding role in midfield and Huddelstone is an average player at best, even if his ability to hit a ball with power is second to very few if any.

Meanwhile Capello was able to get another player to come out of the international wilderness and unlike on his way out Jamie Carragher managed to not get himself on any sport's based radio stations on the way back into the big time. I am, probably unsurprisingly, not a fan of the Liverpool captain and yet I believe he will probably end up in the final 23 and it may well be one of the most astute picks by Fab. The reason is because of Carra's ability to play at either centre back or more importantly at right back.

Other talking points are in goal, despite the fact that there are no surprises. The three expected to go are the three that have gone but it is the fact that we don't yet know the order in which they are regarded and the fact that at least one if not two of them should perhaps not be there. Joe Hart is exempt from my criticism, he is an excellent goalkeeper in brilliant form and should be England's number one, the sad truth is he may end up being number 3. My main contention comes with the choice of David 'sideshow bob' James. James is simply not reliable enough a goalkeeper to be in the World Cup squad and he never has been. Sam Allardyce's opinion on why his 'keeper' is not going to the World Cup might be wide of the mark but you'd struggle to argue that he shouldn't be in the squad based on his previous experience and form this season.

Upfront the Premierleague's 3rd top goal scorer, Darren Bent, has managed to force his way into the 30 and yet with Capello likely to only take 4 strikers, along with Theo Walcott likely to be taken as a midfielder and cover for a striker, it means one of Bent and Heskey will not be going. And one can't help but think that despite his lack of goals, ever, Heskey will be on his way to South Africa.

But this all sounds far too negative from a man so upbeat on England's chances. So has the squad announcement on top of possible injuries to Terry and Barry and the news of Capello's now defunct ridiculous website dampened my spirit? HELL NO!

Now is the time, more than ever to believe and really get behind the men who will wear the three lions in just a few weeks. Forget my personal bias or club bias this is a squad capable of winning the world cup, heck any side with Messers Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, Terry, Ferdinand and A Cole has a great chance.

Win or lose it's time to use the next few weeks to get ready for what will no doubt be a thrilling rollercoaster of a ride. After all only 24 hours after the announcement former captain John Terry looked like he might be ruled out with a broken metertarsal and that's after only 24 hours. It's going to be an exciting time. Can England win the World Cup? As the advert says, "Maybe! Just Maybe"!