CHOOSE ONE

See now, i put before you: England or Europe, domestic or continental, the Premiership or the Champions League. Choose one.

Following Man Utd's fall at the hands of Celtic this midweek, the signs are becoming increasingly ominous for English teams who dare to dream of transcontinental success. It seems like English teams can only choose one: succeed at home at the expense of a faltering campaign in Europe, or go for broke in Europe while everything crumbles at home.

For the past two seasons, that was every bit the trend, with Chelsea wiping the tables and plates clean in the Premiership back to back while their wonky European form persisted. While that was happening, Liverpool and Arsenal took turns to finish fourth in the Premiership, but both scaled the dizzying heights of European glory.

This year, the trend seems to be again at work. The same two, Liverpool and Arsenal, who carried England's flag so well in the Champions League continue to do so, with both teams walking away as group leaders, confirmed of their place in the second round with two games to spare. At home, both teams have been troubled with inconsistency, and are seeing their title hopes fast fade. But they've still got a good shout in Europe.

That's more than what league leaders Man Utd can say about their continental campaign. Their form domestically seems to be nothing short of remarkable, rekindling comparisons to the United of old. But their form on the Europe has been disappointing. After three wins in the group stages, they have lost twice - first to FC Kobenhavn and now to Glasgow Celtic, leaving them the awkward tie with Benfica on Matchday 6, the team who knocked them out last season at the same juncture.

Can an English team succeed in both the Premiership and in Europe in the same season? For the other European giants like Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Lyon, performing well in both competitions is their bread and butter. And none of these teams, bar Lyon, have much room to slack off and drop points here and there. But in England, it's always different. In England, something always has to give. Why?

It's been almost a decade since United's very own treble season. While this season's competitions are still midway - and anything can happen yet - it's hard to imagine any English team proving that glory in Europe can come as icing on the cake of domestic success.

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Man, that's quite embarrassing

The first casualty of the Premiership relegation pound fight turns out not to be Glenn Roeder after all. I mean, that says a lot doesn't it? The fact that you manage a team where your first choice centreback is Titus 'Butterfeet' Bramble, and you still have a job couple of weeks before Christmas. All hail the religion of Boumsong, I say. Iain Dowie was given the boot yesterday by Charlton, after only notching one win in 12. The Addicks are anchored at the bottom of the table.

Okay see, what I am thinking is not 'boo hoo poor Iain's out of a jobby'. I'm thinking it's pretty embarrassing for the poor fellow. And not in a 'boo hoo Iain's out of a jobby' kinda way. I mean on one hand you can say it's pretty embarrassing to be sacked in front of an audience of billions. On the other hand, it's even more embarrassing that he did worst than a guy that looked like he was born to be an accounting teacher. I mean look at Iain. He could easily pass off as an evil Bond villain that has a mechanical leg that shoots nuclear missiles.

So what in god's name is happening to the game when the players aren't inspired by a badass that probably role plays as a Gestapo general but are instead inspired by a guy that could probably put a room to sleep just by walking in. It's wrong I tell you. Wrong. Wrong, as in wronging wrong. Wrong.

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