Super Subs, Paddy Power, and Bring on the Premiership!

I don't know, first of all we have no footy for ages, then we get an embarrassment of riches all at once, with the Football League kicking off at the weekend, the Carling Cup starting on Tuesday and then International matches last night!

Talking of embarrassments though……..Scotland…….ahahahahaahahahahah…….sorry I meant England managed to avoid one against the Dutch last night, sure it is still technically pre season for these guys and you can’t expect them to be on top form, but I think the the first half performances by some of our supposed best players would have induced even more worry lines into Capello’s already Gordon Ramsey-esque forehead. I reckon by the time we get to the World Cup in 2010 it will be so full of furrows that you could grate cheese on it.

But the Italian pulled it out the bag at half time, after two frankly embarrassing mistakes by Ferdinand and Barry (who lets be honest are normally two of the most reliable performers in the side) gifted the Netherlands a 2-0 advantage, by bringing on his army of super subs!

To be fair, I have often watched Milner and Defoe flatter to deceive, but not last night, as they gave us the much needed passion and pace to generate that we had been lacking, and am I the only who thought Carlton Cole actually looked pretty damn good?? Maybe working under Zola at West Ham has brought out the best in this perennial underachiever?

It was great to see England fight back, and to be fair there would have been no complaints from the Dutch if we had won it, but it was not meant to be, still it does make it interesting now in the race for 2010 spots in the squad, and you can bet Capello will be reiterating that no one's place is secure in the coming weeks, and I personally think competition for places is what this team really needs.

Anyway, job done, kind of, and lets now turn our attention to the Premier League which returns on Saturday, and I am going to be getting the low down and insider knowledge from one of the best in the business on Saturday in my Offside show as Paddy Power will be in chatting about everything from who will lift the title, to who will end up with the Golden Boot!

Don’t miss it, 2-6pm on Kerrang Radio this Saturday!

A big talking point today is that Women’s boxing is being allowed into the Olympics, and while I can see every argument against the sport (I used to know my brother had had a boxing match when we were younger because the next day the bathroom would be covered in blood!), I do think that, as with any sports, if the competitors are fully aware of the risks, and are happy to continue, then that should be up to them.

I also don’t see any reason why sexism should come into sport, if someone wants to play a sport, no matter what colour, creed, or sex, they should be allowed too, although I am thinking of banning my girlfriend from playing darts, simply because she is getting a bit good and is starting to beat me on a regular basis……even when I cheat and make up increasingly more desperate and random rules like, you have to hit the light switch to win……….in the bedroom.

It would be great to see rugby back in there as well, which it looks like will happen for 2016, just a shame that its not going to be included in time for 2012!

The saddest news this week I feel is that we will not be able to witness the return of Michael Schumacher to Formula 1 because of a neck injury, I don’t think there was anyone out there who wasn’t looking forward to seeing Schumey lock horns with Jensen, Webber et al again, and I was really pumped about seeing him go up against Hamilton, whom he has never raced, but you have to realise that if there was any chance he could get in that Ferrari, I think he would, so his injuries must have been pretty bad!

On a personal note I have managed to come through the dark times of my neck injury (6 weeks rest, 4 weeks rehab) and I have started back in the gym as of this week, trying to get some of the power and fitness (Ahem……I did used to have some honest!) back and hopefully even managing to get out and do some training again with the Birmingham Bee’s before they kick of their new season in Rugby’s all new Second Tier, the Championship.

Well part of me hopes that, the other part quite enjoyed sitting on my arse eating cakes watching other people go through the motions!

Until next time my friends!