MOTSON,SHILTON AND NEWBON ON STAGE..BUT NOT STRICTLY COME DANCING

England's most capped player,goalie Peter Shilton and the legendary BBC football commentator John Motson will join Sky Sports and former ITV Sport presenter Gary Newbon for an evening of chat and fun in Solihull on Tuesday September 28.The venue is the Solihull Arts Complex in the Touchwood Shopping area.Shilts 125 caps will have a chance to explain why he has entered "Strictly Come Dancing"..Also on the bill TV impressionist Kevin Connelly who will be interviewed by Motty! Some tickets still available from the Box Office on 0121-704-6962.

PUKKA PIES RENEW SPONSORSHIP

Pukka Pies,the great piemakers and supporters of community sport,have renewed their sponsorship of this website.We are thrilled for their support which will enable us to develop some exciting new ideas which I have already discussed with managing director Tim Storer.

FABIO RIGHT TO QUIT IN 2012

Hard to be critical of England's win over Switzerland.3-1 in Basel is a good scoreline and Fabio Capello took advantage of a swipe at his critics.He would have been better to have ignored it.Results speak for themselves.Good wins over Bulgaria and the Swiss,who did beat Spain in the World Cup.But qualifying in these groupings should always be expected from England.Doing the business in the actual finals is the benchmark.Very few England managers come out of the experience without being mullied by the media.Even the man who won the World Cup Sir Alf Ramsey got slaughtered by the media for his subs v Germany in the 1970 World Cup when winning and then lost 3-2 and for failing to beat Poland and not qualifying in 1974.Capello has clearly been surprised by the critics...he realises as the FA will honour his contract rather than pay him off and that short of winning Euro 2012 it will not be renewed .So understandably he has already announced that he will be gone.Who next?Lets be glad he will be English.Harry Rednapp should be the choice but maybe Steve Bruce or Big Sam Alladyce

WHAT WILL GERARD HOULLIER DO FOR ASTON VILLA?

Gerard Houllier is a surprise appointment for Aston Villa.He has been away from English football for six years.Liverpool was his last Premier League job,actually his only one.Like his successor Rafa Benetiz he started well with a Cup treble( although not the European Champions League),spent a fair bit of money but failed to land the Holy Grail-the Premier League title.Will the wily,articulate Frenchman do better than Martin O'Neill?Will he be able to spend as much money?Was he really the best choice?Don't take too much notice about immediate results good or bad.Players who felt comfortable under the previous manager now know they are under threat.Aston Villa is the biggest club in the Midlands and Randy Lerner is a good owner.I wish Houllier well but when he diplomatically praises the Villa supporters I do not think he has any idea of their expectations.He should ask Martin O'Neill..they turned on him at times.Unbelievable!

FOOTBALLERS SHOULD KNOW THE SCORE OFF THE FIELD

Standards have been slipping in public life.An apology seems to cover everything.Scandal..then "oh that's all right then,he or she has apologied"
So there is no point passing judgement on the Wayne Rooney and hookers story.Maybe at the end of the day its something between Mr and Mrs Rooney.Mind you giving some-one £200 to buy a packet of cigarettes for you does rather support the argument that footballers are paid too much!The biggest crime maybe the stupidity of footballers or any one else in the public eye.The media makes you famous but it can also destroy you.Its not good blaming the media.You know the score,you know the tabloids agenda.So why not behave yourself in your years of making money.You have the rest of your years as a faded star to do what every you must.And please lets stop using the word role model unless you want to talk about people such as Ryan Giggs.

ENGLAND MAKE GOOD START TO EURO 2012

It was always going to be an improvement on England's woeful experience in South Africa.I still cannot believe the blind support Fabio Capello is receiving but give the manager and players credit on Friday.4-0 is a very good scoreline in a competitive match.Bulgaria were clever but Jermain Defoe scored a fine hat-trick and Adam Johnson weighed in as well.Steven Gerrard in the centre paid off and Wayne Rooney was free in this 4-4-1-1 system.Rooney did not score but he was involved in all four England goals and generally played well.The win by the way was England's 11th successive at Wembley which amazingly is claimed as a record!So good start.Well done and on to Switzerland on Tuesday for I suspect a much harder game.But Group G should be a doddle for England.Besides the two mentioned its Montenegro and Wales.Hard group? You are having a laugh!But England didn't pick it and
the players and coach will be judged on the finals.

ENGLAND YOUNGSTERS

I promise not to go on but I consistently urged Fabio Capello to pick Joe Hart for the World Cup as number one goalie and to take young Adam Johnson in the squad.Hart was outstanding on loan for Birmingham;Johnson will give you something different when all else fails.Everyone kept saying: no experience;not ready yet.Rubbish.Some of those with lots of international experience stop producing.Emile Heskey is a classic example.Brazil keep blooding young talent.Its always been the same for England.I recall Ron Greenwood getting really angry with the Midlands media,including me,for pushing West Bromwich Albion's outstanding player Bryan Robson.When he was finally picked we were justified.The same with Don Revie and the Birmingham hero Trevor Francis.When Francis finally played he was also class.Just as England supporters have short tolerance spans so England managers need to give youngsters time.It now paying of for Theo Walcott.