More questions than answers for England

Almost straight from an episode of Catchphrase, it really was very much a case of '˜say what you see' as interim England manager Gareth Southgate stated he'd inherited a mess in the wake of England's uninspiring goalless draw with Slovenia.

Thankfully, a number of saves from much-maligned goalkeeper Joe Hart saved England from further embarrassment. But two games into Southgate’s initial caretaker tenure, there are still apparently more questions than answers.

After November’s double bill of Scotland and Spain, the FA then have a period of England inactivity where they can decide which road to take.

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If it is a mess, as Southgate states, is four games really too early to judge? Is Wayne Rooney’s international career over? Do the FA have a preferred candidate who’s not available until the end of the season?

While some of the performances are dull, the goings-on surrounding the England side are anything but.

For what’s it’s worth, I’m of the opinion that they have a candidate they can’t have now but would be prepared to wait for.

While it won’t be universally accepted, in the main it will be welcomed and I think the person in question will be well suited for the post.

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It just depends whether they can prise Arsene, from North London, away from his current long-term position.

With an international weekend and no football in the top two divisions, non-league football almost took centre stage with a lot of clubs recording their biggest attendances of the season.

Worthing’s home fixture with Folkestone Invicta attracted the largest Woodside league crowd of the campaign and the 712 who turned out were treated to a classic domestic encounter, which had everything bar a streaker and ended 3-3.

After an amazing start in the Ryman Premier League, there was always going to be a blip and after Tuesday night’s win at Met Police, the return of seven out of the last nine points, the five straight league defeats are very much behind the team.

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This season was always about consolidation and development, I firmly believe that Worthing will get to the Conference South, but at the right time, with firm foundations in place regarding player recruitment and the aforementioned development.

Unfortunately due to illness, I missed Tuesday night’s game but it was the ultimate pick-me-up when I heard that Worthing’s winner had come from youth-team product Luke Brodie. It’s testament to how important home-grown talent and their subsequent development is the key.

It seems the higher you get in a sport, the more unorthodox things unravel.

There is now a possibility that prior to any ban for alleged drug taking, if Tyson Fury returns his world belts due to inactivity then he becomes a ‘champion in recess’. He would then be in line for a title fight with the new champion when he eventually returns to the ring, with two years the ban time currently being bandied around.

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So no worries about having to start down at the bottom again and work his way back, it’s a big fight, perhaps after a warm-up, on his return. Probably not quite how the Marquess of Queensbury would have envisaged it.

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