England's Failure at the World Cup - Chapter One

I know nothing can make up for a team that just isn't playing well but there are a couple of things that did really get on my nerves about the "non - performance" of the England 2010 squad. Simple, time-proven elements should have been avoided and would have been if Fabio Capello wasn't so stubborn and inflexible. He stuck to his tried and tested rules by announcing team selection as the players boarded the bus to the game, two hours before kick off! How that must have motivated / demotivated those pampered, costeted, overpaid stars!

Why was Emile Heskey even there? Why was he even considered for the squad in the first place? He's just a big bruising English centre forward in the Nat Lofthouse mould (without Nat's goalscoring record!) with the stature and guile of a fully laden supertanker. Capello's masterstroke during the Germany game was to bring on Heskey when England were already losing 1 - 4! How is a striker with only seven international goals in over sixty appearances going to suddenly change the course of England's World Cup? His non existant goal scoring record for England meant little to Capello who saw him as the perfect partner to Wayne Rooney. Unfortunately Rooney lost the form that so lit up his season with Manchester United. Emile and Wayne simply didn't click. But neither did anyone else!

Peter Crouch was brought along to unsettle defences with his ungainly playing style and height. Unfortunately his cameo performance against Algeria confirmed his lack of international class - he should not have been on the field, especially playing international football for England. He unbalances the team. The most unlikely, six foot nine plus English footballer with little ball control has only ever scored in the past because Beckham could pick out his head. Without Becks and far superior opposition than he meets in the Premiership, Crouch remained a poor attacking option for England in South Africa.

Why didn't he do the obvious? Take Michael Owen instead of Heskey! Admittedly Owen has a sketchy injury record but he has scored amazing goals throughout his career and could have been brough along as an impact substitute! His appearance near the end of a game may have created something spectacular. Then, instead of Crouch, Agbonlahor should have been there, maybe even as first choice striker with a proven goal scorering record in the Premiership.

Another factor is we all know that Lampard and Gerard cannot play on the same squad as they are the same player! They should have been subs for each other. Plus, playing Gerard down the left wing was not his best postion. We all know that his role should have been in the hole just behind Rooney! It's a position that England have never been able to properly fill, ever since John Barnes. Then finally in 2006, Joe Cole (the most under utilised English player at this World Cup) came along, an attacking midfielder with buckets of skill and speed for the wing fitted the slot perfectly. Yet, Gerard was placed on the wing and Joe Cole just sloppily bought on 70mins into a game that was already lost. He went into Rooney's position and was expected to pull off a miracle.

So as I ponder all the options with my feet propped up on my favourite footstool I look forward to the 2018 World Cup in England! By then members of the victorious England Under 17 side who have just been crowned European champions will be established regulars in the senior England team. Just like the Germans who have promoted many of their best young players during this World Cup, England will become a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately we will have to wait another eight years for the emergence of the next "Golden Generation".


The author has over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing in the UK and writes extensively about footstools, contemporary British furniture and football.

Ottomans and the World CUp

As I prepare myself for tonight's encounter between England and Algeria my eyes are drawn towards an upholstered footstool, usually called an ottoman which sits to one side of my living room which acts as essential storage for many of the day to day nick naks our family treasure. An ottoman is a great way to contribute design presence giving quality, texture, and colour to any room plan. Yet for the originators of the Ottoman these were but some of the features required.

When early nomadic tradesmen formed their caravans to cross vast swathes of desert they had to account for every single item. As their camels were required to carry not only their wares but also their homes, portability and storage were important features to consider. After long hot days under the desert sun the evenings for these traders were for a time of relation and sustenance. This was when the ottomans were unpacked – some had been used to store silks, cloths and linens for bedding, some others contained spices, dates and figs.

They now had use as a leisure item and were decorated in bright intense coloured fabric piled with cushions. The simple decoration of the nomads tents were enhanced by some home” decor” and the ottomans performed great purpose by being bright, covered as they were in colourful textiles and acting as useful storage vessels.

Firstly it was the nomadic traders and latterly the Ottomans who more than anyone needed a lightweight device that was portable enough to carry from place to place. As the Ottoman Empire stretched across most of Central Asia and Persia and over the deserts of North Africa they popularised the Ottoman, and what we would today understand as a footstool. The design, developed over time was a deeply upholstered seat of any shape, with or without a back, where, it was to become the central piece of domestic seating. An early version was designed to go entirely around three walls of a room, and from this evolved a smaller version, designed to fit into corners.

The first of these “ottomans” was introduced into Europe in the late Eighteenth century from Turkey and soon became a popular adornment to grand Georgian and latterly Victorian homes. As incomes grew throughout the Twentieth Century, Ottomans became an essential fashion statement in UK households. By the year 2000 over 90% of all British homes owned an Ottoman or similar storage device. It has become an essential piece of the storage furniture repertoire and we look forward to future ottoman developments in the years to come.


This author has spent over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing in the UK and writes extensively about footstools , contemporary British furniture and football. He also happens to be a follower of Manchester City.

Early Goalkeeping Gaffes at the World Cup

So we now have a pair of entertaining goalkeeping fumbles to set alive the 2010 World Cup! And we also have an interesting local story courtesy of the Look North Newsroom - whilst England may not win on the pitch an English company have already won with the pitch. According to reports the turf for each stadium being used in South Africa was developed, grown and transported to the venues by a company in Bingley, West Yorkshire. This involved a massive logistical operation for the company in terms of planning and installation. Yet three days into the Tournament pitches are not the only talking point - the goalkeepers of England and Algeria most certainly are!

As I took to my favourite armchair (with beer in hand and legs outstretched upon my footstool) I expected to see England overcome a competent yet uninspiring USA side. And with six minutes on the clock things were going swimmingly well when England captain Steven Gerrard calmly opened the scoring with a well worked goal. England failed to press home their advantage and the Americans began to see more of the ball and started playing some pleasant football. Shortly before the half time interval, Fulham's Clint Dempsey took a speculative punt in the direction of the England goal only for Robert Green, the England goalkeeper, to fumble and let the ball slide through his grasp and into the net. The Americans could not believe their luck and for Green there was no where to hide. Fifteen million English television viewers were left stunned and Green's humiliation was complete.

Earlier today a similar thing happened to the Algerian goalkeeper when his team were beaten by a single Slovenian goal. Perhaps pressure is getting to the goalkeepers when there is so much at stake during the early stages of this World Cup. What is for certain is few goalkeepers like the quality of the balls that have been introduced for the tournament. Some have complained that they swerve unduly whilst in the air, others that the balls seem to bounce far more than the standard match ball. This was evident during the opening fixture when many players failed to correctly estimate the trajectory and flight of the ball in flight. On contact with the pitch surface, the bounced deceived more than one seasoned international footballer. One commentator wryly observed that the ball was cube like in its bounce:- no one was sure which direction it might take!

So with plenty of excuses being thrown in the direction of the pitch, the ball the South African vuvuzela horns et al this world Cup competition is already shaping up to be one of the most memorable. Roll on the next three and a half weeks!



The author has spent over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing in the UK and writes extensively about footstools , contemporary British furniture and football. He also happens to be a follower of Manchester City.

Footstool Predictions - How England performed in the 2010 World Cup

With just three days to go the excitement is building as the nation prepares itself for the next instalment of anticipation followed by almost certain underachievement from this "Golden Generation" of England footballers. Whether it is at the end of the group stage (unlikely), the last sixteen (possible), the quarter finals (likely) or beyond, the England Football Team will return home, sore, bruised and full of excuses. But with Fabio Capello at the helm surely England will avoid the ignomy of the penalty shoot out or the consequenses of Wayne Rooney's dismissal for a moment of Latin inspired madness? How well will England do and what are the team's chances this time (more than any time)? With my crystal ball in tow this is what actually happens at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.........

England have been given a favourable draw: - no English player should be fearful of the workrate of Rene Krhin (Slovenia), the "never say die attitude" of Rafik Djebbour (Algeria) or the silky skills of Carlos Bocanegra (USA). England end up as group winners where they face a last sixteen encounter with (on no) GERMANY! And this is where their campaign ignites. Germany have one of the best records of all the recognised footballing nations in the World Cup and England have one of the worst! But this is not a vintage German side and they lost their talisman, Michael Ballack, in one of the earlier warm up fixtures. The Germans still possess talent (you never write off the Germans!) and their team contains several world class performers with the likes of Bastien Schweinsteiger, Phillip Lahm and Miroslav Klose on show. But from the comfort of my sofa, with feet outstretched on my footstool and with beer in hand the Germans are mastered and England beat them:- in a penalty shootout!

So who do England face in the quarter final? It turns out to be the pesky Uruguayans and their prolific goal machine (and Manchester United flop), Diego Forlan. But Uruguay can not rely on just one man and they do not have the strength in depth that the top teams need to compete at this level. Diego may be one of the finest goal poachers for Athletico Madrid in La Liga but in the World Cup Quarter Final against England, Ledley King "has him in his pocket" and the striker proves completely ineffectual. The Three Lions win the game when Emile Heskey scores his eigth ever England goal in a tight and nervous encounter.

The World Cup Semi Final sees the stylish Dutch take on the ever improving English in what turns out to be a classic World Cup fixture. Van Bommel scores early for Holland whilst England reply when Joe Cole conjurers up a bit of magic and lobs Van der Saar from outside the box. Then England take the lead when Crouch heads in from close range only for the outstanding Wesley Sneijder to equalise just before half time. The second half remains goalless and extra time is looming when Gareth Barry scores his second ever England goal to take his team towards the final. With seconds to go and every Englishmen down to his last millimetre of biteable fingernail, Robin van Persie is tripped in the penalty area by the hapless John Terry...PENALTY!!! Van Persie himself steps up to take the spot kick and instead of placing his shot, he blasts the ball inches wide of Joe Hart's left hand post! The referee looks at his watch, blows and England are in their first World Cup Final since 1966! Utter pandemonium as the nation celebrates in joyous unison (and all thoughts of the recent Tory / LibDem budget massacre are banished until another day!)

England play Spain in the final and are beaten by four goals to nil.


The author has spent over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing in the UK and writes extensively about footstools , contemporary British furniture and football. He also happens to be a follower of Manchester City

Storage Footstools

It was the nomadic desert tradesmen of centuries gone by who seized upon the idea of combining their footstools and ottomans as storage devices. As their caravans swept across the desert what we now understand as storage footstools would be laden with silks and spices on their way to market in some distant market in Arabia. By the time their goods were sold their storage footstools and ottomans would be empty. As the tents were unfurled at night time the empty storage units were placed with cushions, decorated with exotic fabrics giving the traders a taste of home in the middle of a desert environment.

The idea of footstools as storage units has been developed over the years so that we now have many ingenious devices to offer. Bedding can be folded and tidied away in a large storage ottoman. Placed at the foot of bed a large storage ottoman is a stand out piece of furniture in its own right. Upholstered in one of many splendid leather or fabric options it will enhance its surroundings whilst at the same time providing a practical storage solution for many years to come. And well looked after it may very well become a treasured family heirloom.

Medium storage ottomans are perfect for collecting dirty laundry and these can be stored appropriately in bathrooms or laundry rooms. Their capacity is a matter of choice and the functionality of a medium storage footstool is beyond doubt. The range of small storage footstool ottoman is well suited to almost any space within the house. Magazines and books can be stored within a small storage footstool enabling the householder an economical use of space whilst at the same time keeping things tidy. They are entirely in keeping within bedrooms where any corner can be transformed into an area for storing socks, tights, ties or belts. Many people store their CD’s or videos in their small storage footstools. They are indeed the perfect solution where space is at a premium and are even valued by some as extra seating! Indeed the practicality of the modern storage ottoman is often overlooked: - it can be a useful storage facility as well as providing additional seating when you have a houseful!

The author has over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing in the UK and writes extensively about footstools and contemporary British furniture styles.