Only a Phonecall Away.

He's in the squad.
But he's not going.
He is going.
Now he's definitely not.

Not a moment too quick, the Rio Ferdinand and England drama has come to an end. The joke is, it could have all been prevented if Roy Hodgson had just bothered to pick up the phone. It's so simple, it's not even funny.

For months, the whispers to recall Ferdinand have got louder and the England manager finally decided to listen yet doing it in the manner that he did; hasn't done him any favours.

We can all agree that the defender currently playing for the Champions-elect is not the injury-hit player of 18 months ago. His performances and the injuries and inconsistency of others, means he fully deserves a place in the squad. If not the team.

It was clear that Ferdinand and the medical team at Manchester United had worked hard to find a system that allowed him to play regularly, without any serious problems. So it's curious that the England boss didn't think to contact the club and/or the player before calling him up.

Given the way the defender was left at home prior to Euro 2012, some may also feel an apology should have been on offer. He was clearly aggrieved by Hodgson's decision to more-or-less take John Terry's side, while there are also the 'football reasons' that have never quite been explained.

Sir Alex Ferguson's comments last week were no surprise. The manager has long been vocal that Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs' decisions to retire, helped them prolong their club careers. But as well as thinking about the best interests of his club, he is thinking about the best interests of his player. At the age of 34, the former Leeds star is in the last lap of his top-flight career, it is logical that he would also want to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

That is why it is understandable the player has pulled out of the double header against San Marino and Montenegro. Two games that require a fair amount of travel and also games that England should win without too much fuss. The decision to meet and explain to the manager, makes it hard for many to question Ferdinand's motives or doubt his commitment to his national side.

As for Hodgson, it could be said he won't come out of this so well. His subdued character is a stark change from previous national managers such as Fabio Capello, but it appears to be working well enough with two wins and two draws from four qualifying games.

But you have to admit, this situation could have been easily prevented. That much is clear. Hodgson or his team don't appear to be on the ball in regards to what is going on with English players. An area they should know inside and out. Surely that is part of his job description?

Maybe this is the time for the England manager to become more thorough, and make sure he knows exactly what is going on with the professionals who are available to play for him.

Because when or if things go wrong, he may end up looking like a bit of a bumbling fool.

Football Black List Awards 2011

Football's Black List awards are back with a star-studded event taking place at London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games & Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) in Canary Wharf on October 26th.

The awards celebrate achievements by those in the black community at all levels of the game with supporters including the Football Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, Kick It Out and the Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS), and Horizon with The Voice Newspaper as a media partner.

They were created in 2008 by BBC Journalist, Leon Mann and The Voice sports editor, Rodney Hinds and despite struggling to find funding, they have worked hard to bring them back for the fourth year.

                                                  Paul Elliot, Spoony and Darren Lewis

“The Black List Awards is very special as it brings different parts of the black community together.” said Mann.

The initiative isn't just about the players on the pitch, the aim is also to recognise the acts of those at a grass roots and administrative level. The categories at the awards will be media, commercial, administration, community and coaching/management. There will also be awards for off-the-pitch, grassroots and the Keith Alexander award.

“It is not right that our community can have more than 25 per cent of players on the pitch but not have the same representation in other areas, in particular administration,” continued Mann.

“You can expect to see a number of new names on the list that people aren’t quite familiar with, but will be very impressed with their achievements.”

SB.TV will be there this year, to bring you the best of the action with exclusive coverage of the night. Guests will include Premier League players, London 2012 Olympians and black managers and coaches.

This years nominees include: Manchester United and England star, Rio Ferdinand; ex-player/manager and now Sky Sports commentator, Chris (Kammy) Kamara; Daily Mirror sports journalist, Darren Lewis, and England Ladies manager, Hope Powell.

For a full guide to all on the list, go here

I'm Not Laughing Anymore

I don't know what was worse when the new FIFA World Rankings came out. The fact that we all know we don't deserve to be fourth or the fact that the other countries media have picked up on it.

It's Sepp Blatter's first deliberately funny joke, and the England team are the punchline.

Although; lets be honest, the joke has been on us for a while. And like the one your Uncle tells every Christmas, it's no longer funny.

For years, our so-called 'golden generation' of footballers have been talked up even though they routinely disappoint. Tournament after tournament England are discussed as challengers with everyone from - that years - Prime Minister to your local newsagent getting in on the act. Even the bookies wind us up, quoting 5-1, when it should be more like 12s. Who really believes England are in competition with Spain and Brazil?

Lets get real, we haven't won a trophy since that World Cup in 1966. We haven't made it to a final since then. And lets not to talk about the failure to even qualify. We all blamed Steve McLaren after the fiasco but he was not one of the well renumerated young men on the pitch.
So when are we going to stop hiding what has been staring us in the face for years?
England just aren't good enough.

The reality is we haven't been 'real' competitors in international ootball for many years. The sooner we admit it, the sooner we can change that fact.

Not since Euro 1996 have we looked like a team. Not a real one. In my opinion, anyway. There have been eleven men on the pitch but they are clearly not playing for each other. Does anyone know who they are playing for?

You only have to look at the Rio - Terry - captaincy fiasco to see all is not well. If John Terry 'did' sleep with another players partner; he showed a lack of respect for his family and for his teammates. As well as the game. I believe Fabio Capello was right to take the honour away from him. But to give it back and ridicule Rio in the process was unacceptable.

An off-field incident became part of what was occuring on the field.

Maybe this is why lil Jack Wilshere has been such a revelation. I know he is going to be a fabulous talent. I saw him against Wigan in the Carling Cup, a couple of years ago. He was amazing then, and that was against Premier League opposition. You know he wants to do his best for England, as a player AND as a fan.

Maybe now is the time for change. Let's go to Euro 2012 with a new team and a fresh mentality. Anything but stay as we are, because it's just not working.

We look sterile on the pitch and I always expect us to struggle against a good team. Club wise our domestic teams compete every year but our national team cannot.

Maybe now is the time for change. Let's go to Euro 2012 with a new team and a fresh mentality. Yes, the new players will be less experienced but it's time for an overhaul.
Well, it can't be any worse than it is now.

Time to get Less Personal

Just like Richard Keys doesn't seem to remember a time before the Premier League, there are an increasing number of fans who don't remember a time BBB - or as I like to call it 'Before Brand Beckham'.

A time that seems so long ago in todays world where footballers are England's rock stars. BBB was a time when the most important thing was what they did on the pitch, not who they did in a nightclub's toilets. A time when as far as I was concerned; every footballers child was called Jack, John, Jane or Jill. A time when I cared about a footballers marriage and subsequent divorce as much as I cared about.... well, golf.