Are the drugs tests, driving bans and homophobia behind him?

In a poll run by The Spoiler last week, just fourteen per cent of you believed Rio Ferdinand should be England captain, with Stevie G taking the lion’s share of the votes (forty-seven per cent). Perhaps Rio is still seen by many as a loose cannon who busies himself with ‘merking’ and attempting to break the sound barrier on the motorway. However, after a slick press conference and some carefully chosen words of maturity, we are now led to believe that the defender is a reformed character in strong contention for the permanent captain’s position.

Is the new Rio the result of some media training and a Capello-orchestrated plan to temporarily keep the armband away from John Terry, or has Mr Ferdinand really turned a corner? Votes and comments below, please.