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.