Better late than never

1. England have a good first XI. Spain have a very good squad

Starting last night’s match in Bosnia without Ramos, Xavi, Torres or Villa, Spain still smashed five past a side who were unbeaten at home in Group Five. By contrast, England laboured, and were outpossessed for swathes of the match against Belarus.
Critical injuries and suspensions in previous tournaments have often put paid to England’s chances. In 2006, the Italian XI who beat France contained four changes from their opening match against Ghana. Could England survive four players missing from their first choice line-up?

2. Beckham’s MOTM award says more about Lennon et al, than it does about Steve Bruce

National outrage, complaints to OFCOM, even Fabio Capello seemed mildly amused at Steve Bruce’s selection of David Beckham as Man of the Match last night. But there can be no doubt that the right side flourished when Becks came on, and all of a sudden England looked a threat from both flanks, rather than just the left.
Bentley, Walcott, Lennon - all have tried to displace Becks since Steve McLaren tried to axe him back in 2006. Yet over three years later, only the bearded one looks certain to make England’s world cup squad next summer.

3. Maybe it does all even itself out Brian

Cut to any professionally dull football pundit in the aftermath of a shocking refereeing decision or late equaliser, and they will, having mulled it over for a little while, cerebrally conclude that, “at the end of the day, it all evens itself out.” And events in Washington last night, appear for once to vindicate this viewpoint.
Having scored an added time equaliser during their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final against Mexico this summer, the ‘Ricans’ were undone by Jonathan Bornstein’s 95th minute header for the United States last night, which sent Honduras to South Africa, and Costa Rica to Uruguay.
Or U R Gay as Homer Simpson famously misread it.

With Berbatov bound for the exit, it looks like Ledley King - aka. Mr Tottenham - could be joining him.

The feeling is that Ramos is going to spend the summer refashioning the team that he inherited from Martin Jol. Rumours have been flying around that Lennon, Huddlestone and Jenas will all be surplus to requirements at the new look Spurs, and now, by not confirming King as next season’s skipper, it looks like the Ramos overhaul is going to be even more gigantic than expected.

And who could blame him?

Mr King celebrates the Carling win Essex-style

Despite instilling a strict dietary regime on his Spurs team, Juande Ramos sent his victorious lot off for a calorific tipple following yesterday’s Carling Cup win. Like flies to a closed window, booze-hungry Premier League stars including Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Hutton, Steed Malbranque, Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas and Ledley King were drawn to Faces nightclub in Essex.