After the break

The tedious international break is over; besides Argentina losing 6-1 to Bolivia nothing happened that we couldn’t all predict before the break started.

Wayne Rooney was going to lose his rag, whether England were winning or not. That lunge in the Ukraine game should have got him a 6-match ban but the English press act as if it didn’t happen.

After another uninspiring victory against an abjectly poor team, England is favourites to win the world cup next year. Of course, a team thoroughly beaten by Spain some weeks ago; with no creative players and lack of width, a suspect defence and goalkeeper can’t be a lock for the world cup unless you ask the English press.

France struggled to beat Lithuania and stay second in their group. They might still overtake Serbia who is leading their group seven. This is definitely more than you can say of Portugal who lay third in their group behind Denmark and Hungary. Cristiano Ronaldo will be having a good rest at the end of next season when every other superstar is basking in the African sun.

Somehow Northern Ireland is leading group three with 13 points and could be making it to the big dance. Nelson Mandela meets David Healy.

And while all this was happening Alan Shearer snuck into the manager’s seat in Newcastle for just 8 games. He has insisted that whatever happens at the en of the season, he will end his swift foray into management on the last day of the season. So if he saves Newcastle from the drop, he becomes a hero. If they go down as I feel they should he was in a bad situation to begin with. Smart arse!! And he swans back to the BBC to tell other managers how to do their jobs.

So Chelsea will beat them easily tomorrow to show him that the silly bulldog English spirit channelled through Kevin Keegan is not a substitute for skill or technique.

Other teams
Arsenal – Cesc Fabregas is off to Madrid, Barcelona and Man Utd next season. He might start tomorrow against Man City. Theo Walcott is back, good news for Arsenal fans but it is counter balanced by the bad news of the return of Emmanuel “ I am better than Henry” Adebayor. Andrei Arshavin and Cesc on the same pitch. Good.

Man Utd – Berbatov injured, Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic suspended. Against many other teams Man U will struggle, but it is just Aston Villa, so back to winning ways for Fergie’s boys.

Aston Villa – Gabby Agbonlahor can’t score, Emile Heskey won’t score. Villa visiting Old Trafford. Martin O’Neill doesn’t have the guts to beat Fergie. O’Neill made a mistake bringing in Heskey and won’t admit that Agbonlahor has suffered the most for it. Ashley Young and James Milner are improved products but suffering from fatigue after the way they pursued and harried teams earlier in the season. Martin has to know that the season is a marathon and not a sprint.

Blackburn faces Tottenham tomorrow. Two hypocritically challenged managers face each other in this game. Harry Redknapp doesn’t want Ledley “one game a week” King to play in qualifiers while he chases a European position but believes he should be in the squad to SA because Ledley is world class. What tosh? How does any one believe anything this man says any more is a mystery of Loch Ness proportions?

Liverpool should go top of the league this Saturday but Rafa Benitez ha signed a new 5 year contract, quickly followed by Steven Gerrard who signed a new two year contract extension. They just might choke and not beat Fulham. I still believe that Man Utd will respond and still pip Liverpool but stranger things have happened. So we should just wait and see what does happen.

Have a great weekend and my your team win.