England captain preoccupied by household furnishings

Speaking on BBC Five Live, Rio Ferdinand shared some reassuring words concerning the effect of Gary Neville’s injury on the Manchester United side:

“Giggsy has stepped in and taken up the mantelpiece”

He went on to say that Patrice Evra is doing well taking up the grandfather clock and the window sills are in good hands with Nemanja Vidic.

[Popbitch]

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.