World Cup Lessons

1. I've argued before about the introduction of technology. Nuff said.
2. The handball rule should be altered. This must be the most inconsistently applied rule in the game. The idea of a penalty being given for handball after the ball has been blasted on to the arm of a defender at a free-kick when there's no time to get it out of the way is simply ludicrous. You'll never get rid of different interpretations by referees, but to reduce the inconsistency why not only make it handball from the hand to the elbow. Besides, this would have confirmed the legality of Luis Fabiano's excellent goal against ...(can't remember, but you know the one I mean).
3. Don't accuse those of us who proclaim that England won't win a particular game (most notably against USA and Germany) of being anti-patriotic pessimists. Some of us have dropped the delusions of past imperialism.
4. Don't think that just because England put in a couple of poor performances (as against USA and Germany), that they're bound to get better in the next one. If the system's broke, it doesn't suddenly fix itself.
5. Lay off Wayne Rooney. As a Man Utd fan, I'm as disappointed as anyone that he played poorly. BUT Rooney isn't a genius. Even at his best, he's good but not great. He rarely beats a player, his ball control is only adequate. He's never been a George Best. Also playing him next to a donkey for the first couple of games didn't do wonders for his confidence in Capello's system.
6. FIFA must introduce an appeals panel. It seems to me to be an infringement of human rights that a player can fake an injury that results in a red card for an opponent who can do nothing about it. I don't believe this undermines a referee. He can't be expected to see everything especially as players have become so adept at the sneaky elbow to the face and play-acting etc. The appeals panel (see above) can then sanction punishment against the offender.
7. Make vuvuzelas compulsory for all England crowds. This could be the best way to drown out The Great Escape.
8. Never let Emmanuel Adebayor near a TV studio. I haven't understood a word he's said. On the other hand, make Clarence Seedorf a permanent fixture. And Robbie Savage on radio too.
9. Allow the use of super slo-mo HD replays of players' faces only once per half.
10. Replace Capello with Guus Hiddink immediately.