Ferdinand wasn't picked cos he was crap for most of last season. He has been carrying an injury and looks in desperate need of rest.

That said, his brother. Anton, has been involved in a situation with John Terry where it was alleged (by a fan, not Anton) that Terry called him a "bl@ck c..t". This allegation is currently subject to a police investigation. Rio, a man who could extend his international career by swapping football for idiocy, has weighed in and declared he cannot imagine playing alongside Terry.

Which, given that Terry has had a pretty useful season, would, in other circumstnces, leave any manager with no choice but to leave him out. But the actual circumstances is that Rio has been crap and doesn't deserve to be picked. Especially if he's gonna whine all over the press about it. The one thing you don't need in a dressing room is a big baby.

He certainly wouldn't do that with his club manager, Alex ferguson. If he tried moaning to the press like that about being picked, Fergie would be round his house with a few Govan hardnuts who'd teach him the meaning of respect. Nice racehorse you got Rio, wanna sleep with his head ?

keep to the Fen Causeway