They think it's all over - it is now!

In today’s blog:
Review of yesterday’s game, England v Germany
Review of Saturday’s racing selection and weekend racing
Today’s Racing Selections

Review of yesterday’s game, England v Germany
The knee-jerk reaction to England’s 4:1 defeat by Germany is to sack Fabio Capello as manager and blame the referee for not allowing Lampard’s goal. However, England’s problems run deep and were there for all to see in the abysmal performances in the 3 group games and, let’s be honest, it was a very weak group. At least we can lay claim to have been beaten by Germany! What would the headlines be now if it had been a 4:1 (or more) defeat by Ghana? My look on the situation is that the Premier League (sold to the public as a springboard for success on the international stage) has failed. If a player earning £140,000 a week (John Terry) cannot find the motivation to play in position for his country then what can? £200,000 a week, how about £300,000? The Premier League has failed the England team as there is no strength in depth in the England squad. Champions Chelsea supplied only 4 players; Ashley Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole. Premiership runners-up Man Utd supplied just 3 players Rooney, Ferdinand (injured, never played) and Carrick (never played). Third in the Premiership, Arsenal, supplied none. Just 7 of the 23-man squad from the top-3 clubs in the country – say’s it all really.
I’m sure some “spin” will be put on the result to suggest it’s the fault of someone else (and remember, this is essentially the same squad that failed under Steve McClaren), but it is the fault of the system and the players.
It is not worth progressing with players now aged 28-years and older. They have shown themselves to be not good enough and they are not going to get any better; so ditch them and bring in some young blood – from the Championship teams if necessary. We need players hungry for success, not fat having gorged themselves on £6 million a year salaries.
And the structure of the Premiership needs to change with less reliability on foreign players. The starting line-up of every Premiership game should include at least 3 English players (my god, 20 years ago we only allowed 3 foreign players in a team!). That should increase to 4 players for the 2011-12 season, and 5 players for 2012-13.
What about a return of the England ‘B’ team, and matches between England ‘A’ and England ‘B’? I’m sure a 23-man squad drawn from the Championship would have fared better than the current squad of Premiership prima-donna’s.
Finally, let’s stop thinking we are the best at football as we invented the game. We are not.

Review of Saturday’s racing selection and weekend racing
I was a bit disappointed with RED JAZZ as he did everything right and still couldn’t win. That does not take anything away from the race winner Premier Loco who had shown he was upto winning a G3 last summer with consistent performances at a mile here in the UK and in winning a couple of G2’s in Germany. His SP of 25/1 was an insult in hindsight with such strong form in the book.
In Ireland on Sunday, the Irish Derby was won by Cape Blanco and that was a huge form boost for the Derby winner Workforce. The prospect of a rematch between these two in the King George at Ascot in July is mouth-watering.

Today’s Racing Selections
Not much of a day for racing today. I can usually find one at Pontefract as the draw helps a lot here on this tight turning track; but not today. Sir Mark Prescott has a solitary runner out today at Pontefract in the 4:15 called Cheyenne Chant. It was a beaten fav LTO, so there may be some stable confidence behind it, and it has a couple of close relatives rated 15lb+ better so there is scope for improvement on what’s been seen to-date.
There not much at either of the evening meetings at first glance, though if I come across anything later on I will post it up.

Otherwise, no selections today.

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