England06.net

Author Archive

The England legend spills the beans on Newcastle, peas and why Small Talk’s questions are a joke

Hello Alan. How are you? Good.

Fine thanks. Say, who do you think will win the World Cup this summer? Think and hope are two different things. I hope England can win it obviously. If they keep Wayne Rooney fit they’ll have a very good chance but I think my favourites for the tournament will be Spain.

Should Fabio Capello take David Beckham? I would take him for his experience, I think he has something to offer. Certainly not in the starting 11 to begin with, but for experience, for someone who can go on and help England win a game, or save a game, I would take him.

Which strikers should go? It depends whether he takes four or five strikers. Wayne will go, I think Defoe will go, I think Heskey will go. The other spot, or the other two spots, are open to debate. There’s plenty to choose from. Carlton Cole, Crouch, Agbonlahor …

Yes, yes, but which of them should he choose? [A bit miffed at being pressed] Probably Crouch and Agbonlahor.

Why Agbonlahor? Because he’s had a fantastic season. He’s got lightning pace. He’s scored goals and looks a threat.

We must talk about Newcastle, Alan. They’re top of the Championship this season – is that because they are a much better team than last year or because they’re in a much worse league? They’re in a worse league, there’s no doubt about that. There’s a huge difference between the Premier League and the Championship. But having said that, Chris Hughton deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s settled things down and got them playing some decent stuff. He’s got them to the top of the league, and it looks as if they’ll have enough to go up. Once, or if, that happens, that poses a different question.

The question that poses is: will they be good enough to stay there? So will they? Now you know why so many teams go up from the Championship and then struggle and go straight back down because of the vast difference in the leagues. It depends how much they spend. If they spend pretty big they’ll be able to stay up, yeah,

What did you learn from your experience of managing Newcastle? I learned that’s a very, very tough job, but I also learned that I really enjoyed it despite what happened at the end of it. I loved the everyday questions that were posed of you, the adrenaline rush, and obviously the games. I really, really enjoyed it, despite what happened.

So you’re looking to get back into management? If the right one comes along then I’d be interested.

What do you mean by the right one? I don’t know what the right one is. I don’t think you can be too picky or choosy. Certainly I can’t be.

Tell us this, Alan, who is the football pundit you most admire, apart from yourself? He won’t thank for me saying it, but I suppose I’ll have to say Alan. He’s been there for so many years. He’s well respected, and he does talk a lot of sense. Not that I’d tell him that anyway.

Who are you talking about? Alan Green? Alan Hansen.

Oh right. Did he give you any tips when you were a novice pundit? [Miffed again] No, he didn’t.

Are there any pundits you don’t like? There were plenty who I didn’t like when I was playing. Now I think I have a decent relationship with all of them.

Have any current players come up to you to complain about something you’ve said on Match of the Day? No, they haven’t.

What’s the last piece of music you bought? Lionel Richie, when I went to his concert at the Newcastle Arena about six months ago. Fantastic.

Who’s your favourite TV detective? I don’t watch a lot of TV, to be honest. With three kids I have my hands full.

What about when you were a youngster? What was your favourite cartoon? [Nonplussed] Cartoons!?

Cartoons. I didn’t watch cartoons, I was too busy playing football.

Apart from a football, did you have a favourite toy when you were a child? [Triumphantly] Yes, a goalpost.

Apart from football paraphernalia, did you have a favourite toy when you were a child? No, like I told you I was too busy playing football.

Now that you have retired, can you catch up on playing with the toys that you didn’t play with when you were a youngster? Have you, for instance, discovered the joys of action men or maybe Lego? [With mounting anger] No, I don’t play with toys. And I’m not into the PSPs or anything like that. Whenever I have any spare time I have a game of golf.

Assuming you have time to eat, what is your favourite vegetable? Goodness me. What type of questions are these? [Exasperated] I should say peas, should I?

There’s no right or wrong answer, Alan, that’s the beauty of it. OK, peas.

Not Brussel sprouts? [Annoyed] Peas.

Just a big bowl of peas? [Palpably hoping chat will conclude very soon] With a bit of mash, sausage and gravy.

What about fruit? An apple.

That’s quite emphatic. You wouldn’t have any time for an orange or a banana? [Firmly] You asked for my favourite fruit, I said an apple.

That is accurate. By the way, what superpowers would you like to have? [Impatiently] What do you mean?

The ability to fly? X-ray vision? Elbows of pure iron? I’d probably be invisible, so I could go and listen to some of Fergie’s team talks.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done when drunk? I don’t get drunk.

What’s the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you? To sign her chest.

Was there an Alan Shearer tattoo on it? No, because I never saw, because I refused to sign it.

So there might have been? I don’t know.

We can’t rule it out, Alan. Now, on an unrelated matter, have you ever seen a ghost? No.

Do you believe in the existence of ghosts? No.

Do you believe in life beyond earth? [Impatiently] I don’t know what I believe in. I try not to think about it. I don’t want to think about it.

Alan, can you tell us a joke? Yeah, your questions.

Bye Alan, it’s been bliss. Bye.

Alan Shearer was speaking on behalf of Castrol Football, an official sponsor of the 2010 Fifa World Cup

For full story go to here

The Manchester United and England striker has set lofty targets for club and country in the coming months

Wayne Rooney was supposed to play only the first half of the Fifa 2010 World Cup console game against the lucky competition winner at the exhibition centre in Earls Court. But the score was 0-0 and, with the contest being beamed simultaneously on the big screens to the two thousand people in attendance, Rooney’s competitive streak took over. It always does.

Perhaps he was cheered by his opponent’s team, Spain, being down to 10 men in the mock World Cup final. Or maybe it was because, as England, he was showing himself to be a pretty good console player. Most footballers are and Rooney, of course, does endorse the game.

The Manchester United and England striker insisted that they play on, only it did not quite work out for him. Fernando Torres chipped Spain into the lead and, having seen his virtual self strike the outside of a post when clean through to equalise, Rooney watched Emile Heskey fluff a last-minute sitter.

Spain were crowned as champions and Rooney threw his joy-pad up into the air in exasperation. He clearly wanted a rematch.

It was great to see Rooney act like any other 24-year-old and, indeed, talk like one. At his ease during a Q&A session with the presenter Mark Chapman, Rooney told the audience of his love for rock music – he has the name of a Stereophonics album tattooed on his arm – and how becoming a father last November has changed him. “The hardest thing is changing the nappies,” he said, “and it gets worse as well.” Chapman agreed: “It gets solid.”

Kai Rooney, his son, has been to a few United games but, apparently, he is an Evertonian. “I’m not sure he knows what’s going on but he came to see me play in the most important game, against Everton,” said the proud father. “They are the two teams I have played for and [it was] against the one that he supports.”

It was interesting to hear Rooney’s answers to a couple of football questions. Favourite World Cup moment? “Michael Owen’s goal against Argentina [in 1998], I watched it at my nan’s house.” Favourite all-time World Cup player? “Cristiano Ronaldo. I’m lucky enough to have played with him, although it would be great to knock out Portugal this time.”

Rooney, though, is no ordinary 24-year-old. In the form of his life, he enters a four-month period which could bestow greatness upon him. A shoo-in for the Footballer of the Year awards, with 30 goals in all competitions so far, he hopes to better Ronaldo’s 42-goal haul for United from two seasons ago while leading the team to the Premier League title and the European Cup. And then there is the small matter of the World Cup.

The trophy was at Earls Court, courtesy of Coca-Cola, and Rooney admitted that it was “weird” to be within touching distance of it. There was no touching, mind. Only heads of state and previous winners are entitled to do so and Fifa had three people on hand to ensure that the trophy’s dignity was protected.

“You try not to think about the World Cup,” said Rooney, who will carry the nation’s hopes in South Africa, “because you need to do your job with your club first. But it’s a dream to play for your country at any tournament, let alone the World Cup. We’ll travel with confidence because I thought we played really well in qualifying. We were just a bit gutted to lose to Ukraine because it would have been nice to go through unbeaten.

“It’s all set up for me. We’re in a great position with United, and with England we are going well, too. Hopefully, we will have a great tournament and you never know, this trophy may be back here at the end of July.”

The European Cup would be some aperitif. “I think our [7-2 aggregate] win over Milan has sent out a great message,” he said. “We have been in good form anyway but winning 4-0 at Old Trafford and the game in Milan, when we came back to win 3-2, has given us that extra belief that we can win the competition. Real Madrid have gone out, too, which has got rid of one hurdle.

“Hopefully I can win trophies and get 42 goals as well. This is my best season yet.”

Rooney was happy to treat his Earls Court defeat as a mere blip.

For full story go to here

Fabio Capello believes his England players are capable of creating history at this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

For full story go to here

• Midfielder’s comeback from knee injury again put on hold
• United say match does not fit into Hargreaves’ fitness plan

Owen Hargreaves, Manchester United’s injury-plagued midfielder, has suffered another setback after being pulled out of his comeback match in a move that significantly damages his already slender and rapidly diminishing hopes of a late call-up to England’s World Cup squad.

Nineteen months since he was last seen on the pitch at Old Trafford, Hargreaves was due to play in a reserve game against Manchester City at Altrincham tonight, and had been encouraged by noises emanating from the Football Association that Fabio Capello still regards him as a possible contender to be involved in South Africa this summer, provided he can prove his match fitness in the meantime.

The 29-year-old has not played since September 2008 because of a knee problem that the world-renowned specialist Richard Steadman described as the worst he had seen from 35 years of working in the medical profession. Hargreaves has been suffering from chronic patellar tendinitis and needed operations on both knees, having made only 25 starts since signing from Bayern Munich for £18m, despite having the problem at the time of the transfer.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said last Friday that Hargreaves had been training with the first team and was “pencilled in” to play for the reserves, but the club confirmed after last night’s 4-0 defeat of Milan that the player would not be included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad. United say his withdrawal is because the match does not fit into the player’s fitness programme.

For full story go to here

• Three men gained access to accredited area of team hotel
• Attempt made to get John Terry to apologise to Wayne Bridge

A group of notorious pranksters infiltrated the England team hotel last week, it is reported today. The news will cause further concern at the Football Association as the security breach occurred in the same week that – in a separate incident – England players’ and coaches’ conversations were bugged.

Tommy Dunn and his son, also named Tommy, were, according to the Daily Mail, among three men who attempted to persuade John Terry to sign an autograph with the words ‘to Wayne … sorry’ in reference to the former England captain’s alleged affair with Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend – and also gained access to an accredited area of the hotel.

The FA has been informed and will investigate. The Dunns have performed stunts in the past with Karl Power, who joined in Manchester United’s team photograph before a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

Dunn Jr’s biggest claim to fame is playing Power at Wimbledon before a Tim Henman match in 2002.

For full story go to here

Fabio Capello insisted he is still happy dealing with the most important challenge of his life, despite the latest scandal to hit the England team.

For full story go to here

Fabio Capello insisted he is still happy dealing with the most important challenge of his life, despite the latest scandal to hit the England team.

For full story go to here

Why the bugging affair should be the least of the FA’s worries in the lead-up to the World Cup

Behind closed doors, you can’t imagine. Behind closed doors, is where it happens. That’s where the truth is. That’s where the life is.

Not my words, or indeed those of covertly bugged England general Fabio Capello, but the words of music’s Peter Andre – a man who scarcely even regarded the conception of his children as a something on which it might be seemly to close the doors, preferring to invite TV cameras to document every minute of his tediously “insane” life.

That Peter’s adventures are marginally more predictable than a fake-tanned episode of Mr Benn doesn’t matter to those who continue to watch in their droves. The desire to be let in on something – however illusory – is insatiable for some sections of the public, many of whom then cheerfully blamed the media for Peter’s divorce in the same way as they will blame them for gossiping away the World Cup. Indeed, for some, this ovine voyeurism has become such a normal part of culture that it hardly seems odd that the England camp was apparently bugged by a “member of the public” – shall we call them a citizen journalist? – in the run-up to last week’s Egypt game. Yes, I’m afraid the great “how to go out in the quarter-finals” battle plan may now be dangerously compromised, and Jerry’s probably going to steal all our tactics. But try to keep calm and carry on.

The last football spy drama I can recall was that tale three years ago about a Cessna making flights over Manchester United’s Carrington training ground. “It remained unclear who authorised the filming,” panted the Mirror back then, “and whether the material is destined for this country or abroad. The covert clips of players such as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo working on tactics, formation, free-kicks and penalties during the astonishing spying mission could be invaluable to rival clubs.” Could be. But almost certainly weren’t.

This time, the spy stuff is rather less lofty, with reports suggesting that though the six-hour recording may feature discussions about “World Cup tactics”, it’s more notable – and presumably more sellable – for chitchat about win bonuses and some joking about sex scandals. Inevitably, it has been speculatively talked up as “dynamite”, but I bet it’s dynamite only in the sense that anything a footballer or manager says is deemed explosively interesting, despite all evidence to the contrary (yet again we must draw a parallel with Peter Andre).

Quite rightly, the FA’s lawyers have pointed out that the recording constitutes a total breach of privacy, but in the internet age the fear will be that despite newspapers’ refusal to publish, the transcript or portions of it will be posted online. There’s a reasonable chance that within a fortnight we’ll be faced with a John Terry-type situation, where feverish internet chatter effectively rendered the player’ssuper-injunction defunct even before it was lifted.

Doubtless, then, the FA is already considering its media strategy if the tape’s contents become public. Might I suggest an official line of “Get over it”?

Unfortunately, because the FA is such a serially useless governing body, no one at the top has ever been in a strong enough position to affect an air of amused sang froid about these regular teacup storms. As long as it wasn’t you in the schtuck, it probably felt rather a relief to “firefight” the latest rumours about Sven’s love life instead of defending your staggeringly incompetent mismanagement of, say, the Wembley Stadium project.

But sooner or later someone in public life is going to have to offer the “Get over it” response to an overexcited media and its consumers. The policy of attempting to appease people who wish only for heads to roll seems increasingly pointless.

Frankly, if whatever is on the tape needs putting into perspective, people should recall the time the England set-up willingly invited a fly on to their wall. They should recall Graham Taylor, several fathoms out of his depth, turning to his nodding dog Phil Neal and hazarding: “We’ll put Wrighty on, shall we?” Watching the pair gibberingly agree that it was “made for Wrighty”, they should recall the horrifying realisation that Taylor had been several times less competent even than he had looked. Quite an achievement.

That, my ducks, is a real exposé. Never mind what off-guard jokes were made at the England camp, and never mind even if the answer to the question “what’s my motivation?” is “two million quid and half a point on the image rights”. No matter what happened at Capello’s headquarters last week, nothing, but nothing, could ever be as sensationally damning.

For full story go to here

Fabio Capello says he wants England to reach “the semi-finals – minimum” at this summer’s World Cup. Is this a realistic target?

For full story go to here

• Rooney is one of the three best players in the world, Italian says
• I would not swap my job with Marcello Lippi, he adds

Fabio Capello has set the bold target of steering England to the semi-finals of the World Cup at the very least, thereby emulating the national team’s best performance at the tournament since the trophy was won in 1966.

The Italian has had to contend over the past month with injuries to key personnel and serious allegations over his players’ personal lives – one of them cost John Terry the captaincy – together with confirmation that the England team hotel had been bugged before last week’s friendly against Egypt. Yet those distractions have not doused his enthusiasm for a role he accepted a little over two years ago, with his basic target now to take the team beyond the quarter-finals, where Sven-Goran Eriksson twice came unstuck, in South Africa this summer.

“My job when I was manager of Milan, Juventus, Roma or Madrid was always to try and win and, for me, it’s the same now as England manager,” said Capello. “I am focused to find the best way and we are one of the best teams in the World Cup. We hope to arrive at the semi-finals, minimum, and then, after a lot of years, win the World Cup.

“We have a good team, good players and, at this moment, we think we can beat all of the teams because we can play at the same level of the best teams in the world. It is a surprise to see the attention on things off the pitch because, usually, my job has been to decide things on the pitch, so that is new. But being England manager is always a challenge. But the challenge for me is always important because, at my age, without a challenge, I’d just stay at home. I could go on holiday. I like the challenge. This will be one of the most important of my life.

“To manage England was one of my dreams and I’m really happy to have taken on the job. I would not swap my position with [the Italy coach] Marcello Lippi. I prefer to be England manager. I hope to play against Italy in the final but my shirt at that moment will be an England shirt.”

England have reached the semi-finals only once, in 1990, in the past 44 years, and Capello’s ambition is a concession that the Football Association and the supporters will be seeking evidence of real progress under a manager who signed a four-year contract worth around £26m.

A place in the last four at the summer’s finals would satisfy that with Capello admitting that Wayne Rooney – arguably the side’s one world-class player on present form – is key to achieving that much.

“Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney are the three best players in the world at the moment,” said Capello, speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi. “Their styles are completely different. One is fast, one has lots of imagination. Rooney is more strong. He runs a lot and helps everyone, and this year he has scored many goals. I think he is one of the best, but those three are really young and they are the best players for the future. I hope he will be in the same form during the World Cup and that he will be fit and not injured because he is one of the most important players.

“Of those who are injured at the moment, I am happy because they are injured now rather than when the World Cup starts. Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole are out but the players who played against Egypt played very well and we have no big problem with defenders.”

Ferdinand has returned to the Manchester United line-up since the win against Egypt, and Brown is expected to be absent for up to six weeks with a metatarsal injury. Cole continues to make good progress in rehabilitation in the south of France after breaking an ankle during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Everton, with the club confident he will return to action before the end of the campaign.

That will grant the first-choice left-back time to prove his fitness ahead of the naming of Capello’s 30-man provisional squad for the finals, on 16 May.

England have two fixtures, against Mexico at Wembley and Japan in Graz, Austria, later that month before flying to South Africa on 2 June.

For full story go to here