It’s not just England who lack a decent number one

So what did we learn over the weekend then? Well the England goalkeeping problem became a little clearer, in the sense that we now know it is a real problem. Alternative candidates have come and gone, but it seems certain that David James will start “between the sticks” as football writers say, come next June.

But as Paul Wilson pointed out in a terrific article in Sunday’s Observer, the days of long-established number ones are no more. In World Cups of yore, the faces wearing green in the Panini sticker book, were recognisable to football fans up and down the country. Zoff, Zubizaretta, Oliver Kahn - you knew where you were back in the 80s and 90s. Yet now, the current Nationalmeinshaft’s nummer ein, Rene Adler, could have sat next to you on the bus this morning without your knowledge. And who would know if French custodian Steve Mandanda had delivered their mail this morning? Casillas and Buffon aside, we live in a world bereft of top keepers.

So its not just England who have problems - some comfort ahead of next summer. But what possible reason is there for this global phenomena? Light balls flying all over the place? Strikers banging the ball harder than ever? Or government anti-bullying campaigns in school stopping the infirm being forced into goal at a young age? Leave thoughts below…

Kazakhstan/ England, WC Qualifier, Sat, 4pm, Setanta Sports 1

The Three Lions could continue their 100 per cent record in 2010 World Cup Qualifiers tomorrow, something that the bookies believe is a near certainty. The Spoiler also believes Fabio Capello will bring three points back to Blighty, and will do so starting with the 4-2-3-1 formation shown above.

We believe Robert Green will earn a cap, thanks to another great domestic season and the costly errors of Mr Robinson and Mr Carson. Matthew Upson was Man of the Match on his last away start for England in Germany, and therefore gets in ahead of Joleon Lescott (who has never really shone at international level) and Gary Cahill, whose newbie status means he’s unlikely to start.

We were toying with putting Michael Carrick in ahead of Gareth ‘Moneybags’ Barry, but the Manchester Utd star was poor in the Champions League final, and his City equivalent has played almost every game under Capello.

Crouchie’s international scoring record is a thing of beauty (13 goals in the last 13 he has started), so he should keep his place over Emile Heskey (whose form has dipped since joining Aston Villa) and Carlton Cole (who has only started once in two months because he got injured on the crappy Wembley pitch).

Let us know your opinions and choices for the starting line-up below…

Stoke reserve admits he will chase compensation if others do

Former Sheffield United player Michael Tonge has revealed he would contemplate joining a legal claim against West Ham if some of his ex-teammates hold his hand. He said:

“I’m just waiting to see what comes of it. I’m not taking it upon myself to make a claim, but might consider joining one.”

The midfielder is back in the Premier League now with Stoke - and one has to wonder who he will blame if the Potters go down this summer - but Tony Pulis obviously doesn’t rate him too highly as he has started just one league game.

Tonge also showed ignorance of the situation by stating that Carlos Tevez’ goal on the final day at Old Trafford kept West Ham up

Oooh look a fancy 4-4-2 diamond formation

Obliging the interweb’s unrelenting appetite for “Best of 2008″ lists at this time of year, The Spoiler has considered the eleven players who have impressed us the most so far this season. There’s no room for well-played Brazilians or anyone who plays at Anfield or Old Trafford, and a surprise choice between the sticks…

GK Robert Green (West Ham)
Pepe Reina and Petr Cech may keep more clean sheets but they are rarely tested as much as Green, who (aside from one bad game against Bolton) has had a fantastic season. Of all the players West Ham could lose next month, it is Green’s departure that would prove the most fatal.

DL Luke Young (Aston Villa)
The Spoiler wasn’t the only one to raise eyebrows when Aston Villa paid a fee rising to £6 million to sign Young in the summer but he has delivered not just at right-back, but out of position on the left too, where he has recently been preferred to the underperforming Nicky Shorey.

DC Michael Turner (Hull)
If someone told you at the start of the season that one of Hull’s

22 days until the window is flung open

The man who was rewarded handsomely for a dismal Premier League performance looks to be interested in one or two players from White Hart Lane, and Zokora isn’t among them. More info in today’s round-up of gossip, rumours and damned lies…

West Ham players to the highest bidder
Cash-strapped West Ham will listen to any offers for a number of first team players in a bid to raise transfer funds for boss Gianfranco Zola, reports the Daily Express. High on The Italian’s list is Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini who is valued at £7 million. Apparently, the Hammers would be interested in selling one of their three strikers - Carlton Cole, Dean Ashton or Craig Bellamy, but are keen to keep Robert Green and Matthew Upson. The Daily Mail, however, say Harry Redknapp is lining up a £16 million joint bid for both Upson and Green.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Quashie, Davenport and Boa Morte would be welcomed departures although there might be a lack of Premiership interest, particularly in Nigel “I’ve -been-relegated-with-four-clubs” Quashie’s case. There would be interest in Ashton, Cole and Bellamy from Everton and West Brom (both in dire need of strikers) if the price was right.

Aaron Lennon and David Bentley to Real Madrid
Juande Ramos’ first transfer priority is to bring in some new widemen to the Bernabeu. Ramos is reportedly keen to raid the club nearly ran into the ground for David Bentley and Aaron Lennon.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Lennon has been Spurs’ best player under Redknapp and it is unlikely he would let either Bentley or Lennon leave unless it was for big money. The Madrid board are unlikely to release too much cash for stop-gap Ramos, who has only been given a six month deal.

A striker to West Brom
West Brom are keen to add

28 days to go until the window is flung open

It’s only four weeks until the January transfer window opens and all eyes turn eagerly towards Manchester City in the hope they they will pump some money around and get a merry-go-round started. What better time than now then for The Spoiler to bring back it’s daily transfer rumour round-up? Here are the latest whisperings that we’ve heard:

Dean Ashton to the highest bidder
Everybody is expecting a FIRE SALE! at West Ham next month but which player do the Daily Mirror think is on top of every Premier League club’s wishlist? Not Robert Green, who starred against Arsenal and Liverpool, nor Matthew Upson, who has established himself as England’s third-choice centre-back. Instead it’s injury-prone pizza fan Dean Ashton, who may not play again this season, who West Ham are supposedly expecting £18 million for.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Any sale would surely happen in the summer and for a seven-figure fee

Emile Heskey to Aston Villa

Pantsil doesn’t enjoy first match against former club

Fulham’s John Pantsil earned cult hero status at West Ham last season and before moving west in search of regular football the Ghanaian was one of the only things that kept fans singing over the final few games as the club took their foot off the gas.

The scene was set today for a romantic reunion. Pantsil was one of four former Hammers in the Fulham team alongside Paul Konchesky, Jimmy Bullard and Bobby Zamora. He spoke in the matchday programme about never forgetting the way West Ham’s fans treated him and the away support responded with an enthusiastic cheer when his name was read out and a hearty rendition of their ironic chant: “he comes from Africa, he’s better than Kaka”

But the relationship turned sour late in the first half when Pantsil challenged for the ball after Robert Green palmed away a Bullard free-kick and followed through on the West Ham keeper. A large percentage of incensed fans began chanting “f*** off Pantsil” before demonstrating the childishness of their sudden turn with a chant of “we don’t like you any more” before booing him every time he touched the ball for the rest of the match.

Todays rumours, gossip and damned lies

According to the Daily Mirror, Inter Milan have agreed a fee of £7 million to finally separate Lamps’ lips from his beloved Chelsea badge and bring him to the San Siro. For those of you wondering, that’s approximately 39 per cent of a Gareth Barry at today’s market value…

The Gareth Barry saga latest
Martin O’Neill has asked for a whopping £18 million, but Liverpool insist they won’t go beyond a pathetic £17 million. (That would be the same Liverpool who reportedly rejected a £9 million offer for Peter Crouch from Portsmouth as it was a million short of their demand.)

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: If you’re willing to pay 17, why not go one more? It’s not like there’s a recession at the moment or anything…

Ronaldinho to Chelsea
If Lampard leaves then Chelsea will have to move quickly to fill their tubby quota. They will be delighted to hear that podgy Barca man Ronaldinho wants to work with Scolari again.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: He wants to go, but do Chelsea want him?

Robert Green to Aston Villa
Villa are moving lower down the