Last updated at 8:00 PM on 28th November 2009

It hasn’t escaped my notice that I have been put forward in severalquarters as a potential figurehead for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

The former Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, now a bid envoy, saidsome very nice things last week, indicating I would make a good ‘newLord Coe’ and should be pushed centre stage in the campaign.

Hands-on role: Italy’s stars get their hands on the World Cup

As flattering as that may be, I don’t want anyone to be misled.

Even if asked – and I haven’t been – I would not be able to play aprominent role in the bid because of my full-time commitments for theBBC.

Having little interest or experience in being a political animal, Ithink I’d be better off assisting where I can, rather than being thefront man for such a huge campaign.

I have already been named as one of many ambassadors for the 2018 bid and have helped to make a promotional video.

I am proud to do that.

But while I am happy to play a supporting role, I am not the Lord Coe some people are looking for.

He showed us in helping London win the 2012 Olympics that you needsomeone full-time campaigning for 2018. that would not be possible forme. I have a job at the BBC that I wouldn’t leave and doing the twothings in tandem would be impossible because of a conflict of interest.

How could I ask a bid leader a difficult question as a broadcasterif I’m going to be sitting with him at a board meeting or glad-handingan ambassador or FIFA delegate the next day?

The other reason for making it clear I do not want a top job withthe bid team is that I know my limitations and could not offer the samethings as Lord Coe did with London.

I am a different animal to him.

He did an amazing job with the Olympics, travelling thousands of miles, shaking millions of hands and having strong political antennae – he was a Conservative Party MP – to win votes and influence people.

I know what I am and what I am not. I am a broadcaster and journalist, not a political person.

My professional dream is to say on national television: ‘England win the World Cup’, and by that I mean in South Africa next summer.

Naturally, like any Englishman, I want us to win the 2018 bid. We would host a wonderful party. The fans would guarantee that.

Just Fab: Fabio Cannavaro lifts the trophy

Almost 75,000 packed into Old Trafford last week to watch Manchester United for a Champions League game, even though they had already qualified.

Where else would you get that? Our multi-racial society mirrors the football world in general.

Every country would be well-supported at a World Cup tournament in England because there are communities from every country living here.

It would make for a fantastic atmosphere. There are concerns with how the bid has gone so far – the apparent in-fighting that has seen people moved up, down and sideways on various committees is clearly not helpful.

I am not privy to what has gone on but it would be a crying shame if all the advantages that our bid enjoys are overshadowed by power struggles and egos getting in the way.

Everyone should remember this is about winning the right to host the 2018 World Cup, not who gets a knighthood.

Diplomat: Lord Coe is a great ambassador

Any pomposity will be seized on right away by FIFA.

We need to avoid being presumptuous and thinking that just because we’re England, we are entitled to host the World Cup. no country has a divine right to win the greatest sports event on earth – including us.

We have to prove to people we have a strong bid, why we deserve the World Cup and what we can do for football.

The scattergun list of ambassadors carries some impressive names but others – Robinho, for example – look a bit strange at first glance.

He might not be living here next summer, let alone in 2018!

That is the result of a celebrity obsessed age, I guess, and it is good when well-known names pitch in to help.

But overall, the biggest ‘Wow’ factor for 2018 should come from the bid itself, not David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton, myself or any other individual.

I support the bid – I know we would be tremendous hosts in 2018.

But let’s leave out the Lord Coe talk from now on. I want to be a supporting actor, not play the leading role.

Thanks for the Ruud interruption!

Alan Shearer and Ruud Gullit had their first proper chat for 10 years last week, ending a ‘feud’ that started when Gullit dropped Shearer from the Newcastle United team against Sunderland and was promptly sacked afterwards.

Now we’re talking: Gullit and Shearer have finally patched up their differences

It was fascinating to see them put all that behind them as fellow Champions League pundits and they were getting on fine until Terry Venables got out his wooden spoon and started stirring.

Ruud was trying to explain the situation to Alan by saying: ‘I was trying to get the best out of you.’

As Alan pondered that, Terry piped up with: ‘Well, you shouldn’t have dropped him then!’

If Liverpool clubs want to compete then sharing makes sense

Some Everton and Liverpool fans would bitterly object to sharing a ground with each other.

Some diehards might even threaten to rip up their season tickets in protest.

But I firmly believe the silent majority of supporters would agree with the idea if it meant their club could carry on fighting for trophies.

Granted, a ground-share might not be the ideal scenario but real fans want what is best for their club.

I had a fantastic season at Everton in the mid-Eighties. They were by far the best club side I ever played for and if the once-in-a-lifetime chance to join Barcelona hadn’t come up, I’d have wanted to stay for longer.

It pains me to see the problems they and Liverpool are facing ahead of today’s crucial derby at Goodison.

Too small: Liverpool need a bigger stadium than Anfield

With money troubles at the top and problems on the field, the logical answer is a ground-share.

If you can’t afford to build a 70,000 stadium each, why not share the costs and build one together?

The alternative – going it alone – hasn’t worked so far and every week sees the Merseyside giants losing further ground to their rivals.

Manchester City and Chelsea have billionaire owners, Arsenal and Manchester United have big stadiums.

Spurs have permission to build a new ground and Aston Villa are planning to extend their capacity.

it all looks gloomy for the Merseyside pair, who each have relatively thin squads because of recent investment problems.

Liverpool still have one of the best brands in world football and because of that they will hope to find a new, wealthy owner soon.

But they know they do not have a divine right to finish in the top four.

Everton won’t find a billionaire willing to plough in money, so their need to ground-share is even greater.

Personally, I can’t see a reason why the two clubs shouldn’t just get on with it and talk about sharing a new stadium. but I know logic doesn’t always play a big part in football.

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Victoria Beckham has previously called her feet “the bane of my life” — and not just because of her obsessive compulsion to toss away millions on shoes, shoes, and more shoes. according to U.K. paper the Daily Mail — and more than a few icky close-up photos of Beckham’s dogs — the world’s most fabulous footballer’s wife has a raging case of bunions.

“She is suffering from shooting pain from the bunions,” a snitch told the paper.

“Normally, she kicks off her shoes in the house, but she has been out so much recently in high heels that she is really feeling it.” (We don’t totally buy that last statement. Posh wears five-inch Louboutins when playing with her kids in the sandbox; if Isotoner makes a stiletto, she’s wearing that around the house.)

According to reports, Beckham’s been advised to get surgery on her feet, but is ignoring the advice, instead doing therapeutic exercises, trying out insoles and dousing her skin-wheels in ice to stave off the inevitable. (Because an eternity of fabulous pain is so much better than wearing flat shoes for a two- to six-month recovery period? maybe someone should tell her Jimmy Choo makes a fine flat.)

this is Eddie Davis’ Grey Cup homecoming.

And not just because the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back is expecting to see thousands of watermelon-wearing fans in the stands at McMahon Stadium for tomorrow’s Grey Cup matchup with the Montreal Alouettes.

Davis, who spent five seasons with the Stamps and won his first championship ring in Red & White in 1998, made Calgary his adopted hometown more than a decade ago.

“I’m just enjoying this whole week — enjoying being back at McMahon Stadium, being back at my old locker. this is going to be a great week,” Davis said. “I’m loving this right now. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

not to mention sleeping in his old bed.

Most of the imports suiting up for Riders and Alouettes won’t see their families for a few more days, but the 36-year-old Davis is an exception.

even though he’s following the same hectic schedule as the rest of the Cup participants, he’s seen his wife and two children more often this week than he normally would during the football season.

in fact, the talkative defensive halfback just moved into the Riders’ team hotel last night after spending a few nights with his loved ones at their southwest home.

Davis grew up in St. Louis, Mo., and is quick to admit he dreamed about earning his paycheques on a 100-yard field.

after 15 years in the CFL, though, he’s a staunch defender of the Canadian game.

“I’m very grateful for this league, for these fans, for Canada, in general,” Davis said.

“This is where I made my living. this is where I’ve made my family. this is my new home.

“I’m grateful for having had this opportunity to play up here. I’ve seen a lot of NFL guys come up here and think this league is a rinky-dink league, but most of those guys can’t stick in this league.

“You’ve got some great athletes up here, and I think we can play with anybody in the world.

Ironically, Davis had to move south for his first taste of three-down football.

after a stellar collegiate career at Northern Illinois, he signed a free-agent pact with the Birmingham Barracudas in 1995, spending one season in Alabama before the CFL scrapped their failed American expansion plan.

He was scooped up by the Stamps in the dispersal draft and spent five seasons in Red & White before signing with the Riders in 2001.

Davis ranks among the active leaders with 34 career interceptions and has also racked up nearly 1,000 tackles in his CFL career. Tomorrow, he’ll try to add a third championship ring to his resume.

What a journey it’s been.

“Honestly, I didn’t even think I’d been playing CFL football when I came out of college,” Davis said.

“I was fortunate enough to get a contract sent to me from a guy named Roy Shivers and I said, ‘What the hell? Let me go down there.’

“It was a $30,000 contract. that was my first contract and I loved it. I thought I was making big, big money.”

WES.GILBERTSON@SUNMEDIA.CA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -All signs point to another lopsided affair.

Top-ranked Florida has a higher-rated offense than Florida State, a considerably better defense and more at stake when the in-state rivals meet for the 52nd consecutive year Saturday. The Gators (11-0) have the nation’s longest winning streak (21 games), have won five straight in the series and are trying to put together the program’s first perfect season.

Could the Seminoles (6-5) mess it all up?

“You never know,” FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. “That’s what makes it exciting. That’s what makes it fun. All these big rivals play and you never know. a lot of times it’s a good game and it shouldn’t have been a good game.”

The last two have been routs, with Florida winning by a combined score of 90-27. The Gators totaled 1,075 yards, 51 first downs and their most points in a two-year span against FSU since 1972 and ‘73.

Many believe this one could be just as bad, maybe even worse. The Seminoles have an undersized defensive line, a porous secondary and have given up 332 points – the most in Bowden’s 33 years. although E.J. Manuel has been effective in two starts, he also has throw four interceptions.

“We’re getting closer,” Bowden said. “Next year, we should be neck and neck. … I think we’ll be able to compete next year.”

The oddsmakers must feel the same. Florida State is a 24 1/2-point underdog in a rivalry that used to be as much about national championships as bragging rights and recruiting battles.

Players and coaches insist little has changed, though.

“A lot of people say the rivalry’s changed,” Florida linebacker Ryan Stamper said. “If you look back in the ’90s, this game pretty much was the game that decided who was going to the national championship. even though we’ve been the most successful the past couple years, that still doesn’t change how we approach the rivalry as far as the way we prepare.

“Just because Florida State had a bad year, we know that’d make their season to beat us. even though they’re having a bad season, just because we beat them we won’t be like, ‘It’s Florida State, they’re sorry anyway or whatever.’ It’ll feel real good to beat them just because it’s Florida State.”

A win Saturday would be special.

Not only would it give Florida its second undefeated regular season in school history and set up a national championship elimination game against No. 2 Alabama the following week in the Southeastern Conference title game, it would give quarterback Tim Tebow, linebacker Brandon Spikes and about 20 other seniors a victory in their final home game.

The seniors, who have more wins (46) than any class in SEC history, will be honored before the game. Tebow certainly will get most of the attention; several groups spent the week urging everyone to wear eye black in honor of the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner’s home finale.

Tebow and his fellow seniors don’t want to disappoint the 90,000-plus fans who will watch them play in person for the last time.

“There’s something extra about winning a rivalry game, especially against Florida State,” senior receiver David Nelson said. “It’s Senior Day for us. It’s your last chance to run into The Swamp. It will be your last chance to sing the fight song with the student section.

“There’s a lot of things that we can accomplish by winning this game. It’s a rivalry, undefeated, your last game at The Swamp, so there’s a lot of motivation for us.”

The Seminoles eked out a win against Maryland last week to become bowl eligible for the 33rd consecutive season. although there’s still plenty of talk about Bowden’s uncertain future, a victory in Gainesville probably would bolster his case for sticking around another year.

Another blowout might flame the fire under Bowden’s seat.

Bowden recalled several upsets in this series, specifically the one in 2004, when the Ron Zook-coached Gators beat FSU 20-13 on the night the Doak Campbell Stadium field was named after Bowden. could the Seminoles return the favor by ruining Florida’s season Saturday?

“I don’t even want to think about that,” Stamper said. “That would be a bad, bad day around here.”

Bowden believes things have to turn sooner or later.

“There were times we beat them four in a row and they beat us five or six in a row,” he said. “It will change. Nothing lasts forever.”

Having suffered two Barclays Premier League defeats and seen plans for a new stadium hit the buffers, it has been a bad news week for Everton.

There is, however, one league table that will hearten Evertonians ahead of tomorrow’s Goodison Park derby with Liverpool. as youth academy head Ray Hall explained: ‘So far this season, Manchester United have had, on average, six products of their youth system in their first team squad on match day.

‘They are top of that little league. We are next with five per game. We aim for at least four per match so we are doing OK.’

Young gun: Dan Gosling hails his FA Cup winner against Liverpool last season

Hall, on the Everton staff now for 19 years, was too polite to reveal where Liverpool stand in the table. other clubs, he reasons, are not his business. but it would not be too hard to hazard a guess.

While boss David Moyes’s weekly Premier League first-team roster features the likes of Leon Osman, Tony Hibbert, Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling, Liverpool rely heavily on stalwarts Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard when it comes to injecting a streak of home-sourced talent into Rafael Benitez’s eclectic squad.

As Liverpool’s Spanish manager has struggled to move the club forward this season, the apparent lack of players from the club’s youth academy has been used as another stick to beat him with.

Midfielder Jay Spearing, defender Martin Kelly and forward Nathan Ecclestone have appeared on the Premier League radar, but their appearances have been fleeting.

Benitez has, it must be said, only just completed a radical overhaul of a youth set-up he inherited and which he believed to be failing.

Seventeen staff departed in the summer and he now has his own – such as former chief scout Frank McParland and highly-rated ex-Barcelona man Jose Segura – at the helm. It is too early to expect results, but one senses they must come quickly.

At one stage last season, Liverpool were said to have 62 professional players on their books, something that drew criticism from UEFA general secretary David Taylor.

‘Training would be interesting with all these players running around looking for 11 jerseys,’ he said. ‘It’s ridiculous.’

Goodison grown: Wayne Rooney in action during his Everton days

There have also been harsh words from former youth director Steve Heighway, who quit in 2007 after failing to get on with Benitez or his predecessor Gerard Houllier, and some members of the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2006.

Midfielder Adam Hammill said: ‘At 18, you’d be naive to think you’re going to break into Liverpool’s first team. You’d have to be a Gerrard, Owen or Rooney.’

Criticism from those who haven’t made the grade must be placed in context. Hammill, for example, is now employed by Barnsley, which suggests he wasn’t good enough.

And why shouldn’t Liverpool expect players to be as talented as ‘Gerrard, Owen or Rooney’ in order to reach their first team? Young players do not, after all, have a divine right to play in Benitez’s side just because they were born within sight of the River Mersey.

Stalwart: Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher

Nevertheless, one thing that does appear to have set Everton apart from their neighbours at Anfield in recent years is the relationship and interaction between the first team set-up and the academy.

At Liverpool it has been strained during the Benitez years, something he is now trying to put right.

At Everton’s Finch Farm training centre, unity and a sense of direction and purpose have been easier to find. Hall added: ‘Our objective is to support the club and support the first team manager in his annual quest to bring European football to Everton.

‘We aim to see one youth product make his debut for the first team each season and have achieved that for the last 10 years. There have been 29 in that time.

‘Being on the same site is mutually beneficial. We are not in each other’s pockets, but there is sharing of ideas and players between the different levels of coaching staff. All our systems – technical, tactical, educational and medical – are aligned.

‘Nobody here has ever told me I have to win the FA Youth Cup. our role is about developing elite players for the first team.’

The issue of winning youth honours is a delicate one in coaching circles. After all, what use is silverware if the players who win it don’t make the grade at senior level?

Liverpool, for example, have been in three of the last four finals but precious few players – the likes of Spearing and Ecclestone excepted – have proved good enough for Benitez.

At Everton, the route to the first team is easier. It always will be at clubs where transfer funds are more limited. but Everton are clearly doing something right. Liverpool will hope their new setup will reap similar dividends. the sooner the better.

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Edinburgh’s tram bosses have insisted they are on schedule to complete work on Princes Street in time for this weekend’s festive shopping deadline.

Buses and taxis are due to return to the capital’s main shopping street in time for the Christmas period.

The street has been closed to all traffic since February for work on Edinburgh’s new tram system.

Retailers are concerned that the nine-month closure may have damaged the street’s reputation.

Richard Jeffrey, chief executive of Tie, which was the company set up to oversee the trams project, said Princes Street would open to traffic at 0500 GMT on Sunday.

He said: “Princes Street has never been closed to pedestrians but obviously once it is reopened to buses and taxis and everything is restored to normality, it will be a big pull for people into the city centre to do their Christmas shopping.”

Gordon Bell, a Scottish retail consultant, said: “A lot of shopping has been done already, however, the other problem is shoppers are creatures of habit and we have given them the opportunity to go elsewhere to experience new shopping.

“Just because we have reopened the street doesn’t mean they will come rushing back.”

Victoria Beckham has previously called her feet “the bane of my life” – and not just because of her obsessive compulsion to toss away millions on shoes, shoes, and more shoes. According to U.K. paper the Daily Mail – and more than a few icky close-up photos of Beckham’s dogs – the world’s most fabulous footballer’s wife has a raging case of bunions.

“She is suffering from shooting pain from the bunions,” a snitch told the paper. “Normally, she kicks off her shoes in the house, but she has been out so much recently in high heels that she is really feeling it.” (We don’t totally buy that last statement. Posh wears five-inch Louboutins when playing with her kids in the sandbox; if Isotoner makes a stiletto, she’s wearing that around the house.)

According to reports, Beckham’s been advised to get surgery on her feet, but is ignoring the advice, instead doing therapeutic exercises, trying out insoles and dousing her skin-wheels in ice to stave off the inevitable. (Because an eternity of fabulous pain is so much better than wearing flat shoes for a two- to six-month recovery period? Maybe someone should tell her Jimmy Choo makes a fine flat.) Heck, she should just use the few thousand she’d likely blow on a fresh pair of heel-less boots and hire some guys from Mariah Carey’s entourage to carry her from the soccer field to Suri Cruise’s unicorn-riding lessons – or wherever Victoria Beckham hangs out these days.

“She puts up with the pain, but the doctor has told her she seriously needs to consider a bunionectomy or ditch the heels for a few months to let the inflammation calm down,” says the Mail’s source. “She has not got that long to decide what to do.”

Posted By DAN CHRISTIE Posted 51 mins ago

Why should we care if a few Afghans are tortured just because Canadian troops handed them over to Afghan security forces? I mean, who cares, eh? For all we know they’re nothing but “scumbags” anyway. Isn’t that what Rick Hillier called them –”scumbags”?

What about us? What about our dead and wounded? Don’t they count for something? after all, we’re only trying to help these pathetic people, trying to make sure little Afghan girls get the chance to go to school. I’m pretty sure Rick Hillier said that too, didn’t he?

I mean who are we supposed to believe — some disgruntled ex-diplomat who claims he told anybody who would listen that Canadian troops were handing over Afghan prisoners for torture, or our own minister of national defence, the Honourable — and I repeat, Honourable — Peter MacKay — the man who swore he’d never, ever merge the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada with the Canadian Alliance Party just moments before he merged the Progressive Conservative Party Of Canada with the Canadian Alliance Party.

I mean, who are we supposed to believe? Boy, I’ll tell ya, I’ve heard all kinds of things

this past week that just about make my blood boil. Imagine a Globe and Mail columnist, one of the big guys, coming right out and calling Gen. Rick Hillier “the government’s chief military blusterer”. Holy cow! Rick Hillier, hero to millions, lantern-jawed, straight-shooter a “blusterer”! Can you beat that? Man-oh-man, I tell ya. Next thing you know somebody’s going to say Gen. Hillier left his troops in the field during the heat of battle and high-tailed it back to Canada so he could get into consulting work, write a book and mount a credible line of bluster about how — oh goodness me, no — Canada would never hand anybody over to anybody else if even the slightest whiff of torture was involved. Goodness, no.

I mean, for crying out loud.

Now I’m starting to hear noises about some convention in Geneva or something. What the heck has a convention in Geneva, Switzerland, for God sakes, got to do with us? especially the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and how our soldiers, our men and women doing their duty for their country, their flag, our democracy and, yes, for Tim Hortons for Leafs Nation and, yes, even for the right of Afghan women to wear high-heels like I think Rick Hillier mentioned at a Red Shirt Rally at Toronto City Hall a while back, could find themselves facing a war crimes trial for being complicit in torture just because they might have done what their government might or might not have told them to do.

A war crimes trial. some kind of mini-Nuremberg, I suppose. Unreal.

This is Canada. We’re Canadians. we don’t torture people. our military especially has never, ever tortured anyone. never. except maybe once. Somalia or some Godforsaken place I think it was. but, it was so long ago I can’t even remember the name of the kid we tortured. Sixteen or 17 I think they said he was. we took pictures, too. Yeah, we took pictures.

Arone! Yeah. That’s it! Sidane Arone was the kid’s name, 16 years old.

But, geez, all this talk about torture and war crimes and Geneva Conventions, eh? who are they trying to kid?

by Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

SALIF Diao has urged Stoke fans to lay off controversial Blackburn forward El Hadji Diouf tomorrow – and not just because he is helping with the City midfielder’s charity project.

Diouf is one of several stars who will play in a game in Turin on December 21 to promote anti-racism and raise money for Diao’s African children’s charity, CAAP Afrika, and for research into motor neurone
disease.

Didier Drogba, Patrice Evra, Samuel Eto’o and Pavel Nedved are among the big-name stars who should also be playing in the Africa versus Europe game.

Diao and Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye will pair up with Diouf in Torino’s Olympic Stadium, although that won’t mean they will go easy on their Senegalese compatriot at Ewood Park.

The battle between Faye and Diouf should be a mouthwatering one, even though the former Bolton team-mates are friends as well as neighbours in the North West.

Diao said: “It is going to be a good game between those two. every week they are on the phone together talking about what they’ve done. he lives right next to Abdoulaye so, when we lose a game, he will park his car in front of Abdoulaye’s house and give him a bit of stick on his way home.”

Diouf is clearly a brave man, but winding up the fearsome Faye is typical of a player who likes nothing better than having thousands of fans on his case.

Diao explained: “He is a really top class player, but he loves the adversity. If he’s not having a good day, he will do everything to provoke the fans and everyone else around him to help him raise his game. I would advise fans, whatever you do, just leave him alone. Don’t wake him up.”

There’s not much chance of the Everton fans ignoring Diouf the next time he goes to Goodison after the midfielder was at the centre of controversy there in September.

Blackburn’s ex-Liverpool forward was alleged to have racially abused a ball boy, but countered with claims he was racially abused by Everton fans and had bananas throw at him.

The Merseyside club was furious with Diouf after finding no bananas on the pitch or in the stands.

Diao, who arrived at Liverpool at the same time as Diouf in the wake of Senegal’s impressive displays at the 2002 World Cup, said: “He needs to watch himself because, whatever he does or says, people will always blame him. but I know him personally and he is a very good lad, even if he is a bit eccentric.

“He likes to be the centre of the world and that can be good because he does very good things for charity. but in another way it can be something not nice, and that’s why he needs to be careful and try to avoid those things.

“But he has hot blood, so if people provoke him he will react. He’s not scared about being in the eyes of everyone – he loves it.”
Diao is a more thoughtful character, although the 32-year-old City midfielder is not to be tangled with on the pitch.

He’s leaner and meaner this year having lost half a stone thanks to changing his diet. Blood tests showed Diao has an allergy to wheat, a problem he believes has contributed to the succession of muscle problems he’s suffered over the last few years.

He said: “I’ve had to change my diet completely, which I found weird. It was difficult for the first two weeks, but I’ve lost weight and feel a lot sharper at training. That’s helped me a lot.

“I’ve also had a lot of good advice from Robert Huth, who had the same problem when he was at Chelsea.

“When they told me, I thought ‘why did no-one think of it five or six years ago?’ but it’s all good. I think every player should have that blood test to make sure they are doing the right thing.”

Diao missed Stoke’s disappointing home draw with Wolves and their defeat at Hull because of a groin strain. he played an hour in the home win against Portsmouth last Sunday, but was not at his best as he hadn’t done a full week’s training.

But his performances at Tottenham and Everton earlier in the season show why Tony Pulis was keen to get the combative holding midfielder back in the side.

Pulis sanctioned a one-year deal for Diao at the end of last season just as it seemed he was on his way out of the club.

Diao would love to stay beyond the end of this season, but says he needs to state his case for a new deal by being fit enough to play regularly.
He said: “I love the club and really feel at home here. I feel wanted here and it is a family for me. but the only way I can make that happen is by playing week in, week out, and making sure the performances are there.

“Then, maybe we will sit down with the board to talk about a contract extension. but for the moment, it is up to me to keep my fitness levels up and deliver on the pitch.

“I have played just four games this season and I don’t think that’s good enough.”

by Mick Cleary
Published: 6:29PM GMT 26 Nov 2009

The England manager hit out, though, at the degree of criticism that has been levelled at his coaching team, calling it “hysterical”.

“It’s not nice to sack people but if I thought it were in the best interests of the team, then that’s the decision I’d take,” said Johnson, sitting alongside his immediate boss, Rob Andrew, who reiterated that the former World Cup-winning captain has his full backing to take England through to the 2011 tournament.

Despite the laborious nature of the autumn campaign, Johnson was strident in his defence of the England set-up. England are not for turning just because of what Andrew termed ”a few bumps in the road”.

“It would be easy to blame someone else, to say that a, B or C should be sacked,” said Johnson. “Easy to do, but not right. It’s become the thing to speculate when frankly these people don’t know what’s going on. It’s so wide of the mark, almost hysterical, and it becomes ridiculous.

“We’re not patting ourselves on the back and saying we’ve done well, because we’re not satisfied either with the way we’ve played. we accept criticism but the stuff about [forwards coach] John Wells is so far off the mark. The stats show that our set-piece has improved since last autumn. as for his record of not achieving anything, I seem to remember him winning two European Cups and getting to the 2007 Rugby World Cup final.”

Andrew revealed that Josh Lewsey, who lambasted England’s coaching team last week, had written to apologise to the three with whom he took particular issue: Wells, defence coach Mike Ford and attack coach Brian Smith.

The routine autumnal review is under way at Twickenham. Johnson played down its significance in that he is in constant touch with Andrew. He rejected the notion that the relationship was too cosy and uncritical.

“We don’t need to be shouted at,” said Johnson. “What good does that do? we don’t think everything’s great and we’re aware of the issues long before they’re being written about. Our composure in attack, for example, is a big area in which we need to improve, that ability to turn chances into five or seven points rather than going for dropped goals or penalties.”

England have not been the only side struggling to score tries. The malaise is widespread. The RFU is to take up the cudgels at the annual gathering of the International Rugby Board in Dublin on Tuesday. not only does Andrew have misgivings about the type of rugby being generated, he also has grave concerns that the pile-up at the breakdown is causing more injuries.

“The injury rate in the senior England squads has risen from 20-25 per cent to 40 per cent and that’s unsustainable for the game,” said Andrew. “We haven’t got the scientific stats yet but anecdotally players and coaches in the Premiership feel that the increased collision at the breakdown as teams try to clear out the defender is contributing to the rising rate of injury.”

The fact that the try count in the autumn series has dropped from an average of seven tries per match in 2007 to 2.86 this season, and in domestic competition from 4.12 last season to 2.63 this season, has alarmed many observers.

“We are going to lobby the IRB very strongly,” said Andrew. “We want them to review the interpretation of law at the breakdown. this is an issue for the game, not just for England. The pendulum has swung too far back in favour of the defence.”

And if anyone thought things might improve, Andrew had this warning. “Players will get better skills, defensively. unless something is done, things are going to get worse, not better.”