Back in November we looked at England's potential squad the definites, possibles, maybes, and no-ways and it looked pretty rosy, pretty balanced. Fast forward three months and it has a whole different, far more worrying appearance...

You can read the initial article by clicking here but here is the squad we thought (at that time) would go:

David James, Rob Green, Paul Robinson

Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott, Matthew Upson, Glen Johnson, Wes Brown

Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, David Beckham, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott

Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch

Let's look at these in detail.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The deadly attack on the Togo national team prior to the start of the African Cup of Nations left the soccer world stunned, and few disagreed when Togo decided to pull out of the tournament.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) is among those few.

Looks like David Beckham's return to Serie A on loan with Milan (again) went quite well. Milan had a few injury problems, so Beckham played on the right hand side of a three man forward line (with Ronaldinho on the left and Marco Borriello in the middle.

With Fabio Capello (visiting home befor major knee surgery) watching, Beckham played 76 minutes and based on the above highlights seemed to do pretty well as Milan beat Genoa 5-2.

photo credit: vramak

1 ) Cesc Fabregas

Not only is Cesc Fabregas the best player 22 & Under, but he might be the best midfielder in the entire Premier League. I apologize to all the Lampard and Gerrard fans out there, but what Fabregas is doing this year is incredible and it is no coincidence that Barcelona is salavating over purchasing the young star.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants his side to be the big beneficiaries of the recent cold snap when they travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side without Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard.
Spurs were due to face their rivals for a Champions League place earlier in the month but the match was postponed due to snow, with Gerrard and Torres then suffering injuries in the FA Cup defeat to Reading.

Team selection was never really an issue when we were banging them in left, right and centre and the side picked itself, but times are a-changing. While annus horribilis is probably a bit strong, our form since the turn of the year has been worrying, reflected not only by poor results and sloppy performances but now scrutiny of the line-up.

Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges...

As expected Tottenham have pipped West Ham to the loan signing of Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, leaving the door open for out-of-favour Spurs striker Robbie Keane to leave White Hart Lane. The Mail reports the Hammers had been expected to complete a deal for the Icelandic international after the player completed a medical on Tuesday, but Harry Redknapp swooped in with a late offer and used the lure of a Champions League challenge to snatch Gudjohnson, a former Chelsea player, from under the nose of their city rivals.

It's still more than a week away from the end of the current game week, but it's not too early to count the cost of the "hectic festive period" (TM English Football Punditry Ltd) and see what team news is available ahead of the weekend's FA Cup matches. Double injury blow for Spurs Tottenham full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is set to miss most of January after suffering a groin strain, boss Harry

The stories currently doing the rounds are that both Sunderland and Athletico Madrid are interested in the most disappointing Tottenham signing since Helder Postiga.

David Bentley was meant to be the man to take Spurs to the next level. Arguably the best right sided player in the Premier League at the time of his arrival at White Hart Lane in July 2008, he was expected to oust Aaron Lennon and become Spurs' star man.

It looks as though our game on Sunday may be postponed as the weather continues to cause havoc. I suppose the only good news to come from this is that Aaron Lennon, who would have probably missed the game on Sunday, should be fit enough to face them when the game is back on again.
According to a few colleagues, the rules state that a game can be called off 24 hours in advance, unless circumstances allow for a cancellation prior to the stated 24 hours.

The fourth and final bunch of mid-season reports and grades features Sunderland, Spurs, West Ham, Wigan and Wolves:

SUNDERLAND (11th, 23 points from 20 games)

Made a storming start to the campaign but an injury to key midfielder Lee Cattermole in October took the wind completely out of their sails.

Sunday's match up at Anfield will be tough for us, especially with the news that Aaron Lennon will most likely miss the match. Harry will make a decision on whether to include him in the squad or not tomorrow.
Can we call on Bentley? Probably not. When I look back on his stint with us, it really annoys me that he simply couldn't be asked.

Happy New Year and all that.
Apologies for the lack of communication lately but it's the same old, replicated excuses, I'm afraid: work, busy schedule, World War 3, etc. Suffice to say, the big freeze outside has temporarily frozen traffic going through this site.
But, like a phoenix from the flames, this blog will rise up to its pre-Christmas heights again soon enough.

With concerns growing about the low number of World Cup 2010 tickets purchased by Africans and South Africans in particular, isn't time someone got a grip of this issue before it is too late?
This article says there is something wrong when FIFA have tried to organise sales through tour operators who can't afford deposits to secure tickets in the first place.

sandrosandrosandro

It's not really in the prerogative of the blogger to attempt to put his readers to sleep; but realistically speaking, another report on the progress of the transfer deal for Sandro Ranieri Guimares Cordeiro is just the ticket. As far as reports are concerned we're still trying to wangle out some details in relation to the fee; (The fact that he's partly owned by a third party is probably the sticky wicket there), and following that a work permit application par excellance.

Not good enough. Just not good enough, dammit. If, come the end of the season, Harry Redknapp's charges are sat in the away dressing room at Burnley and feeling sorry for themselves, then they'd be wise to look back on this game and those against Stoke and Wolves as an indication on why they did not succeed.

Of all the times we've been up to Liverpool in recent years, tonight's game represents by far the greatest opportunity to finally snatch all three points. Anfield is a ground that traditionally holds little fear for us in recent years. We've not set the place alight, so to speak, but we've had more than our fair share of draws - I'll forever be haunted by that 2-2 in the final few weeks of Martin Jol's reign, where we were seconds from victory.

I hate having to write articles like this, but I do think it's time that someone seriously brought up the fact that we're becoming a one-man team.
Is that man Aaron Lennon?
Well, Harry did give a mention to us missing the little guy, during the Liverpool post-match conference. Thing is, Harry didn't mention the real reason as to why we lost to a team that to all intense and purposes, was clearly so inept of their key players.

>> Click Here To Watch Tottenham Hotspur Vs Leeds United Live Now <<

Tottenham Hotspur Vs Leeds United Live Streaming & Match Preview
FA Cup Tottenham Hotspur Vs Leeds United Live Online Click Here
Saturday, 23rd January 2010
Kick Off : 17:15 GMT
Venue : White Hart Lane, North London

The FA Cup between Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United will take place in White Hart Lane on Saturday, 23rd January 23 at 5:15 PM.

By Ollie Irish

A straightforward victory for Spurs, with Fulham offering very little in attack; the Cottagers don't travel well, even on cross-London journeys. The Yids' goals were scored by a couple of unfashionable Englishmen: Peter Crouch, who pounced from close range midway through the first half, and then David Bentley you might recall the name.

Well that wasn't so bad after all. After getting myself all worked up yesterday, we ended up winning rather easily. We never really got out of second gear, but as Fulham never slipped out of first, we were still able to put some distance between us.

We got off to a strong start with the returning Hudd firing in a stinging shot, which was pushed round for a corner.

Gianfranco Zola looks to nab two players deemed as surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane.

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Skysports.com understands West Ham are lining up a double swoop for Tottenham duo David Bentley and Alan Hutton.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The deadly attack on the Togo national team prior to the start of the African Cup of Nations left the soccer world stunned, and few disagreed when Togo decided to pull out of the tournament.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) is among those few.