England A Part Of The International Second Tier

It was meant to be a new dawn. The night where boys became men, the night where Capello finally got it right; the night where we saw a new England.

Instead, the 85,494 people at Wembley were served up nothing more than a timely reminder that England's place on the International stage is firmly in and amongst the second-rate sides.

The jeers rang around Wembley stadium at both half and full-time, the discontent lingering like a bad smell, as those in attendance showed their displeasure at being forced to sit through 90 minutes of the same old England. Tolerance amongst the Three Lions' faithful is running low.

This friendly was a test to see how well the respective rebuilding processes have gone for Capello and his counterpart, Laurent Blanc, since England and France were embarrassed in South Africa at the World Cup. On the evidence provided, it is clear that France's rehabilitation has been a lot more successful than England's.

Blanc has taken over a now resurgent France side who appear to be rejuvenated under his guidance. They were a far cry from the team that finished bottom of their World Cup group with barely a whimper under Raymond Domenech.

Samir Nasri dominated proceedings in midfield and showed why he has become a key asset for Arsenal this season whilst there were promising signs that Paris Saint Germain's centre back Mamadou Sakho can become a rock at the heart of the France defence despite being the tender age of 20.

Capello's squad selection for the game could have loosely been described as baffling. For every Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere there was a Jay Bothroyd, Carlton Cole and Gareth Barry. Most England fans were pointing fingers towards Bothroyd and Cole, all asking the same question. Why?

Choosing a second-tier striker shows just how heavily England's fall from grace has been. Would strikers from the second-tier of Spain, Brazil and Germany get a look in with the national side? I highly doubt it. It was a move that smacked of desperation and Bothroyd himself did little to justify his selection though he did only play for twenty minutes; Cole didn't even get onto the field and Barry was substituted at half-time.

As well as some ridiculous squad choices, Capello's tactics also defied belief at times. Deploying a centre half, Phil Jagielka, at right back against a quality winger like Florent Malouda was asking for trouble whilst the omission of Bolton's Gary Cahill from the defence was as mystifying as how Ben Foster allowed Karim Benzema's shot to beat him at his near post to give France an early lead at Wembley.

Whilst there were positive displays from Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson, the pair remain in the bracket of rough diamonds though there is clearly potential to be worked with. Wilshere is showing maturity beyond his years for Arsenal and it is only a matter of time before that is brought to the England side. Carroll was given little service or support up top and struggled at times but did not do himself any harm. In comparison, Henderson struggled on his debut but should be back on the international scene sooner rather than later.

Peter Crouch's superb late volley merely masked England's frailties after Mathieu Valbuena's goal that doubled the French lead ten minutes after the break turned out to be the winner. Following a fine move that started inside the French half, Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna was given the freedom of Wembley before crossing for the Marseille midfielder to bag his second international goal.

England offered little throughout and now even the most hardened England fan must surely be able to see that England are light years behind the likes of Germany, Spain, Argentina and Brazil on the world stage and that is a fact that is not changing for the foreseeable future.

Doing Things The Holloway

The teams, they are a-changin'. Not quite Bob Dylan but Ian Holloway will hope for mercy from the Premier League when the decision whether or not to fine Blackpool for making 10 changes to their side against Aston Villa in midweek is revealed.

Despite putting in a great effort at Villa Park, the Tangerines lost the match 3-2 when they arguably deserved something from the game. Had they come away with one point or even all three it could be argued that Holloway would not be under such scrutiny for making wholesale changes to his side.

However, this situation is not unprecedented. Last season, Wolves were fined by the Premier League for fielding a "weakened" side in a game which they lost against Manchester United. Mick McCarthy's men won their next game which appeared to justify his decision but the Premier League stuck to the rulebook and fined the club £25,000.

A common argument put forward by fans of "smaller" Premier League clubs, like Wolves, is that the "Big Four" can field weakened sides without facing the same consequences. Whilst it appears to be a petty argument upon scratching the surface of it, proof of it being correct can be easily found.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to his side on the final day of the 2008/09 season against Hull City in preparation for the Champions League final. Although the result went the way of United, a loss would have evoked outrage from both Middlesbrough and Newcastle - two clubs involved in the relegation battle alongside Hull.

In a similar event, Rafael Benitez - then manager of Liverpool - made nine changes to his team ahead of a Champions League final against AC Milan. In this case, however, Liverpool lost 1-0 to boost Fulham's chances of survival, sparking a furious tirade from Neil Warnock, who was in the thick of a relegation battle with Sheffield United. Come the end of the season, the Blades were relegated on goal difference whilst Fulham stayed up by a point. The consequences of Benitez's team selection were disastrous for Sheffield United yet there was no punishment for the Merseyside team.

The general consensus seems to be that Blackpool should be fined in order for the Premier League to maintain consistency in their decisions but the only thing the Premier League are consistent about is being inconsistent.

Holloway's justification for making the changes is likely to fall upon deaf ears when the final decision is made but he makes a lot of fair points. He hasn't shuffled his pack, so to speak, that often in league games; instead opting for a consistent line-up since the 4-0 win at Wigan on the opening day rather than chopping and changing week-in, week-out to get as many points on the board as quickly as possible to ensure survival.

The pace of the Premier League is faster than that of the Championship - the latter being a standard of football most of Holloway's squad will be accustomed to which will inevitably lead to fatigue and injury. With his side having to play four games in the short space of 12 days, Holloway is merely being pragmatic with his resources.

Holloway himself has claimed that he will resign as manager if Blackpool are fined for making the changes; an over-reaction, perhaps, but a clear message that he will not tolerate being told what he can and can't do by the footballing powers that be.

"We deserved at least a point and how dare anybody tell me the players I've been working with, I can't treat them with respect and give them a chance. If some bright spark from the Premier League wants to tell me who I can pick then come and have a cup of coffee and you'll probably get it chucked in your lap.

Let them try and fine me, it's an absolute disgrace. I'll show the Premier League. We were a credit to football, and let the Premier League try to tell me otherwise."

Other Premier League managers have offered their support to Holloway.

"I think it should be left to the manager of the football club to decide what team they pick, and nobody else. Who is to say the other 10 players he left out would have done as well as the 10 that played?" said Stoke boss Tony Pulis.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes added, "I think it'd be wrong if people start stepping in and telling managers who they should be picking."

Given the introduction of the 25-man squad rule over the Summer, the Premier League appear to be contradicting themselves with the inevitable fine waiting to be revealed. Football has been a squad game for a long time due to fatigue and injuries so if the Premier League are trying to tell managers who they can and can't pick for their side then is there any point in having a squad at all?

Bury 0-1 Tranmere

Tranmere booked their place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section semi-finals with a hard-fought victory over League Two side Bury at Gigg Lane.

Manager Les Parry made four changes to the side that was beaten 5-3 at Bournemouth, with Ian Goodison being rested completely whilst Joe Collister, Dale Jennings and Max Blanchard dropped to the bench as they were replaced by Jermaine Grandison, Peter Gulasci, Lucas Akins and Zoumana Bakayogo as Tranmere started with a 4-4-2 formation.

The home side had every right to feel confident heading into the game on the back of a 2-0 win against another League One side, Exeter City, in the FA Cup last Saturday but backed by over 500 travelling fans, the away side started the brighter with the early pressure paying off as Bury's goalkeeper flapped at an Enoch Showunmi cross before the ball fell to veteran striker Ian Thomas-Moore, who controlled the ball before volleying it into the net past two defenders on the goal-line to become Tranmere's top scorer with his seventh goal of the campaign.

In a half of few chances, it was very much defences on top in the first 45 minutes as both sides struggled to test the opposition goalkeeper though Joss Labadie's goalbound effort was brilliantly saved by the young Branagan in the Shakers' goal whilst Peter Gulasci turned Nicky Ajose's shot round the post in the early stages.

As with the first half, Tranmere dominated the opening of the second half, containing their opponents well before creating chances with Thomas-Moore coming closest in hitting the bar though he was adjudged to have been offside after being put through by strike partner Showunmi as the pair continued to combine to good effect for Rovers.

However, the home side grew into the game and started testing Gulasci as he saved well from Lenell John-Lewis' header before Showunmi brought a good save from Branagan following a mazy solo run that began in his own half. The Nigerian was replaced by Sam Morrow with 7 minutes remaining and appeared to be carrying an injury which will worry both the manager and the fans.

Full-backs Tim Cathalina and Zoumana Bakayogo had to cope with livewires Ajose and Haworth down either wing as the hosts pressed for an equaliser but it was to no avail for the tricky wingers as the Tranmere rearguard, Marlon Broomes in particular, held firm for a clean sheet to put the Whites within 3 games of Wembley with a tie against Huddersfield, Carlisle, Sheffield Wednesday or Hartlepool lying in wait.

Jennings Destined For Great Things

When Dale Jennings burst onto the scene against Charlton on September 18th, little under two months ago, few would have predicted that his rise to prominence amongst the Tranmere Rovers squad would come so soon.

Since his debut, Jennings has grown into a key asset for Tranmere despite playing only ten games for the first team. His first goal for the club came away to Bristol Rovers; the only goal in a 1-0 win for Tranmere. He followed that up a month later with a brace against MK Dons in a man of the match performance to celebrate being given his first professional contract which runs until 2012.

Upon signing the contract, Jennings said, "It is a great day for me, all apprentices dream of the day they sign their first professional contract. I'm really pleased the club has given me this opportunity and hopefully I can repay them on the pitch."

The seventeen year-old top-scored for the reserve and youth teams after joining Tranmere's Centre of Excellence as an under-sixteen with nineteen goals and already has five goals for the reserve team this campaign.

With blistering pace to go with trickery, Jennings has the key assets to make a good winger as proven against MK Dons when right-back Danny Woodards was withdrawn after twenty-five minutes due to being unable to cope with Jennings - a testament to his performance that day.

Whilst being a fresh new talent, there is an air of unpredicability surrounding Jennings for the opposition. However, the real test of his talent is to come as, over the coming weeks as teams begin to learn about Dale, he will need to find new ways of beating his man and contributing to the team success.

If he is doubled-up on, it leaves space for another player elsewhere on the field which can only benefit Tranmere so even if he doesn't have an impact on the game with his feet then his movement could also be key for the Whites.

As Dale progresses he will attract scouts from clubs across the land and he would do well to keep his feet on the ground given the hype surrounding him. He would do well to listen to an experienced professional like Ian Thomas-Moore, a veteran of the game in comparison to most of the Tranmere squad, to improve his all-round game.

Some Tranmere fans say it is about time we had another quality player come off the production line as the days of Ryan Taylor, Jason Koumas and Iain Hume are long-gone for the Wirral club. If Jennings can realise his potential he will surely demand a large fee and emulate the successes of the likes of Taylor and Koumas.