Have we been here before?

Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias failed to replace Andy Carroll despite having seven months to do so

Yet another transfer deadline day and yet another major disappointment for Newcastle United.

Just seven months after fans saw star striker Andy Carroll flogged to Liverpool, the familiar sense of emptiness has returned after the club failed to replace him.

In May, manager Alan Pardew bemoaned his side's lack of "je ne sais quoi" in the box, but he must now continue with the same set of strikers (plus free signing Demba Ba) until at least January.

There are many questions which need answering and Pardew is not the man who should have to field them.

Derek Llambias is to answer fans' questions in the near future and that is a slight step forward. It is certainly better than what supporters have been used to, a wall of silence from the club.

However, the fact the questions will be seen by Llambias in advance ensures the club's PR department will have plenty of time to think of responses and fans will not be sure about whether the answers are really Llambias'.

Llambias and owner Mike Ashley don't seem to care what people think of them but they have a duty to keep supporters informed. Hopefully in the future the club will sit down regularly with reporters and fan groups to explain decisions.

They need to answer many questions, the most potent of which being:

• What has happened to the £45million from the sales of Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique?
• Why has the club failed to replace Andy Carroll despite their financial clout and the seven months they had to bring in a striker?
• Why has the club spent just a net £600,000 in this transfer window?
• How much say does Alan Pardew have in the transfer policy?

The promise the club gave that Carroll would be replaced has joined a growing list of broken promises and the farce of transfer deadline day did nobody any favours.

There are 35 million reasons a replacement for Carroll should have been found

Deja vu is probably the best way to describe it.

On deadline day in January 2009, Newcastle launched a bid for Sunderland's Kieran Richardson although it was clear to everybody they had no chance of landing him.

Fast-forward to January 2011, in the immediate aftermath of Carroll's sale, and the club made a bid for Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia with a matter of minutes remaining before the deadline.

This time, it was failed bids for Bryan Ruiz and Liam Ridgewell, but it begs the question: were these genuine attempts to bring in players or attempts to appease fans?

In Ruiz's case, it appeared impossible, just as in the past bids for Richardson and N'Zogbia, for Newcastle to land him.

The deadline day bid for Ruiz was destined to fail

He had all but agreed to join Fulham and Newcastle's fans are not fools. They knew the club were never going to get him.

In a statement released on the club's website, Llambias claimed the club would "not make knee-jerk decisions at the last minute", so if that was the case, what would he describe the bids for Ridgewell and particularly Ruiz as?

There shouldn't have been any need for knee-jerk decisions anyway. The club had seven months to secure a replacement for Carroll and that player should have been in place early in the summer.

Now Pardew will have to make do with Ba, Shola Ameobi, Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands and that is not a list of names to strike fear into Premier League defences.

Pardew must feel desperately let down by his board

Have any of those four got a chance of scoring 20 goals a season? Absolutely not. All four are good back-up or perhaps secondary strikers, but none of them will ignite the fanbase and terrorise defences.

The club desperately needed a number nine figure but they will now have to wait until at least January to sign one.

And who's to say they will actually sign one then? It seemed an inevitability they would sign one in the summer window, so it's no guarantee they will deliver on their promise in January either.

Pardew has actually overseen a fantastic start to the season, with seven points from three games, but those results have simply papered over the cracks in the short-term.

Over the coming months, Newcastle's threadbare squad will be stretched to the limit and it will be a miracle if Pardew and his players can hold onto a place in the top half.

The squad includes some very accomplished players but is at least three players light.

After the injury to Mike Williamson, there is seemingly no back-up for the central defenders. The departures of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton ensures the Magpies will lack leaders on the pitch and, in the case of Nolan, goals from midfield. The failure to replace Carroll means Newcastle will find goals extremely hard to come by.

There have been some tremendous signings in this transfer window and that is why it is such a travesty the club didn't land the one or two players they really needed.

Yohan Cabaye looks a class act in the centre of the park, Davide Santon arrives with a glowing reputation from Italy, Demba Ba has failed to hit the ground running but showed good signs last season at West Ham, Sylvain Marveaux is lacking fitness but offers depth on the wing, Gabriel Obertan looks a potentially explosive player and Mehdi Abeid appears to have bags of potential.

Cabaye currently looks the most impressive of Newcastle's summer recruits

There is real hope there for supporters but the failure to secure another striker may just come back to haunt those in the St James' Park corridors of power.

Newcastle's top two scorers from last season have now left the club and it looks doubtful there is anyone in the current squad ready to step up to the plate.

Fans are beginning to vote with their feet, as the 10,000 empty seats at the Fulham game proved.

If Newcastle continue to win games, those fans will come back, but the club cannot afford any more transfer window farces.

There needs to be a consistent line of communication from club to fans from now on and those in power need to be willing to answer the difficult questions, the ones the fans want answered.

On the face of it, there should be money to spend in January but do the club intend to spend any money? Will they just tell Alan Pardew to make do with what he has?

There are an infinite number of questions and precious little answers so now is the time to talk.

Llambias can't shirk the difficult questions; he can't hide behind a PR man.

Fans have and will continue to shell out their hard-earned money on their club and they have a right to know the truth, whether they will like what they hear or not.

Over to you, Derek.

Don't laugh, but this really could be Liverpool's year

Dalglish has everyone at Anfield pulling in the same direction

Could this finally be the year Liverpool break their Premier League duck?

The Reds have not won the English league title in 21 years, but Kenny Dalglish's young and vibrant side could be set to launch a major challenge this season.

Liverpool fans have been ridiculed by rival supporters in recent years for daring to suggest their side could win the league, but this time their optimism may be warranted.

Early signs are certainly good.

Dalglish has packed his side with young, hungry and above all talented players, and they have picked up seven points from their opening three Premier League fixtures.

They may have been disappointed by an opening day draw with Sunderland but if the wins over Arsenal and Bolton are anything to go by, the Anfield club should secure a top four finish at least.

Summer signings Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson both scored in the 3-1 win over Bolton

The early season performances of both Manchester clubs may just dampen hopes of a serious title challenge from Liverpool, but they certainly appear to be the best of the rest.

These are early days, of course, but the optimism Dalglish has created since returning as manager in January suggests this should be a successful campaign.

Perhaps Liverpool's losses against Tottenham and Aston Villa at the back end of last season may turn out to be two of the best results of Dalglish's reign.

Had they won those games, the Reds would have qualified for the Europa League and had they been in it, it could have acted as a major distraction this season.

Not qualifying for any form of European competition was a blow for a club of Liverpool's size but they could reap the benefits as this campaign progresses and their rivals struggle to keep up a fight on all fronts.

The dark days of Roy Hodgson's troubled reign at Anfield seem a long time ago now.

Dalglish's side is exciting and play the type of football Liverpool fans expect to see, while the deadwood he inherited from the tenures of Hodgson and Rafael Benitez is slowly being shifted.

In Luis Suarez Dalglish has a player who would light up any team.

Suarez is already adored by the Liverpool faithful

Suarez has been breathtaking since his January move from Ajax and is well on course to become a Liverpool great, with his all-action displays making him an immediate favourite with the Kop.

The Uruguayan illuminated the Premier League last season but this campaign - his first full one in English football - promises to be even better.

He is technically excellent, chases lost causes, moves into wide positions and is a deadly finisher, while you get the sense he is only just getting started.

If Suarez can live up to his early-season form, he could be the Premier League's player of the season.

While recent Liverpool teams have all been about one or two players, this side has a real team ethic and that is another factor which could push them closer to the title.

There is a terrific balance to the side, with left and right footers complimenting each other perfectly.

Charlie Adam is lethal from dead-ball situations and his passing will be a delight for Liverpool's forward and wide players, Lucas has grown into his defensive midfield role and now rarely gives the ball away, Jose Enrique is a dynamic option going forward from left-back, Stewart Downing is the direct winger the club have been crying out for. And that is just the start of it.

Downing has made a promising start to life at Anfield

The likes of Jamie Carragher, Jordan Henderson and Glen Johnson all add to this side's effectiveness, while there is a great strength in depth Dalglish's predecessors could only dream about.

With attacking full-backs like Johnson and Enrique, Dalglish has the option to build from the back but the presence of Andy Carroll offers the option of playing more direct. Some Premier League teams can only play one way but Liverpool will always have a plan B.

There are so many positives at the moment at Anfield it is easy to forget about Steven Gerrard.

When Gerrard comes into this line-up, Liverpool will be a formidable outfit.

He will get in the team, no doubt, but what is clear now is that Dalglish has more than one option for every position and even players the quality of Gerrard can be replaced.

The Scot's faith in youth is also admirable and is a transformation from recent Liverpool managerial reigns.

There is also stability in the boardroom, with owner John W Henry backing Dalglish in the transfer market with significant funds, and it appears the owners will stop at nothing until Liverpool are again champions of England.

Owner Henry has helped turn Liverpool around since taking over last October

It is important fans do not get carried away as that could put too much pressure on the newly-formed team, but what is clear is that Dalglish has galvanised the club and there is much to be optimistic about.

This is very much Dalglish's team - with the stale stench of the latter days of Benitez's reign a distant memory - but this season may be just too early for them to overcome the two Manchester clubs.

Liverpool's aim appears to be merely a top four finish and that would represent a major step forward and a significant building block if they were to achieve it.

The title may be a more realistic goal next season but if they can go on a run this campaign, there is no reason they can't do it.

Last season under Dalglish, Liverpool beat both Manchester United and City at home comfortably. Although both Manchester clubs appear significantly stronger now, so do Liverpool and it makes for a fascinating campaign.

Ultimately, this season's champions ought to come from Manchester but a side from Merseyside smarting from 21 years of hurt may just have something to say about it.

Paranoid Scottish football needs to sort itself out

Managers Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon both saw their side crash out of Europe to lowly opposition this week

Scottish football is slowly dying.

Yet suggest that to many fans of the game north of the border and they will immediately go on the defensive, insisting the Scottish game is not in the doldrums.

However, if influential figures and fans alike do not recognise and accept the problems, Scottish football will never wake from its slumber.

For Scotland to have no representatives left in Europe's two premier competitions by the August bank holiday is simply an embarrassment and should act as a wake-up call.

The fact Hearts and Dundee United perished is no surprise, but clubs the size of Celtic and Rangers should be competing to win the Europa League. In fact, they should both be in the Champions League.

The big problem, of course, is money.

The simple fact is that Scottish clubs cannot compete with their counterparts from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the like.

However much money they have, however, they should be beating relative minnows like FC Sion of Switzerland and NK Maribor of Slovenia.

Clubs the size of Celtic and Rangers should have had no problems beating their modest opponents

It was as recently as 2008 that Rangers reached the UEFA Cup final and 2003 that Celtic got to the final, but right now it seems both clubs are a million miles away from reaching similar heights.

To add insult to injury, even Ireland's Shamrock Rovers have outlasted them in Europe this campaign.

Celtic may survive by the skin of their teeth after they appealed to UEFA about Sion's use of ineligible players, but whether or not they win that appeal is irrelevant. There are deep-lying problems in Scottish football and they cannot be brushed under the carpet.

This is not any sort of vindictive attack on the Scottish game.

Most neutrals, whether they are from England, Scotland, anywhere, would love to see massive clubs like Rangers and Celtic taking on the might of Europe and winning.

They'd love to again watch in awe at the atmosphere generated by the superb fans of the Old Firm. Those supporters deserve more than this.

Gone are the days when they were able to watch players like Henrik Larsson, Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne.

Henrik Larsson became a Celtic legend during his time at Celtic Park

Players of that quality are no longer attracted to Scottish football and the two-horse race.

The fact only Celtic and Rangers are capable of winning the SPL is only part of the problem, but it certainly doesn't help to sell the product of Scottish football.

Broadcasters have become bored and that has therefore resulted in a loss of TV revenue, which has widened the gap between the big two and the rest at the same time as weakening those two clubs.

The collapse of Setanta certainly compounded the already existing problems and TV deals certainly need to be looked at if Scottish football is to have a revival.

It certainly doesn't help when teams play against each other four times in the league per season in front of sparsely-filled stadia, but there certainly is still hope.

Putting aside all the issues with sectarianism, the community aspect of Scottish football is still very much there, with clubs having a real identity.

There is a real passion for the game north of the border and in some cases it is just waiting to be unlocked.

It is not going to be easy to revive the Scottish game and it won't happen overnight.

Celtic and Rangers moving to another league is certainly not the answer.

Mark Wotte has been brought in as Scottish football's performance director but it will take years for the benefits to be reaped.

Former Southampton manager Wotte has a massive job on his hands

Starting the season early to help the clubs progress in Europe certainly didn't help, so other things need to be looked at.

Rangers have won just one of their last 25 games in Europe and Celtic have won only one of their last 30 away European games.

This is a problem that has been developing for some time and therefore there will be no quick answers.

Some fans will still insist the problems are minimal, as was proved earlier this year when Alan Pardew was vilified for daring to describe the Scottish game as "poor".

But he was right. Players like Kevin Kyle, who failed to make any impact in the English Premier League and also largely struggled in England's lower leagues, are key players for their SPL clubs.

Kris Boyd, the SPL's record goalscorer, couldn't make any sort of impact for Middlesbrough in the Championship. It will be interesting to see how David Goodwillie fares at Blackburn.

Boyd disappointed during his time at Middlesbrough

There are quality Scottish players out there, like Liverpool's Charlie Adam, but they are few and far between compared to the 1970s and 80s.

Things need to be done.

The number of teams in the SPL needs to be extended, so it isn't as repetitive.

All clubs should invest in youth.

The image of the game must be looked at. There mustn't be any repeat of the unsavoury incidents in last season's Old Firm games or of the sickening threats towards Neil Lennon. All efforts must be made to ensure sectarianism is kicked out.

There perhaps needs to be help for the smaller clubs from the SFA regarding finances to ensure they can compete.

Celtic and Rangers will always be massive clubs but their hands are tied at the moment by finances and the league they are in.

The fact both clubs are already out of Europe though should not be ignored.

It should act as the most abrupt of wake-up calls. Scottish football cannot slip any lower and it is time for people to do something about it.

It is all well and good saying things must improve, but it is another thing entirely for someone to take leadership and point in the right direction.

Someone must take charge. Someone must make suggestions that will ensure the likes of Sion and Maribor can be brushed aside by the Old Firm in future. Someone must save Scottish football.

India whitewash just the beginning for superb England

England are now the number one Test side after thrashing India 4-0

Just two-and-a-half years ago, English cricket was in a state of turmoil.

Kevin Pietersen had been sacked as captain and Peter Moores had been relieved of his duties as coach with an Ashes series just around the corner.

In stepped Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower and the rest, they say, is history.

By whitewashing India 4-0 in the Test series this summer, England have become officially the best Test side in the world and that is a remarkable turnaround in such a short period of time.

There are certainly improvements to be made on the one-day side of things but the success of the Test side has ensured this will be a golden era for English cricket.

They beat Australia at home, earned a creditable draw in South Africa, beat a strong Pakistan side at home and won in Australia for the first time in 24 years, while Flower has not tasted defeat in a Test series since being confirmed as permanent coach. They even won their first ICC limited overs tournament with victory in the World T20.

All this was unthinkable in the dark days of the 2008/09 winter and the 4-0 win against India was reward for the hard work put in by Flower, Strauss and the coaching staff over the last two-and-a-half years.

The Strauss - Flower partnership has to be one of the best in world cricket

India were well off the boil, of that there is no doubt, but a lot of that was down to England's consistent displays with the bat, ball and in the field, grinding down the Indians with the quality of their play.

The legendary batting line-up of India never passed 300 in the series and while the flaws of the batsmen were in evidence throughout the series, it was the pressure put on them by England's superb bowling attack that was the defining factor.

England's batsmen took full advantage of India's poor bowling and feasted on runs, regularly scoring well over 450 to give the tourists little or no chance of winning games.

It was men against boys at times and while it was a shame the series did not provide the contest it should have been, it was a joy to watch this superb England side in action.

It has been a long time since an England team were able to dominate opposition like this and it is clear they are reaping the benefits of prioritising Test cricket.

This team, as well as some of the promising youngsters unlucky to miss out on a place in the side, could and should dominate Test cricket for at least the best part of a decade now.

They are by far the best Test side in the world as they are world class in all areas and have no weak links, meaning they will never let sides get on top of them in the way they could in the past.

Every member of the team is a potential match-winner and it must be a daunting prospect facing this England side at the moment.

They are sensational with the bat, ball and in the field and are always striving to improve, meaning they will still not be satisfied and this should just be the beginning of their journey.

The meticulous work of coach Flower, batting coach Graham Gooch and bowling coach David Saker means there is no danger of this team resting on their laurels in the way the Ashes winners of 2005 did.

Saker (above) and Gooch (bottom right) have done terrific jobs for England

Saker has done a terrific job with the bowlers and he now possesses arguably the most potent attack in world cricket.

Gooch's role is seemingly to make the batsmen believe in themselves and make massive scores, and that has certainly been in evidence in recent series.

Between 1990 and 2009, England players scored eight double centuries but since 2010 there has been seven already, an incredible record.

Players now get to 100 and know their job is not done, always striving for more and to be the best they can be. The Gooch influence is clear here as he was a batsman who specialised in 'daddy' hundreds during his career.

The extremely long batting line-up must be demoralising for the opposition as it now seems impossible to bowl this England side out cheaply, whatever the conditions.

England are fantastic in every department and anyone would have lost to them in this form.

They thoroughly deserve their number one Test ranking and when you look at them player by player, it is clear to see there are no weak links:

Andrew Strauss - leads the side excellently and still chips in with runs. His role is often understated and many still claim he is a defensive captain, but boy does he get results. Strauss may not score as many centuries as he used to but that is not a major concern yet. Should still have a few years left in the side despite being 34.

Alastair Cook - quite simply a run machine who has the world at his feet. He is so steady and dependable that he can always be relied on to score runs. His 294 in the third Test aside, he had a relatively lean series with the bat but that innings proved the incredible concentration and stamina he has in abundance. Cook is on course to break all manner of records.

Cook's magnificent form was capped when he won the player of the series award in the winter's Ashes series

Jonathan Trott - missed the last two Tests against India with a shoulder injury but he will slot straight back into the side when fit again. Similarly to Cook, Trott is Mr Dependable and an integral part of England's success. He averages almost 58 in Test cricket and his steady influence on this England team should never be overlooked.

Kevin Pietersen - back to his smouldering best in the India series, Pietersen was the top run scorer with two centuries, one a double century and the other 175. His ability to take the game away from the opposition in double-quick time makes Pietersen still England's batting lynchpin and he remains one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket.

Pietersen had a superb series with the bat

Ian Bell - in the form of his life, with two centuries against India and one of those marking his maiden Test double century. Bell moved up to number three in Trott's absence and proved he can play there just as successfully after struggling in the position earlier in his career. He is so much more mature now and is glorious to watch in full flow.

Eoin Morgan - It is hard for Morgan to make an impact at the moment with the success of those batsmen above him, but he cemented his place in this team with a century in the third test. He is a vital member of the side as if England need quick runs, Morgan is as destructive as anybody.

Matt Prior - doubted in the early part of his England career but has developed into the best wicketkeeper-batsman in world cricket. He could bat higher up this order quite easily and that gives England the freedom to go with five bowlers in the future should they need to. Prior very rarely makes mistakes behind the wicket and scores his runs consistently and quickly, so England would not swap him for anybody.

Tim Bresnan - got his chance against India after an injury to Chris Tremlett and grabbed it with both hands. In the 10 Tests he has played, England have won every one of them so it is almost impossible for them to drop him now. Bresnan is a consistent wicket-taker and is equally adept with the bat, meaning he could be the natural heir to Andrew Flintoff as England's all-rounder.

Stuart Broad - went into the India series with his place in the team under real question but was the leading wicket-taker in the series with 25 and won the player of the series award. Broad is once again a potent threat with the ball now he is pitching the ball up, and that change in tactics may be attributed to bowling coach David Saker. He is also very handy with the bat, an all-rounder similar to Bresnan, and could lead this attack for the next decade.

Broad's fantastic displays included a hat-trick at Trent Bridge

Graeme Swann - not needed too much in the series due to the excellence of the seam bowlers but he showed his worth with his six-wicket haul in India's final innings of the series. Swann is the best spinner in the world so it just shows how well England have done that he wasn't needed for the best part of the series. He is also very useful with the bat and appears to be a key character in the dressing room, so Swann has been crucial to England's success.

James Anderson - still the leader of the attack and the experience he has now gained means England have yet another potent threat. Anderson is a magnificent swing bowler who always takes wickets, particularly in English conditions, and should now be in the prime of his career.

In addition to that world class line-up, there are also other top class players not playing.

England have tremendous competition for places, particularly in the bowling department, which will keep everybody on their toes and striving to improve.

Chris Tremlett appeared to be an indispensable member of the side but may struggle to get back into the team due to the magnificent displays of his bowling colleagues.

Tremlett now faces a real battle to reclaim his place in the team

Steven Finn and Graham Onions also should not be forgotten about, meaning England have an embarrassment of riches in the bowling department.

Chris Woakes, James Taylor and Craig Kieswetter are three young players waiting in the wings while Ravi Bopara got into the side in the absence of Trott and didn't let anybody down.

All this ensures the selectors do not have an easy job but that is magnificent news for English cricket.

This is the strongest position England have been in in Test cricket and that position is only set to get stronger.

This winter's tours, against Pakistan in the UAE and in Sri Lanka will be extremely tough but it is hard to see England losing those series.

Next summer's home series against South Africa will again be a real test of this side but England are the number one team in the world and should triumph.

The impending one-day series against India will provide a stern test as the Indians are clearly more suited to the one-day game at the moment, but Test cricket is the priority for England and their position could not be stronger.

Whether they can dominate like the great West Indies and Australia sides of the past remains to be seen but one thing is for sure.

It will not be for the want of trying.

India: Worse than Bangladesh?

India were outplayed in every department by England

It's easy to have a pop at India's cricketers at the moment but they have brought it all on themselves.

They went into the Test series against England as officially the best side in the world but after their 4-0 defeat serious questions have to be asked about where they are heading in the longer form of the game.

The status of Indian cricket is still perhaps as high as it ever has been after their World Cup triumph on home soil earlier this year, but in the Tests in England this summer they let their standards slip so far it became hard to see how they could beat anybody - even the likes of lowly Bangladesh.

England must be given enormous credit for their hard work and skill and nothing should be taken away from them.

They simply demoralised the Indians day after day with sensational bowling, batting and fielding displays, and they would have beaten anyone in this form.

However, India should have put up a much better fight.

If that side was the best in world cricket, then the standard of Test cricket is in a sorry state.

Their much-vaunted batting line-up delivered no scores above 300 (although they hit exactly 300 in their seventh innings of the series) and that is never going to be enough to beat world class teams like this England one.

As for their bowling 'attack', they may as well have just not bothered.

Praveen Kumar was decent when fit but the rest of the bowlers were toothless and never bothered the likes of Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook, who simply racked up the runs.

The likes of Pietersen helped themselves to runs against the poor Indian bowling attack

England's lowest score of the series was 221 all out in the second Test, but they still managed to win the game by a comfortable margin.

They only had six batting innings - they declared one of those on 269-6 - and in the other four, they never got lower than 474.

Their innings at Edgbaston - where they hit a massive 710-7 declared - summed it all up.

As ever, England's batsmen should be given a huge amount of praise for their performances but the amount of 'buffet bowling' on show was embarrassing.

And as for the fielding, we could be here all day.

Captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni didn't set the greatest of examples, consistently dropping routine deliveries, and while this might not have cost India many wickets it certainly set the tone for the others.

Dhoni's wicketkeeping came under serious scrutiny as the series progressed

This should have been a top class encounter between two world-class outfits at the top of their games but the fact is that one team turned up and the other didn't.

There is no doubt India suffered bad luck during the series - injuries to key bowlers Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar hardly helped - but they say you make your own luck and that may just be the case here.

Many of India's players looked unfit and unready for the rigours of Test cricket, while the preparation for the series left a lot to be desired.

Perhaps it was inevitable they would struggle to produce their best, with some of the team arguably jaded from the World Cup and subsequent Indian Premier League, while the average age of the side also contributed to their lack of fitness.

However, the shrugged shoulders attitude a lot of the players showed was simply unacceptable.

Gautam Gambhir was perhaps the prime example of that in the final Test when, after suffering concussion, he was simply not up for the fight.

He came in at number nine in the first innings and number eight in the second despite recovering from the injury, and that just summed up the lack of fight in this India team.

Rahul Dravid scored three centuries in the series and he is the only player - along with perhaps Kumar - who can hold his head high after the series.

Dravid performed admirably despite the failings of his team-mates

Without Dravid, India would have been even further embarrassed and that is hard to imagine.

He was the only player to contribute a century for India in the series and that means Sachin Tendulkar's wait for his 100th international hundred will have to go on.

He almost achieved it in the last Test - falling an agonising nine short of the landmark - but it is inevitable it will come sooner rather than later.

Tendulkar had a relatively lean series with the bat but he is still a world-class player at 38 and it would be a major backward step if India dropped him. They won't drop him, of course.

It is hard to imagine how India could have been any worse but how would they have fared against Bangladesh, for instance?

Last year, Bangladesh faced exactly the same England team in two Tests and were heavily beaten.

The likes of Tamim Iqbal showed a lot more fight than many of this Indian line-up

However, they managed 382 in the final Test and were a lot more threatening than India with the ball.

They lost one of the games by an innings and one by eight wickets, but at least they had a proper go at it.

India lost two of the Tests this summer by an innings and the other two by heavy run margins, so it could be said that even Bangladesh could have beaten them in this form.

India's biggest problem may be the average age of the team and the fact that too many of their players are 'undroppable'.

Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma will not be dropped despite poor series, while Rahul Dravid will deservedly keep his place in the team.

Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Harbhajan and Dhoni must stay in the side but as for the others, it would be a great show of strength from India's board of selectors if they went down a different route.

Tendulkar suffered disappointment in the series but should come back stronger

Test cricket must be prioritised and faith should be placed in younger players to ensure India's team does not become a closed shop where players are never given a chance to impress.

India are much better right now in the one-day forms of the game - they are 50 over world champions, after all - and it would be a major surprise if there was not a marked improvement in the forthcoming one-day series.

Sehwag will be a big miss after he was ruled out but it is hard to bet against India turning the tables and coming back strongly.

As for Test cricket, they will be better when they get back in their own conditions but the failure of this series should not be ignored.

It has laid bare the failings of Indian cricket and such a debacle should never be seen again.

India is a proud cricket nation that has taken a battering over the last two months but all is not lost and it can be turned around.

The rebuilding job should start here.

Wenger has the look of a haunted man

Arsenal's situation is clearly getting to Wenger, for so long seen as a calm figure

Arsene Wenger's expression said it all.

Just two Premier League games into the season, he already finds himself under the most intense of pressure with his wafer-thin squad battling in vain to uphold the Frenchman's reputation.

Arsenal's start to the season could not have been any worse and there is very little light at the end of the tunnel for Wenger. Their loss at home to Liverpool on Saturday was the latest huge blow to hit the Gunners and Wenger looked like a man approaching the end of his tether despite the campaign still being in its embryonic stage.

His side face Udinese in the Champions League play-off on Wednesday holding a slender 1-0 advantage and on the evidence of last week's game, Arsenal will have to perform excellently to avoid a shattering exit from Europe's premier competition even before the group stage.

Nothing has gone right recently for Wenger, with captain and star man Cesc Fabregas departing home to Barcelona, a loss in their first home league fixture of the season against Liverpool, the suspensions of three first-team players, injuries to key players and the potential sale of Samir Nasri making this surely the most difficult period of his Arsenal tenure. Add to that Wenger's struggles to find suitable acquisitions in the transfer market and describing the current situation at the Emirates Stadium as a crisis may not be too wide of the mark.

Nasri performed admirably against Liverpool but still looks set to join Manchester City

However, the Frenchman must somehow find some positives out of this as well as work tirelessly to improve his squad to ensure the season does not spiral away from Arsenal.

If they crash out of the Champions League in Italy, it will be nothing short of a disaster for the north Londoners so Wenger must work some of his magic to avoid it.

Progression to the group stages would give his beleaguered squad and fans the lift they all need, while also giving the club a little extra clout in the transfer market before the window slams shut.

Defeat is unthinkable so Wenger must put all the troubles to one side until the hurdle of Udinese is overcome.

Things don't get any easier after that though, with a trip to Old Trafford to face champions Manchester United, so this week could be a defining one in Wenger's reign at Arsenal.

It has started terribly with the Liverpool defeat but two positive results against the Italians and the Red Devils would quickly make things look rosy again.

However, positivity is in short supply at the Emirates Stadium right now with the frailties of Wenger's philosophy laid bare in the loss to the Merseysiders.

Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool scored twice late on to pile more misery on Arsenal

A few injuries and suspensions is all it takes for Arsenal to look distinctly average despite a relatively positive overall performance against Liverpool.

Youngsters like Emmanuel Frimpong, Ignasi Miquel, Carl Jenkinson, Henri Lansbury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all clearly talented but are under too much pressure to perform immediately.

They have been thrown in at the deep end and Wenger knows he has no chance of finishing in the top four with such an inexperienced group. That is why he needs to spend, quickly.

Frimpong played well against Liverpool, full of enthusiasm, but his lack of experience and composure cost his side when it really mattered with two needless bookings surrendering the match.

Frimpong's red card was the decisive moment for Arsenal against Liverpool

Arsenal looked set to take at least a creditable point from the game before his dismissal and ill-discipline has now cost them in both of their opening Premier League fixtures.

They were already without Gervinho and Alex Song after they were both handed three-game bans for incidents in the game at Newcastle and with their squad so thin, Arsenal cannot afford players to be unavailable when it is avoidable.

Udinese is a crunch game which will set the tone for Arsenal's whole season but their business in the transfer market will be almost as important.

Should Nasri follow Fabregas and Gael Clichy out of the door, there should be at least £60million burning a hole in Wenger's pocket and he must spend it if Arsenal are to so much as challenge for a Champions League place this season.

A left-back, centre-back, central midfielder and creative midfielder must be brought in at the very least.

Clichy needs replacing, as Kieran Gibbs is prone to injuries and lacks the big-time experience to fill the Frenchman's shoes. Wenger missed a trick by losing out on Jose Enrique but he must still address the left-back situation.

Enrique showed Arsenal what they were missing with a man of the match display for Liverpool

Arsenal have some excellent central defenders - something which is often overlooked - with Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou, but they need another one, a player who is not afraid to put his body on the line and kick it long when needed. A defender will not come cheap, but the likes of Gary Cahill, Scott Dann and Ryan Shawcross would be well worth the outlay.

Fabregas and Nasri would then also need replacing but that will be an almost impossible task.

Wenger has seemingly lost out to Chelsea over Juan Mata but there are plenty out there who would improve Arsenal's squad.

Wenger has repeatedly stated he will not bring in anyone who is no better than the players he has - or has had - but he needs to face facts and see that he needs to strengthen his squad regardless.

He cannot afford to let the transfer window close without adding to his squad as the squad in its current state will struggle to make the top six, never mind the top four. Arsenal desperately need some extra bodies or the house that Wenger built may come falling down.

Wojciech Szczesny, Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Robin van Persie are all excellent players but they need help. There is the makings of an excellent team at the Emirates but that is all it will be unless Wenger strengthens.

There are major problems at Arsenal but it would be foolhardy to suggest Wenger should go after all he has achieved for the club.

He must swallow his pride and spend some money now though or the haunted look that has befallen him in recent days may become a permanent fixture.

Barely a week goes by without Arsenal's trophy 'drought' being mentioned, so that needs to be addressed this season to get that monkey off Wenger's back.

Arsenal have not won a trophy since Patrick Vieira lifted the FA Cup in 2005

The title may be out of the question this year but the Carling and FA Cups are realistic aims this season and Wenger should go all out to win them.

Should they win a cup this season, that would give them the confidence to have a real title tilt next year. Wenger still appears to be aiming for the future looking at his recent signings so next season could be a more realistic goal for Arsenal.

That will not sit well with the fans though, who appreciate what Wenger has done for their club but are becoming restless at his stubbornness in the transfer market and with his style of play.

Money must be spent and the style needs to be tweaked.

Wenger's passing style is constantly lauded but it is worthless without any end product.

If he encouraged his side to take shots rather than try to walk the ball into the net they may have a bit more success, with his past title-winning teams the prime examples of that.

The doom merchants are circling at the Emirates Stadium now but this is not a lost cause yet.

It was fitting Liverpool played their part in Arsenal's latest drama as they are the blueprint the Gunners perhaps should follow.

When they sold Fernando Torres for £50million in January, they immediately replaced him with Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, signings which galvanised the fans, and have followed that up with more high-profile acquisitions this summer.

Suarez was at the heart of Arsenal's downfall on Saturday

Wenger may only have a few days to get his squad up to standard but Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish only had a few hours in January and got the required business done.

A few exciting signings and a couple of good results would quickly turn this 'crisis' around but as things stand, Wenger looks like he is in agony.

This is a critical week in Arsenal's season and it could be over before it has really begun if things go badly.

Wenger needs to somehow turn his frown upside down by bringing in new players, leading his side through the tricky Udinese tie and inspiring his squad.

Anything short of that and Wenger's reputation will be further damaged, perhaps beyond the point of repair.

Toon's ticket farce

Some fans did not receive their season ticket before the campaign's opener against Arsenal

It's the highlight of many football fans' calendars: receiving their new season ticket for the new campaign.

One ticket, or card, represents a year's worth of hope, anticipation and excitement, which will probably ultimately result in disappointment, anguish and looking ahead to the next season, which is "bound to be better".

However, Newcastle United managed to screw up that whole process this summer to leave many fans worried before the season had even begun.

The majority of fans were largely unaffected, with the club announcing existing season ticket holders would keep their existing season tickets for the new campaign.

However, for new season ticket holders, those moving seats or those changing age category, there has been a close season of uncertainty and a long wait to receive their new "season card".

Supporters had enough to deal with this summer, with the sale of fans' favourites, lack of investment, rumoured squad discontent, fan trouble at Darlington, Twitter flare-ups, visa issues and a nightmare trip to the USA which resulted in an injury to Hatem Ben Arfa (apologies if I've missed anything out).

But the Toon Army will still be there in their numbers - with almost 47,000 attending the season opener against Arsenal - despite being treated largely with contempt by the club.

Newcastle's clash with Arsenal will mostly be remembered for the incident involving Joey Barton and Gervinho

New season ticket cards were not issued until less than a week before the first home game, against Arsenal, with many fans not receiving them before the game.

The club's box office telephone line was flooded with fans demanding to know where their tickets were and many were cut off due to the overload. Also, time spent "in the queue" while phoning Newcastle's box office costs money, so some fans who may have had around £5 worth of credit left on their mobile phones were eventually cut off after they ran out of money.

Those who didn't receive their season ticket before the Arsenal game had to go to the box office at the stadium on the day of the game to get a paper ticket, before their card eventually came in the post.

It was yet another shambolic episode to show that, off the pitch at least, Newcastle continues to be in disarray.

The club insisted season tickets were printed and released by a third party, but why couldn't they take care of it all themselves? What are they, amateurs?

Why couldn't tickets have been sent out weeks, even months, in advance, so any problems could be ironed out well before the season?

It's almost as if the club want the fans to desert them.

Fans from the "singing corner" in level seven were uprooted from their seats this summer, angering many who had owned a ticket there for years.

The club gave harsh sanctions following the Darlington pitch invasion

Then, after the crowd trouble which marred the friendly at Darlington, the club banned any non-season ticket holders or non-members from away games, meaning many "occasional" buyers, who may live in other parts of the country and therefore had attended Newcastle games near to them, are now unable to see Newcastle in an away fixture.

The ticket fiasco at St James' Park last weekend meant many fans had to arrive at the ground ridiculously early to ensure they could get in, with most at the very least disillusioned with how they were dealt with.

In addition to the trouble those season ticket holders had, there were also reports others had problems getting in the ground, with several "swipe cards" not working.

Newcastle fans still produced an impressive atmosphere against Arsenal

Those fans who did eventually get in watched a promising 0-0 draw against Arsenal, but even that did not mask the general disillusionment by many fans towards their beloved club.

There is growing anger from the terraces and if the club is not careful, a return to the kinds of protests seen in 2008 after the resignation of Kevin Keegan may not be too far off.

They were disillusioned anyway after the nightmare of a summer their club went through, but episodes like this are only going to make the gap between the club and the fans grow ever wider.

Newcastle fans are among the most passionate and loyal in the country but they are constantly given no reward for it and are now being treated more as customers than supporters.

Their backing on Saturday against Arsenal was as good as ever but the club must start giving them something back before they do finally turn their backs on the club or, more likely, the board.

Fans' patience is beginning to wear thin and this ticket farce - while not widely reported - has made that a whole lot worse with a minority of Newcastle's support.

The ticket situation only affected a relatively small number of supporters but is just another example of the mess the club appears to be in internally.

The happiness of fans should be the most important thing the club ensures but it seems as if supporters are bottom of Newcastle United's list of priorities.