All posts by h79snht.top

Another week in the season has passed and it pretty much sums up the life of a Coventry fan. The lows of the defeat to Crewe followed by the highs of the midweek victory over Bournemouth and ending with defeat to Swindon which all but ended any promotion ambitions. All this whilst the behind the scenes drama continued with the club now said to be in serious trouble with a chance of insolvency.

The Bournemouth match was a bit of a strange one. We were outplayed for the majority of the game yet came out 2-0 winners. It was one of them days where it just seemed it was going to be our day. I personally don’t feel we deserved the victory although we fought hard to get it.

The previous game against Crewe was the match where my concerns about how the team was playing began. I put this down to a hangover from the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie only days before but despite the result against Bournemouth I was left concerned again. We seemed to be forgetting the things that Robins had instilled in the squad.

These concerns were all but confirmed on Saturday against Swindon. Robins bought a lot to the club and the squad of players. He believed hard work was the basis and that still seems to have remained as the players have continued to fight.

He also believed in a solid game plan and this is where things have started to go wrong. Defensively and offensively we seemed to lack ideas despite the fact that only a couple of weeks before we were creating chances for fun and being reasonably solid at the back.

Defensively I can understand to some extent with the loss of Wood but the new lad from Southampton looks like a solid centre half and can fill the void left by Wood. His Centre back partner on the other hand well what can I say about Nathan Cameron. His performance on Saturday was poor to say the least. He was clumsy, nervous and lacked any real ability to read the game. With him at the heart of our defence we were always going to concede and how it took till the 86th minute for them to score I will never know.

I felt the even more worrying aspect though was how few chances we created. That is the one thing we have been really good at this year, not always taking them but always creating them. Under Robins we mixed our play a lot, we could pass it around and control games but also work hard and break opposition play up if they were in control.

Under Carsley this seems to have disappeared almost instantly and we now seem to be just lumping the ball forward and hoping Clark who has been getting goals but isn’t the most skilful player to do something with it which is unfair on him. It is not an outlet that we really have especially when he plays up front on his own.

It also stops arguably our other two best players this season from performing. Baker and Bailey both had their worst games for the club this season on Saturday and I actually don’t blame either of them for it. We bypassed them over and over again with long balls from the defence and then when they did occasionally get the ball the way we were set up and playing meant they had no options.

These are the two players who have constantly created chances and Baker has also been getting the goals. I don’t remember any occasion on Saturday where I thought Baker might get a goal and that shouldn’t be the case.

I do now feel that our season is unfortunately over in terms of a promotion challenge and a mediocre mid table finish may once again be on the cards. Combine this with all of the off the field problems and I am actually finding myself asking why would any manager want to take over at this club. It just wouldn’t make sense to me for anyone to want it.

Almost certainly a league one club again next season, threat of insolvency, no money for players and a transfer embargo which is not going to be lifted until the rent row is sorted which to me looks as if there isn’t going to be any kind of resolution to. Sounds like the ‘dream’ job on paper doesn’t it.

This would suggest that Carsley is here to stay at least for now in spite of the fact that he has publicly stated he doesn’t feel he is ready for the job. This is a concern as it is clearly not going to instil much trust and confidence in him from the players. A tough few weeks are ahead both on and off the pitch.

I keep hearing other clubs fans saying why do you city fans complain so much it doesn’t look bad at all from the outside. This I suppose is true in the sense we are perceived to have a fantastic arena with a squad capable of promotion. They however have not suffered like us city fans. Every team has their issues but apart from Wimbledon a few years ago and Portsmouth at the moment I would say we are easily one of the worst clubs to support.

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I really thought times were changing with Robins at the helm but once again it looks as though our hopes and dreams are going to be shattered and the club is going to be looking down instead of up. Many will probably say I am being far too pessimistic but everything is stacked against the club and I do feel we will need a rather large miracle to find the light at the end of what seems like an everlasting dark tunnel.

PUSB!!

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Liverpool have been dealt some serious blows in the transfer market over the past few seasons. While the club may not have fallen foul to the cult of the badge-kisser over the years, they have certainly had their fair share of fallen idols and unsavoury characters in and around the first-team squad.

The latest villain to add to the list, a player that has seriously let the club and it’s fans down with his actions was Fernando Torres, who moved to West London for a fee of £50m.

However, Torres is not the first player to let the club and it’s fans down. Whether it be due to an acrimonious departure, failure to live up to a price tag or simply because they’ve joined a rival club, Liverpool fans have seen there fair share of villains over the years.

So without further ado, here are my top ten Liverpool villains – click on Markus Babbel to reveal the gallery:

There was never anything in it, even if Arsenal were to be armed with £70 million going into this summer’s transfer window. Mario Gotze to Arsenal is too much talk and a little too much excitement over nothing.

I have no doubt that Arsene Wenger is interested in the player; at this point, who wouldn’t be interested in the best young player in Europe? It would have been a signing of remarkable intent, probably equalling the impact Dennis Bergkamp had on the club when he arrived from Inter Milan. But the continued talk and desire to overindulge in this story probably says more about those who are peddling it rather than the club who are said to be preparing a bid.

Arsenal will go into the market this summer and they could very well make aggressive moves towards the Bundesliga. Yet isn’t it wrong to assume that a player like Mario Gotze would be willing to trade the current German champions and Champions League semi-finalists for anyone bar one or two, and specifically anyone in England?

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It’s more glorification of the Premier League over anything else, without any awareness of whether it makes sense or not.

Borussia Dortmund could part with another important player this summer, with plenty of rumours emerging that Robert Lewandowski could start next season at the Allianz Arena. But then what? Mats Hummels is on the shopping list of Barcelona; well of course, because who wouldn’t want one of Europe’s best centre-backs in their team? Importantly, there isn’t a sense that Hummels is pushing for a move out the door. So with that, where do we stand with Gotze?

Borussia Dortmund will only sell when they have to, for example Lewandowski this summer. It was the same case with Nuri Sahin when he was sold to Real Madrid, and exactly the same situation as last summer when Shinji Kagawa moved to Manchester United. Financially, there is no pressing need to tear up one of football’s most captivating young teams. It’s a club who are continuing on a very promising and rapid ascent in the game and who could conquer Europe at any moment. And what do they do when a big player moves on? They replace with equal or better quality. No one can remember Lucas Barrios and what he did in Dortmund’s first of back-to-back title-winning seasons.

And then there’s the Arsenal approach. It might have made a little more sense to talk up Gotze to Real Madrid; in fact, there was a little more ground for reasoning (though not much) to assume the player could join up with Pep Guardiola at Bayern. But Arsenal? The team who in 2013 play in one of the world’s best football stadiums, are marketed as one of the most important clubs in England, who are said to be among the most valuable sports teams, and yet who haven’t come close to cracking the £20 million figure in transfer fees? There’s very little sense coming from a whole lot of talk.

What also seems to be forgotten is Wenger’s long-term stance that he doesn’t want to disrupt the development of his younger players, even if it ironically means buying another young player. Again, I have no doubt that Wenger is a fan of Gotze, with rumours suggesting that a bid was placed following Cesc Fabregas’ sale. However, numbers, history, the ‘selling’ club, and anything else you want to throw in there just do not make sense.

It’s been said that Dortmund are supremely confident of retaining Gotze for the foreseeable future; the player’s admission that he’d like to play abroad is surely the diplomatic approach for when the time is right.

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The cynics among football fans would jump on the story that Dortmund are reportedly preparing a move for Chelsea’s Kevin de Bruyne, wanting to making a permanent transfer for the player who’s currently on loan at Werder Bremen. Surely that means Gotze is on his way? The realists, however, would praise a very good team for wanting to become even better. It’s the level of ambition that ironically most Arsenal fans would want their team to take on. Not replacements but genuine strength in depth.

As the youth product that’s risen to superstardom, why wouldn’t Mario Gotze want to be the brightest in a galaxy of stars at Signal Iduna Park?

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Right, now that KJ has gone and all the loanees have gone back to their clubs, let’s have a look and see what signings will need to be made.

The goalkeeper front is fine, David Forde is number one and will stay that way, maybe a young back-up could be signed as second choice Maik Taylor is into his 40’s.

I believe that three of the four defending positions are already filled. Shane Lowry will be the left back but he does need to sort out his discipline as he is the highest booked player in the Championship.

The centre back pairing of Mark Beevers and Danny Shittu will not change, it’s been a quality partnership and with Paul Robinson coming back from injury we have a suitable replacement on the bench.

Then there is the right back position, this was alternated between Adam Smith and Alan Dunne, with Smith going back to Spurs, I could see the new manager bringing in someone new.

The midfield needs a lot of work though…

The right wing position will be James Henry’s next season, if he is still here, and it’s not bad having Liam Feeney as a back-up.

Then there’s the centre midfielders.

Liam Trotter seems to be like marmite at Millwall, fans either love him or hate him. Well no one has seen him since January, he’s gone missing so he either has to leave or stand up and be counted. He’s had a bad second half of the season, but he is worth keeping.

It’s the position next to him that might need to be filled after a strange season in the middle of the park. Josh Wright is a centre midfielder who can’t pass forwards or tackle, and Jimmy Abdou, I love him but he is more of a defender then a midfielder.

I’d love us to try and sign Richard Chaplow again after he had his loan spell cut short by injury, I can’t see it happening though.

And with the left winger position there is a chance for someone to make it their own. With Chris Taylor leaving, seemingly for Blackburn, it leaves us with Martyn Woolford as the only left winger, that will need to change.

And now it’s the most vital part of this team, the strikforce…

The only out and out striker Millwall actually have is John Marquis, a player who has not scored a league goal this year. Yes we do have Championship experience with Andy Keogh, but he’s not a out and out striker, and he hasn’t scored since January.

Who knows, if Gary Johnson does become manager, he may bring Paddy Madden from newly promoted Yeovil with him.

There are some pretty big gaps to fill in my opinion.

Forde

? Shittu Beevers Lowry

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Henry Trotter ? ?

Keogh ?

Who would you sign to fill these positions?

COYL

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If you’re a Nottingham Forest fan, you have had ‘the Lewis McGugan conversation’. He’s one of the best players outside the Premier League to some, and to others, he’s a luxury that’s not worth keeping. From one extreme to the other, the home-grown midfielder really does divide opinion.

Making his debut in the 2006/07 season, McGugan showed much promise and potential. Fearless on the ball and confidence in his undoubted ability, the high standards he set himself led fans expecting a lot in the years ahead. His talent since, has only been flaunted in glimpses.

If you’re looking for the perfect footballer for television highlights, McGugan is your man. Whether it’s a last minute penalty to claw a draw or a thirty-five yard rocket, he’s always involved in the memorable moments. Supporters of other clubs rave about him when they’re linked with his services, as some Forest fans look on bemused.

Many Forest fans have travelled the length and breadth of the country to be treated to a lazy, uninspiring performance from the much-overhyped man. Walking through games, reluctant to move into space and to put a foot in when required. Almost as if McGugan believes that because he’s on a good run of form, he’s warranted a day off. This passenger-like performance however, is ignored by some.

Because of his tendency to go on a run of 5/6 games showing the best of his potential, it can often lead to a wave of delusional thoughts amongst the Forest supporters. Stats referring to his ‘goals per minutes ratio’ are plastered all over the social networking sites, which surely would be good for a player often referred to as ‘super-sub’. Quotes such as “we wouldn’t be where we are now if it wasn’t for McGugan”, can be plucked from the internet with ease.

With every run of success comes the same approach of admiration from some to McGugan that makes it all about him, as if Forest are a one man team. Every run of success is swiftly followed by a trail of failure, as McGugan appears to get caught up in the hype. For seven years it’s gone on, and for seven years the same debate has followed.

He’s been linked with several Premier League clubs in the years gone by; But why haven’t they signed him? Simply enough, because they’ve done a whole lot more than to watch his highlights montage. Numerous scouts would’ve come to the City Ground to watch ninety minutes of Lewis McGugan expecting a spectacle. The harsh reality is, they may as well have only turned up for fifteen of those minutes, because that’s all McGugan partakes in.

Due to the promise he demonstrated in the early part to his career, the Forest faithful have the right to question why his career still sees him as a bit-part Championship player, especially considering the progress the likes of Michael Dawson went on to make after coming through the academy and Jermaine Jenas to a lesser extent, after serious injuries dented his career somewhat.

So would it be more beneficial for Forest if McGugan left, making way for a player who wanted to graft for success 46 games in a season?

Spending years at a club can often bring a hero status from all fans. But with McGugan, there are still questions. If they’re not answered after seven years, when will they be answered?

Everyone is waiting for that moment McGugan arrives. The time he will become consistent, and be the name on everyone’s lips for a whole season in a positive fashion.

In ten years time when retirement is looming and his best days are behind him, Lewis McGugan may just regret the years he spent floating around in his peak years, expecting success to be laid on a plate. For now though, he has a decision to make.

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Seeking pastures new may just be the best way forward for him, and probably for Nottingham Forest supporters too.

@will_forest to get in touch via Twitter.

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Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto’o is set to hold talks with both Chelsea and Manchester United this week, according to reports from The Express.

The Cameroonian superstar is one of a number of players set to leave the Russian giants in the coming weeks, as his employers look to slash their current wage bill.

Despite Eto’o being the highest paid player in the world – on a salary in excess of £300,000-per-week – United and Chelsea are thought to be keen to offer him a Premier League escape route.

Anzhi are willing to except a cut-price fee of around £5m, a figure that the domestic rivals can both match.

Eto’o is happy to take a pay-cut to make a move to top level side, and is keen on both Chelsea and United.

The 32-year-old played under now Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, and is known to have a good relationship with ‘The Special One’.

But, United are also firmly in the fight, and could make a real effort to land the ex-Barcelona man in a bid to bring in a marquee player before the transfer window closes.

Anzhi have also made Liverpool and Tottenham target Willian available, and are willing to listen to offers for former QPR centre-back Christopher Samba.

Are Chelsea and Manchester United wasting their time looking at Samuel Eto’o? Or does he still have plenty to offer?

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Have your say below!

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It’s an old cliché that football fans think they know better than the manager, and know more than them. But nobody was better at predicting results at the World Cup than Paul the Octopus. The resident at Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, the English born Octopus was used to predict key matches at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Whilst he made 2 incorrect predictions during Euro 2008, 2 years later Paul correctly predicted the results of all 7 of Germany’s matches, including their semi-final defeat to Spain, as well as the final. This even led to Paul getting death threats, with fans wanting him to be cooked and eaten! In October 2010, he passed away, but we are told he died of natural causes. (Cue the conspiracy theories!)

Now though, the creators of video game Football Manager have made their own predictions. The Mirror have reported that the popular game makers have used their database of information to predict the outcome of all matches at the World Cup, all the way to foretelling who will lift the trophy come July 13th.

The PC game has predicted that, after beating Costa Rica and Italy, and drawing with Uruguay, that England will finish top of the group. The Italians will miss out on the group stage, and join Mexico as the shock nations to miss out on the knockout stage. Goals from Phil Jones and Frank Lampard guided England to a 2-0 win over the Ivory Coast in this simulation, setting up a quarter-final match against Brazil.

But the rematch from the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals will have a repeated score line according to Football Manager, as Steven Gerrard’s second half goal will be cancelled out by Hernanes. Hulk will then score an extra time winner, as the Three Lions get chucked out of the tournament by the hosts. Gerrard will be England’s top scorer with 2 goals, whilst Leighton Baines will be the nation’s highest rated player, with an average rating of 7.92.

Brazil will later go on to win their 6th World Cup, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final, thanks to a Thiago Silva goal. Argentina and Belgium will apparently fight it out for third place. These predictions made by the Football Manager team are a lot more complicated than Paul the Octopuses’ were, but never the less, they have given it a good go.

So what do you think? Can you see their predictions coming true, or have they got it all wrong? Share your thoughts and forecasts below!

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Click on the banner below to join the boys in Brazil!

Credit to Juan Mata, he could have gone public and made a mess of his thus far unpleasant third season in English football. Most players would have, especially with the World Cup coming up and a place in the squad hanging in the balance amid positive and productive campaigns from his countrymen across England and Europe.

Maybe it’s naïve, but it’s for that reason that I believe Jose Mourinho will oblige Mata his move to Manchester United, provided David Moyes and Ed Woodward put together a financial package that makes it close to impossible for Chelsea to reject.

The obvious starting point is that Mourinho doesn’t fear Moyes and United anymore, though it doesn’t really make much sense beyond the next few months of this season. Mata will still be the same player next term, boosted further, you’d hope, by United’s strong summer in the market. There isn’t much of a threat up until May, and that’s understandable given United’s position. But beyond that, a Mata-led United will be more than capable of damaging Chelsea’s trophy aspirations.

Mata hasn’t had a bad thing to say about Mourinho up until this point. Even Kevin De Bruyne, whom Mourinho had little interest towards, was offered a way out of the club in order to boost his chances of representing Belgium in the summer. Of course, Wolfsburg’s offer was extremely tempting, with the German club putting together a squad capable of challenging at the highest point of the Bundesliga in the coming seasons.

Mourinho may not have fancied De Bruyne starting ahead of other clear favourites, but there’s little to no evidence of a break down in the pair’s relationship. A discussion between the two likely preceded the youngster’s move back to Germany, and considering Mourinho is so highly spoken of as a manager who works on the human level as well as the sporting level with his players, you can start to believe that the Portuguese was more than willing to offer De Bruyne his way out.

Juan Mata will turn around the fortunes of Manchester United, there are few doubting that. What is also important is that he’ll buy Moyes time if the newly-worked target of qualifying for the Champions League is achieved. Mourinho knows how good the Spaniard is: 20 goals last season acts as just some evidence of his quality.

But in the past where Mourinho would have likely waged war on the transfer front against Manchester United in order to keep the midfielder, he’s mellowed somewhat since his return to England. Mata isn’t the first big name he’s allowed to move on. Zlatan Ibrahimovic could have upset Inter Milan when the Italian side, managed then by Mourinho, met Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the knockout stages of the 2009-10 Champions League campaign. It’s an aspect of the game managers and clubs have to accept, and it certainly isn’t lost on Mourinho now.

There is more than likely something coming Mourinho’s way via the market. If not Wayne Rooney in an Ibrahimovic-Samuel Eto’o-style swap, then certainly in another top centre-forward in the summer, funded by the sale of Mata to United.

United, too, will be on the lookout to strengthen considerably. Whether Mourinho fears them or not at this stage, there will be reason to look to Old Trafford again in the near future and see a club rejuvenated.

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Pepsi® today announced the Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game album, an exclusive collection of 11 anthemic songs and companion short films, or ‘filmtracks,’ that capture the indelible international spirit, sights and sounds of the world’s most popular game – football. The visual album will unite chart-topping musicians with award-winning directors to showcase the inextricably interwoven power of music, film and sport.

Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game showcases an eclectic mix of rising and celebrated musical artists from around the world including Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monáe, Rita Ora, Don Omar, Santigold, Timbaland, R3hab and Jetta alongside regional favorites Pearls Negras (Brazil), Jolin Tsai Yl-ling (China) and Hassan El Shafei (Egypt).

These artists’ songs will serve as inspirations for 11 short films by dynamic directors, including Spike Lee, Idris Elba, Jessy Terrero, Diego Luna, Andy Morahan and The Kolton Brothers among others, whose accompanying filmtracks tell a story inspired by each song.

Each week, Pepsi MAX will premiere songs off the album as singles on the iTunes store, with accompanying filmtracks free to view the same day on www.pepsi.com/thegame, as well as artists’ YouTube or Vevo channels.

“This visual album is a celebration of different artistic talents and intertwines two art forms that up until now existed mostly in service of one another. With Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game, we are finally elevating these artforms to an equal plane and showcasing them on a global level. The ‘beats’ are both musical and visual snapshots that speak to the spirit of football culture, where songs serve as inspiration for the films – and the films allow for greater interpretation of the songs,” said Frank Cooper III, Chief Marketing Officer, Global Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo Global Beverages Group.

Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game also seeks to empower and create momentum for those often excluded from the center stage of football. Pepsi MAX has partnered with Cine Favela, a cultural non-profit organization providing film education and tools to aspiring new young directors throughout Brazil. Cine Favela alumni will bring to life Pearls Negras’ rhythmical track “Guerreira,” showcasing the hidden talent and overwhelming passion and spirit that flows from the favelas of Brazil.

As the largest music, film and football collaboration in the brand’s history, Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game audibly and visually captures the vibrant sights, sounds and stories that unite fans with the game of football. Track to track, the excitement, passion and intensity flows like a footballer performing on the pitch.

The complete 11-track Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game album (distributed by Caroline) drops June 9th internationally and June 10th in the U.S. Beginning today, the album is available for pre-sale on iTunes.

“I was immediately attracted to ‘The Game’ because I can identify with its theme of overcoming challenges and finding your voice. It’s a very important message and I’m honored to partner with Pepsi on a project that brings the worlds of music, sports and film together,” says Kelly Rowland. “As an artist – and a huge film and sports fan – it’s been an incredible experience.”

The full track list includes:

Janelle Monáe, “Heroes,” with filmtrack by The Young Astronauts

Don Omar, “Pura Vida,” with filmtrack by Jessy Terrero

Rita Ora, “I Will Never Let You Down (Switch Remix),” with filmtrack by Diego Luna

R3hab feat. Eva Simons, “Unstoppable,” with filmtrack by Idris Elba

Jetta, “Crescendo”

Kelly Rowland, “The Game,” with filmtrack by Spike Lee

Santigold, “Kicking Down Doors,” with filmtrack by Andy Morahan

Timbaland staring Rachel Assil, “Whoever We Are,” with filmtrack by The Kolton Brothers

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Pearls Negras, “Guerreira,” with filmtrack by Cine Favela

Jolin Tsai Yl-ling, “Now is the Time,” with filmtrack by Cai Yiqi

Hassan el Shafei, “Ahlam Men Gedial”

Dominic Pandiscia, President of Caroline stated, “Caroline and Pepsi share a vision of enabling talented artists the platform to accelerate music on a global scale. Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game captures the spirit of football and we couldn’t be more excited to support the diverse roster of international talent.”

Pepsi MAX Beats of the Beautiful Game is part of the integrated 2014 Pepsi MAX football campaign. The album follows the announcement of the brand’s “Now Is What You Make It” global commercial and interactive film, as well as a creative art collection, “The Art of Football.” The campaign will continue to deliver more experiences to fans throughout the year – bringing them closer to the game they love.

For more information on Pepsi MAX and “Live For Now” visit www.pepsi.com and follow the conversation online with #FutbolNow.

As World Cup selection is becoming more and more imminent, the clock is ticking fast for Jack Wilshere to board the plane. The Arsenal midfielder is yet to return from the hairline fracture to his navicular bone suffered in England’s 1-0 friendly win over Denmark back in March. And it’s looking less and less likely that he’ll reach peak fitness for the time the World Cup rolls around.

Arsene Wenger has tried to keep a positive face throughout Wilshere’s recovery period, and has always maintained that he will regain his fitness in time to make the World Cup. But even this is hazed in doubt now as Wenger has admitted he is unsure whether Wilshere will feature again for the Gunners this season.

This clearly presents a dilemma for Roy Hodgson. Is it worth taking a risk on one of his star players, when there are so many more knocking on his door?

The England boss has said he will disregard players making a late surge this season. So you can rule out the chances of a surprise inclusion ahead of Wilshere. But there are a whole host of names – Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and Raheem Sterling to name but a few – who not only would provide a direct rivalry to Wilshere’s spot in the squad, but whom have also performed exceptionally well this season. Better than Wilshere was doing for most of the year.

Is a gamble on Jack Wilshere really worth it? Examples from the past show that rushing injured players back in time for the World Cup rarely pays off. Wayne Rooney was out of sorts in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and as a result he is still yet to score a goal in the finals. Similarly, in 2002, France took the chance with Zinedine Zidane after he got injured in a warm-up match. The French were on the brink of elimination when Zidane was risked against Denmark in the final group game, and it was barely worth the effort.

Hodgson has stated categorically that he won’t risk players who aren’t 100 per cent fit. His resolve will really be tested when it comes to Wilshere though.

It is more than likely that Wilshere will be selected for the provisional 30-man squad to take to Miami for the England training camp. There Hodgson will get the chance to assess Wilshere first-hand and make a decision on him.

The supposed six-week recovery period has now crept into its ninth week, and may even stretch to 10. There has clearly been running contact between the Arsenal and England bosses, as Wenger stated how Hodgson was enthusiastic on the prospect of Jack Wilshere being part of his England squad.

But all three – Wilshere, Hodgson, Wenger – need to be certain of his fitness before the decision is made on him. Games come round thick and fast during international tournaments, and with the added burden of travel, his condition will be tested to the max.

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We have touched on Wilshere’s need to recognise his own limits a few weeks ago now. And it is vital for him to know his body. Doctors have declared mission ‘Get Falcao to Brazil’, after the Colombian striker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in January. This type of carelessness – rushing a man back within five months of a serious injury – is potentially career-damaging. If Falcao makes it to Brazil, he won’t be at full fitness, and will likely do no good to himself. Wilshere is still in the fledgling stages of his football career, and doesn’t need to take unnecessary risks with his health.

Understandably, he will be desperate to go to Brazil. World Cups don’t come around so often to take for granted, and Wilshere won’t consider his age as an excuse for missing out. He won’t be looking to the future, but neither will Roy Hodgson. He needs to select a squad with England’s best hopes at heart. A fit and firing Jack Wilshere would undeniably be part of that. But a Jack Wilshere without games under his belt and a healthy body? We shall have to wait and see.

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