It was he hurt his foot at the beginning of March, but he got himself fit for the last couple games of the season. I'd read or seen a piece where Wes stated he was told he wouldn't be picked even if he'd of played in the final two games as Carragher was now favoured in front of him, i'll see if I can find it.

Although him retiring is not the end of the world, i'd like to think someone like Richards can come on leaps and bounds but he probably needs to move from eastlands for that to happen

Gerrard's been poor, but, like many of the other players, Gerrard's excuses could be: constant moving of position; lack of chance in his best position; lack of players who play to his strengths; lack of players for Gerrard's strengths to be realized, and many more.

Some of these excuses can be given to other players, though: Rooney seemed to thrive playing in a 4-5-1 this season, or a 4-2-3-1, or whatever it is, yet was played in a 4-4-2 without any noticeable service. Lampard, throughout most of his career, has been part of a 4-3-3, with him being the most advanced of the midfielders; he is very capable, but he is also very reliant upon players like Mikel, Essien, Ballack and before them - Makelele. Lampard is a very capable passer and shooter, whilst he is an able defender, but, asking him to control the game, or asking him to pick the ball up in the centre circle and make consistent correct decisions isn't his game, he struggles to do it on the international stage; why continue to ask him to do it?

Gerrard is very similar, he prefers to be the most advanced of a midfield three, especially at international level, as his passing is very direct and often too direct, ideally you'd have him playing in the hole with freedom to run into, with a striker who will play off of the defender's shoulder, whilst also being quick enough to get onto his through balls, or hold it up for him to support. Problem with that, though, is there aren't many strikers who can do that, Torres is probably the best at it in the world, whilst you could throw a few others in there. Rooney, you would think, probably isn't the correct player for Gerrard to play behind, but, the other forwards are so poor, it's hard to see what the alternative is, because we lack the complete '9', even if Rooney has been made into a makeshift one.

England's problems are very deep, they have no particular style or direction when they play, we have no particular formation that we aim to play, we just pick whatever's available and expect it to work. Our star players all have their respective club sides built around them, which results in them struggling to adapt when they're asked to take on a different role, for example: Gerrard struggles on the left and lacks the discipline to stay out there, but David Villa done it quite easily for Spain, despite being the main man at Valencia. The examples are there throughout the side, whilst Capello seemed to think it would all gel by throwing a couple of 'team players' in there like Milner, Barry and Heskey, who'll do a job in whatever position, despite their obvious limitations.

Problem we face, though, we have no other choice but to play the stars, 'cause everything else is such a step down, it's hard to believe they'll do something remotely close to 'good', so the stars seem to be the safe option until something else arrives, but it doesn't look to be coming, not even close.

I think Lampard has been poor since euro 2004, I think he went almost 2 years maybe more at one point without an International goal. Gerrard was our best player and top goalscorer in 2006 much like Frank was 2 years earlier

Gerrard has been a better player for his country than Lampard has for the past 6 years. He doesn't give the ball away as often and he's not completely anonamous for his country as Lampard has been at times.

Scholes would have kept him out of the side this summer had he decided to play

So, does Hernandez's goal go down as a header on the stats?

More importantly does he get an assist aswell?

And how has the Premier League allowed him to have his nickname on the back of his shirt opposed to his sir name?.

I can understand it for Brazilian footballers as they can have double or triple barrelled sir names but Hernandez could fit easily on a shirt. Maybe a new trend is starting and more players will have nicknames on the back of their shirts?

Robinho.

Gray and Tyler where making this point on the commentary today but it's been done before, Benitez had 'Chucho' on the back of his Birmingham shirt last season. Just as Brazilian players have a different name on the back of their shirt, Robinho's name is Robson de Souza but yet he had Robinho on his shirt. I don't know what the rule is on shirt names now.

I consider the treatment Ashley Cole and John Terry receive week in week out to be utterly tedious. So I can't say I'm at all all impressed that the Chelsea supporters gave Rooney similar treatment today.

But if "neutral" football fans are going to barrack players for their perceived failures for England, Rooney surely deserves to be treated in a similar manner. He was the player who most of England's hopes rested on at the World Cup and offered practically nothing whatsoever during the whole tournament.

When England were knocked out of the Euros by Croatia the media made a big deal of the booing of England players the following weekend, conveniently ignoring the fact that nearly all of the England players were playing away matches.

If the Chelsea fans had booed Terry, Lampard & Cole it could be said that they were being booed because of England's world cup failure. But if they just booed Rooney, then thats just booing a player because he's an opposition player.

Enjoyed the CS yesterday, Utd played some decent football and it was good to see Berba and Hernandez getting a goal each aswell as Rooney teeing one up for Valencia.

I don't think you do. I just don't agree with you when you say this:



All businesses losing money due to bad debt creates a house of cards effect, it's just not as public.

O'Neill next gaffer to go?

Was 14/1 this morning, odds shortened and now in at 4/7. Any reason?

just gone.

Aye

Next Permanent Manager

1. Curbishley A 3/1
2. BIlic S 6/1
3. McClaren S 8/1
4. Moyes D 12/1
5. Shearer A 12/1
6. Davies B 16/1
7. Houillier G 16/1
8. Venables T 16/1
9. Klinnsmann J 16/1
10. Di Matteo R 16/1
11. Smith W 20/1
12. Jol M 20/1
13. Hoddle G 25/1
14. Dublin D 50/1
15. Gray A 66/1
16. Morley Tony 200/1

Timing of his departure is somewhat bizarre!

Something to do with the Milner transfer surely?

He's been told he can't have the money to spend maybe?

Sold him behind his back? O'Neil is a great manager, can't see him being out of work for long. Unless he fancies some time off.

Would happily have him at Newcastle - no disrespect to Hughton, I like the way he is going about things, but IMHO he is just another 'yes' man for Ashley.

This season is make or break and we need a man that can assemble a team to keep us there/get the best out of the players we have. If we stay up, we can put some foundations down to push the club forward again. Get relegated and we will all but be off the radar.

Looks like this Milner deal is being done behind his back, which could be the reason.

The donut bet of the century is odds of 8/1 (3rd fave) being offered for McClaren to take the job when he has only been at Wolfsburg a couple of months.

Moyes is 12/1

O neill hinted at leaving a week ago when asked about transfers. Best 2 midfielders gone in 2 seasons to the same club. At least He has principles

Fair enough. In my experience though, very few businesses have any single debtor owing significantly enough to take the entire business down. But I'd wager that many lower-tier 'selling' clubs do.

What price on Bob Bradley? Impressed in world cup, American, rumoured to have had talks with Fulham.

Now favourite with most bookies. Best priced 4/1 (Betfred, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes).

Not to mention the Villa owner/chairman? is American.

Bradley was 3/1 favourite on Paddy Power earlier.