Bench Lampard

England equalled their best World Cup qualifying campaign since 1966 by hitting Andorra for six tonight. However, the side in such great form should not be the one entering their inevitable first game in South Africa next summer.

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard can not recreate their best form starting alongside each other. One of them has to be sacrificed for the sake of themselves and the team.

Gerrard should start. He is the better of the two and - if played centrally - can be the force that is required to bring home the World Cup.

There's no doubt about it, Fabio Capello has had the most success in facilitating the two in the same team. He has placed Gerrard on the left and allowed him to roam inside, but this is only down to Joe Cole's absence through injury. Cole starred on the left prior to rupturing a cruciate knee ligament and will be a clear option to start in next year's tournament.

For England to win the World Cup next summer they will need to field a balanced side that poses a serious threat on both wings. Theo Walcott - barring injury - is sure to start on the right and I believe there are two skillful contenders for the left, one being Cole, the other being Ashley Young.

If Gerrard is the focal point of the midfield and free to surge towards goal - he will replicate his exceptional form for Liverpool.

An England midfield starring an in-form Gerrard supported by lethal wingers and anchored by Barry will surely allow us our best chance of winning the World Cup since '66.

England are fortunate to be able to call upon two of the best midfielders in the world - and I do rate Lampard that highly - but the player with the greatest ability should start. This is how it works at club level. It should be how it works for the national side.

There is still a lack of competition for places as Capello insists on playing the best players - regardless of position - from the start. With Lampard on the bench, Gerrard will have to impress and will be ever aware of the threat to his position.

Should Gerrard fail to impose himself - Lampard will have the chance to change the game and prove he deserves to start.

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Champions of England. Champions of Europe?

Hats off. A superlative title defence - if not achieved in superlative fashion.

United (with the odd exception) have done just enough throughout this season. A total of nine 1-0 wins, and a further six victories by a one goal margin. They have played far from their peak many times, but have still proved victorious at the final whistle - a feat their closest challengers (and rivals) Liverpool failed to achieve, ultimately, on too many occasions.

In the games Manchester United have played at their optimum, they have done so with great fluidity throughout the side. From the able centre-backs swapping passes with superior competency; Scholes' and Carrick's (or Fletcher, Anderson and Giggs for that matter!) interchanges - in both position and passing patterns; to a lethal frontline that have gelled utilising their individual brilliance.

It is still in the balance as to whether Carlos Tevez, part of that frontline, will remain at Old Trafford next season - although his apparent 'goodbye' waves & kisses to the crowd when substituted in today's 0-0 draw with Arsenal (crowning United champions) make his departure almost certain.

I would be overjoyed to witness Tevez playing (busting a gut!) in the red shirt of Merseyside next season. He would make an awesome addition to the squad for next season's follow up title challenge; and a cert to start on many more occasions than he has been allowed under Ferguson.

At the end of today's game against Arsenal, although gutting to see United celebrating the title win, it was also strangely satisfying witnessing the relief on the faces of their players, knowing it was my team that has pushed them all the way (all except the final fixture) this season - something I haven't seen since the inception of the Premier League.

Perhaps it could have been different. Had Gerrard & Torres started together more than twelve times it surely would have been. I do not say this with green-eyes at United's triumph - they are worthy winners - I say it because, unlike Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez does not have another world-class player to call upon in the circumstances when one of them (if not both) are deemed unavailable - a fact that needs changing in close-season.

Despite my disappointment following Liverpool's exit from the Champions League, I am pleased that the World's elite club competition is to be fought out by two sides posing the best attacking frontlines in World football - and possibly in World football history.

Manchester United's opponents in the final, FC Barcelona, should have their domestic title sewn up this weekend, only requiring a draw as United did today, and will have managed to claim the title in a manner that Ferguson and his players will be envious of.

That said, it is very much in the balance which colour ribbons will be draped from the illustrious trophy when it is held aloft on May 27. If the colours are red, white and black, United will become the first team to successfully defend the trophy - placing the side into the history books.

I, for one, do not want to hear another season of "Champions of England...Champions of Europe" being repetitively chanted throughout almost each of the 90 minutes United are in action. It is monotonous and unimaginative.

It would, however, be one hell of an achievement.

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The Footballer of the Year is crowned

In follow-up to my views on the result of the PFA Player of the Year, I am delighted that my choice for that award, Steven Gerrard, has been awarded the prestigious accolade of FWA Footballer of the Year.

Steven Gerrard was likened to 'Roy of the Rovers' in Harry Redknapp's Sun column today http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2427753.ece, and I believe that Stevie G is the only player in the world who could emulate the fictional exploits of the heroic Roy Race - although his "Racey's Rocket" would predominately be unleashed by his right boot!

His season's stats resonate his superiority, reading: 2,456 minutes on the pitch, 15 goals (23 in all competitions), 7 assists, 73 keypasses, and 51 tackles made; this bettering those of third-placed Wayne Rooney and (obviously) those of the second-placed Ryan Giggs. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1181396/Well-Stevie-youve-brilliant-Liverpool-wrong-man-won.html?ITO=1490

Although his Liverpool side are appearing increasingly unlikely to win a trophy this season - one point being Man Utd's only requirement to retain the league title at home to Arsenal on Saturday - he has (yet again) been inspirational and perhaps had he been available at the times he was not through injury - with Liverpool unable to call upon a player anywhere near as influential in his place - they would be in that position with Utd praying for a slip-up by a team in red.

It has been revealed that Stevie G was in shock after receiving the call informing him of his individual glory, however, the only shock should be that he hasn't won this before!

The closest competitors to the crown of FWA Footballer of the Year, in my opinion, were Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. I believe these, along with Fernando Torres, to be the only players in the Barclay's Premier League able to walk into any team in the world and feel privileged having them in our national league.

I am still holding out hope that this will not be the only trophy Gerrard receives the season...albeit a slender hope.

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Ryan Giggs - PFA Player of the Year?

Over 18 years at the highest level. Over 758 games for Manchester United (beating Bobby Charlton's record). Over 100 career goals. 10 Premier League winner's medals. 4 FA Cup winner's medals. 3 League Cup winner's medals. And last but not least, 2 Champions League winner's medals. Ryan Giggs is one of the English game's best-ever players.

But why has a player having only started 12 games this season been awarded the PFA Player of the Year Award?

Yes, he has performed well (in those 12 games) in a role not normally associated with Ryan Giggs, deeper in central midfield, and done so at the age of 36. But how influential have his performances been?

I can only remember one, to note, being at Old Trafford against Chelsea back in January. He was immense. All attacking moves went through him at one stage or another. But this was against a Chelsea side in disarray, under the (soon to be sacked) tactically-inept Luiz Felipe Scolari; and included a disillusioned Didier Drogba, who's performance was the worst I have ever seen from a professional footballer; let alone a player as deadly as Drogba.

The PFA, each Spring, have every member of the association vote for two players to receive the award. A shortlist is then published in April and the winner of the award is announced a few days later.

Why does the PFA insist on receiving the votes so early? It doesn't allow a fair reflection on a full season, the month following the award being the most important of a season. A month in which the best, most influential players come to fruition and shape their teams' season.

I was astonished not to see Frank Lampard's name on the shortlist. I (like many) have taken a disliking to Lampard, but no-one can deny his influence in this season's Champions League and also his influence during the Premier League season - that being much greater than the influence of Giggs' for Manchester United!

Brede Hangeland, Fulham's Norwegian centre-half, has been a rock at the back all season and it would be a nice change for a player outside of the top-four to be picked on merit.

Steven Gerrard, for me, should have walked away with the award. Although he has been in great form throughout the season and led by example, it was the days just prior to the nominations deadline and weeks after that he really exploded into life. He destroyed teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United almost single-handedly, and has scored 21 goals in 40 appearances; including 13 in the league. Unfortunately, his presence has been missed in the past three matches but he could still prove the catalyst for an extremely exciting Premier League finale.

Perhaps the Football Writers' Award, due after the final Premier League fixtures, will truly reflect the player that has epitomized his team and their successes?

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