Why the 2010 FIFA World Cup shall never be forgotten

 Nelson Mandela, the inspiration behind the 2010 World Cup

Ever since the proud nation of South Africa was pencilled down to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, those sceptics amongst us laid down the gauntlet of doom for a country most famous for the era of apartheid between 1948 and 1994, which saw millions of non-white inhabitants of South Africa curtailed and minority rule by white people maintained. We questioned how a country of such social and economic struggle could possibly host football’s greatest tournament, let alone lay on a spectacle that everybody would want to be a part of. Of course, we underestimated the power of will, and we were ignorant to the passions and desires of the people who make up the beautiful country of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela’s presence as Africa’s most influential individual has provided people with hope, ambition, and pride, not only in terms of sport. ‘Freedom’ was not a word that appeared in the vocabulary of any South African inhabitant during the second half of the 20th century, yet thanks to the work of this incredible figure, the people of South Africa, and the people of Africa as a continent have rediscovered a renewed hope, and a fresh sense of freedom that has provided the backbone to the first ever African World Cup.

Upon visiting South Africa, one thing that you will instantly notice is the contrast between the rich and the poor. If you’re rich in South Africa, you can expect to have a very fulfilling and rewarding life. If you’re rich, you’re very rich. If you’re poor in South Africa, you’re poverty-stricken and any sense of quality of life is completely absent. Shanty Towns can be seen just over the back of many of the World Cup venues, including Cape Town Stadium and Soccer City in Johannesburg. Homeless people roam the streets with regularity and are typically ignored by the better-off locals with chilling normality. It is for this reason that so many of us doubted South Africa’s motives to launch themselves onto the world scene and put their own poverty-ridden country into the shop window for so many of us to see. Couldn’t the money go to a better cause? Why are so many people in desperate need being ignored by the authorities at the expense of building state-of-the-art sports facilities? To what cause will any profit made from the World Cup go towards? These are just some of the questions that have been asked, and if we’re brutally honest, will probably never be answered.

The World Cup took 80 years to reach Africa, and it those questions that also answer why. Africa hasn’t got the financial backup that a continent such as Europe has, although in modern times Europe’s economic progression is being halted at a dangerous velocity. Africa doesn’t have the stadia of an England, or a France, and the development of such facilities just adds more pressure and more money onto the host country’s production team. However, whilst we can spend all day and all night analysing and criticising Africa for what it does not possess, it is the qualities that it’s most southern country does contain that makes it stand out from the crowd.

A lot has been talked of the lack of spirit, desire, and commitment that the England team showed in their latest Group C encounter with Algeria. “The players didn’t want to be there”, “there was no passion, no flair”, and “they are not fit to wear the shirt” will sound extremely familiar to every England fan out in South Africa, and back at home. It has been suggested that it is not part of our culture’s dictum that we should be flamboyant and expressive in the way we go about playing our football, but at an African world cup you can’t help but think that spirit and character are the two things you need most of. There is no doubt that the likes of Ghana and South Africa have those qualities in abundance, and whilst they may not be the most gifted footballers on the globe, they’re attitude towards playing, and their love for their loyal supporters make them more special than any European, South American, or Asian team will ever be.

The word ‘vuvuzela’ has been used on so many occasions in the past few weeks that the customary ‘horn’ has gone out of business. Perhaps it has been overused, both in speech and in practice, but who could possibly complain about something that is so reminiscent, so representative, and so essential to the culture of the people of Africa, as well as inevitably being one of the memories of World Cup 2010?

It can be argued that the same love and joy that the World Cup has brought to Africa was evident in the 2002 tournament hosted by South Korea and Japan, yet I resent that notion entirely. There are distinct differences between East Asia and Africa, both in terms of culture and in social standing. Asia is rapidly becoming the world’s most powerful force, so much so that even the United States of America will potentially to be made to look like your typical sales representative, rather than the billionaire business tycoon it is made out to be today. Whilst the people of East Asia have a unique love and affection for football, it is only unique because it doesn’t come anywhere near to the feeling that the African people hold for Bafana Bafana and sport in their beautiful continent. You only have to look at what football has brought to the youth of Africa to see what a difference the World Cup has made, and will make in the long-term.

The World Cup may well be held in England in 8 years time, and it may well be a superb occasion for the whole world. However, one thing is for certain; No matter where, and no matter who, nowhere and no one will ever be able to match up to the unique and truly spectacular experience that South Africa and its people have provided for the rest of the world.

2010/2011 Premier League fixtures announced

The fixtures for the 2010/2011 Premier League season have been announced this morning much to the excitement and anticipation of football fans all across the country. The main focus of attention was who newly promoted Blackpool would draw in their first Premier League match for 39 years. As it goes, it wasn’t that spectacular, as Wigan Athletic have been drawn as the first side to visit Bloomfield Road, the smallest stadium in the League.

Manchester United open their campaign against Championship winners Newcastle United at Old Trafford, whilst Premier League champions Chelsea take on the 3rd of the promoted teams, West Brom at Stamford Bridge. Wolves and Stoke will battle out the first Midlands derby of the season, whilst Aston Villa host West Ham and Birmingham travel to Sunderland in the other matches involving Midlands clubs.

Europa League finalists Fulham welcome Bolton to Craven Cottage, but doubts still remain over whether Roy Hodgson will be the man to lead them out on August 14th, after reports claimed he is in talks with Liverpool over the hotseat at Anfield. Bolton’s Lancashire rivals Blackburn host Everton on the first day, with the Champions League’s newest team Tottenham Hotspur welcoming Manchester City to White Hart Lane.

The most sumptuous tie of the opening round comes at Anfield, where Liverpool will entertain Arsenal.

Other dates to look out for:
Arsenal v Blackpool – Sat, 21st August
Man City v Liverpool – Sat, 21st August
Man Utd v Liverpool – Sat, 18th August
Chelsea v Blackpool – Sat, 18th August
Man City v Chelsea – Sat, 25th August
Chelsea v Arsenal – Sat, 2nd October
Everton v Liverpool – Sat, 16th October
Man City v Arsenal – Sat, 23rd October
Aston Villa v Birmingham – Sat, 30th October
Liverpool v Chelsea – Sat, 6th November
Man City v Man Utd – Wed, 10th November
Arsenal v Tottenham – Sat, 20th November
Tottenham v Liverpool – Sat, 27th November
Blackpool v Man Utd – Sat, 4th December
Man Utd v Arsenal – Sat, 11th December
Chelsea v Man Utd – Sat, 18th December
Arsenal v Chelsea – Sun, 26th December
Blackpool v Liverpool – Sun, 26th December
Arsenal v Man City – Tue, 4th January
Liverpool v Everton – Sat, 15th January
Tottenham v Man Utd – Sat, 15th January
Birmingham v Aston Villa – Sat, 15th January
Chelsea v Liverpool – Sat, 5th February
Man Utd v Man City – Sat, 12th February
Tottenham v Arsenal – Sat, 26th February
Liverpool v Man Utd – Sat, 5th March
Blackpool v Chelsea – Sat, 5th March
Chelsea v Man City – Sat, 19th March
Liverpool v Man City – Sat, 9th April
Blackpool v Arsenal – Sat, 9th April
Arsenal v Liverpool – Sat, 16th April
Man City v Tottenham – Sat, 16th April
Arsenal v Man Utd – Sat, 30th April
Man Utd v Chelsea – Sat, 7th May
Liverpool v Tottenham – Sat, 14th May
Man Utd v Blackpool – Sun, 22nd May

Liverpool face tough start to new Premier League campaign

Liverpool have drawn the short straw has far as the start of the 2010/11 Premier League season is concerned. Many felt that on the back of such a disastrous season last term, a good start to the new campaign was essential.

Now, that will prove difficult as Liverpool open the new season with a clash with Arsenal at Anfield, before making the trip to Eastlands to take on Roberto Mancini’s title hopefuls Manchester City on August 21st. Following ties against two of the Premier League’s Midlands clubs, West Brom (H) and Birmingham (A), the Reds then return to Manchester to take on Sir Alex Ferguson and his men, the fixture that all Liverpool fans will be looking out for. Keep the date September 18th free in your diary.

The two Merseyside derbys are scheduled for October 16th at Goodison Park and January 15th at Anfield and Liverpool end their season with a tough visit to Aston Villa May 22nd.

England v Algeria: Redemption day

Fabio Capello faces some tough selection issues

The usual questions will be, and have been placed in front of Fabio Capello ahead of England’s crucial Group C encounter with Algeria on Friday night. On the back of the disappointment of England’s performance and result against USA on Saturday, the 3 Lions will have to put in a shift worthy of progression to the last 16 of the World Cup.

Robert Green’s embarrassing howler in Rustenburg has somewhat masked what we all know was a below-par performance from Capello’s men, but his place as England’s no.1 goalkeeper is still very much undecided. Capello himself has admitted that he is unsure whether to keep faith in the West Ham man or to replace him with David James or Joe Hart, who have both been impressing in training. The only doubt over either of those two is David James’ fitness, as the Portsmouth custodian has been struggling with a knee injury since arriving at England’s training base.

One can’t criticise Capello for being unsure about who his goalkeeper will be in Cape Town on Friday. The emission of Green could ultimately spell the end of his entire England career, and who knows what it will do for his confidence. England captain Steven Gerrard has stuck by Green, saying that “everybody makes mistakes” and it is “just one of those things”. But you cannot deny that error, that came to prove so costly for England, is still playing on the mind of Green.

The obvious selection, for me, would be Joe Hart. The Manchester City ‘keeper spent the entirety of last season on loan at Birmingham City, and proved himself to be England’s brightest young goalkeeping hope. Therefore, if you’re confident and bold enough to make him a part of your squad, why not make the most of his talents? His form is superb, his confidence is sky-high, and his temperament is second to none.

David James’ experience is the one thing that may thrust him into the Cape Town limelight in 2 days time, and whilst the nickname ‘calamity James’ tells you everything about his tendency to let the odd clanger slip out of his grasp, his attitude and mindset going into such a big game may prove vital.

As the goalkeeping quandary keeps one half of Fabio Capello’s brain busy, you have to feel that England’s formation is weighing on the other. 4-4-2 clearly didn’t work against the USA, as England were often outnumbered in the midfield and the wide players had little effect. Capello has confirmed that Manchester City anchor man Gareth Barry will definitely start against Algeria on Friday, and that leads me to believe that he could go one of two ways. 4-1-4-1 is certainly an option that the Italian will consider. Barry’s presence in front of the back 4 will add extra protection and meat to the midfield, whilst it would mean that Steven Gerrard could continue in his favoured, and best position, through the centre. James Milner looks unlikely to make his 2nd start of the competition, with the obvious replacement being Joe Cole, who’s exclusion from the side for the USA game left everybody flummoxed.

The 2nd potential formation for Capello to use is the 4-4-1-1. Unfortunately, this would mean that Gerrard would be pushed out to the left side of midfield, a position that doesn’t bring out the best in the Liverpool skipper, and certainly doesn’t benefit England to any extent. Frank Lampard’s form warrants a place on the substitutes bench, but we all know that is as likely as North Korea going on to win the World Cup. It’s seems his reputation goes before him when it comes to his England selection.

Finally, Wayne Rooney’s role in the team, no matter what formation Capello adopts on Friday, is crucial to the way England play. We saw against USA that he likes to drop deep to receive the ball and dictate the play. In a 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-1-1 it is important that Rooney doesn’t leave his strike partner (likely to be Emile Heskey again) isolated. Heskey’s job as a target man was effective to an extent against the Americans but his task was made all the much harder by the fact that Rooney constantly left him all on his own up front. For England to get the right result, and perhaps more importantly play well, Rooney needs to stay close to Heskey, feed off his strong back-to-goal play, and look to push the team forward from there.

Capello’s job as England manager got a little bit tougher after the USA match, and it’s now up to him to revitalise England and get them playing the way every England fan wants to see.

Chelsea yet to approach Liverpool over Benayoun deal

Despite some reports speculating that a deal for Israel International Yossi Benayoun has been confirmed, Liverpool officials insist that they are yet to receive an approach from Chelsea for the dynamic midfielder.

Those reports, claiming the deal is around the £6m mark, are premature at this stage, but Yossi himself has hinted that he wants to leave Anfield this summer. This comes just a year after Benayoun signed an improved contract with the Merseyside club, although even before the departure of Rafael Benitez, Benayoun has suggested he would be on the move in the summer transfer window.

The 30-year old has been nothing short of a star for the Reds since joining from West Ham United in 2007. But, with Liverpool’s poor performance in the League and Champions League last season, and with their current financial situation the way it is, it’s inevitable that the American owners will have to take the cash on one or two of their big names if any major signings are to be made before the start of the new campaign.

Vuvuzelas cause a rumble

‘A blowing horn of up to approximately 3ft 3in in length, commonly blown at football matches in South Africa’. That is the definition of the vuvuzela (provided by Wikipedia), the instrument that has not only caused a number of spectators to go deaf over the course of the last couple of weeks, but has caused a small rift between the players of the World Cup’s representative nations and the governing body, FIFA.

The vuvuzela is deemed by some players to be far too loud, as they claim that they are unable to communicate with their teammates and their coaches during the matches, to such an extent that the noise made by the traditional African horn is now being used as a common excuse for players who either kick the ball away in anger after the referee has blown his whistle, or for misplaced passes intended for their teammates. Robin van Persie is the latest star to claim that the bee-like noise prevented him from hearing the referee stop play for offside in the Netherland’s Group E opener against Denmark on Monday.

Despite the obvious fact that the vuvuzelas are extremely loud, banning them would be a tragedy on the same scale as the confiscation of all horns during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Just as they are in Africa, the horns were ideal to add to the festival atmosphere in the Caribbean, and is part and parcel of sporting life in that part of the world. The catalyst for such an atmosphere and spirit in Africa is also the use of horns, and other musical instruments, such as drums. The question I’d like to ask is; How many less people would turn out to watch the World Cup games if they were not allowed to create any atmosphere with the use of the vuvuzela?

So far, in the 5 days of tournament that we have watched, the football hasn’t set the world alight. With the exception of Germany and perhaps Argentina, no team has played exhilarating football to the extent that the atmosphere inside the ground has been ferocious anyway. We’ve had a number of extremely dull, and sometimes extremely poor matches, and the grounds haven’t been completely full all of the time. One has to think that the banning of the vuvuzela and other such instruments would hinder the World Cup’s spirit, something that has made the African tournament so special.

The authorities have stated that they will not be banning the vuvuzela, and I firmly hope that they don’t make a u-turn on this decision and potentially ruin one of the most special World Cup tournaments in history.

Hodgson set for talks with Liverpool

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is set to open negotiations with Liverpool officials regarding the top job at the Anfield club. Since Rafael Benitez’s departure from Merseyside, Hodgson has been touted to succeed the Spaniard having led the Cottagers to the Europa League final last season.

However, Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed is prepared to offer Hodgson a lucrative pay rise and a hefty transfer budget to temp the 62-year old to remain at Craven Cottage for the foreseeable future. Despite this, Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow is ready to make his move in a bid to get Liverpool Football Club back on track following a disastrous 2009/10 campaign, both domestically and in Europe.

Hodgson has never ruled out a move to Liverpool, neither has he said he definitely wants to leave his current employers. However, having confessed that a move to a bigger club, or even the England national team would be too good to turn down, it seems probably that Hodgson will make the move north to join Steven Gerrard and friends.

The swoop for Hodgson has ultimately spelled the end of Kenny Dalglish’s ambitious attempt to land the hotseat at Anfield, and even though the Liverpool faithful would be more than happy to see their beloved legend make the step back into management, Hodgson remains the favoured choice amongst supporters.

There is no great hurry for Liverpool to install a new manager, as Rafa’s ex-assistant Sammy Lee has been placed in charge of First Team affairs until a no.1 is named. The Liverpool players are scheduled to be back in training on July 5th, in readiness for their Europe League qualifier later that month. Of course, those players performing at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa may be allowed extra time to recover in time for the new season.

South Africa & Mexico share the spoils in World Cup curtain raiser

Sip Tshabalala celebrates scoring the first goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Whatever your assumption or opinion on Africa’s social and economic status within the world, you cannot deny that they know how to party. Even without the presence of South Africa’s inspirational ex-President Nelson Mandela (his absence was due to the tragic death of his great grand-daughter in a motorway accident on Thursday night), the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg had a typical carnival feel about it, a true representation of the spirit and joy that Africa is so famous for.

As for the football, you couldn’t have wished for a better spectacle to mark the opening of what is sure to be the most special World Cup in its 80-year history. The hosts entered the game on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run, which stretched back to November of last year. In Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, Bafana Bafana have a man who knows how it feels to lift the World Cup trophy, having led his home nation to victory in the 1994 tournament. The message from Parreira; Relax and enjoy the moment.

No matter how wise his words or how calming his presence, South Africa started the Group A match like rabbits in the headlights. Ex-Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos looked to be the most threatening, and any concerns that Parreira was reported to have had over his left-back were duly confirmed. Lucas Thwala looked sickeningly out of his depth, and was ultimately replaced at half-time by the more experienced Tsepo Masilela.

Despite having the best of the opening quarter, Mexico gradually allowed South Africa, led by Portsmouth’s Aaron Mokoena, back into the match, and although chances were few and far between, the threat of national star Steven Pienaar and Kaizer Chiefs’ Siphiwe Tshabalala was becoming more and more prominent. However, you can never let slip against a flair-ridden South American nation, and recently-released West Ham striker Guillermo Franco showed exactly why as he forced a superb one-handed save out of charismatic shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune, after Arsenal’s Carlos Vela had neatly fashioned himself a yard of space. That remained the best chance of the first 45, and both sides went into the interval relatively happy with their first-half work.

The second period started much the same as the first, with both sides reluctant to take any undue risks, or push too many men forward. However, 10 minutes in, a lovely flowing South African move, arguably the best of the match, resulted in Tshabalala finding himself one-on-one with Mexico’s bald-headed custodian Oscar Perez, and in typical emphatic style smashed the ball into the top left corner of Perez’s net, only to set 70,000 Bafana supporters inside the stadium, and millions outside absolutely wild. Cue the dancing.

For a while Mexico seemed shellshocked, either by the unexpected South African counter-attack, or most probably by the eruption of noise primarily made by the traditional vuvuzelas (an African horn). But, as the shock wore off, Mexico slowly but surely got themselves a foothold in the game, and after Giovani brought out another wonderful save from Khune, and Teko Modise had a rather soft penalty appeal turned down, the moment everybody in Africa feared arrived. Substitute Andres Guardado crossed, the South Africa defence pushed out, and Rafael Marquez found himself onside and unmarked at the back post. With the whole world watching on, the Barcelona anchor man pushed the ball past the helpless Khune, and silenced the thousands of Africans who had clamoured to see their heroes in action.

The stuffing had well and truly been knocked out of the spirited hosts, and there seemed no way back. That was until the 91st minute, of course. South African Premier League top-scorer, and Bafana’s talisman, Katlego Mphela, made one last hopeful burst forward with only Francisco Rodriguez to shrug off and Perez to beat. As Soccer City held one last deep breath, Mphela poked the ball past Perez, only for the right-hand post to stand in the way of Mphela’s inevitable glory. The whole nation put hands to head, and that was game over. 6 years of hype and excitement and the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was over in 90 minutes of enthralling football.

As Adrian Chiles quite rightly put it; “63 more of those please boys”.

Inter confirm Benitez as manager

Inter will be expecting silverware next season under new manager Benitez

They say if plan A fails, give plan B a try. In the case of Inter Milan and their president Massimo Moratti, forget plans A, B, and even C. Rafael Benitez, the club’s 4th choice to succeed Jose Mourinho as manager, is expected to confirm his appointment tomorrow morning following his exit from Liverpool just last week.

Ever since the news that Jose Mourinho had practically pre-signed a deal to join Real Madrid as head coach emerged, speculation had been rife that Benitez would become his successor at San Siro, but with names such as Manuel Pellegrini and Fabio Capello also being bandied around, it seemed unlikely that Benitez would be the man to eventually land Milan’s top job. But, against most people’s expectations, he will be named as Inter Milan manager at a press conference in the morning.

Benitez’s troubles throughout the last season at Anfield have been much talked about, and he will be the first man to admit that he underachieved in his time at the club, especially since the 2005 Champions League triumph. a 7th place finish in the Premier League last season was the final straw for the Spaniard and the American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks sought to find a new man to lead the Reds forward. Despite a drought of silverware in the last 3 seasons however, Rafa Benitez will still be held in high regard by the Anfield faithful, and there’s no doubt that it’s the owners and not the manager who have felt the full force of the supporters’ brunt in recent months.

So, the time has come to predict how well, or more importantly, how long Benitez will last at Inter, and as with all great journalists, a chance to criticise a boardroom decision shall not pass me by. Whilst I’m a great fan of Benitez, admittedly I did call for his sacking on a number of occasions last season. Not because I don’t like the man, not because I don’t think he’s up to the task of managing a big club, but because I thought his time had come and gone, and it was a chance for a new, fresh face to come in and shake things up. Now, for me, Inter Milan is not the right club for Benitez to join. Jose Mourinho is ‘The Special One’, for obvious reasons. A domestic double and European glory last campaign was a remarkable achievement, arguably an achievement that no other manager in the world could deliver. The expectations at San Siro are now at an all-time high, and for Benitez to replicate or even get within touching distance of Mourinho’s honours would be a miraculous achievement.

For me, a case of one-season-wonder (one-season-no-wonder may be more of an appropriate name) is probable. A failure to win the Champions League and lets say Italian Cup, even with a Serie ‘A’ title may not be enough to keep Benitez in his job, as is the current footballing climate. The European Cup is more valuable and more financially lucrative to clubs these days, and as we’ve seen at Real Madrid, failure in that competition effectively leads to the removal of the boss. I believe that Benitez should have taken a bit of time out of the game, assessed his options and moved to a club with expectations and ambitions that he could realistically deliver. Unfortunately, I do not think Rafa can deliver the goods at Inter, and I’m certain that he’ll be finding himself a new club come this time next year.

I hope I’m wrong as I’d love to see Rafa succeed in management wherever he goes, but I just don’t see it. I wonder what Inter Milan fans think about their new gaffer?

Ferdinand injury paves the way for true heroes to show their colours

Gazza crying at Italia ’90, Beckham’s red card at France ’98, and Rooney stamping on Carvalho’s prized possessions at Germany ’06. It’s moments like these which epitomise the World Cup for England, and are the catalyst for some very painful memories amongst the masses. Rio Ferdinand’s injured knee doesn’t fall into the same category as Gazza’s crying shame, or Beckham and Rooney’s petulant acts of violent conduct, but I get the feeling it’s going to cast a rather dark cloud over England’s 2010 campaign in South Africa and fuel the pessimism amongst many England supporters. Not for me, however. In fact, it has the opposite effect.

Rio is recognised as a senior player in the England squad, and one that Capello would rely upon to lead the side with pride, strength and more importantly an example to follow for the other, less senior players in the 23, both on and off the pitch. That isn’t available anymore, and people will be questioning where that will come from. Well, I can see plenty of players bursting at the seams with determination and inspiration, two qualities that are essential for a successful World Cup campaign.

Now that the captaincy has been handed over to the correct man, Steven Gerrard, we not only have a person capable of invigorating a group of overpaid showmen to perform like they’ve never performed before in an England shirt, we have a footballer who knows what being a captain means. Since he took over the Liverpool armband from Sami Hyypia back in 2003, Gerrard has led the Reds as if he was Regimental Sergeant Major of the British Army. His desire to win and determination to be the man to bring success home makes him the perfect choice to lead England into their 11th World Cup since the 1966 triumph on home soil.

As for Wayne Rooney, he’s a bulldog and a true fighter. He will never give up, no matter what the situation and no matter how poorly the team are performing as a unit and as a group of individuals. He showed signs of that in the turgid friendly victory over Japan, with crunching tackles and a dogged work-rate which delivered him the man-of-the-match award. His goals will be crucial for the team, and his attitude on both sides of the touchline will be priceless. He’s Capello’s prize asset, and one that should be wrapped in cotton wool until the big kick-off in Rustenburg on 12th June.

Rooney has shown on numerous occasions for Manchester United his will and hunger to play football and achieve at the highest level,  and he matches and even lies superior to Gerrard in that respect.

Finally, Joe Cole becomes the 3rd member of a trio that will be so important to England’s World Cup hopes this Summer. He’s been out of action for 90% of the season but has returned, and returned to form at just the right time for Capello and England. He’s a fantastic trickster on the ball, has the ability to beat any defender in the world, has scored more than his fair share of important goals for both Chelsea and the national team, and remains a fans’ favourite. He’s another one, like Rooney and Gerrard, who will give his left leg to win the World Cup and whether it’s Brazil or Honduras standing in their way, 110% is what will be given. Forget Ferdinand, who I don’t think knows the true meaning of being a leader and being an inspiration, and forget Terry who’s shown exactly what kind of man he is in the past 6 or 7 months. The country’s hopes of winning the World Cup rest on the shoulders of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Joe Cole.

Don’t get me wrong, the other 20 players in the squad will play a big role if we were to lift the trophy for the first time in 44 years. It takes a team, a unit, an entity to win such a massive tournament. What I’m saying is, just as Messi, Tevez and Aguero will be a fundamental part of Argentina’s formula, Gerrard, Rooney, and Joe Cole will be the same for England.

So, with Ferdinand out of the World Cup and bemoaning his luck, or lack of, with injuries this season, it brings about the opportunity for someone else to step up and be a hero for their country. A chance to embed their name in the hearts of every single person supporting England forever. Ferdinand’s replacement will be Michael Dawson, arguably Tottenham’s main man in their successful quest for 4th spot in the Premier League. He arrives in Africa with confidence at an all-time high, and the overriding emotion of jubilation evident on his pale, blonde-haired exterior. Whilst it’s probable that Dawson won’t start a single game in SA, Ledley King’s fitness is still under question, and this may leave him in the frame for a call-up alongside Jamie Carragher, who will also act as Glen Johnson’s understudy.

If King is fit enough to participate in the best part of the tournament, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would be the perfect man to do the job alongside Terry at the heart of England’s defence. Carragher would be next in line for me, with Dawson behind him, and Matthew Upson even further down the pecking order. Upson, for me, just doesn’t have it at International level, and I don’t even think he’s done a particularly solid job for West Ham this year. Whilst it’s unfair and irrational to blame one man for a club’s downfall, Upson does make up a very important part of the West Ham side, and some of the blame for their disappointing form this year has to be dealt out to him. However, as Owen Hargreaves showed in Germany 4 years ago, previous form and reputation go out of the window in such a high-pressured environment, and a World Cup may just be the making of Matthew Upson, provided he gets a chance in the limelight.

So, no Ferdinand could be a blessing in disguise in my mind, and as a Liverpool fan and a Gerrard fanatic, the prospect of him leading out England in the World Cup is something I’m very much looking forward to.

Tamim leads Bangla fightback

Tamim Iqbal celebrates a superb hundred 4th day at Lords

So, we're through 4 days of Test Cricket at Lords and whilst England took the honours on the first day, there's no doubt that Bangladesh have overshadowed the hosts on days 2, 3 and 4. Jonathan Trott's 175* lit up the home of Cricket on Thursday, an innings that displayed remarkable resilience and positivity (a word that hasn't often been associated with a Trott innings) before he fell for a first-class best of 226 on Friday morning.

The South African-born Warwickshire batsman has had his doubters over the past 7 or 8 months, stemming from a disappointing tour of his home country after introducing himself to English fans with a match-winning 119 at the Oval against the old enemy. A Test series best of 69 and average of a smidge over 27 didn't do justice to the ability and technique that Trott undoubtedly possesses, and his place as an England 5-day player was under close scrutiny. He didn't fair much better in Bangladesh either, making a turgid, stodgy 64 in the Mirpur Test practically summing up the way he'd been playing. Prodding and nurdling was becoming the accustomed way for Trott, and there didn't seem to be a place in the side for such a player, particularly with Paul Collingwood aka 'brigadier block' in fine form and giving the selectors no reason to replace him. However, as is usually the case with England's selectors, they kept faith in an out-of-form batsman, and on this occasion it paid off.

Trott's 226 was one of the finer Test innings' that Lords had witnessed, and whilst there will always be those people who say 'it was only Bangladesh', the old adage of 'you can only score runs against the bowlers you play against' certainly comes into play here. 20 immaculate boundaries in nearly 6 hours at the crease underlines the mental capacity that Trott contains, and he's made himself a certainty for the Tests against Pakistan later this Summer.

Despite such a superb display of batsmanship however, I'm afraid the plaudits for this particular game will have to go to Tamim Iqbal, a left-hander in the mould of Chris Gayle, or closer to home Virender Sehwag. A first-innings 55 was nothing compared to his second stint of the match as he clobbered England's bowlers to all parts of the most famous ground in Cricket. James Anderson, a world-class swing bowler of great experience and expertise, was made to look distinctly second-rate against the quick hands and supernatural timing of Bangladesh's most exciting talent. In a team full of youngsters, Tamim has done remarkably well to stand out from the crowd, and his maturity and apparent disrespect for some of the best bowlers make him a priceless fortune that Bangladesh would be foolish to waste.

Having been asked to follow on after an under-par 282 in their first knock, Bangla hit back with an uncompromising 328-5 at the close of play on day four, with an England victory far from in the bag. Imrul Kayes showed great patience in his knock of 75, one half of a 185-run opening stand for the tourists, almost double their first innings effort. Junaid Siddique has also made it a match to remember with scores of 58 and 66* as he continues to resurrect an International career that didn't exactly set the world alight in its early stages. A contribution of 46 from Jahurul Islam has consolidated Bangladesh's position in the match, and gives them an excellent chance of saving a game they should have been well out of this time yesterday.

Ballack only has himself to blame

I’m not a huge believer in fate and things ‘meaning to turn out the way they do’, but I do believe in the common saying ‘what goes around comes around’. It’s not by any kind of divine intervention, or some force from above, but things usually come around to bite you in the backside, and whilst it’s all very sad that our beloved Michael Ballack will miss out on what is probably his last chance of playing in a World Cup finals, he had it coming to him sooner or later.

Kevin Prince Boateng’s badly-timed (or well-timed, depending on where you come from) tackle on Germany’s skipper has got the ageing Chelsea star in a bit of a huff, so much so that he claims he’s contemplating legal action against Boateng, who incidentally will potentially be facing up against the Germs in South Africa in a matter of weeks. There’s also the possibility that his half-brother, and Manchester City target Jerome Boateng will be involved in that game too. It’s all very complicated. The fact is, Ghana’s very own KP has the facts all right, and as far as I’m concerned, Bollock hasn’t got a leg to stand on. Literally.

Here’s what Boateng had to say about the incident:

"There is my foul on the one hand, and his slap on the other, and I think that violent conduct is far worse than a foul. Ballack really does surprise me. He complains for weeks when (Lukas) Podolski slaps him and yet he does it himself… What kind of behaviour is that? When I hear that, I can see that he has two different ways of seeing things. Can his captain slap whomever he wants? That was clearly violent conduct. If I had done that, I would have been banned for two years. That is why I left the Germany setup to represent Ghana."

Pretty fair stuff from Boateng there. The point clearly being that you can’t moan and winge about something and then go and do exactly the same to someone else. What goes around comes around Michael. See you in South Africa! Oh no.. That’s right. We won’t.

Barcelona sign David Villa, so what now for Cesc?

Barcelona have completed the signing of Valencia and Spain striker David Villa in a deal said to be around £34.2m. Since the 2009/10 La Liga season concluded with Barcelona lifting their 20th League title, speculation increased by the day as to the future of Valencia’s most prized asset, and whilst the rest of the world are talking about whether Cesc Fabregas will make the move back to the club he started off at, Barca have quietly gone about the business of securing the 28-year old on a four-year deal.

The arrival of Villa could well spell the end of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s career at Camp Nou just 12 months after it began. The big Swede could only manage 16 League goals this term, and compared to the 47 scored by Lionel Messi, Ibrahimovic looks distinctly 2nd rate. Villa hit 28 in all competitions for 3rd-placed Valencia, and with El Guaje a national favourite as well, there seems little room for the big frame of Zlatan to fit into the Barcelona team. Roberto Mancini has hinted at a reunion with Zlatan in the near future, after the Italian managed him for two years at Inter Milan. Barcelona have not denied that they would stop Ibrahimovic leaving either.

Not only could the signing of Villa open the door for Zlatan to leave, but it could mean that Barca are unable to bring Fabregas to the club as well. Whilst the Catalan giants have more than most when it comes to money, they certainly don’t have a bottomless pocket, and another 40 million Euros may prove a bridge too far for Joan Laporta. However, with Laporta giving up his President’s seat in the very near future, he’s determined to secure Fabregas as one of his signings, rather than leave it to the man who is expected to take over from Laporta, Sandro Rosell. A number of figures have been suggested for the transfer of Fabregas, with 40 million Euros being the most likely. Perhaps selling Zlatan should be more of a priority than it currently is, in order to raise the necessary funds to bring the Spanish wonderkid to Camp Nou.

Capello faces tough call on final 23

Adam Johnson has had a superb first season at Eastlands, but does he merit a place in Fabio's final squad?

The countdown is on until the World Cup finals in South Africa, and together with the customary excitement and expectation of every England supporter comes Fabio Capello’s final squad announcement before the big kickoff, and there are still a few unanswered questions.

The main talking points would be the inclusion of Jamie Carragher and Adam Johnson in England’s provision 30-man squad. Whilst the former has called an end to his International exile, Johnson has experienced his first senior team call up, something the Manchester City winger will be looking to make more of a habit of in the future. Johnson’s fantastic run of form has earned him a well deserved opportunity in the National side, and it can’t be argued that his move to Eastlands has been the catalyst for this bright talent’s enigmatic displays.

A big money move from Championship underachievers Middlesbrough may have put too much pressure on the 22-year old, but he’s thrived under the expectation of such a hefty price tag. His efforts for ‘boro (big rivals to his hometown club Sunderland) didn’t go unnoticed amongst the Premier League’s big names, and City beat both Chelsea and Arsenal to his signature, which says a lot about the nature of the Premier League these days. However, Johnson is determined to prove his worth to City, and a dip into South African waters this summer will doubtless do just that. It may also pencil him in for a regular England place for the European Championship qualifiers that come later this year.

As for Carragher, he was cast aside under Steve McClaren, and decided to hang up his boots on the national side. His performances for Liverpool this season have been unusually uncharacteristic, and he will be the first to admit that he wouldn’t place himself amongst the forerunners to start England’s first game of the tournament on June 12. Nevertheless, Capello clearly has faith and confidence in him, and judging on the form of Matthew Upson and John Terry in recent months, you could do worse than Carra.

Perhaps the pace of some of the tournament’s hitmen – the likes of Messi, Robinho and Torres – may leave Carragher vulnerable to exposure, but when it comes to committment and experience, there’s few the fit the category as accurately as he does. Terry’s also had his problems with pace recently, and Upson is no Usain Bolt himself. Rio Ferdinand’s regular injury worries may also cast a doubt over his fitness, which could mean either Michael Dawson or Ledley King will be lining up to take on USA in Rustenburg.

With the revelation that is Johnson rapidly appearing on the scene, Joe Cole may be fearing for his place, particularly as his matchtime adds up to nowhere near as much as his left-sided counterpart. Cole’s been a fantastic player for England in the past, but right from his first day in office, Capello has stated that in order to get into the England team, you have to be playing day in, day out, something that Cole has been unable to do. However, with Cole’s skill and trickery, and the experience of major competitions with both England and Chelsea, he should be on the plane along with Johnson.

Another problem area for me is in attack. Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, and Jermain Defoe are shoe-ins, which leaves a battle between Emile Heskey and Darren Bent for the final striker’s slot. Heskey’s International goalscoring record leaves plenty to be desired, but Capello is a big fan of his muscular presence in attack, and believes he is a perfect foil for Rooney. However, you cannot ignore a man who has ended up as the Premier League’s 3rd top scorer, and that for a club that finished 13th in the table. Surely one giant is enough, and Crouch’s goalscoring ability is far greater than Heskey’s. Goalscorers are what you need to win trophies, and Bent possesses just that skill. So for me, it’s Bent ahead of Heskey.

Finally, does Theo Walcott go or doesn’t he? Everybody has their doubts about Walcott, and this season has been somewhat disappointing for the so-called ‘wonderkid’. He has his moments of magic, there’s no doubt about that, and perhaps that could prove the difference in a tight quarter-final match against a France, or a Brazil. But is that enough? Defensive prowess – Poor. Work rate – average. Influence – Inconsistent. It would be a gamble, and I think there are better options out there. However, I have a feeling he’ll get the nod over Shaun Wright-Phillips, and it’s probable that he’ll be making his 2nd World Cup squad at the age of just 21.

Pietersen the key as England head for semis

Kevin Pietersen has regained his form at the perfect time for England

Since he burst onto the International scene back in November 2004, Kevin Pietersen has gathered a reputation of being England's best thing since sliced bread. Now, 5 and a half years on, Pietersen is relighting the fire that saw him smash a triplet of hundreds against the country of his birth in his first high profile International series.

As the England team seemingly embarks on an exciting new era under ex-Zimbabwean Test and ODI batsman Andy Flower, Pietersen is determined to remain the linchpin of the top order. An impressive start to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean has got the 29-year old smiling again, after 9 months of battling injury and form. During that short period of time, pundits spoke about the 'Pietersen of old'. The Pietersen who used to stride arrogantly to the crease and swat away anything the bowlers threw up for him. The Pietersen who would look so imposing and confident in his upright stance and domineering aura. That Pietersen was lost for a while under a blanket of self-doubt and confusion, but now he's back.

England's latest win in Barbados, coming against a powerful South African lineup, epitomises the transition that is taking part in the camp. From being a timid, lacklustre Twenty20 outfit, Flower has transformed his team into an aggressive, fearless unit, in no small part down to the inclusion of Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, and Michael Yardy. Kieswetter and Lumb have provided firepower at the top of the order, signified by 2 of the highest powerplay scores for any side in this tournament. Whilst neither have gone on to make a substantial contribution, Lumb has often got the innings off to a flyer, and a tournament strike-rate of 152.17 is reflective of that. Kieswetter has been a touch more sedate, but a workmanlike 41 against SA proved to be crucial, in a partnership worth 94 with Pietersen.

As for Yardy, he's added a subtle balance to the side, and despite being an opening bat for Sussex (where he is also captain), he's found a new birth at number 8 for the national side. However, it's been his bowling that has been the real talking point amongst fans of this unorthodox left-hander. His first over of the victory against Pakistan was smacked for 12, and needless to say Collingwood had seen enough. That was until a few overs later when he brought Yardy back on, faith that was repaid with a fantastic spell of 3-0-7-2 (final figures of 4-0-19-2). It says a lot about Yardy's temperament for him to produce such a spell under pressure.

Despite the new faces in the England ranks, the fundamentals of the team have remained. Pietersen at 3, captain Collingwood in the middle order - able to switch gears with ease - Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright at 5 and 6 giving England much firepower in the final overs. The one grey area for me would be the inclusion of Tim Bresnan in the side. Batting at 7, Bresnan looks out of his depth, and wickets aren't a formality with the big Yorkshireman. Perhaps there would be room for James Anderson in the team, with Yardy, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann all pushed up one in the order. 

Nevertheless, this is an impressive England outfit, and a far cry from the team of the past. The likes of Ian Bell, Ed Joyce and the retired Michael Vaughan seem in a different class from the exciting, youthful exuberance that the 2010 England side portray. New Zealand are England's next obstacle in the World Twenty20, and a win would see them top the group with a 100% record. England's quest to win a first global tournament is well on its way, and who would bet against them this time?

One hit wonders or in for the long term?

As Tottenham Hotspur players allow the events of Wednesday night to slowly sink in, the ears of thousands of North Londoners will still be ringing from one of the greatest nights in the club’s history. However, as the reality of Champions League football hits home, I’m asking the question; can Spurs cement a place in Europe’s elite, or will this season’s forage into the big time remain a one-off wonder for Harry Redknapp and his men?

People talk about the difficulty of defending the title, and whilst Manchester United have made a bit of a habit of doing just that in recent years, Chelsea are on the verge of crashing the party that would see the Red half of Manchester lift their 4th consecutive Premier League title and overtake Liverpool as the top flight’s most successful club. Now, the task that confronts Tottenham is of similar difficulty. Not only do the majority of Tottenham fans expect to be watching the likes of Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Lane for years to come, but the expectation will go beyond that should Spurs perform admirably in next season’s competition, and retain their illustrious fourth place position.

As the ‘big four’ becomes the big three, Tottenham are drooling over the prospect of attracting superstar performers to the Lane with the millions of pounds of prize money they will gain from the Champions League. ‘arry has promised the Spurs faithful that money will be spent in the summer to enhance Tottenham’s credentials and ensure that the club will once again challenge for a fourth place spot. Getting through the group stage of the Champions League must also be a big priority of Redknapp’s.

However, Liverpool have shown this season that the weight of expectation can have adverse effects on a club’s fortunes, and from being title challengers at the beginning of the season, the Anfield club has been fortunate to qualify for Europa League football next term. The difference between Liverpool and Spurs, however, is money. Liverpool have none, Tottenham will have a lot. Whilst bringing in top players and handing the likes of Gareth Bale and Ledley King new contracts shan’t be a problem, the inexperience of defending major  achievements may prove a little too strong for Tottenham, who’s last appearance in the European Cup was way back in 1962. Since then there’s been the odd flirtation with the old UEFA Cup, and a sporadic Cup Winner’s Cup, but nothing of the magnitude or reputation of Europe’s big daddy.

In Harry Redknapp (named Premier League Manager of the season), Spurs have a manager that can take them places. Winning the Champions League is far from realistic at this stage, and Spurs need to look at the big picture. Beating Real Madrid or AC Milan is certainly out of Tottenham’s reach, but Redknapp will doubtless look to build a squad which is capable of challenging those teams, and going further than just the group stage of the competition. For me, Redknapp is the best manager England have never had, and if I was a Spurs fan I’d be mighty proud of his achievements. If there’s one man you’d want to lead you in your first Champions League campaign in over 40 years, it’s ‘arry.

Fulham take the plaudits after remarkable season

Thousands of people have written thousands of articles on Fulham’s 2009/10 quest past the gloss and glamour of Europe’s elite, and it was only a matter of time before someone put their own account here on the WDKF site, so here it is.

Before the start of the season, the regular Fulham fan would have settled for progression to the 2nd round of the Europa League – European Champions Cup’s younger brother – and expectations would not have exceeded that by much. A mid-table position in the Premier League was a given considering the stature of their manager and the moderate array of talent that the Fulham squad possesses. A mediocre team with a vastly experience manager and decent financial backing. That’s Fulham for you. At least, it was.

In the space of 10 months, since playing their first game of the season way back in late July away at FK Vetra of Lithuania in the Europa League 3rd round qualifier, Fulham have wriggled their way from the back of the country’s mind, right to the forefront, so much so that their wonderful story isn’t far off outshining the race for the title. The rather predictable Manchester United vs Chelsea battle for the summit seems somewhat insignificant in the face of such an unlikely story, but don’t tell United or Chelsea fans that.

‘It’s what dreams are made of’ is the old adage, and although I’m not one for clichés and soppy fairytales within Football, even I have been fixed to this truly unique conquest. As far as I’m concerned, Roy Hodgson is a miracle maker, and a manager I could see lifting any trophy around the world. Including the World Cup. Future England manager? Fabio Capello’s successor? Who knows. But if I was Trevor Brooking and co. at the Football Association, he’d be first on my shortlist of candidates.

As a fan of Liverpool, and with that a viewer of the stupendous decline of the Anfield club over the last 12 months, I’m constantly on the lookout for possible candidates to take over from Rafael Benitez at the end of this disastrous season, and with Hodgson not entirely committed to Fulham, Liverpool may be on the phone to the Cottage sooner rather than later.

Switzerland, Inter Milan (X2), Udinese, UAE, Blackburn, and Finland are just a few of the clubs the 62-year old has been in charge of, and his CV doesn’t stop there. UEFA Cup winner 96/97 with Inter, Swedish Cup winner on two occasions with Malmo FF, as well as two Championship medals, a Danish Cup and League title with Copenhagen, a now a Europa League final with Fulham. It doesn’t get much more impressive than that, and although some may argue that the stature of most of the clubs he has managed isn’t very impressive, you can’t ignore a man who has so much silverware locked up in his cabinets.

His style of play is another notable achievement to add to the list. Fulham are a side who have always looked to play on the floor, but have never really achieved too much with it – perhaps like today’s Wigan Athletic. Tigana came and failed, Coleman lasted a decent time without winning anything, and Sanchez barely had time to blink before he was out. But in Hodgson, Fulham have found a man who has continued and enhanced an attractive style of football, but actually turned it into a winning formula as well, and that is priceless in football.

Some people who may not have followed Fulham all the way through this season, or even at all, may not understand the enormity of the task they’ve achieved. As if creeping past the likes of AS Roma, CSKA Sofia, and Basel in the group stage wasn’t enough, they then went on to beat competition holders Shakhtar Donestsk (3-2 ag), and Serie A giants Juventus (thanks to an unbelievable 5-4 aggregate win, having been 4-1 down after 4 minutes at the Cottage), before overcoming German sides Wolfsburg and Hamburg over the two legs. A date with Atletico Madrid is the prize, an encounter that is sure to water the mouths of numerous Fulham supporters.

Perhaps the exit of Liverpool on the same night as Fulham’s triumph has been a good thing for the Europa League. I don’t know about anybody else, but I would have made Liverpool favourites for the match, and that’s not being biased. It would have been a great shame for Fulham to go all that way and then fall at the final hurdle. But for me, Fulham have to be favourites for the final against Atletico, who’s dreadful League campaign has been forgotten thanks to 2 Cup finals, including the Copa del Rey. There’s no doubt that I’ll be rooting for Hodgson and his men on 12th May, if only to alert the attentions of the Directors at Anfield to the managerial ability of Hodgson, if they haven’t already noticed.

A 3-2 win at home to West Ham today still isn’t enough for Fulham to qualify for next season’s Europa League, but should they emerge victorious a week’s time, they’ll be competing for bigger honours alongside the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. What a season. One that this generation of Fulham fans will never ever forget.

The Drug Debate

There’s never a good time for a footballer to be found guilty of taking drugs, but the latest controversy surrounding ex-Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu has come at a rather interesting time for me. Whilst studying A-level Physical Education, one of the things that I have been required to do is debate about the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs), and whether or not they should be legalised or indeed remain completely unacceptable.

Despite the fact that Sibutramine (the drug Mutu has been found guilty of taking) isn’t an obvious choice for a professional athlete to use, it is still against the law. In 2004, Mutu was found guilty of taking a much more recognised drug, cocaine, and was slapped with a 7 month ban. On that occasion, his current employers Chelsea sacked him with immediate effect, but the story is a little different this time. Italian giants Fiorentina have vowed to stand by the Romanian International and he will not have his contract terminated. Mutu is due to return in October, having already served 2 months of the ban.

So, should PEDs be legalised?

The argument for the use of illegal substances is fairly straight forward and understandable. One may say that the use of drugs increases the entertainment factor of sport, as athletes are able to perform well above their ability; Breaking world records, running quicker times, playing better football, and making bigger tackles are all things that truthfully we would all love to see. PEDs enable these goals to be achieved, and make sport a much more exciting prospect. That is, if everybody used them.

In the case of Usain Bolt, he’s a unique sprinter. There has never been anyone as quick as him, and possibly never will be. When Bolt lines up for a 100m race, you don’t give any of the other athletes a hope in hell. The use of PEDs would level out the playing field and bring competition much closer together. Bolt wouldn’t be a consistent, predictable winner, and there’s the potential for much closer, more watchable races.

Whilst a lot of athletes who take PEDs are caught, there a lot of others who get away with it. Random drugs testing makes it very hard for athletes to escape punishment, but for the number that do, they can enjoy a career full of success and personal achievement. Those arguing for the use of PEDs may say that due to this fact, every athlete should have a right to use any drug they want to enhance their performance, instead of wasting time training for major events, only to be beaten to the post by someone who may be on drugs. The introduction of drugs would stop this happening, and again, would level out the playing field entirely.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a drug which increases the number of red blood cells in your body, and therefore helps the flow of blood around the body and increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood. This, of course, aids performance. EPO is a banned substance. Altitude training is a method used by a lot of athletes, particularly long-distance runners, before major events, and this too increases the number of red blood cells in your body. Altitude training is legal.

So, what’s the difference? They both increase one’s number of red blood cells, and they both carry the same health risks; nausea, increased heart rate/blood pressure. Yet one is illegal and one is legal. Does that make sense?

Whilst the arguments for the use of PEDs is extremely valid, there are of course counter-arguments that so far have stood firmer in society and sport.

Any form of drug taking is seen as cheating. It’s illegal in society, and illegal in sport and any one who is caught taking drugs receives a vast amount of negative press. What people may not understand is the pressures and expectation that sport brings with it today, from the media, supporters, and significant others. It’s enormous, and some athletes are unable to deal with that pressure without breaking the rules. However, that is no excuse.

Drug taking is against the original Olympic Ideal; to play fairly, to the best of one’s ability, with the value of taking part being regarded as more important than winning. That Olympic Ideal still stands today of course, yet is constantly broken by drug-taking athletes.

One may argue that drug taking completely defeats the object of being a professional sportsperson. The idea of working towards a goal goes completely out of the window, and there must be very little satisfaction in gaining success with the knowledge that you worked very little to get there. Perhaps athletes don’t care about those values, and just want to win at whatever cost. The Lombardian ethic has perhaps influenced a lot of drug taking in recent times.

Finally, drugs bring with them extreme health risks, including a dangerous rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and somatic anxiety as well as physical risks and even death in some cases. Surely for the benefit of sport and for youngsters growing up with aspirations to become professional athletes, it is the responsibility of athletes to resist the temptation to take PEDs and uphold the values of sport and the Olympics.

It’s a tricky topic to comprehend, and one that will go on forever. People will always take drugs no matter what, and perhaps it is inevitable that one day, PEDs will become legalised and sport will become no more than a selection of the world’s most dedicated drug users coming together to run, jump, and compete against each other.

Terry sees red as Chelsea show signs of cracking

You wouldn’t have said this 3 days ago, but the aesthetically calm and professional Chelsea seem to be displaying significant signs of wilting under the pressure of another title race, which looks like it will go right down to the last sinew of the season.

John Terry’s red card against London rivals Tottenham at the weekend is not only representative of a man who has completely lost the plot since allegations over his private life surfaced, but may also be a warning of things to come for the Blues. An atypically off the boil performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s men, together with a vital late Paul Scholes header at the City of Manchester Stadium, has meant the title race is firmly back to a 2-horse battle, with United now the ones neighing strongest, and boy can Chelsea hear it.

With United now only a point adrift in second place, results against Stoke (H), Liverpool (A) and Wigan (H) now look imperative for Chelsea. Fergie’s Devils have the task of overcoming Spurs at Old Trafford, Sunderland (A), before ending the season with what could be the deciding fixture against Stoke at the Theatre of Dreams. If I was to choose, I’d favour towards Chelsea’s run in, but if the inconsistent Liverpool can take 2 or even 3 points off a side they’ve struggled to dispatch in recent times, United will feel it’s their’s to lose.

Terry’s drop in form hasn’t cost his side too much in the scheme of things, but they say one moment can turn a season, and who’d bet against it being ‘that’ match? England fans should be worried with the World Cup less than 50 days away. The man, who 6 months ago was playing reasonably well, with no real alarms, and captaining Fabio Capello’s England to WC qualification, has suddenly thrust himself into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and at completely the wrong time. Doubts over Rio Ferdinand’s fitness add a touch more anxiety to the mixture and Terry now has a job on his hands to prove his worth to the National side.

Michael Dawson has had an outstanding season for Champions League-chasing Tottenham and unluckily for Terry, it’s been timed to perfection – reminiscent of his brave defending at WHL. A World Cup year is a nervous year for everyone involved in and around the National setup, and Terry will know that his place is far from certain. Clearly, he’ll be on the plane to South Africa and there’s no doubting that’s the correct decision. However, starting XI come June 12 in Rustenberg? Debatable. It could all depend on the final few games of the season, one of which Terry will miss.

Could Capello be so ruthless and brave to leave him out of his first team? Can he possibly base his decision on Chelsea’s end of season success? You’d say no, but the Italian has shown in the past he’s not afraid to make a brave decision or two, particularly against Terry. Nervous times ahead for Mr. Controversial.

Caption Game

A pretty simple one here. Gary Neville and Paul Scholes kissing after the Manc derby. Who's got the best entry?