sweet waffle

Michael Essien is ruled out of the World Cup (BBC) He's been told he will not fully recover from his existing injury before the end of July.

It's fake, you can tell by the speed that the ball drops and the fact that Shilton wouldn't be that good.

Done.

I doubt he'll be playing for Leicester next season, what an idiot.

At least he'll be able to have a relaxing close season which will be good for us.

I guess Capello sees Carragher as sufficient cover for the right back role. Further evidence of Capello's "progressive" approach: Capello makes unsuccessful attempt to end Scholes exile (Guardian)

Here's the full 30: Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green. Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock. Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips. Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

Huzzah, no Hargreaves, thank f*ck for that. Not at all happy that Carragher got in but I am glad to see that Scott Parker made it into the 30. The final 23 man squad is announced on the 1st June.

Hargreaves (who in my opinion is overrated even when he's fully fit) has played just one minute of first team football since September 2008, in which time he had missed 113 matches. If he gets in the squad I will lose all faith in Capello and I didn't have hardly any to begin with.

First half Kalou, second half Drogba. Drogba's hat trick gets him the nod in the end though.

Although we're winning that first half was as far away from champagne football as you could get. Woeful passing, no movement and Drogba sulking like a spoilt brat. Talk about not playing like champions, we were very fortunate that the penalty came when it did as I could see Wigan maybe getting an equaliser. Fingers crossed for a vast improvement in the second half. Come on Carlo tell them to pull their fingers out.

Andy Dunn on The Sunday Supplement has just said that Carragher is a certainty to be in the final 23.

Carragher set for shock England World Cup call-up (Guardian)

Redknapp says Manchester City warned him off signing Craig Bellamy I hope we've never employed such bully boy tactics.

A less than average first half. I reckon Carlo's got to push Malouda further forward and wider, as he's been fairly ineffectual in the first half and consequently Mascherano has had a pretty easy ride so far.

Does that mean that Mascherano is at right back again? Is he any good there?

I can't remember the last time I felt this nervous. I'm fidgeting like a motherf*cker.

Ivory Coast's group consists of Brazil, Protugal and North Korea, they're final group game being North Korea on Friday 25th June, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was their last game in the tournament.

Band Of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey.

Looks like he attempted the old Vulcan death grip. :)

Looks like Liverpool may have first dibs on him. Liverpool tempted by move for Rafael van der Vaart (Guardian)

F*cking shambolic.

It's funny that Cech still wears his head gear even when he's modeling. Regarding the new kit, I like it.

Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Joe Cole, Deco, Lampard, Mikel, Malouda, Anelka. Subs: Turnbull, Drogba, Ballack, Kalou, Sturridge, Belletti, Bruma. A bit of a gamble leaving Drogba on the bench, got to think he isn't 100% fit.

It was an injury he picked up doing a rather reckless studs up tackle, so it was instant karma in full effect.