United victory could have huge consequences

Yesterday's victory for Manchester United over Chelsea could have a big rippling effect on both sides. The Londoners must now be resigned to a season without a single trophy making it's way into the Stamford Bridge cabinet. A scenario that over the last few weeks we have learned won't please big spending owner Roman Abramovich one bit. Carlo Ancelotti could be on his last legs, despite last seasons double, and a summer of huge spending could be on the cards. Despite January's £70m+ spree.

In the northwest however, Manchester United are on the verge of greatness. Barring a huge collapse Sir Alex Ferguson has achieved his goal with a 19th league title, knocking neighbours and rivals Liverpool off that perch. Something Red Devils fans were ecstatic about as the exited Old Trafford following that 2-1 win.

Despite this massive achievement though, the biggest test is still to come. On Saturday May 28th at Wembley they will come up against the side thought to be the best in the world, Barcelona. A team who are just one point away from securing another league title themselves, and a team for whom Lionel Messi hasn't stopped scoring all season long. Pep Guardiola has led the praise for the soon to be English Champions, but knows he faces one hell of a challenge. If they go into the game fearing the Spaniards United will be obliterated, however if they take the game to them and give no space a double can certainly be achieved.

And after becoming the side to win England's top flight the most times what could be next record for Fergie to try and topple. Well adding a fourth European cup would put them one behind Liverpool's record haul. Now that would rub salt into the wounds and would delight Fergie no end. I certainly wouldn't bet against it.

Capello hints at weakness

When the now infamous one sided 12-minute meeting took place at Wembley last year, it should've been the last time John Terry got near the England captaincy.

Fabio Capello himself even stated his decision to strip the armband from the Chelsea defender was irreversible.

That added to the farce witnessed in Copenhagen recently, when with the exception of Terry, every player, steward and fan seemingly got the chance to captain England.

It seemed to further highlight the Italians initial remarks.

Now though with Rio Ferdinand, the man who was awarded the captaincy, suffering from more and more injury woes and number two Steven Gerrard also out the door is open for JT.

The mind boggles.

It is one game versus Wales, why couldn't Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole or Gareth Barry fill in in the absence of Ferdinand and Gerrard?

The Liverpool midfielder has also been praised by Capello when filling in for the Manchester United defender.

This latest move hints at desperation.

There is no doubt Terry is a born leader, but when the man in top job states "he will never be my captain again" the country took it as fact.

Now fans of the Three Lions will be questioning the motivation of the man who stirred such anticipation in the build up to last years World Cup.

Not only that, but communication in the FA could also come under the spotlight.

As Capello's own number two, Franco Baldini, phones Rio to assure him that the Terry rumours were simply that and to not take them seriously.

But a day later it is revealed that the rumours were spot on, and now we are hearing that Ferdinand is naturally very upset.

Lack of communication, desperation, and potential division in the squad and a manager who now doesn't stick to his word.

English football could be in trouble, and it could be highlighted in extreme fashion in the Millennium stadium later this month.

England disappoint against Montenegro!

After that shambles in the summer, England fans were once again beginning to get optimistic following a series of victories.

Added into this mix was the emergence of new talents, think Adam Johnson, and it was widely believed that Euro 2012 qualification was a mere formality.

But who are England to disappoint, and right on cue they have reminded their public that this isn't the case with a very poor performance.

Should this have been against one of the top sides, a draw wouldn't seem so bad but it was against the side tipped to finish bottom of the group.

Well that certainly is the case if you tip the current table upside down.

Added into the mix is also their current standing in the FIFA rankings, where Montenegro sit fortieth one ahead of Colombia and just behind Burkina Faso.

Montenegran fans celebrated like they had won at the final whistle at Wembley and who could blame them, if it wasn't for a lick of paint they could well have done.

But with Joe Hart well beat Milan Jovanovic's shot shuddered off the bar, and reminded England not to be too complacent.

The Sixth ranked best side in the world dominated possession for the most part, but struggled to make any real openings.

And when they did they found a keeper in top form, with Mladen Bozovic proving the last line in what was mostly a very staunch defence.

People connected with the national side will point to the clear penalty that should have been awarded when Jovanovic handled in the box.

But the truth is England shouldn't struggle to break these sides down, even if they settle for the most part.

Ashley Young and Adam Johnson may be the positives to take out of the game, with both being lively but during the course of the whole game not seeing enough of the ball.

Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole were also subdued in attacking from their full back berths, something we are all to used to seeing.

Most worrying of all though for Fabio Capello and Sir Alex Ferguson alike, will be another subdued performance from Wayne Rooney.

The Manchester United striker of a few months ago would have buried the two chances that fell his way, but on the night Bozovic thwarted him.

Injuries should have subsided by the next qualifier in Cardiff in March, but before that is the friendly against France at Wembley next month.

A stark improvement is needed if the three lions are to get back on track.

Ferdinand back as captain

Column inches have been filled with debate about the England captaincy, ever since Steven Gerrard stepped in for the injured Rio Ferdinand.

The Liverpool man gave Fabio Capello a huge headache by leading from the front, and proving an inspiration as he dragged England out of the mire and pulled the side forward.

However with the Manchester United defender back from injury, the decision has been made up ahead of Wednesday's game.

Rio will retain the armband, but it is hugely unlikely that the debate will end there.

If England do struggle against Montenegro at Wembley, both Ferdinand and Capello will once again be put under huge pressure.

But the most concerning of all will be the effect this will have on Gerrard.

He thrived as the leader of his c0untry, proving the talisman the country have always cried for from him.

This decision though could prove a huge confidence sap, and he could drift back into putting in mediocre performances.

A man who looks like he is well and truly shackled.

However this isn't the only problem concerning the England hierarchy.

Injuries have once again become took their toll, with Phil Jagielka's injury meaning it is likely Joleon Lescott will take a place in the starting eleven.

However Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent are also out, with Peter Crouch favourite to partner the out of sorts Wayne Rooney in attack.

Despite this though, the spotlight will no doubt be cast around Ferdinand and Gerrard as England look to build on their winning ways.

Capello faces selection dilemma following squad announcement

Kevin Davies has hit the headlines following Fabio Capello's squad announcement for the upcoming game against Montenegro.

The 33-year-old Bolton striker will make his debut if he takes to the Wembley turf next Wednesday, with him vying for a spot along with Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and Darren Bent.

Davies' selection owes much to injuries to Jermain Defoe, Bobby Zamora and Gabriel Agbonlahor, although he has beaten Newcastle's Andy Carroll who was tipped to win a place.

Despite this though it is in the centre of defence where the Italian faces the biggest problem.

Manchester United and Chelsea stars Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are both recalled to the squad, and will be favourite to partner each other against the Europeans minnows.

However that would of course be extremely hard on Phil Jagielka, who has performed admirably whilst deputising for the Three Lions.

The Everton centre back would rightfully feel hard done by if dropped, with Capello also facing a big decision about whether to reinstate Ferdinand as captain.

Steven Gerrard has taken the armband in his absence, and a lot of debate enraging about Rio's return.

Many people are in favour of the Liverpool midfielder keeping the arm band, which would make the most sense for the side.

Surely Ferdinand has a lot more on his mind, e.g regaining fitness and a regular slot for both club and country again, rather than being burdened by captaincy.

Elsewhere Joe Hart will continue between the sticks, but we could see a new face in midfield.

Gareth Barry and Gerrard will surely get starts with Adam Johnson also a favourite, but the final place could be up for grabs.

Any one of Tom Huddlestone, Joe Cole, Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jack Wilshire and Ashley Young could grab that final spot.

Despite the debate over personnel though it should be a fairly straight forward victory for England, with nothing else to be tolerated.

National Cups Devalued

As the League Cup gets underway once again this week, it is clear that year on year not just this but now the FA Cup are increasingly getting devalued.

For a number of years now the League Cup has been seen as the competition for the lower sides, with the bigger ones instead deciding to give their younger stars a run out.

And although over recent years we have seen the likes of Manchester United put out a first team in the business end of the tournament, they have still relied on the future stars to get them to that stage.

It was only in the second leg of the Manchester derby semi-final that Sir Alex Ferguson called upon his senior stars.

Now though we are also seeing the FA Cup follow down the very same road, with the FA selling out this great tradition for the Champions League.

It is known that the more respected of our national cups takes place one week before the finale of Europe's premier competition.

However with the Champions League heading to Wembley for this years final, the FA find themselves in hot water with a Fifa ruling.

That ruling is that no play can commence of the pitch where the Champions League will take place for two full weeks before the Showpiece.

That means the FA have no choice but to move the final of the tournament that encapsulates the heart of a nation, to a week earlier on the final day on the regular Premier League season.

Meaning it will become nothing but another fixture, just like the League Cup final has become over the last decade or so.

The days of the old romance of the cup, and England's footballing world coming to a stand still on final day could be coming to an end.

If this is the case it would be such a shame, let's just hope next season the cup recovers and the FAs sell out doesn't have any major impact.

Time for England's new breed

Tomorrow night the World Cup flops who carried the hopes of a nation on their shoulders this summer, roll back into town and take centre stage of Wembley.

Fabio Capello's troops face Hungary, a side ranked significantly lower in the Fifa World Rankings and one that should be tossed a side with little complaint.

However there are new faces in this squad, players who given a good performance could replace some of the World Cup 'stars' on a permanent basis.

Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere are the most exciting of the new inclusions, with the Arsenal youngsters set to be main stays of the national side for years to come.

That is if they get enough game time for their clubs, which shouldn't be a problem give the fact that Arsene Wenger has rejected loan bids for some of his young stars.

Fellow Gunner Theo Walcott is also back, with Adam Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Joe Hart, and Bobby Zamora amongst others also getting a chance to impress the Italian.

Hart and Johnson are also future stars in the making, but the rest with have to put in a sterling performance to impress a deflated nation.

Hungary, boosted by Fulham man Zoltan Gera, aren't expected to do much in this game but secretly could just fancy their chance.

After all they are playing a side in disarray, deflated after a poor summer and further rocked by retirements of players called into the squad for this game.

What ever you think of Paul Robinson and Wes Brown though will be irrelevant come kick off, all eyes will be the Wembley pitch where a win is a must!

If either a poor display, a loss or both occur Capello really could have a problem on his hands with just a month to go until the European Championship qualifiers.