Also appearing on a computer near you

Reflect on days gone by with The Jam!

More trouble at Portsmouth

[The Daily Mail]

Emile Heskey under the microscope

[Mirror Football]

Tomas Rosicky rocks out, man!

[Pies]

Terry and Bellamy get the cartoon treatment

[Studs Up]

Dress smart/casual like Steven Gerrard!

[Kickette]

Liverpool line up a double swoop

[Caught Offside]

Anyone for Zamora?… Repeat, anyone for Zamora?

With the season hotting up to around Excitement Factor 8, or, at a push, 9, the England team magnifying glass will surely be focusing on names that might yet force themselves into the squad for the World Cup.

It’s not been a great few months for the likes of Glen Johnson, Theo Walcott, Wes Brown, Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge, Aaron Lennon and the like. Add the fact that players such as Michael Carrick and Emile Heskey haven’t exactly had the most fruitful seasons either, and all of a sudden there might be a fair few spots up for grabs.

A few names floating around, rumoured to be possible gatecrashers, have included Leighton Baines, Tom Huddlestone, Roger Johnson, and even Bobby Zamora.

But who would YOU like to see forcing their way into the squad come the summer? Let us know with a comment.

Also appearing on a computer near you

Clear the gloom with some cheerful football stadium Reggae!

Soccerlens Awards - VOTE FOR THE SPOILER

[Soccerlens] 

Sol Campbell sues Portsmouth

[Eurosport]

Get the Tottenham Hotspur look!

[Kickette]

Why Heskey could be the key to United success

[The Telegraph]

New striker in Liverpool’s eyeline

[Caught Offside]

Gerrard makes his feelings clear

[Pies]

Some wonderful free transfers

[The Daily Mail]

Heskey - decisions, decisions

Whilst the rest of the nation laments the loss of Crimbo for another year, and returns to their old 2009 jobs, Emile Heskey’s frantic mind will have been whirring like an old screen projector in an art house cinema. The man has big decisions to make.

According to his boss, Martin O’Neill:

“I don’t really want to sell players but I don’t have a clue what might happen in January at this stage.”

It has long been thought that Heskey will move away from Villa for some first team action with the World Cup looming, but in recent weeks, he has been starting matches.

Add the fact that possible destinations include Liverpool and Chelsea - one club faring less well than his present home, the other surely only good until Drog-Drog returns from Africa at the end of January - and a wise head would surely advise the striker to stay put.

Wigan and Sunderland are also in the mix.

But what do YOU think that Emile should do this January? Let us know with a vote and a comment.

Literary SPOILER alert!

Without wanting to get far too hoity toity about it, there is a wonderful line in The Great Gatsby that goes something like:

“Can’t repeat the past?… Why of course you can!”

In that example, a deluded millionaire was attempting to relive his early years by hooking up with the same gal that dazzled him as a young man, only now it would be even better.

Now, far be in for The Spoiler to ruin a good book for anyone who hasn’t read it, but let’s just say that he ends up dead, and hardly anyone bothers to attend his funeral.

Anyway, the point being that Rafa Benitez has seemingly gone a bit Gatsby this week, with rumours suggesting that he’s ready to splurge what small pursefuls of money he has on Emile Heskey - a man forever lurking in Liverpool’s past.

The Villa striker enjoyed four pretty decent years at Anfield in the early 2000s, but never experienced the sheer joy of working with the Spaniard. They missed one another by about a month.

The club will probably have to shift Babel, Voronin and Dossena first for this literary impersonation to come true.

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Robinho and Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona
Barcelona’s sporting director Txiki Beguiristain has revealed the Catalan giants are eyeing Robinho, with a potential January approach on the cards. The Brazilian of course has the advantage of being free to play in the Champions League. Cheeky Txiki also spoke of his desire to bring in Cesc Fabregas, brilliantly declaring that, “he was born suckling upon the teat of the football [we play] here.”

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Robinho would be tempted but how much would it take for moneybags City to agree to the deal? Fabregas could move next summer in what promises to be the most drawn-out transfer saga since Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

Emile Heskey to whoever will take him
Heskey has promised to readdress his current position at Villa as the England

Three Lions secure their place at WC2010 in style

England 5/ Croatia 1
We probably weren’t the only ones who cracked open a bottle of Santana DVX last night as England secured their place at the 2010 World Cup finals in emphatic style. Admittedly, Croatia didn’t put up a particularly strong fight - they were a shadow of the side who embarrassed England in 2007 - but Aaron Lennon was in rude health, Glen Johnson dealt with the pressure well and Emile Heskey even got a little bit close to scoring a goal.

Now then, who’s up for some celebratory music…

Has the little guy earned a place in the starting XI?

With nothing of particular interest arising from England’s friendly victory over Slovenia at the weekend, the papers are awash with the debate surrounding the England frontline.

In-form Jermain Defoe has bagged eight goals in ten appearances under Fabio Capello, which is twice as good as Wayne Rooney’s rate of return in the same period, and better than the tally that Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey has managed in the past ten years.

Under Capello’s maxim of ‘form wins places’, the Tottenham star is a shoe-in for a starting role. However, the obvious counter argument is that Wayne Rooney needs a strike partner with Heskey’s strength, height and ability to hold up the ball in order to operate at his best. And considering how Croatia tried to kick seven shades out of their opponents the last time they visited Wembley, such a physical presence from the outset could prove crucial.

So, should the serial WAG boffer retain his highly successful ’supersub’ status, or should he get to wear number 9 at Wembley on Wednesday? Votes and comments below, please…