MIXED FORTUNES FOR IRELAND AND UK TEAMS IN EURO 2012

Good opening match wins for England,the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland,defeat for Wales and a draw for Scotland.Those are the facts but what will be the outcome?The winners of the nine groups qualify for the finals,the runner's up go into the plays off.That's the basic idea.In our groups England should be certs,the Republic of Ireland will be in the frame with Russia( probably as runners up),Northern Ireland will dip out behind Italy and Serbia,Scotland will disappoint behind World and European Champions Spain and Czech Republic,while Wales have no chance.So that's settled then.........

GERARD HOULLIER REALLY THE MANAGER FOR ASTON VILLA?

Find it strange that Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner looks certain to appoint Frenchman and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier as successor to Martin O'Neill.Houllier is over his ill health and that should not be a factor but he has been out of English management for six years.And he is France's technical director.What happened to France in South Africa?The 63 year old did a Cup treble for Liverpool in 2001 with UEFA Cup,FA Cup and League Cup.He spent a lot of money.Kevin MacDonald is there to coach.But I don't see it changing Villa's fortunes.Glenn Hoddle of Paul Lambert would have been better choices for me.O'Neill's departure suggests the transfer kitty may not be as big as Houllier may need.

IIF YOU ARE ENGLISH GET BEHIND YOUR NATIONAL TEAM

England players are always doing their best even if at times it does not appear so by their performance.The expections are too high.England are not the best in the World but get behind the team,full of changes and youngsters.Booing is counter-productive.Trevor Francis was never nervous before games and he played at the highest level,apart that is from his debut for England.He once told me his legs were like jelly on that Wembley pitch.Lets give the team a clean sheet after the awful World Cup display.

VUVUZELAS BANNED IN EUROPE ...NOW STOP MEXICAN WAVES

Those Vuvuzelas irritated me during the World Cup.What a boring,monotonous sound that drove many in the world-wide TV coverage to complain.FIFA so often fussy about things,said it was part of the national culture so it had to be respected and stayed.I suppose by the end we got used to it.However I am pleased that Vuvuzelas havr been banned from all UEFA competitions.While they are about it what about kicking out that harmless Mexican Waves.Heck,it started in Mexico in the 1986 World Cup.We all enjoyed it then but that was 24 years ago.It pretty boring now but crowds still do it.Get a life,lets do something different but please harmless!

Mikel Arteta

I have never been happy about cricketers with South African sounding accents playing for England but the thought of the Spaniard Mikel Arteta playing for the English national team is not on.The Everton mid-fielder is a brilliant player and would improve the England sqaud.Hey and the Italian Senor Capello has apparently spoken to Senor Arteta about it.Residency laws in this country enable him to apply for a British passport.But there is another reason why it cannot happen.Arteta represented Spain at Under 16 and 17 level.FIFA rules are that he would at least have to hold dual nationality to play for England. If John Smith ,born in London say played for Barcelona after playing for England at similar levels it would be puzzling if he suddenly got picked for Spain.Agree?

LIVE SHOW IN SOLIHULL

My new venture of Sports Legends on Stage opens at Solihull on Tuesday September 28 at 7.30p.m.It will be at the Solihull Arts Complex in the Touchwood Shopping complex and stars John Motson,an institution as BBC football commentator at major matches over four decades,and goalkeeper Peter Shilton,who is England's most capped footballer with 125 international appearances.I will be hosting a fun night full of anecdotes and humour with plenty of inside track stories.An added bonus will be special guest Kevin Connelly,sports impressionist from the TV and Radio Series Deadringers.Ticket,piced £15 each are now on sale at the Box Office,0121-704-6972.If you live in the Midlands area try and join us.....

MARTIN O'NEILL FOR ENGLAND

England begin their Euro 2012 Qualifying Campaign against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday and then in Basle,away to Switzerland on Tuesday.Lets not get carried away about the "wonderful achievement" to reach the finals.England keep being drawn into manageable groups.Reaching the final stages is not the problem,its getting to the actual final let alone winning it!The highest paid national coach is not in many people's view,certainly mine,the right man for England.Fabio Capello at the every least should win the group.Waiting in the wings at present is one of two managers I have always felt should be Engand's manager and that is Martin O'Neill.The other one is Harry Redknapp.Martin did not give the FA the sort of interview they wanted,just like his mentor Brian Clough,and Im told thew FA didn't like the idea of Martin's able assistants John Robertson and Steve Walford.What do the FA really know?Would players be picked on the way they interview? If a person has talent is the one-off interview really the way to decide.In football everyone knows about everything about the top people.There are many people in life who interview brilliantly but do not in the end do the job well.If Capello got the job on what he achieved at club level in Italy and Spain then it makes mockery interviewing some-one for the England job.Capello is still struggling to learn English.Let us hope for a fine England performance and result over the next few days but lets not get carried away either.