Doubling The Amount Of Teams In The Champions' League Is Complete Nonsense

Champions' League could be extended
from 32 teams to 64.

Michel Platini has had more than his fair share of utterly bonkers ideas since assuming the throne of UEFA President in 2007. His latest, however, seems to have been dressed, by many, in a frilly frock and branded a masterstroke.

I am, of course, talking about Mr Platini’s rather bizarre suggestion that the participating members in the Champions’ League could be doubled when the final decision is made in 2014.

Not only would this dilute the quality of teams involved, but that would potentially mean SEVEN English teams being put through to Europe’s elite competition, at the expense of the Europa League, which would be scrapped.

This all comes amid the equally ludicrous reports the Europe’s top teams would form a break-away tournament, completely separate from anything organised by UEFA.

You’ve probably already gathered that I am utterly opposed to the idea, although I can see why the likes of Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham would all be looking on excitedly. It would certainly increase their chances of a glitzy away day in Barcelona or Milan.

But the thing I’ve always struggled with, even in the Champions’ League’s current format, is the fact that it is, essentially, something of a fraud. At least, it certainly is not what it says on the tin.

How can a side who has finished fourth in the Premier League rightfully justify their place amongst Europe’s elite, or as we’re led to believe – champions?

Call me old fashioned, but I think I preferred the format of the competition back in the days it was known as the European Cup. Fourth place wouldn’t have got anywhere near it!

In my books, the winners of the FA Cup, and dare I even say, the Carling Cup are far more deserving of a place in Europe’s top club competition. They’ve won something. They are, indeed, champions.

Now compare that to what Michel Platini has in mind – seventh place being eligible for a position in the Champions’ League.

Well, if someone finishes seventh and gets a place in the Champions’ league ahead of a true champion, then maybe there is something inherently wrong with the game we love.

Team GB Football: What Should Happen Next?

Wise heads: Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy

It is widely accepted that Great Britain’s first foray into Olympic football for more than half a century will be their last for a long time, so it is little wonder that Stuart Pearce’s men have been keen to make a big impact.

But what if this was not the last time a team was assembled from the four countries that make up Great Britain? What if there was a future for Team GB football?

As Pearce himself has said: "We've got a fantastic opportunity to sow a seed and say 'can this happen more often?'”

Following the disappointment of the European Championships with England, it has been refreshing to see this alternative outfit representing us on the international stage.

The greatest delight has been in seeing the likes of Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy, both in their 30’s, finally getting to compete in a major tournament. The travesty is, with Wales they never got the chance.

“It's just great to be involved in this,” Bellamy admitted. “We're representing four countries and it's a proud occasion.”

Both Giggs and Bellamy have been instrumental in guiding the predominately youthful squad to the top of their group at these Olympic Games, with each scoring in the opening two matches.

Their experience and, it must be said, sheer quality has stood out, and as the team steadily begins to gel, there is a real feeling of excitement as to what could be achieved.

Any decision to take this team beyond this one competition is sure to meet a fair amount of opposition, though.

Most notable is the fact that, of Great Britain’s four countries, only two are represented, with English players dominating the team sheet. Scottish and Northern Irish fans would hardly be warm to the idea of replacing their national teams with a bunch of Englishmen.

It’s not hard to see why there are no players from those countries involved, of course.

Voted for by fans, Northern Ireland’s greatest ever XI would struggle to beat the current England side, despite having the likes of George Best and Pat Jennings amongst their ranks, while Scotland suddenly seemed to stop producing top-level international footballers in the 80’s.

And whilst they are represented in the current squad, Welsh footballers are hardly any better. The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor are talented, but you would still struggle to fit them into the current English senior team.

Then there is the small, but quite apparently significant issue of national anthems. We’ve already seen resistance to ‘God Save the Queen’ from the Welsh contingent in the three games that have already been played.

Such a situation surely could not be viable in the long term. There would have to be an alternative, but changes to national anthems supersede the responsibilities of football associations.

Those issues aside, however, what an interesting prospect a permanent Team GB would be.

For non-Olympic tournaments, the under-23 rule would not exist, so the likes of Bellamy and Giggs would be picked on their own merit, rather than to fulfil an ‘obligation’.

Add to that some of the stars of the Premier League who we have not seen at the Olympics – Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, and Steven Gerrard – Gareth Bale, even.

Indeed, if he can get back to full-fitness, how brilliant would it be to see Darren Fletcher playing competitive tournament football?

These are opportunities that, in modern football, such gifted players have had to miss out on.

Perhaps, in years to come, a Great Britain football team would have more chance of winning silverware than England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Just a handful of additional star players would make a huge difference.

A lot of work would need to be done to get such an idea pushed through, and even if it was discussed, it would most likely be on a possibility basis rather than probability.

It’s just a thought. But then again, wouldn’t that have been how the campaign to bring the Olympics to London this year began?

It's Good to See Ravi Bopara Back, But You Cannot Help But Feel Sorry For Young Jonny Bairstow

Johnny Bairstow: Not included in squad

When the England test squad to face South Africa was announced last night, it has to be said there was a certain feeling of mixed emotions.

A big Essex fan myself, I was understandably delighted to see Ravi Bopara earn a recall to the side, with it seeming likely that he will make his first appearance in the five day game for over a year.

But there was also a tinge of sadness. The decision to leave out the talented young Yorkshire wicket-keeper batsman, Jonny Bairstow.

On the face of it, you can see the reasoning. Bairstow was brought into the squad for the series against the West Indies earlier on this summer to much speculation and hype. In his three games, however, he returned a disappointing total of 38 runs.

When Geoffrey Boycott handed him his first cap it was one of those moments that raises the hairs on the back of your neck – for many a hardened cricket fan, it might well have brought a tear to their eye.

The relationship between the young pretender and the England batting legend is a unique one. For much of his childhood, Boycott was a mentor to Bairstow – the closest thing he really had to a father during his teenage years.

A former England cricketer himself, David Bairstow, Jonny's real father, would surely have been a proud man to see his son pull on the England whites, and for his best mate Geoffrey to hand him the sacred cap.

That was not to be however. Bairstow senior took his own life in January 1998.

Suffering from depression, a common condition after retirement from top level cricket, he had tried to end it all weeks before by taking an overdose.

It is a desperately sad story, made all the worse by the fact that, on this occasion, Jonny Bairstow could not quite hold down that place in the side.

Naturally, he will return to county cricket now, and being young, it seems almost certain that his chance will come again. It is now just a case of getting runs on the board, working hard and proving the doubters wrong.

On the other side of the coin, of course, it is a delight to see Ravi Bopara's first class career being given another chance – and I hope this time, he can take it.

Now aged 27, Bopara has only won 12 caps for the England test team, an extraordinarily low number for a player of his undoubted talent.

It was his scintillating form in the recent one-day series against Australia that convinced the selectors that he would be worth another shot.

Indeed, Bopara offers an insurance policy to the selectors too. Not only can he bat, but he is pretty handy with the ball – significant, considering England seem likely stuck with their policy of including only four out-and-out bowlers with Graham Onions likely to only be used as a sub.

It will not be easy for Bopara, though, South Africa are the number two ranked team in the world and will know they have a chance of dislodging England from the top of the pile with a series win.

With Dale Steyn in hot form and perched at the top of the ICC bowler rankings, he will be the one Bopara and his batting colleagues will have to stop – but then again, England were pretty successful at doing that when Mitchell Johnson landed on English soil in a similar situation in 2009.

The series gets under way on Thursday, with the Brit Oval hosting the first test, and it could prove to be the beginning of a big few weeks of international cricket, with seismic consequences.

Adel Taarabt's New Deal Marks a Changing of the Tide at QPR, Big Things May Just Be Around the Corner

Adel Taarabt: "This is my club. I feel at home"

Barely a year has passed since Adel Taarabt was being linked with a big money move to the super-rich French club, Paris St Germain.

Following Queen's Park Rangers' promotion to the Premier League, it seemed almost certain that the Moroccan international would be leaving.

Yet this week he has committed his future to the West London club by signing a new long-term contract.

Naturally, the more cynical football fans will say he has been tempted to stay because of the money; Rangers now backed by Air Asia tycoon, Tony Fernandes.

Indeed, in modern football, it is not something you can rule out all together – and besides, it probably was a factor, even if it was not the main reason for Taarabt staying.

“This is my club and it's given me the opportunity to show what I can do and trusted me,” Taarabt said, in the sort of PR fuelled manner that is sure to get the doubters on his side. “I feel at home here.

“Now I can focus on my future. I want to take the club as far as I can.”

And he's probably not the only one thinking that way at Queen's Park Rangers now. This is a new era – the sort that their fans could not possibly have dreamed of four or five seasons ago.

"These are exciting times, and my goodness, there hardly seems a more worthy group of people than the QPR fans."

For years they looked on as the poor relations of West London football, as just across the tracks Chelsea were glorying in title after title thanks to big Russian money, and Fulham were defying the odds en route to the UEFA Cup final under Roy Hodgson.

How quickly things can change.

Many were quick to criticise Fernandes for the sacking of Neil Warnock last season, with some arguing that his highly public image might even mean he was interfering with team selection and the likes.

But perhaps his decision has been proven justified. Warnock was unable to land another Premier League position, and in Mark Hughes they appointed an extremely gifted manager with an awful lot to give.

QPR managed to avoid relegation at the end of last season, and this summer has been one of rebuilding, with big names arriving at the club.

The arrival of Park Ji-Sung from Manchester United is possibly the most exciting. The South Korean will offer more than just Eastern marketing opportunities – he will add steel to the midfield, as well as that touch of class that saw him make over 130 appearances for Manchester United.

He is joined by the loan arrival of Fabio from Old Trafford, a player who many have tipped to be the best left back in the world in years to come.

In Robert Green, Andy Johnson and Ryan Nelson, they've added real Premier League quality and experience. Yet there is bound to be more to come.

The only worry surrounding this meteoric rise is it has desperate similarities to Portsmouth during those heady days under Harry Redknapp.

That is not to say that QPR will end up in the same situation – the goings on in the board room are much more transparent, and Fernandes seems like the sort of businessman who really has his head screwed on.

Big names are arriving, for sure, but ridiculous transfer fees are not being thrown around recklessly. The R's are taking a far more considered approach to things.

But there must be a certain word of warning.

These are exciting times, and my goodness, there hardly seems a more worthy group of people than the QPR fans. For years they have had to settle for mediocrity, uncertainty and second best.

Now let's wait and see what the next chapter in this fascinating story is.

Chambers Arrival is Great, But Ipswich Need More of the Same

Luke Chambers: finally a Town player

It was in danger of becoming a 'transfer saga', as it is known in football. No, in fact, it probably was that already.

Luke Chambers arrival at Ipswich on Monday could not have come soon enough for Ipswich supporters, with a worrying sense of deja-vu lurking as negotiations continued to grow more and more drawn out.

Paul Jewell insisted that there was nothing to worry about, that the transfer would be concluded in its own good time.

The trouble is, similar sound-bites have come out of Portman Road in the past. After replacing Roy Keane as manager, Jewell very nearly made Charlie Austin his first signing at the club.

Indeed, the former Swindon hot-shot was in Ipswich to complete a medical, fees had been agreed and everything else just appeared to be a formality. Then, out of the blue, he had a change of heart and joined Burnley.

Throughout the Jewell tenure there have been similar stories of near misses in the transfer market, and for the supporters it was growing more an more frustrating.

Fingers were starting to be pointed. Some blamed the manager, many blamed the chief executive, Simon Clegg. An idiotic minority even argued the problem lied with Marcus Evans – the media and hospitality tycoon who had rescued the club from possible administration just a few seasons before.

So it was little wonder, then, that a few were getting restless when former Forest skipper, Chambers was allowed to head back to the East Midlands and consider his options after passing a medical last week.

Nevertheless, Jewell was proven right, and Chambers signed on the dotted line parallel to much excitement from Town fans who were well aware of his ability at this level.

Yet the harsh reality of the matter is that Ipswich remain a fair way short of what will be required to compete at the top end of the Championship next season.

A few more players in the Chambers mould would go down quite nicely, and there would be a great deal of optimism around the place to go with it.

The fact is, in time like this, clubs need to act fast.

Positive, as you would expect from a new signing, Chambers praised the quality of the players he would be linking up with, but even he was quick to admit the squad was still a little thin on the ground.

“You look at the squad we’ve got, it’s not the biggest squad,” he admitted, “but I think some of the players we’ve got here are of [the] top level.”

A goalkeeper now has to be the top priority for Jewell, with the Town boss keeping his cards close to his chest regarding who that might be.

The club have already lost out to Brighton in their attempts to lure former Manchester United keeper, Tomasz Kuzsczak.

As things stand, the Blues only have one registered goalkeeper on their books in Arran Lee-Barrett; a solid, dependable sort, but arguably not the man help Ipswich into the play-offs.

Almost typically, Swiss international goalkeeper, Eldin Jakupović was snatched from Town's grasp by Hull City this week, despite having been on trial.

The fact is, in time like this, clubs need to act fast.

More defensive cover surely has to be another of the areas Jewell will be looking at. With Chambers arrival taking the number of senior central defenders at the club to three, surely at least one more will be required.

For quite a few seasons now there have been concerns over the standard of the defence going into the new campaign, so the sooner that is sorted out, the better.

Questions will undoubtedly be raised as to whether Daryl Murphy will return to the club on a permanent basis next season, too.

The Irishman impressed in a wide midfield role towards the back end of the last campaign, and with the ability to play up front, such a player would certainly be useful.

In fact, the wide areas are among those most in need of strengthening ahead of the new season. Often Town were criticised for a lack of pace last time around, so perhaps that will come into Jewell's thinking.

And finally, a striker. With Jason Scotland and Michael Chopra the two senior players vying for that position, there is definitely a solid foundation to build on there. However, it was a lack of variety in that department last season that often proved to be the team's downfall, so a couple more solid goalscorers certainly would not go amiss.

Overall, though, the squad is coming together. In the second part of last season, things did look much better, which is always encouraging for the upcoming season.

With a strong core to the team now in place it is about building on what the club already have, and making the most of it.

Of course, it remains essential that no more players can be allowed to slip through the net.

Call them negative, but fair play to Spain, they sure know how to win tournaments

Master tactician: del Bosque silenced critics

Winning any football competition involves playing to your strengths and gaining the tactical upper hand over your opponent. Simply being the best, does not always guarantee success.

Spain might just be the best international football team there has ever been, yet Euro 2012 has been the biggest proof yet that even they have to go into their shell somewhat to emerge victorious.

Their tiki-taka style has been much criticised from all corners of the media, as well as by coaches – none bigger than one of passing football's biggest advocates, Arsene Wenger.

“Throughout their years of success, they have tried to keep the same philosophy, which is based around wanting to have the ball,” Wenger said before their cup final meeting with Italy.

“However, they have betrayed their philosophy and turned it into something more negative. Originally they wanted possession in order to attack and win the game; now it seems to be first and foremost a way not to lose.”

Strong words, especially considering Wenger's Arsenal side have often been slated in the press for their over-playing and lack of cutting edge.

But the way Vicente del Bosque has adopted a formation that includes no recognised striker is unique, but hugely frustrating.

Spain played with the kind of verve and precision that was more in alignment with the early years of their footballing dominance, humiliating one of the tournament's most impressive units

Regardless, how can you criticise the Spanish for the way they play? After all, they have just won their third consecutive tournament on the bounce, and frighteningly for everybody else, seem to be quite comfortable when it comes to major finals now.

The last side to win an international tournament other than Spain, ironically was Italy in 2006, but on Sunday night they were comprehensively out-played.

Naturally, the main worry before the game was that Italy with their traditionally conservative style of play, and Spain with their supposedly 'negative' tiki-taka would result in a boring 0-0 draw where neither side dared to cross the halfway line.

In the end, we were all surprised. Spain played with the kind of verve and precision that was more in alignment with the early years of their footballing dominance, humiliating one of the tournament's most impressive units with a 4-0 hammering.

Even so, leading striker, Fernando Torres was forced to watch proceedings from the bench to begin with.

Perhaps then, the 4-6-0 formation is more a means to an end, than a permanent solution. Spain are that good right now, that they can score goals – even with their number nine on the bench.

One argument might be that it is their way of phasing out midfield-master, Xavi over the next few years.

The Barcelona ace is now the wrong side of 30, as is Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso, so blooding the promising midfielders that Spain have coming through, looks to be the master plan.

When Xavi and Alonso eventually do hang up their international boots, the likes of Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Juan Mata will all be capable of seamlessly taking their place – not forgetting Andres Iniesta, now aged 28.

What it does mean, however, is the rest of the footballing world need to take note and beware. Spain are far from being done yet.

In a tournament of shocks, don't be surprised if Balotelli and co win it

Super Mario: Brace helped his side to final

This was Germany's year. A golden age for their national team, with some of the brightest young footballing talent on the planet. Winning Euro 2012 was written in the stars for them, everything else would just be a formality. Or so we thought...

There have been shocks in this year's European Championships – Greece advancing to the knock-out stages at the expense of Russia, the Netherlands imploding spectacularly and Sweden defeating the Group D favourites, France. But how many people genuinely expected Italy to make it to the final?

For starters, they were drawn in one of the toughest looking groups, having Spain and Croatia for company. With an ageing team, many doubted their chances of even making it to the quarter-finals.

Indeed, draws against both the Spanish and the Croats left them on the brink of crashing out early on. It was only last minute drama in the the game between those two sides that meant Italy would advance.

Then came 'plucky' England, as the media constantly refer to them as. After winning Group D against the odds, Roy Hodgson's men suddenly found themselves as favourites against a side who had supposedly struggled for form of late.

In truth, though, only one team deserved to win that game in the end, and there was certainly no sense of injustice when Alessandro Diamanti calmly slotted home the winning penalty.

You didn't have to be an expert to realise that the star man in that game was a certain Andrea Pirlo. Now aged 33, but with hardly a hair out of place, the deep-lying midfielder was coolness personified, controlling the game with almost metronomic rhythm, precision and grace.

So then, you would have thought the ever efficient Germans might notice that stopping him would be the key to their successful progression to the final. Close him down quickly and stick Sami Khedira to him like a limpet.

Strangely, they didn't, so it was little surprise that the Italians made light work of their much hyped opponents. Whether it was a reckless lack of respect or a just a serious error of judgement is open to debate, but the facts are clear, Italy will contest the final – not Germany.

Aside from Pirlo, the Italians were thankful for another master performance on the night from none other than Mario Balotelli. Popularly referred to as Super Mario, both of his goals were taken with the sort of devastating incision that would leave anyone thinking he genuinely had just stepped straight out of a video game.

"...with hardly a hair out of place, the deep-lying midfielder was coolness personified, controlling the game with almost metronomic rhythm, precision and grace..."

Spain will have to take note. For all their tiki-taka football is much heralded, and at times supremely beautiful, it is also painfully negative.

For much of the tournament they have played a bizarre sort of 4-6-0 formation which has seen talented goalscorers like Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente left to watch from the sidelines. It was little wonder that they only reached the final by beating Portugal on penalties after a dire, goalless 120 minutes of football.

Don't get me wrong, the Spanish have played great football over the past four or five years, but with that has come a certain arrogance. Suddenly, they are trying to reinvent the beautiful game; as if they are too good for corners, set-pieces and, God forbid, strikers.

When Italy go head to head with Spain on Sunday, there can only be one winner. For the sake of football, please let it be the Azzuri.

Egotistical, Disrespectful, Conceited Chelsea 'Stars' To Blame For Villas-Boas' Sacking

There is a well known saying that 'respect should be earned, not given in life.' It is utterly absurd. Why someone might think that they can start off on such a negative footing with any new person they meet, seems simply ludicrous.

Respect is something that every person deserves the right to be given from the very start, particularly when you do not know them very well, but with the reserved right to be taken away if abused or taken advantage of.

Yet the horrid notion of new individuals having to 'earn respect' when thrown into the unmerciful lion's den that is Chelsea football club, was plainly exposed at the weekend, after Roman Abramovich finally brought down the guillotine on manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Aged just 34, the Portuguese is just making his first tentative steps into the world of management, despite possessing a hugely impressive CV from his time in charge of Porto.

It was nothing short of disgraceful that Abramovich decided to finally call time on his short-lived reign as Chelsea manager, therefore.

Villas-Boas often talked about the 'project' he was running at Stamford Bridge, bringing in a number of young and exciting players, whilst also promoting members of the youth set-up to his first team squad.

"A radical clearing of the decks is in order, but the question of who has the guts to do it remains unanswered."

In turn, it seemed perfectly acceptable among supporters that some of the more senior players at the club, such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry, would begin to find their first team chances increasingly limited.

In an article today, the former Chelsea defender, Alex claimed that Villas-Boas never showed Frank Lampard the 'respect' he deserved, having spent 10 years at the club.

Of course, it would be impossible to comment on what goes on behind closed doors, but what seems so patently obvious is that actually, the person with the lack of respect in that particular relationship is none other than Frank Lampard.

Just a few weeks ago he publicly announced that he was confused at Villas-Boas' decision not to include him in his starting line-ups, and spoke of how he had grown 'frustrated' with what the manager was doing.

Well unfortunately, Mr Lampard, aged 33, you are no longer the centre of attention at Chelsea, and it is about time you and your colleagues began to show some of that respect you seem to be demanding to your managers.

Just looking at the list of recent Chelsea bosses is like reading a who's who of the best coaches of the last ten years, all with an impressive accumulation of honours between them. Yet not one of them seems to have been shown even the slightest ounce of respect by Messrs Lampard, Drogba and Terry.

You could tell that Villas-Boas, who cost Chelsea £13m in compensation and that again in wages, was overseeing a transitional period at the club that would soon see them rising to the top of English football once more. The disrespectful Roman Abramovich, like all his players, of course, was unable to see that and once again chose the short-term solution.

Whilst such conceited players with their egotistical disregard for managers continue to inhabit Chelsea Football Club, their demise will continue. Of course, the same offenders seem to be responsible for England's lack of success in recent times. A radical clearing of the decks is in order, but the question of who has the guts to do it remains unanswered.

Speaking as a pundit for ITV's coverage of the Birmingham versus Chelsea game last night, Roy Keane commented on the Tom-foolery of players like Lampard during the warm-up.

“It's childish... they've just let their manager down,” Keane said. “They should be focusing on trying to win a game of football here tonight. All that carry on reflects what mood must be in the camp. I keep going on about pride, they've let their manager down badly and yet they're carrying on like that in the warm-up.”

Keane often comes out with some controversial comments, but on this occasion, hardly a truer word could have been said.

It is an embarrassing state of affairs at Chelsea. The players and owner continue to make the same mistakes and quite frankly it seems impossible to see why any good manager would ever want to be associated with that club.

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Newell Expecting Big Season For Notts

Following their hugely impressive County Championship Division One title in 2010, there is no escaping the fact that last season was a huge disappointment for Nottinghamshire.

Director of cricket, Mick Newell is expecting a reaction this time around, and believes Notts will be genuine contenders in the title race.

However, the former opening batsman admits there will be a number of clubs in the same position, and knows it will be a tough ask for his side to get back to where they were two seasons ago.

“I am expecting it to be a very open competition this year,” Newell admitted.

“Cricket in the County Championship is very different from football in the Premier League. There you can only really expect one of three or four teams to win the title, but here you have nine who will really fancy their chances at the start.

“A lot of teams will be genuine contenders.”

Generally accepted as one of the better county sides in England at the moment, the players at Nottinghamshire County Cricket club will be aware of the importance of getting off to a strong start.

Newell said: “We will be hoping to hit the ground running. In recent years, that always seems to have been the case.

“We seem to do well in April and May, but not as good in the latter months of the season, so this year we are hoping to see a bit more consistency in that respect.”

Notts begin their campaign with a home tie with Worcestershire, who themselves endured a tricky season last time out.

Newell does not expect them to be among the title contenders at the end of the season, but knows that like all games in Division One, it will be a tough one for them to get a victory from.

He said: “Worcestershire will be no pushovers – no one in the County Championship really is – but we have to go into the game with a certain degree of confidence.

“They were fighting at the bottom end of the table last season and only just managed to avoid relegation to Division Two.

“It would probably be fair to say they expect to face a similar sort of season this time around, but they will be as keen to get the win as we are. Like us, they will think they can win the title going into day one.

“It will be a tough game, there is no doubt about it.”

Newell says that in preparing for a new season, the club have to be ready to do without some of the bigger name players who are centrally contracted with England.

“Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad are unlikely to play more than one or two first class games for us,” Newell said. “So we just plan for life without them. It’s not too much of a problem for us.

“The main difficulty is with players like Samit Patel and Alex Hales who are sometimes in the England squad, sometimes not.

“Both have been away with the national team for the series against Pakistan, but we have to assume they will be available for selection here, come the start of the season.

“When they get called up, of course it’s always a proud moment, but it certainly makes our life harder as we know we have to make do without one or two of our first team players.”

With most players set to report back for full training on March 5, the final preparations for the season will begin to fall into place.

Some of the squad have been playing abroad during the winter months, in order to get important match practice, while others are set to return from a trip to South Africa where they have been doing some of their early pre-season work.

Later this month, the squad travels to Barbados where they will get the chance to practice in outdoor nets as well as playing friendly games against some of the local teams.

Newell admits that while this does sound glamorous, it is very hard work, and essential for getting the players ready for the new season.

He said: “It will be a fantastic opportunity to get out on the field and play some proper cricket as the season approaches.

“It will be hard work and the only way the players can really get their match practice in. It simply isn't possible to play four-day cricket in March in this country.

“Things like that are essential as it gets the players outdoors and playing cricket. There is only a certain amount they are able to do in the indoor nets.”

Newell says that for the players who have remained in England over the winter months, it has all been about working on their fitness in the gym, while also taking advantage of the training facilities at Loughborough University.

In terms of his own preparation, he admits that things are fairly quiet during the winter, before really getting going in February and March.

Notts will have to make do without bowler Darren Pattinson who will miss the start of the season with a stress fracture in his back. Aside from that, there are no other injury concerns as yet, with Newell warning that it is when the season gets going that they start to set in.

One player who will be available, however, is new signing James Taylor, who was signed from Leicestershire during the off season, on a three-year deal, alongside Michael Lumb and Harry Gurney.

Newell says the club is expecting big things of Taylor, a batsman who has recently captained the England Lions.

He said: “We are hoping for big scores from him.

“James is one of the most highly talented young players and we were keen to get him.

“He has a real desire for batting. He loves batting, he likes playing innings and we need people here who are prepared to graft and battle, which is a bit different to some of our stroke-makers.”

Psycho's England Can Draw Positives From Dutch Defeat

The inevitable nit-picking that follows any England defeat is sure to kick in over the next few days, after Holland ran out 3-2 winners on Wednesday night. In truth, England could well have won the game, and there would still be sections of the media looking to take the edge off things.

However it must be remembered that this game was only a friendly, and while that may sound like an excuse, it is the inescapable reality. If Steven Gerrard and Chris Smalling's injuries do not turn out to be as bad as some may first have feared, it will all have been a productive night for Stuart Pearce and his men.

Indeed, a lot can be taken from the game. First of all, it was clear that Holland meant business, fielding a side that was close to full strength, with a number of truly world class players like Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder all adding a formidable look to their starting line-up.

England, meanwhile, were only able to put out a side that was a mere shadow of the one fans will perhaps have been hoping to see at this summer's European Championships. Key players like Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Darren Bent were all missing – along with a whole host of others.

"... an English manager... and the gutsy midfield determination that comes in the form of Scott Parker."

In such circumstances, then, you could argue there was no better man to lead England on the night than the man who had been in charge of the under-21s team for the last five years. There would be no one better to guide a team filled with youngsters.

As it turned out, they put in the sort of shift that most fans will have been encouraged by. They often showed the sort of composure that belied their years, the sort of pace that England supporters had only seen the briefest of glimpses of in years gone by, and above all, the heart that the team seemed to be so desperately lacking during the Capello era.

Without wanting to draw too many conclusions, you would have to assume that the latter aspect of their performances all boiled down to two key reasons: the leadership of an English manager who had all the experience of playing at the highest level with his country, and the gutsy midfield determination that comes in the form of Scott Parker.

Parker's playing style has been much talked about this season, since his £8 million move from West Ham to Tottenham. While some players can sometimes be seen to hide when given the added pressure of the captain's armband, Parker seemed to thrive – much like his manager Pearce. There hardly seems a better candidate to lead the England team into this summer's tournament.

Another positive that can be taken from the game was the performance of Gary Cahill at the back. People will no doubt remember his goal, taken like a true striker, above all else, but defensively he was as solid as a rock. Chelsea clearly see him as the long-term replacement for John Terry – some might say he is already good enough to keep him out of both club and country teams.

Lastly, but by absolutely no means least, there was the contribution of Daniel Sturridge. Coming on as a replacement for Steven Gerrard in the first half, he appeared to be the first England player of the night really willing to take on the Dutch defence and cause them problems.

Until he was eventually taken off himself, he did that all night long and could almost have had a goal. Of the up-and-coming young England strikers, he certainly looks to be the best. He is a regular in the Chelsea team, and should go on to have a great international career. He was deservedly named the Vauxhall Man of the Match.

So while it is never nice to be on the losing side, there is certainly some solace to be taken in the fact that a hugely depleted England side took a full-strength team of World Cup finalists all the way in this game. There are signs of encouragement, so lets not jump on this young team's back just yet.

A full-time England manager probably will not be appointed until after the European Championships, but with Pearce in charge, you know the team will give it a real go.

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Debts Out of Control, Unhappy Fans and Michel Platini Having His Say - A Day in the Life of Modern Football

The UEFA busy-bodies at Nyon must have been rubbing their hands with delight when news of Aston Villa's £53.9 million annual loss filtered through this week. Yet another English club in a financial position concerning enough for their future in European competition to be cast hastily into doubt.

Their loss comes primarily due to the £24 million they invested in England international striker Darren Bent last year, but then again that seems to be just the sort of thing Michel Platini and his men want to completely rule out of the game.

It is not without just cause, perhaps, the clubs that are spending money they do not have are supposedly gaining an unfair advantage over their more economical opponents, and put that way you cannot help but agree with the principle idea that UEFA have laid out.

But the truth of the matter is that there are a concerning number of loop-holes that only the biggest clubs in Europe are going to be able to exploit. There is no way we are going to suddenly see the smaller spending clubs rising to the very top of the game.

"It is not so much 'selling the soul of the club'... but adapting to the new austerity measures..."

Newcastle United's well publicised re-naming of St James' Park as 'The Sports Direct Arena.com.org.co.uk....' or whatever it is now known as is a case point. There seemed to be a lot of dissent towards the club's owner, Mike Ashley at the time for doing so, but he was left in a catch-22 situation really.

Manchester City did exactly the same thing by naming their stadium after their sponsors in a record deal. It is not so much 'selling the soul of the club', as some supporters so smartly put it, but adapting to the new austerity measures that are coming into place.

Of course it is much more complicated than that, but put simply, football club owners are having to come up with new and innovative ways of ploughing their endless sums of money into the club without upsetting UEFA. By doing it in the form of a sponsorship deal, they are keeping Mr Platini quiet, at least for the time being.

Being an Ipswich Town fan myself, I have noticed the same thing happening lower down the football league pyramid. A few years ago, Town agreed a record shirt sponsorship deal with the Marcus Evans Group – it is no coincidence that Mr Evans just happens to be the owner of the football club too.

Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg is another football club boardroom member to have been vilified by the fans for seemingly not being able to agree contracts with players who the manager has identified as possible signings.

Now, of course, it is all becoming clear. Ipswich Town are refusing to be held to ransom by their rivals simply to bring in a new player. Instead, the club are going to be ready for when the new regulations kick in at the start of the new season.

For the fans, struggling to afford tickets in this day and age, it all looks rather ugly, and it is easy to see why so many are angry when their club seem to be tightening the belt when it comes to their expenditure, yet steadily increasing season ticket prices year on year.

True, it is very ugly indeed. But that is arguably what football has become, with greed overtaking the beautiful simplicity that existed in the game 40 or 50 years ago.

These are tough economic times globally, let alone for football, so for now, maybe it is just best we sit back and let the clubs get on with bringing their finances back into line. Otherwise, one of these days everything is all just going to come crashing down in an apocalyptic mess.

Villas-Boas Is Still The Man For Chelsea

Recent poor form combined with last night's crushing 3-1 defeat to Napoli has left many wondering how much longer Andre Villas-Boas is going to be in a job for. As is always the case at Chelsea, there has been no public backing for the manager from their very silent owner.

Indeed, the night started so well for Villas-Boas and his men – Juan Mata toe-poking a close range volley past the Napoli keeper to give them a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. But by half-time the home side had over-turned the deficit and it was 2-1.

The second half saw relentless pressure from Chelsea, but as was the case with Manchester City merely a few months ago, they were simply unable to break down their opponent's defence and were inevitably hit on the counter attack to give the score a more convincing look.

"Look at Fernando Torres – no one is talking of sacking him with his £50 million price tag."

Many will now be questioning whether Villas-Boas can continue in his job, with talk of him having lost the support of a number of players, but the fact is, it would be simply foolish to sack him now.

The first and, in my opinion, the most abundantly obvious reason not to call time on the Portuguese's time in charge is the quite staggering amount of money Roman Abramovich lavished in trying to bring him to the club. After all his success with Porto, the Russian oligarch shelled out £15 million, no less.

It broke all records for compensation paid for a manager. At that cost, you do not want to be pulling the trigger less than 12 months later. Look at Fernando Torres – no one is talking of sacking him with his £50 million price tag.

Of course, money is not the only reason Villas-Boas should keep his job. Whatever anyone says, he is a very good young manager who undoubtedly has a bright future in the game. He was the man all Chelsea fans wanted in charge, so make the most of having him.

It is true, Chelsea's Champions' League hopes hang in tatters right now, but unlike Arsenal, the situation is still salvageable. Likewise, their current standing of fifth in the Premier League does not make good viewing for fans, but they must accept this is a transitional phase for their side.

Many of the players who were such a big part of their success four or five seasons ago have either left or are now well over 30. The Frank Lampards, the Didier Drogbas, the Ashley Coles are simply not the players who can bring success back to Chelsea.

Villas-Boas' transfer policy, therefore, has been shrewd. He has brought in the likes of Juan Mata, Gary Cahill and Romelu Lukaku in an attempt to add a bit of youth to his ageing side. Furthermore, adopted a more inclusive approach to young players like Daniel Sturridge who were already at the club.

The final point I will make, though, is success takes time – whatever Manchester City and Chelsea fans of old will tell you. Villas-Boas simply cannot walk into Chelsea and undo all the problems that were already there. He is a good manager, but he is not a magician.

Just one look at the team he fielded against Napoli last night proves that this is not 'his team', most of the players were already at the club and the manager cannot be blamed for their mistakes. In 18 months time perhaps we will be able to look at the Chelsea team and say whether Villas-Boas is doing a good job.

Until then, he must absolutely keep his job. It would be a mistake to let him go, and I could really see it coming back to bite Chelsea one day. The club need some solidarity and some structure, the chairman needs to back his manager.

If they do that, maybe, just maybe, success for Chelsea is not too far around the corner.

Slapping, Spitting and Scuffling: The Night British Boxing Will Want To Forget

Described by many as an 'embarrassment to British boxing', the post-bout clash between Dereck Chisora and David Haye has thrust heavyweight boxing back into the limelight for less than savoury reasons.

Reading the morning papers, anyone unfortunate enough to have missed the actual fight could be forgiven for thinking that the match had been between Chisora and Haye, with what should have been the story of the night becoming somewhat overshadowed.

Chisora was actually in Germany to fight the Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko for the WBC Heavyweight championship, and if truth be told, he put up a brave fight that should have endeared him not only to British boxing fans, but the world.

He went down fighting, and despite Chisora's defeat it was clear that the 40-year-old Klitschko knew he had been in a proper fight. So often he and his brother appear to demolish their opponents with a frightening level of ease. This was certainly not the case in this one.

But if sportsmanship and humility are two of the most admired traits in British sportsmen and women, the Zimbabwe-born 28-year-old displayed neither of them.

"Considering this is now Chisora's third defeat on the bounce... it seems only right that he must now join the queue."

Barely a minute after the final bell had sounded, Chisora was already goading his opponent and brother Wladimir, squaring up to them and calling for a rematch.

A rematch would certainly be a spectacle, but considering this is now Chisora's third defeat on the bounce, combined with the fact that Vitali Klitschko was the clear and deserved winner of the fight, it seems only right that he must now join the queue.

Having already slapped Vitali at the weigh-in, Chisora then proceeded to spit a mouthful of water into Wladimir's face just moments before the fight was to begin.

At the post-fight press conference he brought further shame upon himself by getting involved in that tussle with David Haye.

Some will argue that this raises the profile of British heavyweight boxing, and the sensible money would surely now have to go on the summer's big fight being between Chisora and Haye.

If this were to come to fruition, promoters would be sure to have no problem selling tickets, while Sky TV would be desperate to book it for one of their pay-per-view channels.

It would be a spectacle that few will want to miss, and quite possibly the most hyped all British heavyweight fight since the 'Battle of Britain' between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno back in 1993.

With both fighters renowned for their pre-fight publicity stunts, there would no doubt be plenty of drama and controversy leading up to it.

For now though, the inquest into how damaging Chisora's recent antics have been for the reputation of British boxing will surely rumble on for weeks to come.

Can Ipswich Still Make The Play-Offs?

This week marked a year since Town's famous 6-0 hammering of Doncaster Rovers in the Championship last season, when Connor Wickham notched an impressive hat-trick. The win moved Ipswich on to 41 points from their first 30 games, igniting hopes of a late push for the play-offs.

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Ultimately, it was not to be. From the remaining 16 games, Town only managed to put a further 20 points on the board, finishing in a disappointing 13^th place.

So it was interesting for me to read comments from Michael Chopra this week, suggesting that a late push for the play-offs would not be entirely out of the equation for Ipswich. Being the optimist I am, I was inevitably lured in by the notion and have already started dreaming.

But what would it require for us to finish in the top six this campaign? Well, one of the best ways to work it out is to look at what it has taken in the past for a team to finish sixth.

Nottingham Forest occupied the final play-off position last season with a total of 75 points – higher than it has been in a number of previous seasons.

Reaching that points total would be a tough task as it would require Ipswich (currently sitting on 37 points) to take no less than 38 points from the remaining 16 games. That is at a rate of almost 2.4 points per game – significantly better than the title winning form of Queens Park Rangers last season.

In real terms, however, that would basically require Ipswich to win almost thirteen of their remaining games in a fixture list that still includes Cardiff, Southampton, Hull, Burnley and Middlesbrough, as well as many other tough games. Essentially, it would be a fool who bet on Ipswich reaching 75 points.

Maybe then, we should turn to the table this season and see if there is any chance of the bar being lowered somewhat.

It is Reading who currently occupy sixth place in the Championship on 51 points from their 30 games. That is at a rate of exactly 1.7 points per game. In turn, that points to them finishing on approximately 78 points if they were to continue at their current rate of point accumulation. Definitely out of the question for Ipswich, as it would require 14 wins from the remaining 16 to finish above them.

Finally then, we should look at what other recent seasons have required. In 2009-10, Swansea took sixth place with just 70 points – to obtain that, Town would need 11 wins from 16.

In 2008-09, Preston finished on 74 – just over 12 from 16 for Ipswich, then. In 2007-08, Watford, like Swansea two years ago, also achieved 70 points; while in 2006-07, Southampton managed the 75 that Forest got last year.

Therefore, it would seem, Ipswich would, at the absolute minimum, have to win between 10 and 12 of the 16 games that remain in the Championship this season.

Do I honestly believe that is attainable? Lets just say we are now building for next season.