Carlito’s Way

Amid the confusion of his ‘ownership’ and Sir Alex Ferguson’s ill-concealed disdain for his agent, Carlos Tevez has burst back to the forefront of red consciences with a string of performances that have re-invigorated United’s historic assault on the top prizes and saved his Old Trafford career.

For the most part Tevez has cut a frustrated figure this season – relegated to playing with the League and FA Cup squads. His limited ‘game time’ in the league and Europe has been the subject of many a column. Safe to say he hasn’t looked a happy bunny for the most part and, had United sailed serenley toward no.18 in the manner expected by most in mid-March, his time on the bench would almost certainly have meant a sad end to a brief United career.

Fortunately for Tev, two defeats in a row and the onset of title jitters set in at Old Trafford. Late comeback wins against Villa and Sunderland were inspired by Ronaldo and Macheda but it was at half-time in the Spurs game on April 25th that Carlitos was given the chance to prove his true worth.

The scenario is familiar now – United looked down and out. Spurs had built a two goal lead and Modric and Lennon were tearing United’s backline to pieces. Most managers would have stuck on an extra defender or defensive midfielder to stop the bleeding. Ferguson opted instead to play his four best attackers and go for broke.

Tevez’s impact was instant – with him came the energy, goal threat, telepathic understanding and movement lacking in the first half. He even managed to arouse Berbatov from a season long slumber that had reached its nadir against Everton in the penalty shoot-out the previous Sunday. The result was a 22 minute, five goal burst of scoring that left their opponents breathless, their critics reaching for superlatives and Scousers suicidal. The Webb controversy was a red herring, I have little doubt United would have turned that game around anyway as Tevez introduction gave his fellow forwards space to play.

Ever since, the Four Musketeers have been Fergie’s Get Out of Jail Free Card.  In Ronaldo United possess the world’s best finisher – there’s no question about that. In Berbatov one of the best first touches to ever grace the game and a subtle intelligence that is only just beginning to be understood. In Rooney they have a player who seems capable of just about anything, including putting team responsibility above personal glory.

Yet Tevez is perhaps the most vital member of the quartet – he brings an intensity and electricity that Berbatov lacks, he is given the licence to take up ‘fox in the box’ positions that Ronaldo’s game forbids and he is able to maintain a position in the penalty area while Rooney is forced to track back. Between those four Fergie seems to have all bases covered.

This fact won’t be lost on a manager who has occasionally spent money on ‘luxury’ players but his quest for footballing perfection might be at hand. Sir Alex was a neutral spectator when Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in Glasgow to claim the 1960 European Cup. He has said that the football he saw that night inspired him. Perhaps, in Tevez, Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov he now has the forward line to match the legendary di Stefano, Puskas, Gento, Del Sol one that dominated European football almost 50 years ago.

There had been complaints, before that Spurs game, about United’s cautious and efficient brand of football. The various crises that have seen Tevez shine during the run-in have brought that team back – the team we all adore. Surely, having proven his worth, Ferguson will be all the more reluctant to break up such a powerful collective.

If we do nothing more than secure Tevez and repel advances for Ronaldo this summer I, for one,  will be delighted.

if, you know…

There have been debates over the years over the greatest ever United player. Just this week there was a thread on red issue making that claim for Ronaldo, with George Best peddled as his only serious rival. Sadly, the claims of Bobby Charlton were once more glossed over. The World Cup winner, European Champion, 1966 World Player of the Year, Busby Babe and survivor of Munich remains criminally underrated by United’s support. So, in a week of triumph I thought it timely to remind you all of his contribution to the club as a player, ambassador and director.

The preferrence of one player over another often comes down to the perception of different characters. Ronaldo is still regarded as a show pony, even if his three goals in United’s last two CL away legs underline his status as The Best Player in The World. Whereas George Best was a shy, retiring Irishman turned Love God (surely every lonely teenagers dream!) and ultimately one of the lads.

Sir Bobby, undoubtedly affected by losing his best mates at the age of 18, has spent the last 50 years buckling down – first turning his career into the greatest any Englishman has ever had, latterly becoming England’s representative at FIFA or UEFA’s high table. Throughout, Bobby has exhibited a determination to promote his club and country. He was instrumental in the hiring of Alex Ferguson, instrumental in keeping him when other directors wanted rid and he was instrumental in welcoming The Glazers…

Best meanwhile left United in pieces. The latter part of his career was a tale of missed training, inebriated performances and illicit hotel rendez-vous before big games. He humiliated the club, the fans, his manager(s) and team-mates. How is that worthy of ‘legendary’ status? It seems to me that if United had got rid of him sooner (to City perhaps) we wouldn’t have been relegated in 1974.

Anyway to get back to the point – who is the greatest?

It’s hard to argue with Bobby Charlton being the greatest United player ever. Until one of our stars plays the starring role winning a World Cup then it has to be him. Angry supporters may point to his support of the Glazers, his misdemeanours with a few FA Cup Final tickets and his establishment connections and, ok, Bobby is as middle class as they come. But if you regard the ability to cope with adversity high on your list then it’s hard to see past him.

I would put Ronaldo just behind him now. Ronaldo and Best have had very similar careers to his point. Both have unbelievable natural ability. Both have been central to United winning a European Cup, both have had record breaking seasons in front of goal.

There are question marks about Ronnie’s loyalty just as there was about Best’s off field proclivities. Should Ronaldo leave this summer it’d be hard to seperate them – perhaps the tie-breaker is in the Portuguese’s hands. Helping United to retain the European Cup in Rome would give him an historic edge and, after his recent performances, you wouldn’t bet against that now would you?

A Star is Born

On reflection and at the distance now of a good 48 hours, that Federico Macheda strike just gets better and better.

Player development being what it is, there are many cynics who believe we may have already seen the career defining moment of the Italian striker.

Elsewhere across our ABU media, and just as predictably, his 92nd minute heroics have highlighted the ability of the big English clubs to take advantage of other country’s strict rules on youngsters signing professional contracts. Typically, rather than focus on the likes of Fabregas and the entire Arsenal youth set-up (regularly lauded as a blueprint by Arsene’s media admirers) the press have focussed on the impact made by one United player. Fabregas has been a star of English football for the past 4 seasons, so am I paranoid in thinking that the press have saved their bile for United alone?

Anyway, back to Federico. Until Sunday’s miracle, United were mired in a striker crisis seemingly without solution. With Berbatov injured (and lackadaisacal when fit), Rooney suspended (and likely to be out again very soon when he once again fails to hold on to his temper), Tevez ineffective (he got nowhere near a goal despite a superhuman effort on Sunday) and with very few goals coming from a midfield of Giggs, Fletcher and Carrick, most us had assumed we’d be totally reliant on our number 7 once more.

What Macheda offers, and the others lack, then, is confidence. Coming off the back of a hat-trick in the reserves, the 17 year-old possessed a desire and confidence absent over the past month when our only league win in March up at Newcastle owed as much to The Magpies woeful defending. Had Tevez received the ball in the way Macheda had in the 92nd minute, we would not have won that game. The Argentine hasn’t really troubled the scorers all season and, aside from a wonder goal against Fulham in the cup, he seems to be playing from memory. Taking this into account, at the moment, Macheda, despite his youth, is probably second in the pecking order behind Rooney. In fact the prospect of such an aggressive pair linking together could transform United’s season.

As for that strike. Well it hasn’t won us anything, but I can’t remember getting as excited by a league goal since the John O’Shea winner at Anfield a couple of seasons ago, which again came at the end of a game where we were lucky to be second best. Should he never score another goal in the shirt and should united fail in their quest to match Liverpool’s title record this season, there will always be a part of every United fan’s hearts reserved for the Italian.

Forza Kiko.

never the twain

It is an historical quirk that the two biggest clubs in English football have contested only a handful of league title races between them, none of which could be described as a classic.

Unlike the incestuous relationships between the likes of Celtic and Rangers, the reigns of United and Liverpool tend to run in lengthy periods of domination and supplication. Like one of those clocks with the man and woman on them that seem destined never to meet, these periods such as United’s recent domination or Liverpool’s hegemony during the 70s and 80s, sees one of the rivals out for the count while the relentlessly hoovers up silverware. 

None of United’s 17 title successes have come as following a direct head-to-head fight with their bitterest rivals. In fact Manchester City have been involved in more memorable title scraps with us than Liverpool, taking the 1968 title courtesy of an inspired performance at Old Trafford in mid-March that blossomed into a confident run-in while United faded (sound familiar). The same could be said of Everton, whose annual tussles with Liverpool made the mid – 80s a bit more interesting.

The first season (1946-47 ) after football resumed following the Second World War saw the closest title race between United and Liverpool. The Merseysiders triumphing following a 1-0 victory at their place in early May, winning their 5th league title by a single point. In 1963-64 Bill Shankly’s Liverpool secured the title by three points following a 3-0 win over Busby’s men, again at Anfield. In 1975-76 Tommy Doc’s tearaways lost out in a 3 way tussle with Liverpool and QPR while the 1979-80 race ended with Sexton’s Army storming to six straight wins before losing to Leeds on the final day of the season, missing out on the title by two points. Ever since the title races won by either side have been fairly emphatic over one another.

United have won tight title run-ins over Villa, Blackburn, Newcastle, Arsenal and more recently Chelsea. None of these clubs could claim to be special rivals of United. And when the reds lost the 1968 title to City it didn’t matter so much because every Mancunian egg had been firmly thrown in the European Cup basket.

This term, with the magical number 18 looming over preceedings and Liverpool, like United last year, about to embark upon some emotional commemorations of their own, the run-in will be charged with meaning. Thankfully United won’t be playing Liverpool in the Champions League as the opportunity for certain supporters to bring shame on the club would have been hard to resist.

Instead, this spring will be illuminated by a special title race, at a unique time in both club’s histories. Liverpool, for so long dismissed as last-minute chancers, appear to have the edge in terms of tactics, form and leadership at the crucial moment. United have the points advantage, the better players and the opportunity to make history. Come the end of May the inhabitants of one city will be celebrating like there’s no tomorrow while the other will be studiously ignoring the TV and refusing to answer calls.

I still take United to do it but it’s going to be mighty close.

Games in hand 1 – 4 points clear

In light of recent events I thought an update would be timely.

First off let me congratulate Liverpool on their win last week – no sarcasm here, just a genuine well-played for beating the best team in the country. Most reds were predicting that we’d put away the title last week at home in some style but Liverpool were too good on the day. United looked lethargic, made uncharacterstic errors and Torres in particular exposed a few weaknesses at the back. Still the 1-4 scoreline was possibly a bit lop-sided but losing by one or six doesn’t really matter a loss is a loss.

The national euphoria surrounding the result was harder to take. Ok, so it was United’s first league defeat since November and ended an 11 game winning streak.Yes, it gives Liverpool and Chelsea a slight opportunity to take advantage but the feeling persists that the foundations for number 18 have been carefully laid, only a freak event could prevent United from equalling Liverpool’s title record. The race has hardly been ‘blown wide open’. Once again, Liverpool wanted it more, United made mistakes that were punished and then chased the game and were punished further but, aside from gloating about how United lost, let’s not make it out to be any more than that.

After today’s Champions League draw it would seem inevitable that United will be hot favourites to land the quintuple. Perhaps this is the real reason behind last week’s over-reaction to scouse glory. United have been handed the ‘easy’ side of the draw with Porto and then Arsenal or Villareal. All three are good teams, none are particularly scary, scouse or managed by a Dutchman with a brilliant track-record in tournament football (which is what the CL now becomes).

If United aren’t in their 4th European Cup Final this May there will have been an almighty loss of form or a large dose of the kind of bad luck Fergie was referring to this week when he dismissed talk of United performing a clean sweep. The bonus, as far as our title race rivals is concerned, is that Liverpool and Chelsea will meet again with the potential to bruise each other sufficiently enough to ease the path to the title.

Forget the nonsense spouted by Rafa last week, the most consistent team in Europe over the past 5 years have been Chelsea. Semi-final defeats to Monaco and Liverpool in 04 & 05, knocked out by eventual champs Barca in 06, by Liverpool again in 07 and the defeat to us last season means they’ve been in the last four in 4 out of 5 seasons and I’d back a repeat of last season’s Moscow final in Rome this year with, as seems inevitable in these cases, a Chelsea win to balance out the karma and satisfy the ABUs.

home is where the heart is

We are only 16 games in but a few surprising quirks in form already look likely to define this season’s title race.

For the past few seasons the champions have finished with 85-90 points. Since Arsenal’s unbeaten season (2003/4) successive champions have dominated teams at home averaging 50 points out of a possible 57, yet the top two in the league at the present time have patently struggled on their own patch. Chelsea and Liverpool have just 8 wins out of a possible 16 between them from their ‘banker’ games, although in the Londoners defence they can point to fixtures against other Big Four teams. By contrast both teams are flying away from home Chelsea winning all 8 away games and Liverpool 6 out of 8.

Most pundits have put the pair’s home failings down to the defensive tactics of their opponents. As United discovered on Saturday evening, a team willing to play a 10 man in defence can last a long time against even the most tested and motivated team. Yet for Liverpool in particular, tame goalless draws against Stoke, Fulham and West Ham point to a psychological shotcoming rather than a tactical failing.

United have watched teams metaphorically ‘park the bus’ in front of goal for nearly two decades now and overcoming it has become second nature to players and supporters down the years. As Nemanja Vidic demonstrated against Sunderland, it’s not always the most talented of players who breaks the deadlock but the most determined. The Serbian’s inspired jog into the penalty area meant hasty re-writes of premature obituaries on United’s title defence but it also underlined the importance of a kitchen sink approach lacking in recent Liverpool failures. Some may say United ‘got lucky’ but I didn’t see the same ‘never say die’ determination from the Merseysiders and this may ulitmately have an impact on their title challenge.

For Chelsea the problem seems more endemic, a malaise seems to be afflicting the club that has little to do with what happens on the pitch. Since their initial title successes under Mourinho, Roman Abramovitch seems to have grown bored with the whole business of owning a football club. This state of affairs is reflected in transfer activity since their last title win. The purchase and sale of Shevchenko, the failure to land (or chase) Robinho, even the appointment of Scolari all point to a man who has moved onto pastures new. Didier Drogba’s on/off transfer requests, his behaviour in the Champions League Final and a growing sense of ennui among players and supporters reflects a club unsure of its future. At present Chelsea are financially unsustainable: they owe Roman the thick end of £700m, a loan they are unlikely to be able to repay based on their moderate income and are weighed down with some of the highest earners in the world. The mission statement to make the club self-financing by 2011 seem highly over-ambitious and the less said about Peter Kenyon’s pledge to ‘turn the world blue’ the better…

Not that everything is hunky-dory in M16. If Ronaldo’s exploits in the derby raised eyebrows, his dramatic ‘limp off’ (where’s the sniper?) against Sunderland has had conspiracy theorists alather. Meanwhile our new ballet dancer cum centre-forward hasn’t endeared himself by failing to chase forward or back in any meaningful sense since his arrival from Spurs for a Veron sized tranfer fee. The ostracisation of Tevez has resulted in a less hungry looking outfit than last term and that doesn’t bode well for the business end of the season. Then there are the habitual FA decrees and suspensions inflicted on the club because, oh yes, we’re Manchester United. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got docked points for spoiling Brian Barwick’s Saturday night out next…

On the other hand, Rooney appears refreshed, Carrick looks like he’s come of age as a midfield leader/playmaker and Darren Fletcher is having a breakthrough season as his tough tackling deputy. Tokyo is just around the corner and United, the only English team to win the World Club Championship, are likely to become the first to win the new FIFA sanctioned competition. I suppose it could be worse…

The Real Deal?

Seven wins out of nine – two against Big Four teams – has put Liverpool on top of the world (ok the Premiership) for the first time under Benitez. But should we be worried?

Sunday’s historic 1-0 victory over Chelsea seems to have convinced most scousers that ‘this is their year’. For the few undecideds the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough will almost certainly convince them that title number 19 will be paraded around Anfield this May.

It seems a little early in the league title marathon to start proclaiming Liverpool’s start as definitive while it would also be churlish to denigrate 23 points out of a possible 27 as a flash in the pan. Liverpool have won games coming from behind and from out in front. They are clearly the form team in the Premiership so far along with new boys Hull. They’ve also laid a few bogeys to rest, finding late goals and making inspired comebacks as and when required – their start to the season feels like an insired cup-run at the moment.

Yet for all their victories there are still signs of the old failings. At City they were abject until a sending off got them off the hook. They looked stodgy at best in several home victories and almost scared to take the game by the scruff of the neck away to Villa, a team Chelsea royally stuffed before the last round of internationals. The same could be said of their fortuitous win over us.

Perhaps the most significant result wasn’t the wins against United or Chelsea but the draw with Stoke. Liverpool have always had the capacity to beat a member of the Big Four it’s just that they’ve generally done it when it doesn’t matter. On many occasions big decisions have gone against them – for whatever reason they’ve been coming from behind from the start of the season. This time they’ve showed the two richest clubs in the league they mean business and Torres was hardly a factor in either game.

Yet what will dictate their final league position will be their ability to break teams down at home. The 0-0 draw with Stoke was the sole example this season of Liverpool’s failure to deal with the added pressure of favouritism. Faced by a massed defence Liverpool carved out chance after chance but contrived to miss the lot. Scousers will point to Gerrard’s disallowed goal, but champions don’t tend to be denied by one decision now do they?

Looking at the runners and riders it’s hard to look beyond home form as they key to this season’s title race. Chelsea have only won two of their five home games (even drawing with Ramos’ Spurs, an achievement in itself), Arsenal (now the rank outsiders) have lost to Hull and traditionally suffer when up against the 10 man defence while United tend to steamroller opposition – with Berba now added to the Holy Trinity they should be even less likely to drop points at home.

The proof will be in Liverpool’s easier fixtures at home, after all the title is now theirs to lose.

Can Ronaldo ever win us over?

Your dinner's in the dog...

 

Back in June I was fairly dismissive of the view that Ronaldo owed  us anything. Later, I regarded the summer long transfer saga with Madrid as unfortunate yet inevitable following Ronny’s recent success. What I hadn’t counted on was how far from my affections for our no.7 would fall and it seems I’m not alone. I am now at the point where watching him trick and feint is becoming nauseating…

 

 

There’s a definite unease among supporters regarding Ronaldo. There were a lot of emotional wrecks last summer but I wasn’t one of them. I’m older you see, seen them come seen them go and they always fare worst when they’ve gone – this is the United rule, the only way is down when you leave, Sir Matt knew this, Sir Alex knows it, the fans know it.

What happened next was strange – with Ronnie’s change of heart I assumed it would be business as usual and that I’d just accept his return to the team with good grace but it seems I was wrong. I have now gone from having mixed feelings to openly wishing he’d left for Madrid to begin the long journey endured by every former United player that always ends in oblivion or not representing United as it is more widely known.

It’s a shame really. Ronaldo was such a dominant figure last season, he took centre stage in virtually every match (large or small) and became a source of pride for all of a red persuasion from his ability to take the piss on the pitch to his barely guarded contempt for the press off it. 43 goals, dozens of assists and a mountain of fawning press cuttings – if ever a player single-handedly won a double it was the Portuguese. He played so well that outstanding footballers such as Rooney and Tevez were demoted to the role of mere assistants. We forgot all about our lack of a ‘hold-it-up’ striker or the absence of a proper right-back, we didn’t need either with Ronnie out there.

Which is why it’s all the more frustrating watching the soon to be crowned ‘Best Player in the World’ wear a United shirt. Why do my guts turn over (and not in a good way) when he gets the ball? Why do his feints and tricks leave me cold? Am I just being a petulant bastard for wanting him away? Am I female? I know I should be Christian about it, forgive the fucker and get on with the season, except we all know it’s his last. Not only that but he’s playing in place of someone who could be a 100% proof red legend (Tevez, Nani) or already is (Giggs) or maybe somone we could have signed as replacement (Messi!).

So is there any way back for us and Ronnie or is it separate beds until next summer’s window re-opens?

I’ll admit now that this has nothing to do with his effort on the pitch, his fitness is returning and goals will inevitably flow and there’s no doubt that he’ll be our best player again this season. But that’s not nearly enough. I need an act of contrition, perhaps a few sweet nothings sprinkled with humility and a few portions of humble pie consumed before my eyes before I’ll think about being alright about it.

As far as I’m concerned he has done the footballing equivalent of wandering home at breakfast time with a nose full of Columbian Marching Powder having clearly stated that he’d be back after last orders. It’s tricky ‘cos he hasn’t been caught balls deep in the next door neighbour so it’s not a straight red – but a simple ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t cover it either. He needs to do the washing-up for a week to convince me he’s sorry, either that or take all that shit to Stretford Tip before I feel like forgiving him.

I’m still not sure whether I can (sob)…

a laid back hero in a fevered age

Not a tracksuit in sight

 

So, United are beginning to find a little form and have a lengthy run of more than fixtures it seems we may be in for a treat, last night’s injury to Paul Scholes not withstanding.

Dimitar Berbatov’s brace on his European debut was really a gift, both goals came as a result of poor Danish defending, but the nonchalance with which the Bulgarian accepted the chances and the restrained nature of his celebrations underlined his potential as a natural successor to you know who.

Berbatov has been slow off the mark. His first two games at Chelsea and Liverpool didn’t help, although he did set up Tevez’s goal in front of the Kop – the game at Stamford Bridge was far too fast for anyone of skill to really influence the game.

Yet in the second half against Bolton there were signs that he’d finally settled into some kind of form, a delightful over the shoulder cross being a particular highlight. Last night he missed a sitter in the opening five minutes but later, after he’d opened his account following a Danish defensive howler, his touches were reminiscent of Cantona at his best, a back heel flick for Nani and another perfectly weighted ball for Ronaldo should have added to United’s tally in Denmark.

Not only that but amid the overgrown teenagers in United’s squad Dimitar lends an air of sophistication, a contrast to Anderson’s endless hair experiments, Cristiano’s acne and Wayne’s puppy fat. His arrival at Old Trafford on transfer deadline day dressed in sober yet stylish attire was a good sign. His cool utterances since have conveyed the kind of maturity United sometimes lack, typical of this was his reference to his scissor-kick second goal as a ‘tap-in’. Berba is definetely not a member of Wayne’s posse.

Some have claimed that Berba’s unwillingness to track back or close down counter-attacks is a weakness. They have also accused the Bulgar of a lack of energy. One over-paid football columnist derided him as ’static’, ‘it certainly makes him easier to dust’ he opined. This is so obviously an ABU wind-up that it’s not worthy of a response.

On a more general note it has to be said that ‘working your bollocks off’ remains one of the most overrated abilities a footballer can have. It is a typically British response to claim, after a defeat or a disappointment, that at least such and such a player ’sweated blood for the cause’. I don’t think they say that in Italy or Brazil – but what do they know, they only have the 9 World Cups between them…

The beauty of Berba’s performances so far have been the cameo pieces of control and the understanding he is establishing with his youthful colleagues. Amid the strain and commitment of Tevez and Rooney and the multiple stepovers and Drama Queen behavior of the Portuguese contingent, Berba’s laid back attitude to the art of goalscoring is a cause for celebration not scorn. A star has most defintely been born.

Setanta offer test of Carragher’s claims

Jamie Carragher’s claims last week that some England players care more about playing for their clubs than their country struck a nerve. With a rising number of early retirements from International football and supporter apathy toward the national team growing by the game, the scouse totem might, for once, to have it about right.

Carragher’s comments last season that England attracted more support from the south than the north were under-reported (possibly because he wasn’t then trying to sell his autobiography) but those supporters of the likes of United and Liverpool knew what he meant. Both these clubs (and the cities they represent) regard themselves as seperate in heart and mind from the rest of the country.

Both cities exist on an altogether higher plane than any other city in the UK with the exception of some of the more clued-up parts of London. Manchester and Liverpool are cultural capitals in a way that places like Reading and Watford (or even Edinburgh and Cardiff) could never hope to be. Regular exposure to Europe has engendered an easy way with foreign languages among their fans, promoting a curiosity about foreign culture and an appreciation for the joys of travel not appreciated in the rest of the country. When Mancs and scousers travel abroad they know the score and it doesn’t include belting out ‘No Surrender’ in the middle of a French cafe. The fame of the two clubs has also lured foreigners to visit the two cities, revel in the nightlife and sample an England a million miles away from the Trafalgar Square pigeon feeding cockernee stereotype. 

England’s support, by contrast, tends to come from the less successful clubs – from supporters who, by and large, don’t get to travel abroad too often. Unaware of the rules and willing to play up to the British Bulldog image they fall in with the NF sympathisers. England’s support may have changed in the last decade or so but not rapidly enough to rid us completely of the idiots.

Yet it is results on the pitch that will define how England are regarded. Slaven Bilic’s comments regarding the England team recently were spot on – they have shown little or no improvement since the sides met last year, if anything England have gone backwards under Capello.

An accurate barometer of how the team are regarded will come tomorrow when Setanta’s viewing figures are released. This game is only available via satellite only and at a cost of £10 a month - a decent amount in tight times. Having shelled out an incredible £5 million to televise this tie, Setanta clearly expect a big boost in subscriptions but it’s a hell of a gamble, especially when there is so little confidence and enthusiasm for the team for the reason stated above. Should England fail, and the viewing figures hit an all-time low, then the future of International football will be in serious doubt in this country.