ENGLAND COAST TO 2-0 WIN TO HEAD GROUP G BUT ITS AN EASY GROUP

We are always being told there are no easy games at International level.Well that theory was put to the test on Saturday when England stolled and passed their way to a comfortable 2-0 win over Wales in Cardiff.Just as it did in the World Cup England look to have an easy qualifying Group G.So the question left is will Fabio Capello get more out of England in the finals?You cannot blame a lack of talent.As long as our top players stay fit everything seems to be improving from goalkeeping to strikers.Plenty of emerging talent,plenty of competition...up front Darren Bent,Andy Carroll,Jermain Defoe,Peter Crouch and so on.Add the so far untried but in form Matt Jarvis and the mid-field star at West Ham Scott Parker plus the brilliant youngster Jack Wilshere and England have a lot to get excited about.Ashley Young and others are there as well to be added to the usual regulars.Its a pity Rio Ferdinand is struggling with injury and Theo Walcott is missing.We cannot get too excited about beating Wales 2-0 but we can have hope for the immediate future.Capello does not have long is the job from his own choice and we desperately need,in my opinion Harry Redknapp to be the new England manager,head coach or whatever you want to call him.I hope the FA do not mess it up!

WALES ARE VERY POOR

Gary Speed has a massive job on his hands to make Wales into a good team.I wish him well.They looked very poor against England and it is no surprise that they are bottom of their Group without a point.

I REALLY HAVE A GREYHOUND TO WATCH AND HE RACES ON SKY ON WEDNESDAY

Nothing to do with football but its involves Greyhound Racing which I also present on Sky Sports.For nearly 40 years I have been trying to own a Champion.I may have one now called Droopys Greg.He has just won the £12,500 Ladbroke Monmore Puppy Derby in Wolverhampton to make it 7 wins from 10 open races with 2 seconds and one unplaced.He runs in a support race at 8.15p.m.on Sky Sports 4 this Wednesday(March 30).Mind you brilliant as he promises to be, he always has Derby winning trainer Nick Savva and myself on tender hooks.Its a four bend race.He is hopeless at the break,usually gets bumped at the first bend,shakes it off and eventually overtakes the other five.He is real theatre and the crowds are loving him.The problem is that he is always odds-on....You never know is racing but I am very hopeful and excited.,about this grandson of Westmead Hawk,the legendary double English Derby champion.

SAD DAY BUT HUGE TURN OUT FOR FUNERAL OF SPORTSWRITER RAY MATTS

Hundreds packed into the funeral this afternoon for much loved and respected sportswriter Ray Matts,who wrote football and Formula 1 for the Daily Mail.Mattsy as he was called most of his life,was a lovely,great character who made us all laugh and could disarm any situation.He died recently,just a couple of weeks after his lively 70th birthday party.It was standing room only at Streetly in the West Midlands..and then several lines deep.Among the mourners joining his family and many friends were famous names from football and the media including Ron Atkinson,who spoke,Martin O'Neill,Trevor Francis,Brian Little,Brendan Batson,and former players of his beloved WBA including the FA Cup winning team.His best man and closest friend Jeff Farmer also spoke.The Formula One stars would have been there but for the weekend's Grand Prix in Australia.

GREAT CHUM JIM ROSENTHAL TAKES ME TO HIS BELOVED OXFORD

Had a lovely day at Oxford United on Sunday with their director,my great friend Jim Rosenthal.They beat 9 men Burton Albion 3-0 and were always the better side apart from switching off for a few minutes after they scored.They are now just 3 points off the League Two play off spots.Oxford born Jim loves his club and goes to as many matches as he can.It was great to see John Bond visiting there and catch up with both Burton's manager Paul Peschisolido and his father in law Terry Brady.I was at Paul and Karren's wedding.Their marriage is a great success but both their clubs are struggling( Burton and West Ham).Karren's club might be in a better place.Also good to see Oxford manager Chris Wilder who was recommended by Jim Smith and is doing a good job.His goalkeeping coach is an old mucker of mine,73 year old former Sheffield United stopper Alan Hodkinson.Oxford's goalie Ryan Clarke looks outstanding and several big clubs are watching him.

NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE IT ALL TO DO

Northern Ireland have by and large done their best but they do not appear strong enough to qualify from Group C.They took the lead in the last match away in Serbia but lost 2-1.Nigel Worthington is a good man and doing his best as boss,so I hope they stick with him.

WHY PUT A STATUE OF MICHAEL JACKSON AT CRAVEN COTTAGE?HE WAS AL FAYED'S FRIEND!

I suppose if you own the club you can do what you want! Certainly that is the case at Fulham where owner Al Fayed is planning to unveil a statue of his friend,the late pop star Michael Jackson.This potty idea is scheduled for April 3 for the home game at Craven Cottage with Blackpool!Al Fayed commisioned it for Harrods but then sold the department store.Even so when you think of some of the club's great players of yesteryear its hardly appropriate!

GREAT FA CUP DRAW FOR SEMI-FINALS

Great FA Cup draw.Manchester United v Manchester City in one semi-final and improving Bolton v survivors Stoke City in the other.I think it makes for an interesting final. The purists would say City v United but the way its been drawn is more "FA Cup".Its hard to call it but I would shade Manchester United and Bolton to be the finalists although I would not want to put money on it.Saw a super second half at St.Andrews where injury hit Birmingham put up a terrific effort before Bolton scored the 3-2 winner in the last minute.The managers,Owen Coyle and Alex McLeish are doing a very good job for their respective clubs.But for me the difference on Saturday was Kevin Davies.He is tough,strong,determined and a real handful.The Nat Lofthouse of Bolton's current team.

FA CUP VERY MUCH ALIVE AND KICKING

I hope they don't mess around with the FA Cup structure too much.Championship Reading's plucky display in their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City was great.Ask Stoke or Bolton supporters what a trip to Wembley will mean to them-in the case of one club twice!I am all for the Premier League and the European Champions League for the really big clubs but we must have meaningful competitions for the other clubs.Take Birmingham City,it was fantastic for the club and their supporters and alot of the City itself when they beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup...I remember working on the Stoke 2 Chelsea 1 League Cup final in 1972 and attending the Stoke after match banquet at the Russell Hotel.It meant everything to them...and it would do again if they won the FA Cup for the first time.

JOURNALISTS SOMETIMES SENSITIVE SOULS!

Talking to a Scottish born top manager recently and he told me that he was warned how sensitive some football writers can be south of the border when the tables are turned.He is right...if you dish out stick you have to be to take it. Not everyone in the sports media has been good at that.I learnt to take it on the chin many years ago andI have had plenty of stick. Sometimes fair;often not!Not everyone is going to share your view. Now most of it in my case has come from bias fans.I understand their passion and love of their clubs.Its what the game should be all about.So no surprise when Arsenal fans got stuck into the internet to whack me for critising Arsene Wenger's behaviour after the Barca match.I stand my what I wrote but some fans like Arsene at times have selective eye-sight.About the Robin van Persie sending off I actually wrote.."Barca may have won against 11 men but certainly Arsenal were hard done by." The referee Massimo Busacca should have used his common sense in most people's opinion including mine.Meanwhile maybe Arsenal fans will let me know what they think about being knocked out of three competitions this season and what they think of the Premier League title race.Arsenal do have less matches than Manchester United and Chelsea but the bookies go Utd 4-5,Arsenal 21-10 and Chelsea 8-1.Pretty fair odds I would say.By the way when I was presenting Sky Sports phone in show I spent a considerable time defending Arsene Wenger against those Arsene fans who wanted him sacked.He has done a very good job over the years for the club.

QUIZ QUESTION: WHO SCORED IN A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AND NEVER HAD A SHOT ON TARGET?

Here's a new football quiz question for you.Who scored a goal in a European Champions League match and never had a shot on target? Answer:Arsenal.That's what happened in the Nou Camp on Tuesday as Arsenal lost 3-1 to the brilliant holders Barcelona and went out 4-3 on aggregate.Most people agree the sending off of Robin Van Persie by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca was wrong but Arsenal were outplayed by Barca and had not managed a shot on goal when Van Persie received his second yellow.It was 1-1 thanks to an own goal by Busquets.Barca may have won against 11 men but certainly Arsenal were hard done by.Still it does not excuse Wenger's pathetic behaviour at the ref afterwards and he deserves to be charged by UEFA. Decisions sometimes go for you or against you.As if the referee was going to change anything after the final whistle.Managers have to show restraint and discipline.Their continual rantings at the fourth official are pathetic and so was Wenger's behaviour.Passion and frustration are no excuse.Pick on their own players shortcomings.Why no ranting at Bendtner who with better control could have put Arsenal through in the closing seconds.Its always the ref!

ANOTHER GLORY,GLORY NIGHT FOR SPURS

Spurs did it.They held an inform AC Milan 0-0 at White Hart Lane to reach the Championship League quarter-finals after their brilliant 1-0 away win in the San Siro.They had to withstand non-stop AC Milan attacks but the defence was outstanding.William Gallas cleared one off the line but for me the real hero was the young Brazilian Sandro who was my man of the match.The 21 year old mid-fielder was terrific especially when defending.Manager Harry Redknapp took over Spurs when they were bottom of the Premier League two and a half years ago.Now look at them.Fingers crossed they don't get Barcelona in the quarters or semis!

BIRMINGHAM FOCUSED BUT SO MANY INJURIES

Going to watch Birmingham-Bolton FA Cup quarter final at St.Andrew's on Saturday lunch-time.One of my twin sons Laurence is an ESPN cameraman at the match.I don't know what sort of team Alex McLeish will field.He has a stack of injuries including his inspirational mid-fielder Barry Ferguson who has a broken rib.Also McLeish,who has done an excellent job at the Blues,has survival in the Premier League as his priority now that he has the Carling Cup.But it will need to be a strong side to knock-out Bolton who look good under manager Owen Coyle.We will see.By the way my other twin son Neil is an actor-google him!-and was striker Luke Davonport in the Sky football series Dream Team.He once told the Daily Star that one of the few football matches he had attended was at Birmingham a few years ago where he found himself joining in with the home crowd singing "Gary Newbon is a *anker!"

NORWICH AND MANAGER PAUL LAMBERT LOOK THE BUSINESS

A little while ago I highlighted Paul Lambert and Mark Robins as the up and coming managers to follow.Barnsley are having a solid season while Norwich looked terrific in their second half at Leicester.I enjoyed catching up with Paul in Sven-Goran Eriksson's office afterwards.Lambert has assembled a good team playing excellent football,with stars like goalscoring striker Grant Holt and the skilled Wes Hoolahan.I expect them to be promoted.Lambert reminds me of Martin O'Neill in lots of ways,including tucking his football socks into his tracksuit bottoms plus fours style.I am told that he is much quieter in victory afterwards than Martin!By the way whatever happened to Martin? I am told he is regularly on the golf course.A mate of mine uses the same club.

HAVE QPR SHOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT?

The Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers may receive a points deduction if found guilty of breaking the rules.QPR are seven points clear at the top and 11 points clear of the bottom of the play-off zone.But it could end in tears if they are found guilty after the Football Association have charged them with a breach of the rule banning third party ownership of their £3.5 million signing Alejandro Faurlin.Seven charges in all including allegations of false information when the Argentine player was registered in the summer.They are also charged making payments to an unauthorised agent over the signing.QPR and their chairman Gianni Paladini,a former agent himself,deny the charges.The other promotion hopefuls wait with baited breath for the outcome

BLACKPOOL SLIPPING INTO REAL DANGER

All season I have been warning that plucky attacking Blackpool will be relegated.Most have disputed that strongly but their poor home record has now put them in danger.Their record of 7 home defeats from 14 matches(just 4 wins) is the worst in the Premier League.Monday's 3-1 loss at Bloomfield Road to champions Chelsea leaves them still two points clear of the drop zone and now having played thesame number of matches-29.Birmingham do have two games in hand over all those in trouble,who have nine matches left.Bad news for Blackpool is that 5 of theirs are at home-Arsenal,Wigan,Newcastle,Stoke and Bolton.The away trips are Blackburn,Fulham,Spurs with the finish at Manchester United on May 22!

LIVERPOOL DESERVE TO BEAT MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1

Liverpool deserved to beat Manchester United 3-1.They look a new team under Kenny Dalglish.Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll are massive signings both in financial and playing terms.Suarez was outstanding and the prime mover behind Dirk Kuyt's first hat-trick against United who had a poor day and clearly missed Vidic and Ferdinand.Both sides could have lost players through red cards in a fierce physical battle-Jamie Carragher for the home side and Rafael Da Silva for United.But don't right off United.It still looks a two horse race between Arsenal and Man Utd even if Liverpool are looking the business again.Arsenal and Manchester United still have to meet in London on May 1 and United have Chelsea at Old Trafford straight after that on May 7 but the rest is managable.That is apart from Liverpool who come to the Emirates on April 17.Great finish top and bottom of the Premier League.Its a great season for not knowing the outcome but I will stick with my season long prediction of Manchester United to win the Premier League.

DESPERATE IN AND AROUND PREMIER LEAGUE DROP ZONE

Its mighty tight at the botom of the Premier League after West Bromwich Albion played really well to win 3-1 at Birmingham and Wolves salvaged a well deserved point at home to Spurs in the 3-3 thriller.With West ham winning 3-0 at home to Stoke it means that only 8 points seperates the bottom half of the table and only five points are the difference between the bottom 5 and the drop zone.Wow!Looking at the remaining fixtures I would say that West Brom,with the likes of Arsenal,Liverpool,Chelsea,Spurs and Wolves away have the hardest fixtures together with West Ham who include Spurs,Man Utd,Bolton,Villa,Chelsea and Man City in their list but also have their final three against Blakcburn,Wigan and Sunderland.There are no easy games from now on but some are more difficult on paper than others....Blackburn are being dragged into it too.

WILL ARSENAL KNOCK-OUT BARCELONA AND SPURS GET PAST AC MILAN

Two huge European Champions League ties this week,both involving the North London clubs.Arsenal go to the Champions Barcelona with a brilliant 2-1 lead from the Emirates but will it be enough? Barca have that away goal and you would expect them to score in the Nou Camp.I take Barca to win...Spurs bring the current Italian League leaders AC Milan to White Hart Lane with a magnificent 1-0 away win.They are in pole position,particularly having scored in the San Siro.But its going to be tough.Another great European night in prospect.Who will get through or will it just be one or none from North London?Spurs have surely the better chance.

FA CUP QUARTER FINALS WEEKEND

The FA Cup is still a magic competition.The eight remaining clubs will hopefully field their strongest teams.Birmingham have won the Carling Cup,have several key injuries,and their priority is to stay in the Premier League.I do not know what team Alex McLeish will field at home to Bolton on Sunday lunchtime.But if he wants to go back to Wembley then he will need his strongest against Bolton who are currently 7th in the Premier League.The tie of the round is Manchester United at home to Arsenal on Saturday lunch-time.United have just lost two big ones to Chelsea and Liverpool.They and Arsenal and their managers are great rivals.Arsene Wenger,without a major trophy for six years,needs to win something again.Then on Sunday Stoke are at home to West Ham at 2.00p.m. while Manchester City play Championship Reading at 4.45p.m.Birmingham's tie is at 12.45p.m. on ESPN,the United-Arsenal at 5.15p.m. on ITV1 while Stoke's home tie is on ITV1 and Manchester City's on ESPN.

SAD BUT WONDERFUL FAREWELL TO DEAN RICHARDS

Family,friends,colleagues,the media and supporters did the memory of former Bradford,Wolves and Spurs defender Dean Richards proud. And rightly so.Dean died at the young age of 36.Bradford Cathedral was packed for his funeral and then both Wolves and Spurs gave him a wonderful salute before Sunday's thriller at Molineaux.The sight of Dean's widow Samantha and their young sons Rio and Jaden on the pitch was emotive.Despite their great sadness they must have been moved at how Dean was held in such respect and affection by all.

CELTIC-RANGERS MEET TOO OFTEN

Celtic and Rangers play each other too many times each season.That is not to excuse the behaviour of some the Rangers players and the two managerial benches.The scenes between two intelligent people,Neil Lennon of Celtic and Aly McCoist of Rangers was disgraceful.The police chief's answer to play behind closed doors defeats the object of public entertainment but the benches apart from substitutes and physios could be cleared in these games for sure.In the "old days" managers watched from the stands.These days they are on the bench barking orders,spending half the match moaning to the fourth official and often throwing tantrums-hardly great examples.Once again its all down to passion!
That is Cobblers,more like a lack of discipline.Football rage as opposed to road rage.If a goalscorer gets booked for taking his shirt off celebrating because"it might incite crowd trouble" what should this lot get for their behaviour?Sir Alf Ramsey would have been a great role model."Oh yeah" some-one will say" its was alright for him,he was only trying to live up to expectations and win the World Cup!"

LMA AND PFA HAVE TO BE BALANCED

The PFA and LMA are always quick to defend their members but they cannot shout foul one way all the while.I admire Gordon Taylor and Richard Bevan,chief executives respectively of those organisations.But where was Gordon's voice when Kolo Toure was charged with failing a durgs test and I heard Richard almost defending Sir Alex's latest verbal attack on a referee when Richard was a guest on Talksport this week.Toure is clearly ignorant of banned substances,if the charge is proved,while Sir Alex cannot berate the media for wanting the book thrown at Wayne Rooney for a bad elbow which only brought a yellow and then throw his verbals at the referee for not red-carding a Chelsea player.He was wrong on the first instance but although his call was right on the decision at Stamford Bridge he was wrong in the manner he complained. In fairness there is often method in Sir Alex's rage.The problem is there is no deterrent at times.The FA seem to have one law for some and another for others.Their weakness is the problem.How many times do football people stop and think?Heat of the moment and passion are no excuse.People in the public eye have to show discipline. Sure we are all human and that includes referees.Where would the game be without them? Too often they get the abuse instead of the highly paid players who are often to be blamed for a team's defeat.

BIRMINGHAM MAY MISS TWO KEY MID-FIELDERS V WBA

Barry Ferguson and Wayne Gardner are doubtful for Birmingham City's home lunchtime derby with fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.Ferguson played 60 minutes with a broken rib while Wayne Gardner was injured as well....It is a vital match against the Baggies.Three days after Wembley may have been difficult for the Blues but they have had nearly a week to re-focus.However both Ferguson and Gardner missing would be a real blow.