Recently by Gary Newbon

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.
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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's now paying off for Theo Walcott.

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.

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!
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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.

ENGLAND DATE
Sorry folks,finger trouble...the date for England match in Basle is of course Tuesday September 7!
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Fabio Capello rings the changes.Now he must take responsibility
Fabio Capello has been forced to make some changes and also decided to bring in some new faces for the Euro 2012 Qualifiers against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday ( 8.00p.m. kick-off UK time and live on ITV) and in Switzerland at Basle on Monday(live on Sky with 7.45p.m. kick-off UK time).There are several injured players including Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and John Terry but he has also brought in younsters.Capello must no longer blame the players as he suggested for the World Cup farce.Qualifying is a lot easier for England than in the finals.He took the praise and the money for the former.It is his responsibility for the latter as well as the players.He picks them and decides most aspects.He is the highest paid national coach in the world.Now he needs to justify it.
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CHELSEA v MANCHESTER UNITED AGAIN?
Champions Chelsea look unstoppable.Played 3 Premier League matches,won all three,14 goals scored and none conceeded.Wow is that impressive or what?Manchester United also have a top squad and Dimitar Berbatov is starting to look the part.They,like Arsenal,are two points behind,United dropping two late points at Fulham:Arsenal drawing at Liverpool.Arsenal will have a decent season,better I expect than recently,but they might just still be a notch behind the big two as they are now becoming.Long way to go but the signs are there.

WEST HAM'S WRONG CHOICE
Avram Grant may or may not be a good manager.Who really knows? But I thought at the time he was the wrong choice for West Ham.The start hardly proves me wrong.Played 3 lost 3.Bottom of the Premier League with no points and just 1 goal with 9 conceeded.Owners David Sullivan and David Gold usually keep their manager for 6 years.Will this one last six months?

Before the World Cup I predicted England would not go far but I did not expect them or their manager Fabio Capello to be so poor.I asked that Joe Hart be the goalkeeper but the arguments against me were his so called inexperience.I still maintain he is England's current best.The ball did not look over the line by the way, when the French linesman signalled to the referee to award the Hungary goal.I had pleaded in these blogs as well for Capello to take Adam Johnson to the World Cup because the young Manchester City forward can give you something else..and what about Theo Walcott?The FA cannot afford,it seems,to pay off Capello and while he might be a great European Club manager he sure ain't the right one for England.Steven Gerrard saved his Palma ham last night.We would struggle to win anything under Harry Redknapp or Martin O'Neill ( the right sort of choices) but under Fabio our chances are much slimmer and right now slim is out of town!

David Beckham has been great for England on and off the field.But for the news of the end of his international career to be told to a massive TV audience before a conversation with Beckham is dreadful mis-management by the coach Fabio Capello.Beckham deserved much better than that.By the way the wrong person might well have been retired here! Capello asked his number two to ask Paul Scholes to re-consider this retirement and go the World Cup.It might have made a huge difference if Capello had travelled to Manchester United and asked Scholes on a one to one basis in person.All this from a man on £6 million a year-the highest paid international coach.

ENGLAND'S FRIENDLY UNDERLINES MY PRE-WORLD CUP PLEA
Before the World Cup I predicted England would not go far but I did not expect them or their manager Fabio Capello to be so poor.I asked that Joe Hart be the goalkeeper but the arguments against me were his so called inexperience.I still maintain he is England's current best.The ball did not look over the line by the way, when the French linesman signalled to the referee to award the Hungary goal.I had pleaded in these blogs as well for Capello to take Adam Johnson to the World Cup because the young Manchester City forward can give you something else..and what about Theo Walcott?The FA cannot afford,it seems,to pay off Capello and while he might be a great European Club manager he sure ain't the right one for England.Steven Gerrard saved his Palma ham last night.We would struggle to win anything under Harry Redknapp or Martin O'Neill ( the right sort of choices) but under Fabio our chances are much slimmer and right now slim is out of town!

O'NEILL'S TIMING UPFAIR ON ASTON VILLA AND THEIR FANS
Martin O'Neill's resignation as manager of Aston Villa is ill-timed,just a few days before the start of a new Premier Season.He thanks the fans on one hand and then drops their club right in it the next.From the outside it looks as if he has thrown his toys out the pram.O'Neill appears to have had until recently control of most things at a club he definately improved on the field.He handled all the transfer talks and deals and had a handle on most things.He was highly paid but according to the owner did not share the club's wish to control players wages and off load some of them before signing more.In my book the club would not have enjoyed such a good season this time but O'Neill should have at least stayed until his successor was appointed.That looks like being American Bob Bradley.

The European Champions Spain have become the World Champions for the first time in their first final-and deserved it.They were the better side with better players.Holland did well to reach the final and had a physical and fouling game plan to stop the Spanish. Arjen Robben still had two great chances to win it for the Dutch. But they finished up with 7 yellow cards and Johnny Heitinga being sent off for two yellows. I warned pre-match that Van Bommel may have been sent off. He was lucky that did not happen in the first half.

Nearly a billion people will watch the World Cup final between Holland and Spain on their television sets around the globe.Its still a mind blowing figure.Spain in their first final will be favourites and most lovers of football will want them to win.Holland,my dark horses to be World Cup champions,are well organised but not so much flair although they have key players in Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.There are so many great players in the Spanish team with ace scorer David Villa but its been that sort of tournament with upsets galore along the way.At the outset I predicted in my blogs that it would be one of the three usual suspects,Spain,Brazil or Argentina but I also had a strong fancy for my dark horses Holland.My big worry for the Dutch,though,is not so much the football Spain play but whether Mark van Bommel will avoid a red card.He has survived quite a bit so far but now he comes up against English referee Howard Webb who I am sure will give van Bommel every chance but eventually enough will be enough.Lets hope for a red-card free final,a good match and the team that deserves it wins.I remember hoping Holland would win the first World Cup final I attended,1974 in Munich,when Holland and Johan Cruyff played total football but still lost to Garmany.That day I sat in the ITV commentary seats behind two legends,Sir Alf Ramsey and commentator Hugh Johns.Both would turn in their graves if they knew how England had played in this World Cup.

GOLDEN BOOT PREDICTION WAS SPAIN'S DAVID VILLA
I tipped David Villa to be the top goalscorer.It will be decided in the World Cup final because Spain's Villa and Holland's Wesley Sneijder top the Gold Boot with 5 goals each! I expect Villa to edge it.Sneijder has been one of the outstanding players on this South African tournament.Villa though is the sharp shooter and may get more opportunities from the position he plays.
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ENGLISHMAN HOWARD WEBB TO REFEREE WORLD CUP FINAL
Top English referee Howard Webb will be in charge of the World Cup final-the highest honour for this South Yorkshire policeman.I didn't think he had a great domestic season but there is no doubt he has a commanding manner and is able to make tough decisions.The 38 year old will have Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey as his assistants.My first World Cup as an ITV interviewer was in Germany in 1974.I recall taking a message that a Wolverhampton butcher Jack Taylor has been given the West Germany-Holland World Cup final and track him down.It began a long friendship.Taylor had the strength to give a penalty AGAINST Germany in the opening minute!I am sure Webb won't hesitate to go the same.Then at least England will have something to be proud of from this tournament

My pre-World Cup tip that Holland were the dark horses is standing up.They are in their first World Cup final for 32 years having beaten Uruguay in an outstanding semi-final 3-2.Some of the Dutch goals included debatable decisions which the slow-motion TV replays showed the referee wrong.But in normal speed you are not sure and we all know where FIFA stand on those non-existent replays!You need a bit of luck and Holland had that.They also have a wonderful player in Wesley Sneijder.He looks a World Cup winner.The Dutch are getting stronger.It might well be a Holland-Germany final unless the talented Spanish team step up their game in tonight's other semi-final and who would have thought that on June 11.The Germans have had an excellent game plan,scored stacks of goals and their young team has impressed everyone.Joachim's Low's side has been the most impressive with Bastian Schweinsteiger defying his earlier critics.The Bayern Munich player still thinks Spain are the best team in the world.For sure the Germans will miss Thomas Muller who is suspended for tonight's match.Its a wonderful looking semi-final for the right to meet Holland in what will be an all European final.England may have been very poor but Europe has still seen off South America and Africa.

CLOSE CALL FOR GOLDEN BOOT AS WELL AS WORLD CUP WINNERS

Its hard enough trying to work out the World Cup winners in this tournament of surprises.Its not going to form.Its a tight call,too, for the Golden Boot. The winner is the player who scores the most goals in these World Cup finals.My tip was Spain's David Villa who plays tonight in the semi-final with under-estimated Germany.David Villa has five goals,the same number now as the outstanding Dutch player Wesley Sneijder.The two German players Thomas Muller(who is suspended for tonight's semi-final) and Miroslav Klose both have one less with four each.I still fancy Villa but Spain have to do the business and step up a gear or two.

The experts said the Germans were not very good before the World Cup started.Bet they are changing their minds.Four against the Aussies,four against the old enemy England and now four against the Argies.They only conceeded one goal-to England-in the process and only one other so far in the World Cup-one nil defeat to Serbia when they had a player sent off and missed a penalty.No good eh?Will they beat Spain?Its a tough call but Spain will have to raise their game.The Germans are organised and stick to their game plan.Holland,my dark horses to win the competition,should beat Uruguay to set up an all-European final.I would like to see Spain but I have a feeling its going to be those tournament specialists Germany.

PICK OF MY EMAIL BAG
My thanks for your emails...Eddie Archibald's summed them up.He wrote:Apart from Stuart Pearce and the physio Gary Lewin England should have a complete clear out apart from the younger players like Wayne Rooney.I would like the see Steve Bruce and David Beckham running the team......well Eddie since you posted your email the FA have decided to keep Fabio Capello who will want to maintain his backroom team including the two you have mentioned.But you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be making lots of changes in the team line-ups in future.

Holland have been my dark horses to win the World Cup.I certainly fancied them to beat Brazil today and I predicted that they would beforehand(see earlier blog).I am not much of a gambler but I placed £20 with Star Sports( the gentleman's bookmaker) at 11-4 this morning.Mind you I was a little concerned at half-time but away from South America there is always a chance that Brazil could self destruct...and that's what happened.One nil up early on through a fine goal by Robinho,the second half was a reversal in form and outcome for both sides.Felipe Melo own goal,little Wesley Sneijder with the header and then Melo sent off for a horror job on Robben.Holland in the semi-finals and with now a great chance of reaching the World Cup final.

994,213 PLAY MY PIEMAN GOALIE GAME
Tamba Internationasl who created my Pieman goalie game report new offical figures of 994,213 playing since February.Great news,thanks for your support.If you have not played it why not try it and then pay a visit to my Pieman's shop which is full of goodies......
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FABIO CAPELLO TO STAY
The FA who don't get many things right it seems these days have decided to keep Fabio Capello to his contract.They will say he is still the best for the job,outsiders may say its because they have given him too big a contract and they don't fancy shelling out £12 million or a similar large figure in pay-off.How good is Capello as an international manager? We still don't know.But I don't think he is the right person for the England job.His English is not great and his playing culture is more Italian than English in terms of off the field rules.Qualification is not surely what £6 million a year should be all about.Its about real progress in the finals tournament,the right selection,right results and playing well at the same time.Heck football managers on a lot less are sacked for a lot less!But if that is what the FA have decreed lets at least get behind Capello next season.He will make changes;he has to and will do that.We live in hope.But don't hold your breath that will be be European or World Champions soon...or under Capello.