Is it time for O'Neill?

But if you start off with not just a silk purse but a solid gold one, is he really the man you would choose to get the best out of a diamond-studded squad?

Frankly I doubt it, and so, too, I suspect, does Mr Abramovich, doubtless egged on by the egregious-Mr Pini Zahavi. I don't believe a word of Eriksson's explanation that his visit to Abramovich's pad was just a social call.

As I know from my own experience as a Foreign Office minister, it's nigh on impossible to build friendships through an interpreter.

And frankly, it's an insult to our intelligence for Eriksson to pretend it was anything other than a business trip. And I also believe, to keep the place warm, Eriksson is indeed supplying information that has led to some worthwhile additions to Chelsea's squad.

Far from being a troupe of greedy over-the-hill foreigners, the first four likely signings are all in their prime and three of them - Glen Johnson, Damien Duff and Wayne Bridge - have grown up with English football. The fourth, Geremi, had a great season with Middlesbrough and has nothing to prove about hacking it in the Premiership. And as a dead-ball specialist, he should be invaluable.

But if Chelsea are to do what a lot of us have advocated and build success on a British spine with foreign add-ons, again the question that won't go away is: is Ranieri the fellow you would pick to manage such a squad? Or wouldn't you rather make Martin O'Neill an offer he can't refuse, or take a punt on David Moyes?

The new owners give the impression with Ranieri that they're willing to wound but afraid to strike. And I'm not sure that's fair on anybody.

Sven must toe FA's line

We all know Sven-Goran Eriksson manages England but none of us know who manages Sven. Or maybe nobody does, a situation new Football Association chief executive Mark Palios - about whom I hear nothing but good - needs to do something about.

Sven must stop giving the impression he's having an each way bet on England. He is paid a king's ransom for total commitment and it's about time he showed it.

No more ads. No more meetings with club prominente that lead to the obvious conclusion that he's planning to jump ship.

Sven isn't actually doing us that big a favour by staying on.

And Palios has nothing to lose in making clear that any more inopportune expeditions to places like Chateau Abramovich will lead to a quick exit.

Far better, as well as more dignified, for the FA to fire the bullet in the event of further provocation. What they shouldn't do is sit around waiting for the inevitable letter of resignation.

Opera of absurd

I went to an opera this week, and all one of the main characters did was to wander around singing "Woe". It's a bit like that at Highbury right now, although it shouldn't be.

First of all, the suggestion that the Gunners have been supplanted as London's top team is a bit premature. Next May is the time to judge that.

Also, the fact they haven't got big money to splash out on new players needn't be fatal - just look at Chelsea last season. The Gunners have a world-class strike force and an outstanding midfield.

All they need is a little strengthening in defence and for their temperamental French superstars to settle down. If that is achieved, there's no reason for anything but optimism. Certainly a requiem mass is unlikely to be needed.

Stay away Veron

One thing is certain amid the swirling eddies at Chelsea and that is the sooner Pini Zahavi gets on his bike the better.

And that may happen now that his cunning plan to help out his best mate Sir Alex Ferguson by palming Juan Sebastian Veron off on Chelsea has come to nothing.

Veron going for £14million only looks a bargain because Ferguson was rash enough to spend £28m on him. Looked at in the cold light of recent experience - two years of being a bit-part player at Old Trafford - that kind of money looks exorbitant for a player soon to be 30.

Then there's the small matter of his personal terms, believed to be in the region of £5m a season. Chelsea are saying thanks, but no thanks. And the sooner Zahavi takes the hint the better.

This is particularly bizarre because they are apparently willing to put this money in for a minority stake. Who in their right mind would do that?

It gets worse. They were negotiating with Chelsea for some weeks and, had they met agreed deadlines, they would have owned 29.9 per cent of the club while the Russians were still dozing in the Steppes.

At no stage in the process was it ever proved they actually had the money. And if you ask me, they don't. It's a con.