Capello's England continue to deliver

Well, I could certainly get used to this new England. A pointless friendly? Try telling that to Fabio Capello and his team.

Sure, it’s wasn’t the 5-1 whitewash from years gone by, but it was something that’s become a rarity from England when it comes to international friendlies over the years: impressive.

And this was only the second string – England’s ‘reserves’, if you will.

Much was made over the various withdrawals in the squad throughout the week, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney dropping out due to injury.

A disaster, some would say.

As it turned out, it was more like a blessing in disguise, as it gave the second string a chance to stake their claims and gave Capello, a man for whom reputations count for nothing, a big problem for the next game.

And they did just that.

Matthew Upson was solid and composed in the heart of the England defence, and managed to get himself a goal.

Michael Carrick was neat and tidy with the ball, and disciplined without it.

Stewart Downing provided balance on the left hand side, and created both goals with two dangerous set-piece deliveries.

And in his first England appearance, Gabriel Agbonlahor caused the Germany defence problems all evening with his raw pace and clever movement.

Capello now has a problem, the kind of problem every manager wants to have. There's healthy compeition for places, and that can only be good for England.

Make no mistake about it, bar the Carson debacle (which to be honest I’m sick of talking about, Terry and Carson are equally culpable), everything clicked into place for England tonight.

Despite the unfamiliarity of the line-up, England looked more like a team than other England sides from years gone by.

Because every time I see this England team, they look better and better. More comfortable in possession, more compact without the ball, and more like a team. There was balance, shape, and professionalism.

And that’s the key. No longer do England play as a team of individuals. There’s now balance, and unsurprisingly, things are beginning to click into place.

After a slow start in charge, Capello is beginning to make his mark. Long may it continue.

Unfashionable Megson still not everyone's cup of tea

Sitting comfortably in mid-table, after two wins and clean sheets in a row, you'd think Bolton fans would be fairly content with their team's form, and their manager Gary Megson.

After all, Megson kept Bolton up in remarkable circumstances last year, after Sammy Lee's disastarious tenure in charge. And there was even a decent UEFA Cup run to boot, with memorable results against the likes of Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade something to savour.

Yet there are still rumblings of discontent from the Wanderers faithful. The football is too negative, apparantly, with Bolton more concerned about keeping a clean sheet than actually going and scoring at the other end.

But there lies the problem. Because football, first and foremost, is a results business. There's just too much money involved for teams to go out and attack these days. The risk is simply too much, with the money in the Premiership so vital, especially for teams like Bolton. Relegation would be disastarous.

Taking a step back to last season, and after the departure of Sam Allardyce, Bolton decided to change things. Sammy Lee attempted to get Wanderers playing a more expansive brand of football after the direct style of Allardyce, but ultimately failed, with only five points from their opening ten games a poor return. The experiment could so easily have cost Bolton their Premiership status.
So Gartside went back to basics, and went back to what he knew. Lee was given the boot, and to the dismay of many, Megson was appointed. Fans at the Reebok Stadium were outraged, so much so that only 1.7 per cent of fans were in favour of his appointment, according to a website poll.

Talk about starting on the wrong foot.

Then again, this is nothing new for Megson. He's never been a popular manager, with his pragmatic style of play never endearing him to fans, who prefer to see attractive, attacking football. And who doesnt? But pretty football doesnt get you out of a relegation battle. It's about rolling your sleeves up, working hard, and getting the basics right.

So Megson got to work, and got Bolton doing the basics properly again. Of course, it took time, but slowly but surely, the Trotters began to get results. They were hard working, organised, defensively sound, and strong from set-pieces. The old Bolton Wanderers were back, doing what they did best, playing to their strengths, and doing what they needed to do to stay up.

What's more, the loss of influential striker Nicolas Anelka in January was seen to be the last straw by many, with the goals supply surely drying up. He was seen as the only bit of quality in an otherwise mediocre side. Without Anelka, there were no goals, and seemingly no hope.

But Megson didn't panic, and strenghened elsewhere in the squad. Matt Taylor, Gary Cahill, and Gretar Steinsson were all trafted in, amongst others. Once again, they weren't signings to get the fans pulses racing, but they were hard working players who would give their all for the cause. And the new signings certainly had the desired effect, as the likes of Cahill and Taylor all played their part in keeping Bolton in the Premiership.

And so Bolton did stay up, in what was quite frankly a remarkable achievement. At one stage, Bolton looked dead and buried, and some journalists had wrote them off completely, condemning the team to relegation. But in the end, we were all proved wrong, as Bolton pulled off what was in my eyes one of the greatest turnarounds in recent history.

There was even the added bonus of a profitable run in the UEFA Cup, though the competition eventually proved to be too much of a distraction, as Megson put the club's domestic campaign first. Once again, Megson was criticised for not giving the competition enough respect, but in the end his decision proved to be vindicated.

Now moving onto this season, and it's been more of the same from Bolton and Megson, and the fans don't like it. Sure, it's been an inconsistent start, and results havent always been good. And the style of play hasn't changed.

But given the way Megson turned things round last season, you'd think Bolton fans would be more patient towards the man who kept them up against the odds last season.

The abuse that Megson suffered at the hands of his own fans away at Tottenham was nothing short of ridiculous, and in my opinion completely undeserved.

Then again, football fans have notoriously short memories, don't they? Megson out? Be careful what you wish for..

Adomah shines as Barnet production line rolls on

Over the years Barnet have produced their fair share of talent. Given their obvious lack of resources compared to the rest of the league, signing promising young talent has been crucial to the team's progress, and the likes of Nicky Bailey, Dean Sinclair, and Jason Puncheon have all developed at Underhill before moving onto pastures new.

It's a policy that's worked well for the club and for the player, with the players in question developing at Barnet before getting their chance at a higher level, and becoming a more complete player as a result, and Barnet getting some much needed money into their coffers - vital money for a club the size of Barnet's, where attendances are amongst the lowest in the division.

And now it seems that Albert Adomah is the latest to shine, with a big move surely inevitable for the 20 year old winger.

Before his days at Barnet, Adomah impressed for Harrow Borough where his performances on the right wing attracted interest from various Football League clubs. Eventually, it was Barnet who won his signature, due to their upstanding reputation in developing young players onto bigger and better things.

And from then on, Adomah's progress has been impressive to say the least.

A debut goal against Hereford United in a 2-1 win ensured Adomah made an instant impact with the Barnet faithful, and goals against the likes of Chester City and Shrewsbury Town helped make Adomah a firm fans favourite at Underhill, with his blistering pace and skill on the ball causing League Two defences no end of problems.

And it wasn't long before bigger clubs came calling for Adomah's signature, with many Championship and Premiership clubs expressing an interest after only 5 months at Barnet.

A written transfer request followed, with the young man clearly wanting to test himself at the highest level possible. And Barnet reluctantly agreed to let Adomah leave, should the right offer come in for the club.

However, months later Adomah had a change of heart, feeling that he 'owed Barnet' after they took a chance on him in the first place.

Refreshing loyalty indeed, from a player who could have dug his heels in until he got the move he wanted. Instead, Adomah pledged to do his best for Barnet - the club who gave him his chance, the club who took him from relative obscurity to the Football League.

And this season, the good form has continued, despite Barnet's shaky start to the season. Four goals in 15 games an impressive return, and Adomah's pace and direct running continues to frighten League Two defences.

No doubt about it, Adomah is an exciting talent, and he will go on to bigger and better things. But he isn't the finished article yet, and this raw talent needs to develop further. And there's no better place to do that than Barnet, where manager Paul Fairclough has nurtured young talent at Underhill for years.

But for now, Barnet are reaping the rewards of this young man's talent, and hopefully, they'll continue to do so. Until the next rough diamond comes along, that is, and the cycle can continue

Potential Cupsets

Ah, the FA Cup. The greatest cup competition in the world, or an unwanted distraction? It totally depends on who you ask really, with some managers putting their league campaigns first, and others looking for that bit of cup magic to spark life into their season.

Personally, I love the FA cup, but it seems others are slowly falling out of love with the competition, with league position taking precedence in today's money orientated footballing world. And that's a great shame, with some of my greatest footballing memories coming from the FA Cup..and some of my worst too. But that's just it, it's a competition where the part-timers get their 90 minutes of fame, where the minnows get to mix it with the big boys.

And sometimes, miracles happen, and the big boys get embarrassed. And that's the magic of the cup. Heroes can, and will be made.

Anyhow, I digress. The First Round proper kicks off this weekend, and there's some rather tasty looking ties indeed.

So, where are the potential banana skins? Where will the magic come from?

Histon vs Swindon Town

With Histon going so well in the Blue Square Premier currently, and Swindon looking so inconsistent in League One, this one could have cupset written all over it. Under the stewardship of John Beck, who will have his Histon side up for this I'm sure, you just know The Stutes will be hard to play against, and will pull out all the stops to get a result. Throw in the tight non-league ground factor - something Swindon wont be accustomed to, and it could be Histon's day.

Carlisle United vs Grays Athletic

Two sides in complete turmoil, but for very different reasons. Either way, this game should provide a welcome distraction for both sides.

For Carlisle it's all change, with John Ward leaving the club earlier in the week and Greg Abbott taking temporary charge of team affairs for the second time. A chance for Abbott to stake a claim for the permanent job, you'd have to think, though he has a job on his hands rejuvinating this Carlisle side, with only one point from their last 27.

It's not all rosy at Grays howver, far from it in fact. Sat firmly in the relegation zone in the Blue Square Premier, with the squad asked to take a 50% paycut, their problems really put things in perspective at Carlisle. But a cup run might be just what the Essex club needs, and with nothing to lose and the squad no doubt all pulling together in their current plight, I fancy Grays to pile on the misery for Carlisle at Brunton Park.

Kettering Town vs Lincoln City

Sure, Kettering have bigger fish to fry, with promotion on the agenda (and who could have predicted that?) but winning breeds confidence, and at the moment Kettering Town are flying. The Blue Square Premier table toppers will no doubt fancy their chances against a frustratingly inconsistent Lincoln side, who just havent got going this season in League Two.

Team Bath vs Forest Green

What on earth has happened at Forest Green? So effective and easy on the eye last season, this season they look a different proposition altogether, with Jim Harvey's side languishing in the relegation places. On the other hand, Team Bath are going strong in the Blue Square South, and the passionate home support at Twerton Park could well guide them past a Rovers side looking desperately short of confidence.

Torquay United vs Evesham

No upset here folks (wow, how much could I regret saying that?), but a chance for the Gulls to stretch their unbeaten record to 13 games in all competitions. The club record of 16 games unbeaten is within sight, as Paul Buckle and his Torquay squad look to make history. Let's just hope Evesham dont spoil the party.

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So, there we have it. Contrary to popular belief, the FA Cup doesnt start in Round 3 when the Premiership teams join in, and plenty of heroes will be made this weekend alone. Could Havant and Waterlooville upset the odds again against high flying Brentford? Could Hornchurch bring big spending Peterborough back down to earth? Or better yet, how about AFC Wimbledon getting one over on Peter Taylor's Wycombe Wanderers?

AFC Wimbledon vs Milton Keynes Dons in Round Two anyone? Now wouldn't that be something..

Winner takes all

With all the talk about the new golden boy of British tennis, Andy Murray, you could be forgiven for forgetting about other matters in the world of tennis. But there is more to life than Andy Murray, as much as the British press wouldnt let you believe it, and the conclusion to the Paris Masters this weekend proves that fact.

With the Masters Cup in Shanghai fast approaching, six spots out of eight have been clinched, with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, and more recently Andy Roddick booking their places. However, with two spots still up for grabs, it's up to David Nalbandian and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to stake their claims.

Nalbandian is the defending champion, and is aiming to become the first player in history to win back-to-back Masters titles in Paris. By reaching the final, Nalbandian has moved from 12th to 10th place in the rankings, and a victory in Paris would move him to 7th place, and therefore book his spot to Shanghai.

On route to the final, there's been victories against the likes of Davydenko and, whisper it, Murray himself. So you can't argue with Nalbandian's form going into the final.

On the other hand, Tsonga is looking to reach his first Masters cup, and a victory in Paris will deliver just that, improving his ranking from 12th to 8th place. On his way there's been victories against the likes of James Blake, another man who was vying for Masters cup qualification in what was a tense semi-final encounter, and World number three Novak Djokovic once again suffered the wrath of Tsonga.

So, enough of the permutations, who's going to Shanghai?

Prior to this tournament, both men weren't exactly talked about as potential winners, with all the talk about the big four players. However, by the time the semi-finals came around, the big four had departed, and it was anyone's title. Nalbandian shown his strong credentials with a fantastic performance against Murray, defeating the in-form player on the tour. Say what you like about Murray's fatigue, but anyone who defeated Murray with his momentum would have to be at his very best, and Nalbandian most certainly was. An impresive victory against Davydenko followed, as the Argentine booked his place in the final. But the question is, can he beat the local favourite?

Tsonga's route to the final has been just as impressive, with big victories over Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick to his name. So while it's clear Tsonga has the game to trouble the big boys, can he step up when it really matters? With only one singles title to his name, questions remain over the young man's temprement.

On matchday, Tsonga has the undoubted crowd support, and the lethal power game to trouble Nalbandian. Both players play aggressive games from the baseline, so it could come down to who plays the bigger points better. This is where experience becomes a big factor, and where Nalbandian has the edge. But with the French crowd on his side, Tsonga will always have a chance. It's a match that could go down to the wire.

Whatever happens, it proves to be a fascinating climax as the tennis season draws to a close. Both players have stepped up to the plate when it really matters, and it's a shame one player has to miss out. But that's the factor that will make Sunday's final all the more fascinating, as both players lay it all on the line.