The Carling Cup has finally sprung to life this week and in many ways it reminds me of the old Coca-Cola Cup, which of course has now changed to an entirely different format in the Coca-Cola Championship. I’m showing my age there! Chelsea have slipped out of it without me even noticing. I imagine they used the game as a testimonial for some old player no one’s ever heard of. Kerry Dixon anyone?! Aston Villa beat Blackburn to get through to the final – I can’t even imagine how dull that would have been – and it looks like they’ll play Man City. Manchester United still have a chance of getting through but they’re at a big disadvantage as they conceded two goals away at City, meaning City have two away goals going in to the game, in case any girls are reading.

With the big hitters and Liverpool and Arsenal out of the competition it certainly raises questions about the validity of the cup. Will anyone outside of Manchester or Aston bother to watch the game other than for some sort of novelty, like when you watch anything on Bravo? I doubt it. However, perhaps this is in fact the way forward for the competition; pull the big clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal out of it and let the chasing pack have their own little competition. The winner could get a place in the Europey League and they could change its name to The FA Cup Jr so the winners feel like they’ve achieved something. Everyone else has a chance of winning something and the clubs who matter plus Liverpool and Arsenal have less silly games to play so they can concentrate on the significant things you can win, meaning the best players are fresher for England. Everyone wins.

While this distraction has been going on the transfer window has been suspiciously quiet, if a window can be quiet. Thinking about it I guess a window is always quiet! Unless it squeaks when you open it. Or it’s being smashed. Usually by now the window has been smashed by some huge transfer but the closest thing we’ve had to that is Patrick Vieira joining Man City. A lot of people have derived this signing but I think it’s quite cool because it’s retro and as we know, anything retro is cool. I’d like to see this continue. Maybe Peter Schmeichel will come out of retirement and join City too! United fans would hate it!

In lifestyle news I’ve just got my invite to The Brit Awards. Every year I mean to let the organisers know that I’m up for presenting it but every year whichever lazy PA I have at the time claims to have done it only for there to be no response. How very suspicious. They’ve clearly got excited about going and been too busy phoning their mates and wittering on about whether their hair looks fat or how many shoes to put on to even let the organisers know. PA’s will try any ludicrous rouse to save their hides and this is why I go through them like Rafa Benitez goes through stress balls. Despite this I don’t mind too much as I enjoy going as a spectator. It’s nice to be involved in something where I just sit there being famous without having to add any insight whatsoever. The nominations are out and as a betting man I’m predicting a Chelsea style romp to the silverware for Florence Against the Machine after their X-Factor triumph and subsequent Christmas number 1. You can have that tip for free. Chelsea, Chelsea!