DISQUS

Thanks for the comments guys.

kkfla737, I can understand your point about alot of people around the world having a negative opinion of English football fans, but really there are hardly ever problems these days at matches here.
And I acknowledge that FIFA would make more money from a World Cup in he USA, but they hosted it only 15 years ago, wheras England hasn't had it since 1966. For the country that invented football to be aloud to host less World Cups than the likes of Mexico and USA, two nations that are more interested in other sports, would be a disgrace in my opinion.

In the previous two rounds this season there have been five matches televised in total in the UK: three on setanta and two on ITV

so if that's the same this time the five televised ties should be:

Watford v Chelsea
Derby/Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Liverpool/Everton v Doncaster/Aston Villa
Swansea City v Fulham
Sheffield United v Hull City

Hi Martin,

You are a fantastic commentator, and I'm sure your job can be absolutely thrilling at times, but do you have any stand-out moments or special highlights from your long career as a football commentator?

And by the same token, are there any horror stories from your time as a commentator, whether it be at a World Cup or just a routine Premier League match? Have there been any moments when it has all gone terribly wrong?

Thanks alot.

Im actually 15 years old ParkLane 67.

I don't think it is fair to critisise the crowd at the game on Tuesday night, because these U21 games are actually more often staged at smaller venues than the KC Stadium, like Championship or League one grounds.

Sorry I misunderstood Arsenal's atmosphere on big nights.

I was just getting so caught up in how poor their atmosphere at european nights is compared to Liverpools.

Liverpool will also lose a third player in Lucas.

Anonymous - Babel, Cole and Ronaldo are still classed as wingers no matter how much cutting inside and shooting they do.

Darren - Yes, maybe a rampaging full-back is the solution, but we will have to wait and see if Dossena and Degan are actually good enough first.

I also appreciate that Kuyt has done well for other players in his right-midfield position, but that means we are almost losing a postion on the park if all he is doing is freeing up space for Torres and midfielers. Torres will still get goals without him, and a new flying winger will get goals for himself too - adding up to MORE goals overall.

It is only the last paragraph that suggests he will play in the opening stages of the season, so sorry about that.

He will not play for the opening two/three months of the campaign, but his situation will still be scrutinised by fans and the media even if he is not on the pitch.

When he returns, more of the analysis will be his actions on the pitch.

Did you get to watch the opening two games on Saturday at the airport in the end?

I can promise you Romania will lose all to both France and Italy, and defintetely not beat Holland - their only chance is nicking a point off the Dutch really.

Obviously you have lived in America for quite a while now Gaffer, but used to live in Britain.

So who do you want to win tonight?

In this sentence towards the end I have made a few errors:

But for all the quality competitions taking part what will inevitably be such an emotional event, there can only be one victorious ensemble of playing talent.


It should say:

But for all the quality competitors taking part in what will inevitably be such an emotional event, there can only be one victorious ensemble of playing talent.

For the EPL talk pocast, the episodes I have personally enjoyed most are ones involving current football journalists in the Uk, such as Henry Winter and Kevin Mcarra.

They give a very good insight into the media world of football, and how youngsters might try to become one in the future.

I would love to listen to a few more of these type podcasts, and my recommended journalists would be Martin Samuel of the Times or Sam Wallace of the Independant.

Im a neutral fan and I actually really enjoyed the game, in fact I thought it was a terrific advert for the English game, apart from Drogba's stupid slap in the second half.

In the UK, Sky Sports 1 are also showing the match live, and their coverage is far better than ITV.

The writing seems to be a bit bunched together, sorry about that.

In fact Paul, Derby finished third in last season's Championship, once place higher than West Brom who they went on to beat in the final.

I just believe the play-offs are terrific no matter who wins the matches involved.

The tension, excitement and drama is what football is all about, and we saw some outstanding goals in today's game between Crystal Palace and Bristol City.

The extra games also provide some struggling clubs to gain some added revenue to help their financial stituation.