Sheriff Kimbo's Thursday Thoughts #3

Well, England have qualified for the World Cup. That's great. It really is, and credit to Capello and everybody involved for winning every qualifying game so far - that really takes some doing. I suppose all I can really hope for is that at some point, my past enthusiasm at the World Cups of '90, '98 and '02 can return.

Why has my enthusiasm waned, I hear you ask? Well, when Gary Neville threatened that he and the England team would go on strike at the non-selection of the suspended Rio Ferdinand, I just couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't get enthusiastic about a team that had the likes of Gary Neville and Ashley 'I was so angry at their £55k a week offer I had to stop driving because I was shaking' Cole in it. Where were the days of Stuart Pearce and Terry Butcher? But hey, that's just how football is these days I suppose.

Getting back to tonight and you can't help but feel that Capello is the right leader. Whether or not we can win it is another matter. For instance, Glen Johnson is pretty dodgy defensively. Another weak link is up top. I think there is universal agreement that Emile Heskey isn't the man to fire England to World Cup glory. But is Jermaine Defoe? Really? Sure, he's great when he is scoring goals. But apart from that he contributes nothing, meaning that when he is not scoring goals, he is a non-entity in the team. After all, that is why none of the top 4 will touch him. There aren't many other options, are there? Maybe Michael Owen will go on a glorious run of form at the back end of the season...

Hearing Eduardo getting booed tonight made me cringe a little. This bloke really does not deserve what has happened. For one thing, it wasn't even that conclusive that he dived; I for one thought it was a penalty when I saw it in 'real time'. Why he has been victimised (other than the anti-English and slightly pro-Scottish agenda of UEFA) is beyond me. In order for this to be slightly less farcical, there needs to be a proper explanation given and a proper plan of action for the future given. Otherwise it is absolutely nothing other than a witch-hunt.

On the subject of an Arsenal player getting done for diving - how stupid was Eboue to dive in their next game? I mean, seriously, if it wasn't for Rugbys 'bloodgate' incident then it would have been the most ridiculous decision that I have seen on a sporting field in recent times!

Continuing on the Arsenal theme, I said in my first column that I was not convinced that their early season form would really hold up against a good side (not that Everton are not a good side but I think the Lescott debacle affected them, plus the result was a bit of a freak) and sure enough, they lost to Manchester United. In all honesty, I think the same of their opponents this weekend, Manchester City. They could easily have conceded goals that would have cost them points against quite frankly three sides that you would expect them to beat. In all fairness, they DID beat them, but I think the Arsenal v City clash is a fascinating one. Two teams that the likes of Villa, Everton and Spurs will be looking to finish above, although both are generally expected to make the top 5 with Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Both sides good going forward but with defensive naiveties, and the added spice of the presence of Adebayor/Toure… I am genuinely looking forward to this one.

So, it's the second city derby on Sunday. While I am absolutely up for it because it's the local rivals and bragging rights etc, I really think this game is not the big event for us that some (mostly younger) Villa fans make out it is. That is not to say it is not big - of COURSE it is. But for me, I would take losing to them twice if meant we were guaranteed Champions League football next season. On the flip side, I think they would take getting relegated as long as they got six points off the Villa. Therein lies the difference between the two clubs.

As for the result, I'm not convinced that we'll win, although I'd be surprised (and horrified!) if we lost. But we have won three on the trot, how often do we win four in a row? In addition, we have won four consecutive games against them, and our all-time record is five in a row - as is theirs against us. It would be nice to do the double over them and get the record. My head is saying draw, but my heart absolutely says a win.

Dwight Yorke retired this week - oh that made me feel old! I remember him at the Villa around two whole decades ago! Whatever my opinion of him is, as a footballer he was absolutely wonderful. Genuinely world class, he was the best striker I've seen and may ever see at Aston Villa. In addition, he was a genuinely superb midfielder. When he played there for Trinidad & Tobago in the World Cup, people were talking like it was some amazing transition… nonsense! Anyone that had seen him play there for the Villa could have told you that. It was similar when he made the move to Man U, he only started to get the credit he deserved for how good he was - well as far as I am concerned, apart from his first season there, his best years were at Villa Park. No woman ever broke my heart the way Dwight Yorke did, I can tell you that for nothing!

Another week has passed. I am delighted that we are back to domestic action this week. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad England have qualified but compared to Aston Villa, the national team means almost nothing to me! Roll on Sunday, eh...