England - 2012 European Qualifiers

If only Capello had listened to me for the 2010 World Cup. I have written that Joe Hart should start for England and had it happened Robert Green would not have the chance to drop the clanger and have his reputation intact and England could have a greater start. You see, you always aim to start well like teeing off on the first tee of the first hole at a golf course as it could be a defining moment. I have advocated that James Milner should start too as he delivers great crosses, something which Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright Philips could never do. I even suggested that Adam Johnson should be given a crack as he is a class act with self-confidence and always assured, someone who when needed could hold the ball unlike Lennon and SWP who run around fast but like headless chickens. I have also declared Theo Walcott being a better impact player and should have gone to South Africa and also like I said about Jermaine Defoe. Defoe must be given a good run.

Well, England's 2012 European Qualifying campaigns has kicked off to a roaring start. It is a blessing in disguise because the established John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard were out injured. Whether you like it or not, older established people whether at work or at play are one of these three: (1) you are not really that good but at the time you were among the best available and because you have been around you think too highly of yourself, (2) you are really quite good and have been a fixture for some time but you think too greatly of yourself yet at the same time you had better play it safe in case you lose out, (3) you are truly excellent yet humble and give your lot even though you have been around. Now you are the boss, who would you take? Experienced players give stability as they have great experience but if you had never try out the younger players, the fringe players and when it is time to call on them how can they be ready? Michael Dawson (Spurs) and Phil Jagielka (Everton) more than held their own against Bulgaria and Jagielka actually gave the England defence much needed pace which has been sorely lacking. Adam Johnson gave hell to all defences whenever he played and has scored in each of England's game against Bulgaria and now Switzerland just coming in as a substitute. A player of his class who totally kept SWP out of Manchester City the whole of last season and now keeping expensive signing Spanish international David Silva out of the team and not playing for his country? When you are good enough, you are old enough. I would suggest that Steven Gerrard belongs to (3) which I have mentioned earlier. He was not at his all-action best but he did what he had to do well enough against the Swiss.

He always leads by example and let's hope he doesn't get into some peeing action or sex scandal like the rest. Rooney obviously didn't learn from Tiger Woods. He didn't even learn from John Terry(ble), Peter (caught in a crouch) Crouch or (C)Ashley Cole. Maybe it was his past catching up with him. They should simply cut their pay and give some to me and I will show them how it is done. Meantime, Joe Hart is set to bring back glory to some good old English goalkeeping. This lad is having fun, courageous and fearless. He will go far. This in some way is a redemption for Capello and his England team and considering the Swiss being the only team to beat Spain in the World Cup and very experienced hand in Ottmar Hitzfeld as the helm if Switzerland, winning 3-1 away from home against a very goo defensive team was a tremendous result. So who says you can't play well and win without some players? It is all a fallacy.

Give youth a chance. England has often fared well in Under-21 international tournaments and they should try to keep the nucleus of the team. Look at Singapore's very own Youth Olympic Games (YOG) soccer heroes. Do not hesitate to put players in their place as no one is indispensable.

The Club versus Country saga will continue. Arsene Wenger once said that it is like taking your car away from you for a week or so then returning it in poor working condition with no petrol in the tank. Harry Redknapp will feel the brunt of it this weekend as his captain Michael Dawson is out for six weeks and Jermaine Defoe, England's hattrick hero was injured against the Swiss. This will cripple Spurs. Chelsea looks like dominating again this weekend as they have been transformed into a great attacking team.

Singaporeans are always complaining. Trains too congested, not enough car parks, floods now and then, property prices soaring. Golfers complain when it is too hot, when it rains, when they have to stop play because of lightning and I'm in the midst of a long term plan to lead a consortium of interested people, businessman, investors and golfers to build the world's first indoor fully air-conditioned, rain and lightning proofed golf course may be through a company called Moonshine Empire or another appropriate name. If we were to just compare our problems with others elsewhere and you will soon realize that ours are too minute. Let us count our blessings. England cannot complain if you look at France losing 0-1 at home to Belarus even if your top striker was caught on camera peeing in a drain.

Okay, I have a genuine complaint. Thanks to our service providers who always want the best for us, I am ever so grateful to note that watching the same sports channel now, I have to actually end up forking out $12 per month more than before from two different providers. It means I have to go find some extra moolas. For this, I demand the footage of star players peeing in drains to be added but restricted as R(A). Just kidding but money flying away like that is like pee flowing in the drain. You get the drift.