So with just six days to go until the World Cup explodes into life in South Africa, England finds itself in the midst of a déjà vu curse. Rio Ferdinand's knee ligaments ruling him out of what would have been his fourth World Cup, and most likely his last. Meanwhile England must march on with their third captain of 2010, Steven Gerrard.
The heat is on, as Glenn Frey sang so well back in the eighties! The days are counting down to the World Cup kick-off in South Africa on June 11th, and aside from the small matter of a quite intriguing Champions League final, the excitement is well and truly brewing. So, have you got tickets or do you want to know of a chance to get some..?!
The 2009/10 season has been a remarkable one for managerial 'come-backs'. It may not be the most favourable term, football after all is full of ebbs and flows and ups and downs. However it is difficult to ignore how this past season several of Western Europe's major leagues have witnessed a revival in fortunes for some recently maligned managers.
On Saturday I accepted a late invitation to watch Bristol Rovers host the already anointed champions of League One- Norwich City. Adding to the end of season party atmosphere were numerous fans dressed as pirates..
Bristol Rovers are more often known as 'the Gas', a reference to the days when their original ground in the Eastville area was overshadowed by a gasworks. The Pirates is their other major nickname and it turned out that there was some attempt afoot to break the record for the most people dressed as pirates gathered together in one place!
Far be it for me to put any dampeners on England's campaign for the impending World Cup in South Africa, but the manager merry-go-round is never far from the sporting pages, where discussion is rife.