David Artell / David Artell / 17 January 2008 / 1 Comments " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Morecambe's David Artell on Keegan's appointment, the next England skipper and world football's new teenage senation

Football never ceases to surprise me. Firstly Newcastle sack Sam Allardyce when they're 11th in the Premiership and still in the FA Cup and then they go and appoint Kevin Keegan. I'm not sure it's a good appointment for either Newcastle or Keegan. Newcastle needed, and still need, stability and changing managers is not the way to do it; never mind a previous manager who cracked under the psychological mind games Sir Alex Ferguson was playing with him.

What's to say if Newcastle are in the title race next year, Ferguson wont do the same again? As for Keegan, he's putting his reputation with the Toon Army on the line by going back again. He could quite easily be out of a job by November and not be revered by the Toon Army half as much as he is now. The same could be said of Alan Shearer if he ends up on Keegan's backroom staff. The fans only need to look at the damage Glenn Hoddle did to his reputation by going back to Spurs. He is still seen as an idol but he stained his reputation in his unsuccessful managerial stint.

Fabio Capello must have a couple of pressing things on his mind at the moment. Firstly, the answers to the Italian tax offices questions; and secondly who he will appoint as England captain. He could obviously buy himself some time if he gives David Beckham the armband if he selects him for his 100th cap. The armband for me will go to one of two people; either John Terry or Steven Gerrard although Capello might spring a surprise and give it to Beckham for the immediate future. In my opinion Beckham should be in the team as I think he is still our best right-sided player.

If I asked you which footballer is known as 'The Duck', would you know? You might not of heard of Alexandre Pato yet but you will do soon. That's because he's the next Brazilian superstar and made his long awaited debut for AC Milan on Sunday. The 18 year-old helped AC Milan record their first home win of the season by scoring one and setting up another. He signed in August but EU regulations meant that because his eighteenth birthday came after the August transfer shut he had to wait until the January transfer window opened to play.

Pele has already said he is 'above average' but said people should not expect too much from their £22million pound signing but the expectation must be huge. Its very difficult to limit the pressure because you can't stop people talking about him but he needs to get people around him who only have his best interests at heart and not their own pockets, but that's easier said than done. He also needs to live a sheltered life and not be seen partying, another thing not easy to implement in an eighteen year old. He will have to live with the hype although even the greatest footballers can lead a fairly normal life so long as they don't court the media.

The big match of the weekend this week is not in the Premiership. Watford are playing Charlton in the Championship with Watford trying to get their promotion hopes back on track after seeing their ten point advantage disappear. Although both teams will receive their parachute payments from the Premier League it's vital that they get promotion at the first attempt to minimise the shortfall in revenue they have received this season. I can see it being a high scoring game and over 3.5 goals seems attractive at [3.45].

Tags: David Artell, football betting, Kevin Keegan, Morecambe FC