We recall with fondness telling you this time last year of Belize coach Manuel Reinaldo Bilches' decision to vote Paolo Wanchope as the third best player on the planet in FIFA's World Player of the Year. This year's vote? Paolo did it again, coming 22nd overall with only four other English Premiership players finishing ahead of him (David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Fabien Barthez and Marcel Desailly).

And who voted for him? His Costa Rican manager, Gilson Nunez Siqueira, despite the fact that coaches aren't meant to vote for their players. Gilson's second and third choices? Herman Medford and Jaffet Sotto. Yeah, that's what we said (spookily, they both play for . . . Costa Rica).

Football on TV

Monday: Spurs v Arsenal, Sky Sports 1, 8.0; Wednesday: Crystal Palace v Sunderland (League Cup), Sky Sports 2, 7.45; Saturday: Liverpool v Arsenal, Sky Sports 1, 11.30

planetfootball@irish-times.ie