......what a pity England`s "footballers" (the word is used lightly) do not show any sort of obligation towards the paying public, the game itself, their support staff and, most pointedly, their own self respect.

Saturday`s 0-0 draw against a spirited but limited Israel team was yet another in a litany of disappointments perpetrated by the pampered millionaires who currently wear the England shirts. Maybe we should be used to disppointments these days - after all, there have been enough of them in recent years, but I really felt that with the departure of Sven, Beckham and the former regime a new sense of urgency and pride might have emerged.

Saturday`s display was at best lacklustre and at worst shameful. No passion, no urgency, no intellingence (well, Rooney was on the pitch) and one gained the impression that they really couldn`t be bothered to be there, preferring instead to be at home in their palacial mansions, surrounded by their treasures and attended by the occasional WoG (wife or girlfriend.)

Qualification for the finals of the European Championship now seems more remote.....and yet, something deep within what must be my flawed psyche secretly hopes that these overpaid and over-pampered poseurs fail dismally, thus bringing down the wrath of a cheated nation on their collective shoulders. So, come on Andorra - go for it on Wednesday.

As for more mundane matters, my beloved Saints have representatives playing for their countries far and wide - Chris Baird for Northern Ireland, Gareth Bale for Wales, Gregorz Raziak for Poland, Pedro Pele for the Cape Verde Islands and Jhon (yes, that`s how it`s spelt) Viafara for Columbia. I hope they all return safely for the game against Wolves on Saturday, where passion, urgency and intelligence will be guaranteed.....hopefully By Saints as well.