A world cup year

I'm watching England and I'm thinking that despite the moaning of league managers and club owners as a fan I think it's a nice taster to start the World Cup year. Get used to that phase as it will be banded about a lot as we prepare to breeze through the qualifiers and slowly build up the players and our chances and prey Gerrard and Rooney stay fit.

The World Cup maybe not the focus right now but you can guarantee any player with the chance to play there will have it at the back of their minds. Right now for England I think Capello knows his starting back four, with Johnson and Cole at full back and Terry and Ferdinand at centre halve. At the moment Barry, Lampard and Gerrard are first choice in midfield and Rooney up front.

There is still a dilemma over the keeper with James currently first choice and should be kept pretty busy at Portsmouth this season, he will be 40 though and it maybe harsh but would a younger more sprightly Seamen or Shilton saved the goals against Brazil and the Germans in 2002 and 1990? It would be good to see someone challenge Jamo. That leaves a midfield place, on the right and a partner for Rooney and Gerrard in the rotating system employed by Capello. But who will fill them?

Beckham started against Holland but this is a big year for Walcott who does offer pace and quality but I think Joe Cole could be the player for the job, if he can get fit and playing regularly for Chelsea, and thats the what players from around the world in this World Cup year need, regular club football and I think if Owen can get that with Rooney this season my money would be on Capello going with a Rooney and Owen partnership.

Bit right now it's the new Premiership season that I'm looking forward to with only 3 days to go, my fantasy football teams are done and I've looked into my crystal ball and will post my predictions tomorrow.