Top Ten: Players Outside the Premiership

English football is littered with some of the best players in the world, and believe it or not, some of them don’t reside inside the country's top league, The Premiership.

There is a huge strength in the lower leagues, even as far as League two, there are players whose abilities would certainly be just as well-equipped at a higher level.

This is why I have accumulated the top ten players from outside the untouchable Premiership.

All three divisions have standout players. I’ve done my best to stay away from players who have built their reputations in the Premiership and now play lower down, like Lee Carsley or Graham Kavanagh, but of course, there are some you can't ignore.

With every player that gets in this list, there are of course players who don’t and from the preliminary list of over 20 players I came up with, I very hastily cut it down to just ten.

Feel free to suggest your own players; more likely than not I would have considered them in the first place. Enjoy.


10. Scott Davies (Aldershot Town, On loan from Reading)

Seeing players in the flesh is the ultimate way to judge a player, and to see Scott Davies in action really is a sight.

The midfielder guided his side, Aldershot Town, to the Football League last season with 11 goals, but in League two he already has eight at the halfway stage.

He is the driving force behind the Shot's excellent unbeaten home form and has one hell of a strike on him.

He showed his prowess from long distance against Bradford in his first game as a football league player with a stunning strike to win the game for his side.

Davies is sure to be moving on from Reading soon to a club in League one who can afford the asking price for this promising midfielder.


9. Kieron Westwood (Coventry City)

Seeing players in the flesh is the ultimate way to judge a player, and to see Scott Davies in action really is a sight.

The midfielder guided his side, Aldershot Town, to the Football League last season with 11 goals, but in League two he already has eight at the halfway stage.

He is the driving force behind the Shot's excellent unbeaten home form and has one hell of a strike on him.

He showed his prowess from long distance against Bradford in his first game as a football league player with a stunning strike to win the game for his side.

Davies is sure to be moving on from Reading soon to a club in League one who can afford the asking price for this promising midfielder.


8. Steve Foster (Barnsley)

Where on earth would Barnsley be without this man?

Their Cup run last season summed-up what Foster is all about and he helped them along the way with two crucial goals, one of them coming in-front of the Kop.

After a great first season for the club ,he has kept his form going for the Yorkshire side. He's yet to take a move up the table either with his team or personally, and January could see him move on just 15 months after signing for the club.

After the departure of Brian Howard, Foster was rewarded with the captaincy, but with the side having not really improved this season and without the added bonus of a Cup run, a move could be tempting.

Either way, he is a brilliant defender who holds together a shaky Barnsley side.


7. Andy Bishop (Bury)

Sometimes in leagues one and two we see teams who have a talisman who everything good goes through. Andy Bishop is one of these.

His goals alone are enough to keep Bury going this season, even enough to see them enter the play-off picture.

A career average of a goal nearly every other game is amazing at any level, but Bishop has been doing it his entire career.

Nine goals have come this season as he endured a difficult start, but that soon ended with a string of goals to end the year in brilliant form.

Many teams have looked at Bishop and many believe his talent deserves better than league two, but could Bury realize his own ambition and get promoted?


6. Matty Fryatt (Leicester City)

I actually feel sorry for league one sides when they have to play against this lad; he just oozes class.

With 22 goals in 24 games this season, he has the best goal per game average of any player in the football league, and he's finding it far too easy this season, and you can bet there will be more.

He's been breaking records left, right, and center this season, scoring two hat-tricks in consecutive games and scoring 20 goals before Christmas. The first time the feats had been achieved in 83 and 42 years respectively.

Like the club he plays for, they are at least a league below where they should be and although they are on course for promotion, you shouldn't write off Fryatt going on towards the Premiership if the Foxes can't match his ambition and talent.

There's nothing this lad hasn't got, and soon enough England's elite will find out.


5. Rickie Lambert (Bristol Rovers)

As we enter the top five, we get to the players who would be well at home in the Premiership and we start with this sparkling forward from Bristol Rovers.

Many Rovers fans would freely admit that Richie Lambert helps carry their team and with the goal haul he produces, you can see why.

Just the 18 goals for him this season has contributed nearly half of all their league goals.

He's set to better his total of last season and is finally gaining the credit from higher leagues with Premiership clubs set to make a move for the player in January.

Rovers still flatter to deceive in the league, however, as they lie in 16th...not where Lambert would like to be.

If given the choice, he would surely move on, and I'm sure as many Rovers fans do believe, that his talent deserves better.


4. James McFadden (Birmingham City)

I almost wanted to put the Scot higher on this list, but the quality as we go up is so high even this international can't get in the top three.

He attempted to further his career by joining Birmingham last season. But he went down with the midlands club, to the shock of many including myself.

This season hasn't been his best I think many Birmingham fans would admit, and he has only shown flashes of his talent. Birmingham's stuttering second quarter has coincided with his disappointing form.

Over dead-balls he is potent, and he still proves a threat for the Scottish national team. Obviously, his Premiership pedigree makes him hot property in the Championship, and a return to form will reveal it all before us.


3. Ferrie Bodde (Swansea City)

This man has only played just over 50 games in English football and is already considered one of the hottest properties in the Championship.

A cruel injury is keeping the star out at the moment, but Bodde has made such an impact clubs will be queuing to take the player away from the Liberty Stadium.

He has a traction engine behind his right foot and has a few contenders for goal of the season in the Championship.

But his goals aren't the only thing in the player's artillery, as be boasts a high assist rate, and can act as a box-to-box midfielder.

His reputation when he came to England he was billed as the "Dutch Roy Keane."

Big boots to fill, but the way this man is going, he's on track to make a great impact.

With the strong foundations that Swansea have, they could make a strong break for the Premiership within 2-3 years, so staying with the Welsh club could be profitable for the talented player.

But could the club afford to turn down a £3 million plus offer?


2. Kevin Doyle (Reading)

THE potent finisher in the Championship. If there are goals about, Doyle isn't far behind, and he has been invaluable to the cause this season.

After turning down a reported move to Aston Villa, Doyle has got on with his business very quietly.

After a number of injury problems last season, it was no coincidence that Reading were relegated, but in the new season, 16 goals have come with defenses reeling from the sight of the Irish striker.

Keeping the front-man has proven crucial with a hat-trick against Crystal Palace along with a excellent goal at Birmingham a week ago proving his huge ability.

He's a Premiership striker, but if he doesn't gain promotion with the Royals this season, the new contract he's signed will count for nothing, no matter the asking price.


1. Michael Kightly (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

For me this guy has everything: pace, guile, vision, and a top finish...all the attributes of a class winger.

Kightly has all of these and the maturity far beyond his 22 years. If anyone is ready for the Premiership, it's this man, and to know where it all started would surprise to many even more.

He was a £20,000 move from Grays Athletic, but an injury in his first season meant his impact wasn't as he would like.

But this season, he's excelled, and been one of the shining lights in an All-Star Wolves side. He provides goals, seven of which this season but with 12 assists, it's obvious where his main influence lies.

He ticks all the boxes as a winger and sums up Wolves' attacking style.

Kightly deserves to go all the way with Wolves, but with the unpredictable play-offs as a possible finish for Kightly, a move to the Premiership might have to be his path, and in terms of bidders, they will be jostling for position.

The Leeds time bomb explodes on Gary McAllister

Gary McAllister has been sacked by Leeds United after 11 months in charge at Elland Road.

McAllister's team had lost there last five matches, including Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons, the Scot's final match in charge.

The current bad run of form had seen the former Premiership club slip to ninth in League one, a sequence that has forced the hand of the Leeds board.

"The decision was made to ensure that the new manager has the maximum number of games possible to move the club up the table,"

When McAllister took charge of the club, he was entrusted with guiding the club back into the Championship.

They had recovered well under Dennis Wise from the deduction of 15-points at the start of the season, and promotion was a real possibility.

And the former Coventry manager came very close, loosing out to Doncaster Rovers 1-0 in the play-off final at Wembley.

However, the team came into the new season with renewed vigor and started challenging for promotion, which given the resources available to the manager was all but guaranteed, or so everyone thought.

I was one of those people who had the Elland Road club nailed on for promotion, I even quote myself in preseason saying, "Anything less than promotion will be put down as a failure".

And with the squad available, its been a truly awful season for the Yorkshire club, but frustratingly enough the quality is there for all to see

Luciano Bechio has had a good start to the season, but without Jermaine Beckford alongside him he looks slightly out of place.

Beckford's injury could well have been the beginning of the end for McAllister, with the clubs top scorer being ruled out for a month after defeat at Northampton Town in late November.

The likes of Jonny Howson (I had to mention him didn't I?) and Robert Snodgrass have impressed for the side, but grinding out results hasn't been the main trait of this Leeds team.

The worry now is that some of the more talented players at the club might leave because of the teams underachievement.

Beckford and Fabian Delph could both one day preside in the countries top leagues and it could be where they will venture to in the January window.

Delph in particular has been courted by many Premiership clubs and is sure to be on many teams new years shopping list.

As for McAllister, well it was the right time to go.

There's just enough time in the season for the new man to turn the fortunes of the team around.

Getting the right man in is crucial though, and Leeds have said they want the new man in by the new year so they can have a full month in which the manager can do his January shopping.

There are some obvious names out there, but I'm going to steer you towards three of my favourites for the job.

The first is Alan Curbishley, the former Charlton manager was badly treated at West Ham and was forced out earlier this year, Leeds are a big enough club to attract him and he would be perfect for them as his commitment is unrivaled.

The second is Paul Ince. Only recently sacked by Blackburn, Ince will be keen to return to management as soon as possible and Leeds could be the perfect job for him.

In my opinion, he wrongly turned down the managers job at promotion rivals Leicester City, a move that would have been perfect for him to continue his managerial apprenticeship up the leagues.

The third candidate is Gustavo Poyet, who was at the club last season until he left the assistant managers role and went to at the time Juande Ramos' Tottenham Hotspur.

Obviously, things have changed since then, and Poyet is out of a job.

He's always struck me as a quality coach and having been in League one before with Swindon Town under Dennis Wise again he has the knowledge and the experience, I think it would be a match made in heaven and a good move for both parties.

But can Leeds afford to make the same gamble many have on untried managers in the past 18 months, with the distinct possibility of failure? I'm not sure they can.

Anyway that's my two pennies worth, feel free to speculate on who you think should succeed McAllister, but whoever does step into the hot seat has a huge job on their hands taking one of Britain's biggest clubs back towards where they belong.

Crouch Hiding to Much for Portsmouth

Portsmouth lost their third home league game of the season as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United at Fratton Park.

Goals by Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Danny Gutherie gave Newcastle their first away win of the season in a stunning second half display.

For most of the match however Portsmouth looked short of ideas up front and with just one win from their last seven it's hard to see where the next win is coming from.

With 16 attempts on goal the stats show that Pompey had enough chances to take all three points, but in the game itself it was obvious to see that clear cut opportunities were few and far between.

Earlier in the season it was clear creativity was an issue, but now Nico Kranjcar is back and the resurgence of Sean Davis in midfield meant Pompey had some supply for their talented front line.

It wasn't long before both Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe were banging in the goals to push Portsmouth up towards the top half after a disappointing start to the season.

Now I'm not writing to debate the prowess of the two strikers, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on as both have seven league goals to add to their two European efforts.

However this piece stays away from the stats and more on performance and value for money, and concentrates fully on the former Liverpool forward.

His performance this afternoon against Newcastle was reminiscent of a hungry dog, desperately looking for scrap to feed upon.

And in terms of chances for the 6 ft 7 inch striker they hardly went begging, I'll say that much but his movement on the ball left much to be desired.

We hear plenty of times the phase 'good on the floor for a big man' in the same sentence as Crouch, but is this really true or are we being nice to the lanky striker.

On one occasion this afternoon he took around five minutes to take the ball down and when he did his sprayed pass towards Arnold Mvuemba sailed past the Frenchmen and out of play.

All afternoon in-fact he looked awkward as Portsmouth's main threat up-front, with the home side's occasional long-ball game not suiting Crouch.

Crouch moved to the south-coast for 9 million pounds which could rise to 11 million based on his future efforts, and for me the already cash-strapped Pompey have payed well over the odds already.

While everyone is having a go (and rightly so) at Robbie Keane and his performances at new club Liverpool, Crouch has gone unnoticed in his mediocre effort.

He's gone well down in the pecking order for Fabio Capello's England, with Capello having no regard for Crouch no-matter who is on the injury list for the national team.

And for me his performances are having a negative effect on the team.

In last resorts Crouch is an easy target, but his height is actually pulling the wool over your eyes as his heading ability has failed to come on since his last tenure at Portsmouth.

I actually prefer Portsmouth with five men in their midfield.

They look more solid as a team, because god they need to give their defense as much help as possible, and Defoe gives them a credible outlet and a potent finish when given the chance.

When they lined up in a 4-4-2 formation against Newcastle this afternoon they were simply outdone by the Magpies simple but hard working midfield four.

The likes of Fulham and Hull City have kept Pompey's midfield quiet this season, and for what was once quiet a force in the league looks a bit lost now that Crouch has been introduced.

For injuries Crouch is a necessity, and don't get me wrong he knows where the net is as long as it's no more than twelve yards away.

But are they loosing the invincibility they had especially on the road where they held the best away record outside the top four.

Now they are out of Europe they can concentrate on the league where to be fair they have started well, but under Tony Adams they only have two leagues wins to their name as Redknapp's resilience starts to wear off.

Now we can see Wycombe's true colours

Aldershot Town ended Wycombe Wanderers 18-match unbeaten run as they beat the League 2 leaders 3-2 at the Recreation Ground.

Two goals from Kirk Hudson and Daniel Hylton's strike ensured the victory while Peter Taylor's men replied through Angelo Balenta and a late Matty Phillips effort.

It's Wycombe's first league defeat of the season and adds to a disappointing week for the Buckinghamshire men as they were on the end of an FA Cup giant-killing last weekend after being knocked out by Eastwood Town of the Unibond League.

These two defeats have shown that this Wycombe side aren't invicible as they now try to re-vive there promotion push, but how much will these two defeats really affect Peter Taylor's side?

Well it's important to consider there opponents yesterday, Aldershot Town. The newly promoted side were protecting there own unbeaten home record, so they are no-slouches in League Two.

Looking at the squad assembled from last season it's not bad either, and you can't argue with the form they have shown.

Loosing Sergio Torres to Peterborough was just a small blip during the summer as they recruited pacey Chris Zebroski from Millwall, a swap that has paid off with Zebroski already scoring six league goals.

Wycombe have already scored half as many goals as they did in the entire of last season in their first 19 league games, with 11 different scorers throughout the team.

However it's there defence that has been the shining light, and with just eleven league goals conceded, you can see why yesterday's three goal salvo would have shocked the away side.

Craig Woodman and Mike Williamson have been awesome at the back, and the focal point of Wycombe's amazing start to the season.

However even with this talented set of players it takes a discipline manager to bring it all together, and in Peter Taylor Wanderers certainly have that.

Taylor's 22 year managerial career has been littered with success and failure along the way but it's certainly the lower leagues that he seem best at home.

His first lower league success came with Brighton and Hove Albion as he won promotion from the old Division Two.

He went on to kick start Hull City's foray up the football league pyramid and their transition into the side they are today.

They had just moved into the current home at the KC Stadium and within a year of taking over Taylor won them promotion into what was then Division 2.

The following season Taylor took them into Division One after finishing second in 2004/05 season.

However Hull were a victim of their own success as Taylor was recruited by Crystal Palace after taking Hull to 18th in the Championship.

Short stays at Palace and then non-league Stevenage Borough followed while taking the England managers job for one game in 2001 against Italy.

Taylor has the common theme of spending plenty of money with littered success, and Wycombe hope that he can step off where Paul Lambert left off after last seasons top half finish.

The potential for this sort of run was there, it has just taken a quality name like Taylor to take them to the next level and what seems like now possible promotion.

This first defeat will let us all know what this side are about, yes but they have all the foundations to go on another 18-game run and consolidate there six point lead over their promotion rivals.

With a talented squad at his disposal Taylor looks odds on to add to his four promotions and continue his lower league legacy.

Top Ten: Football Derbys

In recent week's we've had a number of footballing derbys that have seen red-cards, goals and as always plenty of controversy. However it begs the question, which one is the best? Do the media realy hype up some derby's just because it involves a big team? Well definitely yes. Derbys are about tradition and the supporters of both sides, not about whether big teams are involved, although in most of these cases they can collide. I've had a go at making a list, feel free to include your own version:



10. Sunderland vs. Newcastle United: Better known as the Tyne-Wear derby between these two fierce North East Clubs. The rivalry dates back to the Industrial Revolution where both cities clashed over many industrial fields including mining. In recent years the two had been separated by constant relegation on Sunderland's part. The most famous meeting in the Premiership was in 1999 when Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips goals helped Sunderland towards a 2-1 win at St James' Park. Newcastle were at the time managed by Ruud Guilit who dropped Alan Shearer for the game, which turned out to be his final game in charge, as he resigned soon afterwards.

9. Millwall vs. West Ham United: This rivalry is made even more special due to the infrequent meeting between to the two sides. The two are based in North West London and the rivalry between the two runs deep into the fans and beyond. The rivalry originates from two rival shipyards across The Thames, but since Millwall have moved slightly north. Even without constant interaction on the pitch this derby is as fresh as ever, and it's sure to reignite the next time they meet.

8. Roma vs. Lazio: Known as the most competitive derby in Italy (although there is something to be said for the Milan version) between two great sides both from the countries capital city. The two sides come from different political backgrounds with Roma swaying towards the left while Roma lead to the right, and this difference of opinion runs deep in the fans. The derby in 2004 will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons, as rioting broke out shortly after half time. Francesco Totti then received death threats during the game which resulted in the game being called off. Since the derby has calmed down as both teams head towards the top of Serie A.

7. Cardiff City vs. Swansea City: The only two Welsh teams currently in the football league have only recently rekindled there rivalry after nine years apart but already both sides have left off from where they finished in 1999. Both are said to have 'pure hatred' for each other and in the intimating years between matches have goaded each other up until now as the two continue their rivalry. The infamous t-shirt worn by former Swansea layer Lee Trundle did nothing to diffuse the rivalry, as he sported an image of a Swansea fan urinating onto a Cardiff shirt. We've seen already the violence between both sets of fans in their opening two matches of the season with the first being in the Carling Cup. And with the final game to be played at Ninian Park it's only just begun between these two welsh sides.

6. Hibernian vs. Hearts: For years The Edinburgh derby has been overshadowed by the Old Firm version. Again religious influence takes a huge part in the rivalry, as Hibernain originate from the Roman Catholic side and Hearts the Protestant side. In meetings between the two sides Hearts hold a huge upper hand as they have 127 wins with Hibs lagging behind with just 82. Plans in 1990 to merge the two teams to take on the Old Firm were met with anguish from the Hibs side after it was suggested by the then Hearts Chairman Wallace Mercer. Both sets of fans for once agreed on something and they both kept there identity. However even after the death of Mercer Hibs fans hold resentment for the suggestion and to this day protest at Hearts game about the proposal, even interrupting a minute of silence in Mercer's name to show there resentment.

5. AC Milan vs. Inter Milan: Apart from Juventus these two are the most successful sides in Italian and European Football, and especially Milan who have won the Champions League twice in this decade alone. The two clubs split in the early 1900's and since have formed different backgrounds due to the nature of the clubs owners former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Milan and businessman Massimo Moratti of Inter. The most famous meeting of the two teams is one of the darkest days in European Football and one that Inter and especially Milan Goalkeeper Dida will want to forget in a hurry. Goalkeeper Dida was struck by a number of objects including a Flare as Inter fans showered the pitch in protest to there teams exit from the European Cup, in which they trailed Milan 3-0 on aggregate. After an interlude of over 30 minutes referee Marcus Merk abandoned the game giving Milan a 3-0 win in the match. This example alone shows how the tradition of these two clubs runs deep into Italian blood.

4. Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray: The biggest two teams in Turkish history share 34 titles between them, but this derby runs deeper than just title commitments. The two are split by class with the working class siding with Galatasaray and the aristocracy going with Fenebahce. However its more down to the location of the two cities that forms the basis of the rivalry. Galatasaray is located on the European side of Turkey while Fenerbahce is on the Asian side, the obvious difference in supporters creates plenty of hostility between the two. The meeting between the two are usually quiet one sided with one team dominating and winning by a comfortable margin. In the head to heads the more successful is Fenebahce but in terms of Turkish domestic success Galatasaray are the main team. There UEFA Cup win in 2000 still acts as a boasting point, even with their inferior infrastructure.

3. Glasgow Celtic vs Glasgow Rangers: The biggest rivalry in Britain and in terms of Scottish rivalry there is only one. The two most dominating teams of any league in the world meet four times a season, the majority winner is almost guaranteed to take home the Title that season. The closeness between these two in previous title races means that a win over the other can be domestic success is almost certain. The two teams stand for religion, politics and social class and create one of the most intense rivalries ever known. Rangers are Protestant club while Celtic are considered a Catholic club and both even attempt to keep the traditions today. The rivalry is so close that only five players have ever moved between these two teams. The Old Firm holds the record for the most aggregate arrests during any derby and is best known for the on pitch fight during a meeting in 1980 at Hampden Park in which 9,000 people were involved. The cauldron of atmosphere that Ibrox or Celtic Park creates is half of the experience and these two have there fair share of controversy over its 120 year history.

2. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: It's the Scottish version of the Old Firm and it's just if not more intence. These are two of most influencial clubs in the world and have boasted some of the greatest players ever to play. Di Stefano, Van Bastan, Zidane, Ronaldo. Just to name a few to have graced this derby of derbys. Madrid are seen as the dominat force though with a huge infrustructure and on the pitch a huge 31 Spainish title wins and 9 European Cup wins the most recent being in 2002. They are seen as the greatest club team in the world, a status that Barcelona detest. They've lived in Real's shadow for some years now, and even there back-to-back title win did nothing to change the form book as Real came back to win the title last season. If your looking for a classic meeting between to the two look no furthur than 2007 where Linoel Messi scored a hatrick includeing a last minute equalizer to salvage a 3-3 draw. One of the great matches ever seen, and there are sure to be more to come.

1. Boca Juniors vs Riva Plate: Listed at the top of the 50 sporting things to do before you die is see this match and when you talk about derbys this is the king. Over 70% of Argentina's population support one of these two sides. So already you can see the importance this fixture has on the country. The passion of the fans is unrivaled across the world, and where in Milan there doesn't seem to be much self control, in Argentina it's spectacular as well as maintained, well some of the time. Violence is known to have broken out in nearly every single encounter either against each other, or joining forces against the police. The rivalry is just as close as well. Boca have the slight edge with 116 wins to Riva's 104 but they have been inseparable throughout history. And listen to this Premiership fans to get into the biggest game in Argentina is just £2. Eat your heart out Manchester United these guys no how it's done. It's football at it's most raw and fluent. It's how it should be played.

Johnson has more work that first thought

Martin Johnson's England come off the back of three successive defeats as the Autumn Internationals came to a disappointing close.

Defeats to Australia, World Champions South Africa and New Zealand have left Johnson will a real problem ahead of next years Six Nations Championship.

The manner of the defeats will be hard to take for the new manager as they have been thoroughly outplayed from start to finish.

The side's indiscipline is most shocking stat of all as they have seen penalty after penalty conceded, as they slip to fifth in the World rankings.

Now after only four games, it's unfair to judge Johnson just on these performances.

We know full well how difficult it can be to build a side, but lots of work has to be done after Christmas to ensure England aren't overwhelmed when they take on the home nations in Feburary.

They are in danger of finishing with the wooden spoon if there form doesn't improve and especially if they don't improve their discipline.

The players are certainly there. Nick Easter, Toby Flood and Paul Sackey are all fine players for their club, but transferring the form internationally has been a problem.

Danny Cipriani is still looking for fully fitness, but he in-particular has been poor and he will do well to be selected in Johnson's squad for the Six Nations.

But more importantly Johnson has learn't that this job is no walk in the park, and that serous work has to be put in before he can start reaping any sort of reward.

Dons defying Promotion odds

After a superb double winning season under Paul Ince, Milton Keynes Dons had high hopes for the new season. Ince ensured promotion for the club from League 2, and added the Football league Trophy to cap off a memorable season.

With a huge financial backing, Dons had the makings of a Championship club with all the foundations to ensure success for the foreseeable future.

However it didn't run to plan. Ince jumped ship to Blackburn Rovers after turning down an offer from Leicester City. Winger Lloyd Dyer didn't turn down the offer though as he joined the former Premiership club. Captain and League 2 player of the year Keith Andrews followed Ince to Blackburn to cap off the exodus at Stadium MK.

After losing three such important figures especially the inspirational manager, the high hopes after the end of last season where extinguished immediately with focus more on mid-table stability than a promotion bid.

However, against all the odds they have formed into a side destined for even more success. Under the stewardship of the un-fancied Roberto Di Matteo, Dons have propelled themselves to second in League 1.

Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, even after losing the staff that they did, they were hardly in dire straits, as I said before the foundations were already in place for success, but with it being triggered by this inexperienced Italian is even more unexpected.

Why this brilliant start? Well it's difficult to put a handle on it. Dons were known for their awesome away form before the start of the League season and that has continued into this one.

The honeymoon period is certainly over but yet the wins keep coming. Wins at Colchester United, Hartlepool United and most recently at Walsall have pushed them up the table keeping pace with the heavyweights of Leicester City and Leeds United.

And it doesn't seem like halting anytime soon. Bringing in wingers Jason Puncheon and Luke Chadwick has bolstered there attacking force, with Miguel Angel Llera holding the back four together as they come under pressure from some of the big hitters in the League.

This season (as I've written in a previous blog) has plenty of front-runners for promotion, so their is no margin for error for Dons for any of the clubs involved.

It's left to be seen whether Dons will have the endurance to last the whole season, but if the opening third of the season is anything to go by don't be surprised to see them hovering around the play-off places in May.

England Show Maturity Beyond Their Years

England showed that they can perform on the big stage without their star players with an impressive 2-1 win over Germany in Berlin.

The likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard sat out the game through injury, as England's second string outplayed a quiet frankly awful German side.

Mathew Upson opened the scoring for England after a dreadful goalkeeping error from Rene Adler, allowed the West Ham defender to poke the ball into an empty net.

However England repaid the favour with an hour gone, as substitute goalkeeper Scott Carson and captain John Terry got in a muddle allowing Patrick Helmes to equalise.

But Terry made up for his mistake heading in Stewart Downing's free-kick with just seven minutes remaining.

The performance from the likes of Glen Johnson, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Downing himself was impressive, but the team performance as a whole from a group of players who would have never played together was the highlight of the evening.

I wouldn't say any performance stuck out as spell-binding , it was the composure of the team as a whole that impressed me in-front of a capacity crowd of 74,000.

The only issue for me fell with Scott Carson, who did his best to deny England a victory they thoroughly deserved.

At the time, I believed him playing against Croatia was a mistake, and that anything that happened on the evening was a result of Steve McClaren's poor selection and that Carson wasn't ready to be thrown in the deep in at such an early stage of his career.

On Wednesday night however there can be no excuses, he definitely deserved a second chance for England under Capello. In simple terms, he's blown it.

Only thing he had to do all night, and he allowed the ball to go through his legs and into the back of his net.

I think John Terry is slightly accountable, why he couldn't just clear the ball out I have no idea but the goalkeeper clear called for the ball and he simply didn't produce

Capello as we know already, likes to wheel the axe at the best of times. I hope he doesn't hold back with the West Brom goalkeeper here, he's had his chances, give someone else a go.

I was disappointed to only see 15 minutes of Ashley Young, and for him then to be played out of position was unfortunate.

But this was down to the inspired performance of Downing who started to show his club form on the international stage, which is something Capello targeted at the start of his international tenure.

Before we go raving about this performance, lets spend a moment or two to consider the terrible Germany side that we saw last night.

For as good as England were Germany were just as bad, and for a team who 'appeared' in the European Championship Final just four months ago they have slipped hugely, there is plenty of work for Joachim Low to do.

But of course it wasn't a full strength England side and considering that it was a brilliant performance, and if similar injuries occur in March for the next lot of World Cup Qualifiers Capello won't have reservations about blooding this talented group of players.

Capello Given Chance to Experiement in a True Arena

This week, Fabio Capello's England travel to Germany to play their Eastern European rivals in the final international match of the year for both sides.

For England it is the culmination of a year that has proved fruitful, as they top their World Cup Qualifying group with maximum points after four games.

Due to a number of injuries to Capello's squad, he will be without up to eight first-team regulars and an unfit David Beckham, who the Italian refuses to pick while the former captain is out of action.

This provides Capello a chance to give some of his fringe players a game in Berlin's Olympic Stadium—quite an opportunity for the players involved.

Gabriel Agbonlahor will finally get his international debut after having it delayed by injury. Alongside fellow Aston Villa protégé Ashley Young, they are sure to give the Germans a fright.

It's not just the Villa duo that will look for a role in Wednesday's international.

Micheal Carrick, Jermain Defoe, and Glen Johnson are all set to start as they stake their claim to a starting berth for England in the next World Cup qualifiers.

In my opinion, as disappointing as it is not to see a full strength England side, it will be interesting to see how the squad players perform in the big stage against a big team.

England had a similar opportunity in the summer when they faced Trinidad and Tobago but, with all due-respect the Caribbean nation, weren't presented with a huge challenge.

Germany in Berlin, however, will give the players a huge test and they will know they can't under-perform the way they could possibly afford to against Trinidad.

Knowing Capello the way we all like to think we do, he'll note the impressive performances ahead of his next squad selection in the new year.

This game is the opportunity for players like the ones noted above to turn out a performance.

Maybe even Scott Parker can force himself back onto the international stage. As a big fan of the former Charlton man, I hope he can stamp his mark on the game.

Not many opportunities come up like this for these players; sometimes the opposition is too inferior to make an impact or injuries don't fall like they have. However, these players need to step up to the plate.

They might not get many more chances.

League 1 Promotion Report

Every season there is a story in the football league that grabs my attention. Last year and relegation battle between Bournemouth, Gillingham and Cheltenham Town which came down to the final day grabbed the attention of everyone in League 1.

This season my attention has been grabbed in mid Novemeber. The venue League 1 again. The subject the eight way promotion chase. The current top eight, look head and shoulders above the rest and already look like they are pulling away.

After a disappointing play-off final performance Leeds United have started the process of returning to the Championship. For me their start hasn't been the best with their defense looking dodgy at the best of times. However with the likes of Luciano Beccio and Jonny Howson up front they are free-scoring and even more potent than last season.

However it's not necessarily their defense that they should worry about, it's the rest of the teams in league 1 they need to concentrate on.

There are around eight teams that could easily win League 1 this season, something that Leeds certainly didn't bargain on.

Leaders Scunthorpe United haven't surprised anyone and with Gary Hooper, who was on loan at Hereford last season up front they always have a chance. Well organized and intent on making up for last season's debacle they look odds on to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Leicester City obviously aren't going to allow themselevs to endure another season in League 1, however there inconsistent form, especially away from home holding them back. Dropping points at Brighton, and yesterday at Swindon Town are moments that the Foxes won't want to repeat in a hurry.

Millwall have put together a series of results to propel them towards the play-off picture, including a win over Leeds. Kenny Jacket has done a brilliant job so far this season, and a promotion success will top things off perfectly.

Promoted duo Milton Keynes Dons and Peterborough United have taken the league by storm, and to everyone's surprise find themselves in the play-offs and competing with every side in the league.

Dons, had a difficult summer after their promotion from league 2. They lost captain Keith Andrews, winger Lloyd Dyer and most importantly manager Paul Ince. But they have become resurgent under Roberto Di Matteo and own the best away form in the league as they find themselves in the dizzy heights of forth.

High scoring Peterborough haven't surprised me with their form, with Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith up front they will always score goals and as they have shown already can beat any side in the division, don't expect them to be shifting position anytime before May.

These six are joined by Oldham Athletic and Southend United who have both made themselves very difficult to beat with just two defeats between them at home all season.

On loan Lee Sawyer has been hugely influential this season, and if Southend can keep hold of him from Chelsea for a further three months they could start reaping the rewards very quickly.

It's simple for Oldham, they have got Lee Hughes fit and scoring goals. I knew once he was on form, Oldham's would pick up as well it seemed like a simple transition and it's worked well for the Latics.

At the start of the season I backed Leeds to storm the league along with Carlisle United with Peterborough winning the play-offs. It's been far more open than I first thought, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Dons and Millwall have surprised me and they don't look like dropping off anytime soon.

So there we have it the eight teams who are taking control of League 1 this season, lets hope that in April we're graced by as many in the always heated promotion chase.

Patterson's time bomb ready to explode

It might have taken four years in the making, but Darren Patterson is here, and as Oxford United manager he needs to step to the plate, a job that has bamboozled even the best managers around, Jim Smith I hear you cry?

Having been manager for just over a year now, Patterson is getting to the stage where he can be judged fairly on his progress, and I’m going to be straight with you it could have gone better.

After Jim Smith’s resignation in November 2007 Patterson has been trying to drag the club back towards the reaches of the football league. Now I will admit it’s only been a year so in effect he’s only had one attempt, but considering how close Smith came Patterson should have a long look at himself.

Let’s take you back to just six months before Smith’s resignation and Oxford’s play-off semi-final with Exeter. Oxford were 1-0 up after escaping with a victory from St. James Park. They went into the home leg as favourites and soon doubled their aggregate advantage through Yemi Odubade.

With an hour of the tie reaming and Oxford 2-0 up you would have thought, with home advantage they could see out the rest of the game. However goals from Lee Philips and then Adam Stansfield sent the game into extra time.

Oxford had been given a reprieve and it was left to the lottery of a penalty shootout to decide who would face Morecambe in the final. Billy Turley who had already missed a penalty himself saved one from Richard Logan allowing Steve Tully to smash home the winner.

Now you could debate Morecambe could have overturned that Oxford side under the stewardship of Sammy McIlroy, but after sustaining such a crushing defeat, you could excuse the Oxford side for not caring about who they could have played.

Now with Patterson at the helm that play-off semi-final looks a distant memory as his Oxford side struggle with the unpredictable Blue Square Premier.

After a finish of 9th in Patterson’s first season with a late surge, the fans had high hopes ahead of the new season.

Intent was certainly made in the summer with the signing of the dependable Jason Constable from Shrewsbury on loan to bolster the attacking line.

Patterson knew things had to change and that his own stamp had to put on the team in his first full season in charge.

However this summer ambition hasn’t been reflected in the results as Oxford have struggled to get going.

They find themselves languishing in 15th, with just six wins from their 17 games.

Now with five of them coming at the fortress that is the Kassam Stadium, just one win on the road shows where the work has to be done there, but Patterson needn’t stop there.

Getting the fans back onside is something that will take time, and that is necessary if he is to be taken seriously as a manager and more importantly given time to makes things right

Up till now he has been a little bit of a laughing stock at a club built for the football league.

The club hold the record for the highest ever Conference attendance of over 11,000, so why can’t the team on the pitch reflect the devotion that the fans are showing?

Well Paterson has inherited a team low on confidence that’s for sure, although Smith had hardly left them high and dry, it was clear after his play-off effort he had taken them as far as he could.

His outlook on his side’s defeats and shortcomings however has to go further than his team’s fault. He consistently blamed his team for under performing, which is fine after one or two games but week after week? I don’t think so.

With new owners taking the reigns you would have thought an ultimatum would have been thrown down, and to be fair Patterson has reacted since the takeover.

But that’s exactly my point; he does what he needs to keep his job without taking his team forward, he seems happy to trudge along knowing he has a job at the end of the day.

Kelvin Thomas the new chairman said results had to turn around sooner rather than later and to some extent they have but in all honesty it couldn’t have been much worse

Thomas is sure not to have too much patience with Patterson, he is sure to know the record before he took over, and won’t let it continue.

They go to struggling Grays this weekend before their FA Cup replay with Dorchester and then go to high flying Histon next week so it’s three difficult away trips in a week, a tough ask for any team.

Patterson would be aiming for at least two wins and most importantly a place in the 2nd round of the FA Cup.

Patterson has definitely bought himself some time with the new owner but he’ll have to use it effectively. But just a few defeats here and there and Christmas could be a quiet one for the former Oxford defender.

Underachieveing Keane not Paying the Price

Few managers are more outspoken that Roy Keane. The former Manchester United captain leaves no stone unturned when in front of the British press as we saw when the Irishman was asked about Michael Chopra being allowed to go back to Cardiff City.

I think the media actually fear Roy Keane a little, like they dare give him bad press at the trepidation of being given a tough lashing the next day.

However the media have been known to tell it like it is. So why are they refusing to put the pressure on Keane after his sides poor start to the season.

Sunderland lie in 19th in the Premiership and after Keane splashed the cash in the summer it is amazing to see his start and the focus on his sides poor start.

Lets start with the team itself. Sunderland have had just one win from their last eight games in all competitions, with the solitary win coming in the Tyne-Wire derby against Newcastle United, who are coincidently the team below them in the Premiership.

After spending nearly 30 million pounds on a variety of players during the summer Keane’s results have been poor to say the least.

Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney and David Healy are just a few who have been drafted in on the major budget provided by Niall Quinn.

Quinn is bound to be unhappy after the uproar that Keane made after the end of last season, when he said that some of his squad wasn’t good enough and that he needed major finances to re-build the side.

The former Sunderland man gave in to the manager’s demands, expecting a top half finish and dare I say it a foray into Europe. This success would have been warranted considering the cash injection.

However the result has been the opposite and Quinn has been left thinking whether he has wasted his time at the hands of the controlling manager as they look set for a relegation battle.

Keane hasn’t been checked up on this once by the press, and even worse they are more concentrated on managers whose teams are more successful like Mark Hughes at Manchester City than they are at the underachieving Sunderland.

Are the media scared of Keane? Well quiet possibly.

Now before I’m inundated with comments that I’m calling for Keane’s head I’m definitely not, I’m saying that if Hughes warrants some pressure with 13 points from 12 games then so does Keane with a point less.

So the next time the media line-up with Keane in there sights maybe uttering their recent record of one win the their last eight might put Keane under more pressure than his overpriced team.

Overated Football Eleven-Premiership

To often these days our beloved media hype up players after they score from a throw in, or shoot from outside the box, such unique things in football don't you think? So I've assembled a side of overpaid Premiership Footballers (which gives me plenty of options) that are so overrated for in Europe's supposed top league that they don't deserve to grace the league at all.

Goalkeeper- Manuel Almunia (Arsenal): The Arsenal goalkeeper is an accident waiting to happen it just amazes me that team don't put more pressure of this joke of a keeper. I remember a certain game against Manchester United a few years ago in where Almunia made a number of mistakes as Arsenal went down 4-2 to the current Champions. Against Spurs he was made to look very ordinary behind an Arsenal defense that was sieving chances to Darren Bent and co.

Right Back- Pascal Chimbonda (Sunderland): This petulant African born Frenchman has caused problems where-ever he has been at the Premiership. When he was at Wigan he disgraced himself by submitted a transfer request 15 minutes after the final whistle of their final game of the season away at Arsenal. His transfer to Sunderland took an age as he demanded high wages for his big money move to the black-cats. His performances have hardly set the world alright at either Tottenham or Sunderland so far which brings up the question is he the only one who believes his own hype?

Left Back- Nicky Shorey (Aston Villa): This man fair play to him went to Villa to send his career spirally towards regular England call-ups. However its spiraled downwards as Villa's fortunes have done the opposite. He has looked dodgy at the back to say the least, and not like he was at Reading but certainly not as much as a presence in the side. Shorey was a player to drive the side forward, with Villa he has looked uneasy and not the player they thought they had signed. Reading got second season syndrome, Shorey's has come a season later, as he thoughts his attempts to become a big high flier had finally begun.

Centre Back- William Gallas (Arsenal): The current Gunners skipper showed his poor respect for his club at the back end of his Chelsea career as he was accused of wanting to score own-goals if he was played at left-back for Chelsea. These comments don't surprise me and after what we've seen from him after the game at Birmingham last season tells me he isn't the man to turn to when things aren't going well, not the sort of man you want as captain or in your team. As a player he has lost a bit of focus since his Chelsea days where he played as a decoy to John Terry, Terry's class is obvious now as Gallas struggles to bed in alongside Kolo Toure at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

Centre Back- Joseph Yobo (Everton) Now Everton's usually sure defense has really fallen apart this season and a reason for this could be their Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo. Yobo for me has always been punching above his weight not only playing in the league but being part of one of the meanest defenses in the league. I'm not sure if you've ever seen this lad head the ball, but I haven't even when it's easier to he'll try any alternative. Playing Jagielka instead of Yobo has been a way of avoiding this mix up and it has worked in recent weeks.

Right Midfield- Soloman Kalou (Chelsea): What can I say about this man? He can be a lively player I won't deny that but nothing more, if you look at the goals he scores they are easier to score than miss, and if you look at his misses its easier to score than miss. How he ever gets into the Chelsea side I have no idea, with Cole and Malouda (who dare I say is better than Kalou). His goal record isn't one to strike fear into any team, and neither is his pace. In terms of the rest of the Chelsea squad he is average as this hugely entertaining side head towards a third Premier league title.

Centre Midfield- John Obi Mikel (Chelsea): Now this might look like a Chelsea witch hunt here but it isn't, they have just bought some dreadful players and Mikel for me is the tip of the iceberg. I see no point to this player. He is so ineffectual to the Chelsea side that they prefer right back Julliano Belletti in his holding role more than they like Mikel. He is a joke, and whats more he can't tackle to save his life with his disciplinary record being poor considering he's been in the league just three years.

Centre Midfield- Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth): Now here's a man who has been rejected by both Chelsea (Jose Mourinho) and Arsenal (Arsene Wenger). These two clubs and managers are two of the best readers of player in the country let alone in the world. Wenger especially knows a good player when he see's one and wouldn't let one go if he knew he had some quality and some use to him. Knowing Arsenal's current central midfield situation you would have thought he would have kept Diarra in reserve to this, he didn't. That's how bad Diarra is. If your no-use to the best youth manager in the world and you've been rejected as a player, I'd kiss goodbye your career because it's not turning around anytime soon. And it hasn't. This 'world class' midfield player now plays for Portsmouth and he'll be the first to tell you it's a big step up for such an inferior player.

Left Midfield- Jason Koumas (Wigan Athletic): The former West Brom man has really had a slip in his form since he moved to Wigan and has become anonymous in a side that have started to struggle in Premiership. His role in the side is different to that of when he was at West Brom and his 5.3 million price tag looks like a waste of money even after 18 months. He was known as the one man team at West Brom, now he's not in the team at Wigan, such a fall from grace and yet he still makes the Wales national team, nice to see there not picking on reputations anymore.

Center Forward- Robin Van Persie (Arsenal): The new 'Bergkamp', what a complete joke. This one footed Dutchman is maybe the worst of my overrated players and the on that infuriates me the most. For one thing he is seen as the new Bergkamp just because he is Dutch, no other reason. To be fair to him it took years for him to get the 'Bergkamp' taunts off his back, but since he's hardly covered himself in glory since. When your best goal scoring record is against Blackburn Rovers you can see where it's going. he never turns up in the big games. He's never been Wenger's first choice, he even plays Diaby as a fifth midfield instead of Van Persie at the end of the Henry days. Any player who can't play with Henry is a joke, even Adebayor gave it a shot in his short period with Henry. His injury proneness doesn't help either, I think he's broken his foot around 50 times. And finally he is one of the most petulant players in the league, he hasn't grown up as a player. A comment made by Telegraph sportswriter Clive White described van Persie in his match report as "21 going on nine. And after four red cards already he seems like a accident waiting to happen. Oh and did I mention the rape allegations?

Centre Forward- Craig Bellamy (West Ham United): The welsh wizard has never been the same since his season long spell at Blackburn Rovers where he helped them towards a European place. He joined Liverpool and became part of the rotation system under Rafa Benitez and it set his career back a bit. His move to West Ham has been a none event and he hasn't got going as the most injury prone players around struggles for form amongst other things. And you know full well he has a scuffle with a player on a training ground just around the corner, pace is his only attribute and it's been years since I've seen any, don't touch this player with a barge pole, you won't see him for years.

Performance of the Week

A little late I know but this performance of the week is maybe one of the best I've seen and is up there with my performance of the year. In this weeks forth test between India and Australia which India came away with the win to seal the 2-0 series win there was a shining light for Australia which many have overlooked.

Jason Krejza took twelve wickets in his debut match as India toiled but eventually came out as winners. Krejza's performance will remind many, especially Englishman that Australia are no spent force. People have talked about how they have lost some zip in the last few years after loosing some of their experienced players. Krejza looks like a direct replacement for Shane Warne in this respect, he has the passion and most importantly the talent to bring back the good days for the Aussies.

Krejza took the important wickets of Sehwag and Dravid on the first day before cleaning up the tail to pick up eight wickets in the first innings. He added just four to his tally in the second innings as he ended Veranda Sehwag's international career with a caught and bowled attempt.

Getting twelve wickets in any match is a very good effort, on your debut is even better, he has record the forth best ever figures for an Australian on his debut and it's sure to be held for some time.

His emergence is sure to kick some spirit into the side as they have come off it with a crushing defeat, their first since the 2005 ashes series.

I'm sure we'll see much more of him in the coming years and sure to see him in the Ashes series next year, and knowing how the last high class Australian spinner did against the English, this lad might not be bad.

There's no Cole left in the fire

Today we saw the retirement of one of the great Premeir League players in history, Andy Cole. Cole played for a number of clubs in and out of the Premiership, most famously for Manchester United where he won five league titles two FA cups and a Champions League trophy in a treble winning 1999.

Cole started his career at Arsenal in which he played just one game in three years and soon moved onto Bristol City where he had a very successful spell scoring 20 goals in 41 games. However it was clear that his talent deserved better, and he soon moved to Division One high fliers Newcastle who were keen on promotion to the new Premier League. They were promoted and in his season as a Premiership player he scored 34 goals in 40 games to won Young player of the year at the age of 22 in the same season as Newcastle qualified for the UEFA Cup.

After another season on Tynside Cole was sold to Manchester United for 7 million to bolster their attacking options. Cole struggled at first at Old Trafford and became a laughing stock before winning the double in 1996 and then the treble in 1999 where he became telepathic with Dwight Yorke. A few more seasons went along before he slipped down the pecking order behind Ruud Van Nistelrooy and moved to Blackburn under Graeme Souness.

He had a good time at the Lancashire club scoring 13 goals in his first season and picked up the League Cup scoring the winning goal in the final against Tottenham. He moved onto Fulham a few years later however to join his only London based club of his career, he became the clubs top scorer and helped send down Norwich City on the final day of the 2004/05 season. Spells at Manchester City, Portsmouth and Sunderland were very unsuccessful before he dropped down to the Championship with Burnley.

He showed he could still cut it at any level as he scored 6 goals in 13 games and Nottingham Forest came in for him to boost their attack prowess. However at Forest he was short of games and was released in October.

Cole won just 15 England caps as a player, even though he is second in the all time list of Premier-League goalscorers with 187.

His lack of caps is certainly one for scrutiny considering he was one of the best marksman in the League. He could be seen as a bit like Robbie Fowler in that he could perform for club but not for country, although unlike Fowler he was never given the chance to shine. Just one goal came from those games and he never went to a major championships as a result, the only thing missing from his CV

For a player in Cole's position it's amazing he's been playing for as long as he has, and in terms of quality he's served it up every time he's shown up for any of his twelve clubs, he will be missed.

England in India

As international tours come they aren't more difficult than in India. With the humid pitches and unpredictable conditions combined with the boisterous home crowd it sit the most hostile test country to visit.

Players who can perform in India are some of the best around, as the conditions, especially for batsman can be very difficult. As England travel to India for the ODI series and the test match series they go knowing they are facing the in form side in world cricket.

India are set to complete a 1-0 test series win over Australia, unless the tourists can complete a massive 382 target to win. In one-day cricket India have always had the upper hand over England inflicting a 5-1 defeat on them the last time they visited. However England scrapped the series in England during the summer, winning 4-3.

The test series last summer went India's way and they are sure to be favorites for both forms of the game as England try to recover from the time-wasting Stamford Series last week.

For India the retirement of Sourav Ganguly is sure to leave a hole in the side and the middle order of India won't look as strong. However the highest test scorer of all time Sachin Tendulkar is always around and he loves playing against England, even if he hasn't been able to buy a century before his 40th against Australia.

Zaheer Khan is a crucial man for me. His bowling has come on so much in the last 18 months. In particular the Australian series has seen him shine, and in both forms of the game he will be a threat. He always performs against England, and as yet the England Batsman have yet to have any reply.

Kevin Pietersen has to step up as captain. His honeymoon period is over, and after a shock against South Africa he has to stand up and be counted. His personal form can never be called into question, but can he raise his team for his new sides most difficult challenge yet?

One good thing to see is the similarity between the sides picked for the ODI's and the test matches. There seems to be some coherency at last between both sides and players like Steve Harmisson, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad can perform on both stages.

England's ability to adapt and read the India pitches will be crucial to whether they can repeat the success of the last tour, when they battle to a 1-1 series draw.

Pietersen is under such pressure to succeed as captain on this tour something is bound to give, his form or the teams.

Now without getting to controversial, Pietersen strikes me as the sort of player that will put his own form before his teams, trying to carry them through and then considering the situation.

He's a brilliant player, but does he have the discipline to lead his side into battle in India, I'm not so sure. I was never in favor of his appointment in the first place but of all the countries in the world to prove himself against, this is the one.

I fancy England to get on better in the ODI's series than the test series, but to still lose both. England shouldn't be in to much despair if they do fair in both forms, they are playing a fine side, but the manner of their defeats will be interesting to see.

Not Keane

Robbie Keane opened his goal account in the Premier league for Liverpool as he scored two goals in his side's 3-0 win over West Bromich Albion at Anfield.

Up til now Keane had scored just two goals for his new club, in the Champions League games against PSV Enidhoven and Athletico Madrid.

In the absence of Fernando Torres for a six game period, Liverpool were relying on Keane to step up to the level we all saw at Tottenham Hotsphur in the absence of the Spaniard.

However without Torres, Keane has looked just as anonymous as he looked when Torres started alongside him.

I had huge reservations about Keane's move to Liverpool on two counts. Firstly because his 'ideal' partner would not be around in the shape of Dirk Kuyt and Torres. Secondly because of the formation Liverpool like to play. Benitez seems to have settled on a 4-5-1 formation after it's success at the back end of last season.

For me Keane doesn't have a place in the side even when they adapt the formation for him. With Torres alongside him, he is overshadowed and deemed useless for the success of the side.

Dirk Kuyt's success while Torres has been out of the side shows clearly how Keane hasn't fitted in well in the team.

The Dutchman had scored four goals in Torres's absence, showing everyone he isn't just a right sided midfielder. This included crucial winners against Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

Kuyt clearly stepped up, why couldn't Keane? The man with the forward responsibility.

I understand there is a certain amount of bedding in time for a player, things don't just click at a new club like that. But Keane is a quality player, and we haven't even seen a whiff of what he can produce.

Keane just simply hasn't cut the mustard at Liverpool, his two goals yesterday might give him some sort of kick-start. But his form hasn't been good enough to think that he'll keep Torres out of the team after his injury return yesterday.

His 19 million price tag, while I think is accurate is far to much for a player that doesn't fit in your team. He just doesn't make sense, and while at Tottenham he was the focal point, at Liverpool he is nothing more that a bit part player.

Master Cup Preview 2008

The Tennis year climax with the Shanghai Masters s the top eight players in the world meet to decide the masters player of the year. It's a chance to finish the year in style for some players who after a long season are desperate to get some sort of break before the season starts again in Australia in January.

This year however we won't be graced by the world's best player, Rafael Nadal due to tiredness. Now we all know that Nadal is no slouch and that if he's ain't fit enough to play he must be in some sort of state. However with him missing the whole feeling of the evet has taken a downturn, you must feel for the organizers who build the event up as the crowning event of the year. To not have the world's best player involved must be frustrating.

And maybe even possibly for the eventual winner of the competition. They will know that however they win it wasn't against the world's best and that he didn't get to prove himself against the world number 1.

Let's get onto the competition itself shall we, and this week does throw up an interesting format unlike any other tennis tournament. Unlike a predetermined draw like in every other championship the players are split into two groups, and red and gold group. They play each other in a group stage format and the top two from each group play each other in a semi-final and then the two winners of that in a final.

It must be refreshing for the fans and the players to have a different format from the normal ATP events, and as previous years have shown the format has proved to be a success.

Players now-a-days complain that they have to be on-top of their game for every tournament. Well in this tournament you can afford to lose a game and still come out the other side as the winner.

So lets look at the players involved. The lucky man who qualified due to Nadal's withdrawal is Giles Simon who certainly won't be throwing away his chance after the nature of his qualification. He is one of the two Frenchman in the top eight and shows the strength his country have for the sport.

He is liable to be very dangerous as well. He is one of only three players to have beaten all of the 'big three' this season and is coming off the back of his most successful season ever as a tennis player, rising to a career best 9th in the rankings and taking three tour titles this year.

Joining him in the red group is American Andy Roddick who has had good year as his resurgence in the sports starts to gather some pace. This consistency in getting to at lest the semi-final in eight tour events is pretty remarkable, but unfortunately for the American it's his performances in the Grand Slams that have let him down.

A best of the quarter-final in the US Open is poor going from the former home-town champion and it shows that on the big stage he maybe can't quiet cut the mustard.

His semi-final performances this year have reflected how he's done in previous masters cup outings as on three occasions he's gone out at the last-four stage.

Andy Murray is the next in the group after a brilliant year for the 21-year old. He has achieved so much this year that the Brit can be excused of taking a break now ahead of his first Masters Cup tournament. Murray collected his first Masters Series Shield and reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open in a year that has seen him sore to forth in the world.

He's beaten every player whose turning up at the tournament this week this year, and is bound to be full of confidence.

Rodger Federer is the last player from the red group, and after what has been a difficult year he has still come out of it with a lot of credit. After loosing his Wimbledon crown in dramatic style to Nadal and the his world number 1 status the season could have petered out for the Swiss. However an amazing win at the US Open over Murray showed that class is permanent. His performance in that match was one of the best ever seen not only by him but of all time on the Arthur Ash court.

Going in as Number 1 seed with brim him with confidence that he can overhaul Nadal next year, and there wouldn't be a better time to start that this week in Shanghai.

In the Gold group we have the remaining four players, Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro and Nikolay Davydenko.

Djkovic started the season brilliantly winning his first Grand in Australia as he beat Tsonga in the final. His dominance this year can be summed by by saying that as some players need a good performance in the last tournament of the year in Paris, Djokovic had qualified by July.

The Serb has a poor Wimbledon and the back end of his year hasn't been the best. After last year's disappointment at this event loosing all three of his matches he will be keen to put it all right and stake a claim to Nadal's number 1 crown.

Jo Wilfred Tsonga got in by the skin of his teeth as he won the final Masters Shield in Paris by beating David Nalbanian. Tsonga only made two of the Grand Slam's this year, missing out through injury only to return at the US Open. His Australian Open final however will surely be his crowning achievement and the moment that he arrived on the scene. Defeating Nadal in the semi-final was a huge moment for the Frenchman, and will hope to build on that in his first Masters Cup.

He has to be seen as a huge threat by the other players. He goes into the tournament in form, after his success in Paris and after a brilliant year in which he has jumped up the rankings.

The season of Juan Martin Del Potro has been one of amazing achievement. From July where he was ranked 65, just two months followed before he found himself ranked 8th. He won four titles in that period in a 23 match winning streak which was ended by Andy Murray at the US Open. Since July in fact he was won 36 of his 41 matches.

The most improved player on the circuit certainly deserves his chance to shine in Shanghai and after a break in Paris will be eager to show that Nadal isn't the only youngster on the circuit. His will-to-win can't be paralleled with any other player. is drive and determination is something to be admired and this sort of competition will suit him ideally. expect him to be around when the trophies are handed out.

Finally Nicolay Davydenko who has slipped in the Rankings somewhat but has still had an impressive year. Three tour titles to boot, along with wins over Nadal and Roddick along the way. He succeeded mostly on the clay where two of his titles came. He was the only player this year to beat Nadal on clay. However of course Shanghai is a hard court event, a surface the aging Davydenko doesn't favor as slowing down the game has become an art to now established Top ten player.

His success in this tournament dates back to 2005 as he went out to eventual winner David Nalbanian at the semi-final stage. This is his forth tournament appearance and although he isn't fancied as one of the winners, he can certainly raise his game when it's needed.

So there we have it the best eight players in the world, apart from Rafael Nadal. It's sure to be an interesting week and with the tournament more open than ever, anyone from the eight can come out as Champion

Tips on how to keep your job as a football manager

After some rediculous managerial casualties over the last few days, capped off by Stan Ternant's departure for Huddesfield Town after just six months in charge. Town are now looking for there sixth manager in eighteen months. A rediculous club and chairman Ken Davy should be at the front of the abuse that Town fans are sure to barage him with.

Anyway after this weeks casualities in which three managers have gone already I've come up with some tips for managers who don't want to be seeing P45 anytime before Christmas.

1. Before joining a particular club, research the owners background. For example how long they have been at the club and the investments that have made. For example a club run by Milan Mandaric, does have a lot of investment going into it, but at the same time he'll give you six months to put everything in check. Joining a club just before a takover can be damaging, as it's likely your not there first choice for the job.

2. So you've found your club and you know that behind the scenes nothing it going to change. Believe me its nopt going to get easier. Your relationship with the board and chairman is inperitive. A good relationship can mean he will side with you when big decisions have to be made i.e major transfer signings. And if you get into a spot of bother backing you when it all goes wrong. A bad relationship, can mean one game to turn things round can mean none.

3. When given your budget for the begining of the transfer window in either the summer or January don't spend all of the money, especially if you get a hefty amount. Spending millions can put yourself under huge pressure to produce and when it doesn't got right your spending is the first place your critics and your chairman point to.

4. Getting your first win in your first game in charge is vital. This gets the fans onside, and even if you go five without a win you always have the win to back you up. Winning once means you can win again, and doing it in the opening game theres nothing better. Yes people could see an opening win as a honeymoon period, but if its the only win you get milk it as much as you can.

5. When signing players, especially for a lower league club, try and vary the age of the players. Consentrating on young players for the future or old players for the experience are perfect amunition for fans and critics. Saying your squad is either to old to keep up, or to naive to hold onto a win. Southampton's 2008/09 squad explains this perfectly, can't close out games and find themselves in the bottom five with a side with an average age of less than 21.

Of course after all this you need to have some talent for managerment, but with these tips you should have enough time at the club to find out if you do. To often do we see managers not given a chance at clubs where a quick fix is expected. As a football fan it sickens me to see what is going on at Huddesfield and although these tips are a little toungue and cheek they represent real reason why managers such as Dave Jones who is the longest serving Championship manager currently still at their job.

Formula 1 World Championship 2008 Review

Thrill a minute is all you can say to be honest. From start to finish whether it was Monaco, or Silverstone or Spa this season's championship was one of the best in living memory, and unlike last year it was all about what happened on the track.

Yes Lewis Hamilton is our champions, the youngest ever at 23 but behind lie a number of drivers who will be pressurizing him hugely this time next year.

A queue has formed so to speak of drivers ready to take Hamilton's crown and they all made there Challenege at some point this year.

Kimi Raikkonen had a particularly quiet season and didn't hang onto his title as firmly as many thought he might. He led for the opening third of the season before he handed the baton to Felipe Massa to make the Ferrari charge.

Fernando Alonso had an amazing change of fortune to his season. After just ten races he had to settle with just 13 points in his unpredictable Renault. However the Spaniard picked up 48 points in the final eight races of the season to bring up to 5th in the Drivers Championship. A brilliant achievement for the former World Champion who is now a real threat in his familiar Renault colors.

Sebastian Vettel picked up his first World Champion win this season and certainly looks like one for next season in the Red Bull car replacing the retiring David Coulthard. Maybe until the driver has proven himself in this car will he finally get a contract for a bigger team, you can't seriously see a winner not coming from the Ferrari, Mclaren or BMW.

And then there's Felipe Massa who was just one point from the Championship this year and came so close last year as well, falling out of the race with three to go. He will obviously be hurt by the manner of the defeat on Sunday. But just like Hamilton was last season, extra determination will be the order of the day and he will be twice as strong going into the new season.

As for the rest well there are some notable mentions. Jenson Button has had another season he'll want to forget in a hurry. Another year or two I think and Button will have to give up a sport that he has simply never succeeded in.

The BMW team of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica have done well. Heidfeld has taken a step back to allow the more talented Kubica a shot of the title that he was only a few wins away from making. Next season he will have a real go and know the dependable Heidfeld is behind him for support This duo will be a real force to be considered and a real contender for next year's title.

it would be refreshing to have another contender from another team and not having the same Ferrari/McLaren fight to the end of the season. Kubica has a lot to do to put himself as a possible challenger but he has all the making of a true champion.

As for Hamilton well he will do well to hold onto his title. Massa won't let his disappointment lie for long and he will be back on the trail as soon as the new season is upon us. To think Hamilton will hold onto his title like Michael Schumacher did is a stupid statement. He's won his first title now lets just see what next season brings.

We all know the first championship is hard enough, holding onto it will be even harder for the youngster.

Performance of the Week

This week we have seen some of the great performances of the year, let alone this week. I have been spoilt for choice with victories left right and centre. This weekend in particular has been on of thrills on spills on the track, court and the pitch.

Where else do I start than with Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 World Title win in Brazil on Sunday. Needing to finish 5th or higher, the Brit came over the line in that coveted 5th position to steel an amazing win on the last lap.

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga won the Paris masters beating Argentine David Nalbanian in three sets, and therefore qualified for the Shanghai Master at the end of year after leapfrogging into 7th in the ATP rankings.

Australia'a Rugby League side thrashed England 54-4 in the Rugby League World Cup, producing a performance of class that England had no answer to.

In football Stoke City bullied an Arsenal side into a 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium, with Rory Delap proving his throwing ability can work even against the best.

Yeovil Town beat in-form Oldham Athletic 2-0 to give them breathing space at from the bottom four in League 1.

However none of these are this weeks performance of the week. This week its goes to an athlete who has come back from disaster in Beijing to produce one of her greatest performances yet. My performance of the week goes to Paula Radcliffe after she won the New York Marathon on Sunday.

Radcliffe won the race from the eventual runner-up Ludmila Petrova of Russia in a time of 2 hours 23 minutes and 56 seconds, a full two minutes ahead of the Russian.

It was her third win in New York after victories in both 2004 and 2007, but this was by a handsome margin as she regained her status as the best Marathon runner on the Women's circuit.

Radcliffe's year will be remembered by her poor performance in Beijing where she was hampered by injury in the lead up to the games.

But this should go some way to make up for it after a very convincing win, that should put her critics at rest until at least the London Marathon in April.

Until then its the hard work she was denied of before Beijing that Radcliffe needs if she is to continue this winning streak.

Moment of truth

On 17th August 1996 David Beckham propelled himself into the public limelight as he scored from the halfway-line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park in a 3-0 win for Manchester United.

From this moment on Beckham became somewhat of a living legend as he won numerous trophies with the club and went on to become an England regular appearing at three World Cup Finals.

Like most players Beckham's crowning moment came at the right time for his career. On Wednesday night David Bentley could have had his crowning moment.

His forty-yard volley at the Emirates Stadium is arguably the goal of the season in the Premiership already and we're only in November.

This goal could be the start of Bentley's career and the culmination of the potential that we saw at both Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers.

In all honesty I've never caught onto all the fuss about Bentley, at Blackburn he was their best player but for me didn't stick out like everyone said he did. It seemed that when he scored a goal for them it was better than if someone scored the same goal, he was overrated and it clearly went to his head.

His petulance was revealed when he turned down a place in the England under-21 squad for the European Championship in Holland. Bentley felt that if he went to the Championships if would hurt his chances of making the full squad when the European Championships came around in 2008.

A completely arrogant decision from the former Arsenal player seeing as he wasn't even established in the squad at the time and not that it came round to it he wouldn't have made the squad.

Bentley for me still needs to grow as a person but his performance on Wednesday night shows to me that he is starting to get over his poor decision of 18 months ago.

His delight at the result and his personal performance was clear to see in the post-match interview.

He has more to prove certainly, but under Harry Redknapp he has the sort of manager that will nurture his career and make him into the player we all know he can be.

Bentley has had his 'Beckham' moment, it's now down to him to build on it and become a player that doesn't live in the superstar's shadow.

Time's up

After their disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Barnsley on Saturday the future of Charlton manager Alan Pardew looks bleak to say the least. His side have already lost eight of their fifteen Championship games and lie in the bottom three for the first time this season.

The former Premiership side have been going no-where since their relegation from England's top league in 2006 and haven't once looked like regained their Premier-league status.

Since loosing Alan Curbishley in 2006 the club have been on a downward slope and are close to hitting the bottom if their season continues like it is.

The reason behind there current struggle could be explained by the season they had after Curbishley's departure.

The club went through three managers in four months sacking both Ian Dowie and Les Reed before settling with Alan Pardew, who came from relegation rivals West Ham United, who under Curbishley survived on the final day of the season.

The last thing the club needed after loosing a manager like Curbishley was this sort of managerial merry-go-round.

Pardew thankfully is still the manager, but after nearly two years in charge his position looks very vulnerable after taking too many steps back under his stewardship.

The club were relegated in his first season, but in truth he could do little to keep his side up after two sacked managers before him.

A quick return to the Premiership was expected as Charlton kept the majority of the players that had given them success in the Premiership.

However the quick return didn't come about as the fans would have liked as the Addicks underachieved hugely in finishing down in 11th six points off the play-off places.

To be fair to the side they weren't anywhere near the play-offs at any part of the season and were never contenders to be re-promoted as West Brom and Stoke City stormed the league.

This season was therefore looked as one to re-build the side and push for promotion next season.

Chairman Richard Murray had highlighted Pardew as his man to bring his side top-flight football, however this season has been more about how the side have missed their chance to get out of on the most difficult leagues in the world.

They find themselves in the bottom three and not a sniff of the the top half let alone the play-offs.

Things have to change if this side to get out of their current predicament and it doesn't look good for the London club.

The squad assembled by Pardew is simply not good enough for this league. It's as simple as that. It's a squad that are doing exactly what it says on the tin, struggling in a league to big for them.

Players like Mark Hudson, Luke Varney and Lloyd Sam won't strike fear into any side, dare I say it not even in League 1.

The man to take all the flack will be Pardew, due to the performances I'm sure. But I think the side are playing as well as they can, they just look out of their depth.

This blog may become irrelevant in 24 hours as Pardew is set to get the dreaded 'vote of confidence'. However it will take more than a change of manager to turn things around at the Valley.

This former Premiership club will find it hard whether he stays or goes, and their in for a tough end to the season.

Deserving a second chance

Joey Barton's goal on Tuesday evening against West Brom meant many things. Not only did it help give Newcastle their first win under caretaker manager Joe Kineer, but it was Barton's first goal since his jail sentence and the formal ban given to him by the football association.

Now the ban is over Barton can get on with his career, something that he started on Saturday against Sunderland and has now continued by scoring on Tuesday evening. Now the process begins as opposing fans coming to terms with Barton's return to the game something that many feel he should never have been allowed to do.

I'm pretty certain that the Football Association wouldn't have let him complete his comeback to the game if he hadn't proven he could change and be a positive influence on the game. But that won't stop many opposition supporters.

Barton has got the job of turning some of those supporters round, just like Jonathan Woodgate has since he was involved in an assault in 2001 along with Lee Bowyer. The only way he can do it, just like Woodgate did is by turning out week in week out and performing like we know he can. After all Barton still hasn't recaptured the form that saw him earn an England cap while he was at Manchester City.

He's not the only one whose had to prove himself however. In 2004 Lee Hughes, then of West Bromwich Albion was involved in a car crash in which the driver in the car hit was killed. Hughes, foolishly fled the scene of the accident but handed himself in just 24 hours later. He was later charged with dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident and jailed for six years.

He was released after three years for good behavior and returned to football months later with Oldham Athletic, after West Brom had terminated his contract. Many fans were against the signing and boycotted games that he was involved in.

However soon his form on the pitch turned the fans around, and even though there are football fans out there outraged that he is allowed to play many have made there peace with the decision. Hughes is now an influential presence in the Oldham side as they push towards promotion from League 1.

Hughes has shown how hard work on the pitch can help turn the tables in your favor and if Barton wants to get similar respect he needs to turn out performances mirrored on how Hughes made his comeback.

Not letting himself get in stupid disputes like he did while at Manchester City will help, a particular incident at Goodison Park comes to mind, when he dropped his shorts towards opposition supporters.

Barton has an example to follow, it's now down to him put the work in and get the fans back on side.

The Standford Super Series- does anyone actually care

This week has seen the beginning of the Standford Super Series set up by Sir Allen Standford involving four sides Trinidad and Tobago, Middlesex the 20/20 cup winners, England and his own Superstar dream team. Lets start by saying these matches, especially the final match on Saturday between England and the Standford Superstars is a great opportunity for the players. Never before have they been fighting for a prize that is so huge in a sport which can pay so little.

Whether there is a need for all the money to flood into Cricket is debatable. We have all watched how football has deteriorated under the increased influx of money into the game. It certainly isn't the same as it was twenty years ago. Cricket unfortunately is heading a similar direction. Standford won't be the last to put money into the game but given the reaction he's had from the players and supporters alike others might be put off.

For the England players who have traveled out there is the last thing they want to be doing. After a long summer the players wanted some sort of break before they go to India in the winter. This publicity stunt has ruined there preparations for the tour, and instead of being fresh, something that is necessary in India they will be tired and weary.

Believe me the first hint we see of England struggling and this series will be called into question. And rightly it should be. To be honest its a shambles. The England players have been humiliated by Standford himself by posing with there wives during Monday night match with Middlesex, and looking rather hot under the collar it might be said. And now four of the squad have been taken ill leave the side with just eleven fit players, a wholly miserable week it has been. Captain Kevin Pietersen has called to get the week over a done with so they can get back home with there families, not the first sign that the players are unhappy about proceedings.

However will the £500,000 win bonus soften the blow, maybe just a little, will it help the game of Cricket most certainly not. Players are now being asked to choose between big pay outs in 20/20 Cricket, or a smaller pay out in test matches.

Now with families to support and lives to live, players who have been earning very little in comparison are made to choose, and in many of there positions they can't afford to say no.

The sanctity of Cricket is being pulled through the mud here and Standford has got the ball rolling in that respect. And for me it doesn't look like slowing down. The demand for 20/20 is there and due to the reception its got in England and now abroad businessmen will come in, throw large amounts of cash at the sport and watch in all unfold. I'll tell you now I won't be one of the onlookers.

Cricket has become fashionable again it seems, but for how long will the name of Cricket remain as we knew it just 4 years ago, oh how times have changed.

Before its to late

When Carlisle United were relegated from the football league in 2004 there fans must have feared the worst. Their club had avoided relegation on numerous occasions from Division 3 and when they finally did drop they must have feared that they could be down in the realms of Non-league for years to come.

On the contrary, they were promoted straight back up the following season, and used the relegation as the catalyst for where they are today, playing League 1 football. However it looks as though the club, who missed out on promotion to the Championship last season might need another relegation to kick start there fortunes.

The club lie 14th in the table three points off the relegation places and not knowing where the next win is going to come from, a cliche I know but never spoken more truly than with Carlisle this season.

Defeats recently to struggling Hereford United and now Colchester United, who record there first win at their new stadium on Saturday with a thumping 5-0 win. Things haven't looked as bleak since the non-league days.

With the squad at John Ward's disposal its hard to see why they are struggling. They lost very little of the squad which finished fourth in the league last season. Keiron Westwood has gone to Coventry in the Championship but this move is hardly the sole season for their fall from grace.

The events of the final day of last season could have diminished the sides confidence some-what. They were second going into the final day and a draw at home to Bournemouth who needed the win to stay up themselves. Nottingham Forest jumped ahead of them and were automatically promoted and left Carlisle to the lottery of the play-offs where they were knocked out by Leeds United.

They came so close last season some of the disappointment may have run over to this season with a squad very similarly built. In truth the team would have struggled in the Championship and could have struggled badly, their start to League 1 this season shows that.

The team aren't looking as strong as unit as they did last season and don't ever look likely to hold onto leads like they showed at MK Dons when they looked as though they could add to their tally.

The man mountain upfront Danny Graham has weighed in with his share of goals as always, scoring ten in total. However there aren't many in reserve willing to take much of the responsibility in terms of scoring goals. Graham does have the hopes of the team on his shoulders. but its obvious hell need help.

The introduction of Grahame Kavanagh will hopefully sure up the midfield and give some creativity up front.

At the back the side has struggled hugely and with the fire-power up top the side knows that if it defends well it has a chance. They simply haven't done that this term and this has to change if results are to get better.

The team have already conceded 26 goals in the league, the worst defense outside the bottom four. The loss of Peter Murphy is a big one sure, but no-one has stepped up to the plate defensively and taken charge, because no offense to Colchester if they are scoring five past you then you have serious problems.

John Ward has done an admiral job since taking over 2 years ago and getting the club to his stage is very admiral, but he is in danger of loosing all he has created if his side don't sort out there defensive frailties.

With Graham in the side they always have a chance but until problems are sorted out elsewhere his goals, and there will be plenty of them will be going to waste.