Earning Reward Points

I just can`t get used to these international breaks, can you? Yes, it took me a few days to recover from the Ipswich game too, but by Sunday my voice was coming back again. Two weeks? Just seems like an age!

During the break the season`s first trophy is in the cabinet. After our spanking form in September, George Williams, deservedly, got the Manager of the Month award.

It`s just reward for George. The trials (trialists) and tribulations of August must seem eons away.

At the rate John Toshack is going, I wonder if a few quid on George to be the next Wales manager might be a sound investment?

After Steve McClaren`s latest clanger, one person the U`s messageboard fans are feeling mightily sorry for is Paul Robinson. As the words: "I`ve never seen anything like that!" escaped $ky TV`s Martin Tyler`s lips - a chorus of U`s fans answered: "We have!"

Aidan Davison must have had more empathy and sympathy for Robbo than most after his infamous "What happens next…" moment at Ewood Park a few seasons ago.

Personal Rewards

So, with George managing Wales we could also soon have an international striking trio at Layer Road too.

Jamie Cureton was most upset at not getting the call to the Welsh squad, and rightly so after the goal-scoring prowess he`s shown this term. As Toshack mulled over a desperate, last-minute call to one experienced striker (John Hartson) he overlooked another, plying his trade in the same league.

Chris Iwelumo has been pleading for a chance with Scotland too. Iwelumo may be more Hartson than Healy but he`s definitely a handful to play against.

And Richard Garcia is desperate for a call-up from the Socceroos. I`ve been mightily impressed by 'Skippy` this term and he`s already bagged two goals. The Aussies were far from impressive in edging past the 'mighty` Bahrain the other night and surely Garcia must be better than Mile Sterjovsk. Who? Exactly. (copyright Milk advert).

It`s great that the players have lofty ambitions. Why shouldn`t they? We`re all well acquainted with Greg Halford`s aim to play at a higher level. That brings us full circle.

Back to Steve McClaren and England. He`s already hinting at a big squad shake-up to give his overpaid prima donnas a kick up the backside.

The next meaningful England game is not until March 2007. Two months after the transfer window. Not that I`m wishing Greg away, not ever… but what price four shiny new international caps being linked to Layer Road by that time?

Roar on our Super U`s today - let`s hope it`s another cracker against Wednesday. We always seem to bring out the best in each other! Up the U`s!

You can see more from Carbon Dioxide in the U's Matchday magazine - available at every home game for £3 for 84 pages

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