John Helm: FA Cup provides the romance football needs, Capello's goalie choice and wild world of football

Dec 30 2009 by Peter Barrow, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IF YOU think football in our country has gone crazy I’ll sign off 2009 with three little tit-bits that may lead you to believe it's sane compared with other parts of the world.

During the recent Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, I heard my director say: “I don’t believe it. I’ve never seen that before during a game.”

And neither had I. The goalkeeper of TP Mazembe (DR Congo) one Aime Bakula, was relieving himself on a goalpost midway through the second half!

In Sudan £1.5 million striker Stephen Worgu of Al Merreikh was given 40 lashes for drinking alcohol in a Muslim area where it is banned – imagine that happening to Wayne Rooney.

And during a Croatian league game at Sibenik a game was interrupted by a stray cat on the field. Medjimurdje goalkeeper Ivan Banovic did the honourable thing and carried it to the stands where it promptly ran to safety.

You’ve guessed it his good deed was rewarded with a yellow card for leaving the field without permission! Happy New Year.

A FEW years ago Ray Clemence told me he was pessimistic in view of the dearth of good young goalkeepers in this country.

I don’t know what’s happened, but he can be extremely optimistic now after the evidence of recent weeks.

Fabio Capello has a difficult choice to make regarding the No. 1 jersey for the World Cup.

David James is still hanging around though his age (39) and fitness may count against him, while Robert Green and Ben Foster have had their chances and are no doubt in the forefront of his thinking.

Neither should take inclusion for granted though. I saw Paul Robinson turn in a composed and inspired performance for Blackburn last weekend, while opponents Wigan have been pressing the claims of a reinstatement for Chris Kirkland all season (one bad day at the office at Spurs apart).

There’s always a dark horse coming up on the rails, however, and judging by his highly-acclaimed efforts during Birmingham City’s 10-match unbeaten run Joe Hart is exactly that.

Behind Shay Given in the pecking order at Manchester City, Hart has blossomed during his loan spell at St Andrews and is benefiting from regular work.

Capello will have taken note.