Who can be the solution to England’s central defensive problems?

Who is a worthy cover for Terry and Ferdinand in the England team? (Picture: AP)

SPURS captain Ledley King caused the FA much embarrassment yesterday evening (Singapore time) when he withdrew from the England squad amid recommendations from both England and Spurs doctors.

The 28-year-old, who is considered as a ball-playing alternative to Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand, has been plagued with injuries throughout his playing career, and has a long-term left knee injury that prevents him from training in between games.

King’s pullout accentuates a perennial problem that the England team faces: the lack of match-fit centrebacks.

It all boils down to Arsenal and Spurs

The fate of the Premiership title this season lies in the hands of Eduardo and Cesc Fabregas. (Picture: AP)

AS THE dust settles upon the humiliating 4-1 defeat of Manchester United by Liverpool on Saturday night, the Premiership title race seems to have become a little tighter, a little more exciting, since Chelsea and Liverpool have closed the gap at the top to just four points.

Even though United still have a game in hand over their closest rivals, there are still 10 games to go and history has proven that anything can happen, even if you have a 12-point lead in January.

Arsenal and Spurs may just be the clubs that could decide the destination of the Premiership trophy come May.

Question of the Week (Who’s your Spurs No.1?)

Hi all,

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who would be your first-choice keeper for Spurs – Heurelho Gomes or Carlo Cudicini, and why?

Are Man United “untouchable” this season?

MAN United extended its lead at the summit of the Premiership table early this morning, brushing Fulham aside easily with a 3-0 victory.

In the build-up to this game, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger has declared the Red Devils currently “untouchable”, and Sir Alex Ferguson has also said that the title race is now down to his United team and Liverpool, with Chelsea blowing their chances after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari.

While some critics are saying that Man United are due for a bad patch soon, after a nine-game winning streak (the last time they failed to collect three points was against Spurs in December) and a 14-game unbeaten run.

Are Man United “untouchable” this season? Let’s play it by the numbers.

What makes a captain?

WHILE Ledley King is to remain as Spurs captain, Harry Redknapp has entrusted with Robbie Keane with the task of leading the team in games, according to a Soccernet article.

This came just a day after the Irishman completed his transfer from Liverpool, barely six months after moving to Anfield from White Hart Lane.

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: Call me old-fashioned, but I can never understand how young or new players can be put in such an important position – the person who takes charge of his team on the field.

While these players may have the leadership abilities and the ability to inspire through their performances, the most important things that a captain should have is respect from his own team-mates, as well as the ability to communicate with them.

Keane’s transfer proves that Premier League rules are useless

ROBBIE Keane made a sensational return to Spurs from Liverpool on the transfer deadline day, just about half a year after signing for his boyhood club in a £20.3m transfer.

Now the Irishman is back at White Hart Lane for £16m, marking the end of his very unhappy stint at Anfield, and making him the third Spurs old boy to rejoin the club in less than a year after leaving. Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda are the other two players who came back to the Lilywhites during the January transfer window.

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: Wait a minute, isn’t this against the rules? TimesOnline reported in December that Defoe and Keane may not be able to rejoin Spurs because of Rule L19 of the Premier League regulations (read story here). It states that:

“A Club which transfers or cancels the registration of a Player may not apply to register that Player within a year except with the prior written consent of the Board.”

(see the full set of regulations here)

Spurs lack quality to break into Big Four?

TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp says that his current squad does not have the strength in depth to break into the Big Four, according to a Times online story.

He said: “If you are talking about getting into the top five or the top four, the squad is well, well short of that. There is a lot of work to be done to become a top team.

“I can’t tell lies. The squad is still well short of challenging for a place in the top four. We are not as good as Aston Villa or one or two other teams, so there is a lot of work to be done to get where we should be.”

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG SAYS: Spurs do not have a squad that rivals that of Aston Villa? If you look at Redknapp’s squad you will find stars such as Roman Pavlyuchenko and Luka Modric, along with exciting English players such as David Bentley and Aaron Lennon.