ENGLAND COAST TO 2-0 WIN

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!