Pointless but not without pain

Come on, own up. Whose idea was it to schedule international friendlies only a few days after the first weekend of the Premiership season?

Of course, I can see how it might have suited Sven-Goran Eriksson and his fellow international managers - but how much has Eriksson really learnt about his squad from last night's 4-1 mauling at the hands of Denmark? Apart from the fact that Glen Johnson and David James shouldn't be allowed near an England shirt again, that is...

Thankfully, after Sunday's red card at Highbury - rescinded after the damage had been done - JJ's week didn't get any worse. A second half substitute for Steven Gerrard, he managed to play out all seven minutes of his time on the pitch without picking up an injury.

If only the same could be said of our one genuinely creative midfield force, Emre, who left the field after only 26 minutes of Turkey's match against Bulgaria, apparently clutching his groin. Just what we need.

Elsewhere, Boumsong and Given played the full matches for France and Republic of Ireland against Ivory Coast and Italy respectively, while Carr and Viana both saw some action too.

With Viana's proposed moves to Sporting Lisbon and Celta Vigo seemingly dead in the water, what price a return to the first team squad? He might have repeatedly expressed a desire to leave, but he's an undoubted talent and maybe, just maybe, this might be the season in which he finally settles in the more physical climate of the English game. It's improbable, though - he's still much more likely to be shipped out on loan (or even permanently) before the transfer window closes.