Leave Johnny Foreigner alone, you!

So England will probably fail to qualify for Euro 2008 this weekend, boo hoo. It's convenient that several managers and players (including Stevie MBE) are blaming the influx of foreign players for England's International shortcomings. Fergie started all this off by saying Arsenal had too many in their team, even though in United's next game following his whiskey-fuelled outburst, he fielded 8 foreigners in his side. This debate doesn't have any legs in my opinion; I'm obviously on Arsene's side on this one; there's a great piece in 442 this month where he says that since football is arguably the most popular global televised sport, what better way to show how different nations can come together as a team and work towards success? Which other fields do we see this? It may be an idealistic viewpoint but I think its a very valid one; having quotas on foreign players sounds like a plan straight from the pages of the Daily Mail if you ask me; our game in this country is now richer and more popular than ever before, don't blame the arrival of Johnny Foreigner just because the FA has an inept selection committee or a manager that is clearly less able than most club managers in the Premiership...

Still not got t'internet at home, been spending the last two weeks painting and decorating, still got a fair bit to do, mind, Sarah Beeny would be very proud. I'd like to think that those skills you're supposed to pick up automatically when you become a dad (being able to do DIY, re-wire a house, build a fence, etc.) are shining through now .

Well done to YouTube for pulling Neil's Sinead O'Connor video, it was the scariest video i've seen since that Aphex Twin one where his face is on everyone's body (Windowlicker); do check out Neil's assault course videos tho' as they're pretty funny, don't think CTU will be calling him up for work soon tho...

One highlight of the weekend was watching Paul Merson's front tooth fall out whilst reporting on a game on Soccer Saturday, hilarious, looked like a massive bit of chewing gum; poor ol' Merse, he's not blessed in the brain departent but he's still a legend and Nathan and me once asked hom for his autograph twice when he played for an Arsenal XI v Royston Town back in the 80's....