The 1st of April has become synonymous with making a fool of those around you, but this year it has been challenged by news of a more serious nature. President Barack Obama was in London for the G20 Summit and it may disappoint some of you to know that was not at Wembley last night. A great shame and a photo opportunity missed I feel; if the world was to combine Obama's stability and determination with Mr Capello's discipline and steeliness, we could maybe find the cure for the global credit crisis.
Newcastle must have really rushed to announce Alan Shearer’s appointment before midnight last night, because otherwise everyone would have thought it was an April fool.
As it is the only fools are the Newcastle board and the Newcastle fans for thinking that a man with absolutely no managerial experience can pull them out of the mire.
This is a typical “heart over head” decision and it could, nay will, go tits up in the same way as Keegan’s recent return to the club. For anyone able to put head over heart for even a moment it’s obvious that the odds are stacked against Shearer succeeding.
As if Newcastle United weren’t making fools enough of themselves already by signing Kevin Nolan and sitting 18th in the Premiership, they’ve now decided to ban a reporter dubbed “Mr Newcastle” from St James’ Park.
According to Hold the Front Page Alan Oliver was banned for saying that Joe Kinnear suffered a health setback after undergoing heart bypass surgery last month.
As if that weren’t ridiculous enough it also transpires that Oliver had just days before received a lifetime achievement award for his coverage of the club over the past 30 years.
What’s wrong with a bit of trivia? Sure, it’s shallow, baseless knowledge. Sure, it’s often imparted by self-aggrandising people with a satisfied nod, as if to say ‘Aren’t I f**king smart’.
Well, some of them are smart. And some of it is interesting.
Peter Beardsley recently conquered a phobia of swimming.
The 90Minutes team had their shot at picking an England team, but it appears Fabio Capello isn’t a regular reader. The England manager’s side was different to that put forward by every one of our writers.
Other than Matthew Upson replacing the injured Rio Ferdinand, Capello sent out what you can assume is his ideal starting line-up (see below) for the game against Ukraine on Wednesday. But with the misfortune of Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Peter Crouch getting injured, his plans may have to change.