As the dust clears from the impact of the news that Fabio Capello had called it a day with/been fired by England, the Football Association have a minor headache to deal with in their search for a replacement.
Harry Redknapp has had his name on the job for some time, at least since Tottenham Hotspur's dazzling display in last year's Champions League convinced the doubters he could cut it in international football.

Update: Liverpool has responded. They're not happy.

LFC considers racism in any form to be unacceptable without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that Luis Suarez did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.

One of the nice things about an up and down fall for Liverpool is that we've had the joy of monitoring things that are a pain in the ass both on and off the pitch. After a relatively serene spring and a summer mostly marked by optimism, we've been able to lament lack of finishing, dropped points, and poor decisions in matches to go along with a host of other concerns away from the action.

From the FA's official website:

The FA has today charged Liverpool's Luis Suarez following an incident that occurred during the Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture at Anfield on 15 October 2011. It is alleged that Suarez used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra contrary to FA rules.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

For nearly 150 years, eleven men have been stepping onto a soccer field prepared to attack and defend against their opponent as a unit.

It happens every day all across the world. How often do we think of the significance of the number, 11?

The friendly that the United States played against Mexico in Philadelphia on August 10brought back a historical tradition.

Approaching the ground on Saturday 13th August I had a good feeling regarding the opening game of the season. A home game at Anfield against Sunderland, who had brought in 9 new faces during the summer, was surely the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to take 3 much needed early points. I left Anfield with a feeling that the opportunity had gone a begging, despite it being there for the taking.

Wherever and whenever I go somewhere and begin to talk to people about football the usual negative comments about football is given: "Footballs not what it was back in my day" or the new classic "Footballers are paid too much money". In all honesty it's very true. Modern football is not a sport nowadays, it's a brand.

The two prized England Under 21 internationals Jordan Henderson and Phil Jones have recently moved from their respective clubs to two North West giants separated by the East Lancs road. As Liverpool were busy tying up a deal for Sunderland midfield all rounder Jordan Henderson, Manchester United were seemingly busy beating other Premier League heavyweights, including Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, to the signing of Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones.

31st January 2011 was an eventful and stressful day for Newcastle United forward Andy Carroll. He started the day as normal, still being Newcastle's main front man. He ended the day making a £35 million pound move to North West heavyweights Liverpool. The 22 year old Geordie had left his home city and his boyhood heroes and set up on a new adventure with 18 times league champions and 5 time European champions Liverpool.

The final of the Champions League at Wembley Stadium is almost upon us. The iconic twin towers of the old Wembley may be gone but the arch of the latest, rejuvenated and reinvigorated Wembley Stadium is all set to become just as famous.

Saturday 28th May 2011 will the biggest day in the new stadiums life to date.

Another season of high hopes and eventual frustration for Arsenal has ended. Another season of, at times enterprising football, but ultimately poor defending and poor decisions has ended with the Gunners going six seasons without a trophy.

The chance of finishing the season without a trophy looked very unlikely as Arsenal went into the Carling Cup Final as massive favourites against Premier League Minnows (and ultimately relegation fodder) Birmingham City.

The Football Association's decision to abstain from the FIFA Presidential Vote garnered unwanted criticism in the press at home.
There is no shame in rejecting both candidates and ticking 'none of the above'. On the contrary, it sends a clear message that FIFA is foul and needs change.

Union

Sounding a bit like a new age mystic or feng shui adviser, Peter Nowak says the reason the Union have only scored six goals in nine games isn't poor finishing or a still incomplete midfield. Rather, it begins with "ineffective energy:"

"We spend a lot of time defending, and I think we need to change our perspective on doing certain things.

Oh Alex Ferguson, I despise thee. Sure you've accomplished a great deal in football management, but you're quickly undoing all the positives by continuing to act like bitter old man. You're football's version of Walt Kowalski, except Walt allowed the changing world around him to teach him a lesson.
You continue unfazed down this path of trying to convince people that your club is somehow the constant victim of organized and conspiratorial bias by the FA and any other football governing body who's upset you lately.

Rooney: Not right, but not wrong either.Wayne Rooney should not be punished by the FA for saying a naughty word.
First of all, let me just make something very clear: I am not a fan of Wayne Rooney. In fact, I dislike him very much. I don't care how good a footballer he is, I don't like how he hounds referees, treats other professional and generally acts on a football pitch and, although this has nothing to do with football, I can't help but be disgusted by what he has done in his private life.

Hello and happy Monday to you all.

Amazingly the Mugsmashers did us a big favour yesterday by beating United, meaning the disappointment of not beating Sunderland is offset a bit by the fact we've made a net gain in terms of points. Of course you can choose to be even more disappointed that by not beating them we're not even closer to United but there you go.

Yes, you read the title correctly.

I'm not asking IF referees are biased against us. I want to know why they ARE.

On Saturday, at 4-0 up, we saw Phil Dowd do all he could to help Newcastle back into the game. This included:

• Playing three-and-a-half minutes of stoppage time in the first half because Newcastle were attacking, even though the fourth official signalled for only two minutes.

The FA and MARS have launched a brand new nationwide initiative that is aiming to get adults in England playing regular football.

The Football Association has taken a radical new approach to tackling bad behaviour from fans and players by launching its own football club Respect FC.

OTP gives FA food for thought If you have listened to this week's OTP Podcast you will have heard the Pod team's suggestions for reigniting the romance of the FA Cup. It is fair to say most of them came from the leftfield. The far side of the leftfield, over near that hedge. Unperturbed, the [...]

Update: Between writing and posting this the English FA seem to have announced that a 2013 home international tournament would be a one off to celebrate their 150th anniversary. Ah, well. Still think I'm right.
And so the home internationals might be on the verge of a return thanks to the money of Vauxhall.