England's sporting weekend

Three big, patriotic things are taking place this weekend. England begin their preparations for Euro 2012 by playing Norway in Oslo tonight, England take on The West Indies at Trent Bridge in the cricket....and crooner, Engelbert Humperdink represents the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Plenty going on this weekend so I will attempt to predict the outcome of each.

Firstly the football. Roy Hodgson takes his bow as England manager and all I can say is good luck to him. It is about time that Roy was given the opportunity to manage his own country after so many years of managing everybody elses. It is great also to have an Englishman at the helm, who can communicate better with the players, media and be more switched on to our football culture. I only hope the media give him a fair chance. Already he has been lampooned for his speech impediment and his awkward looks. There's one picture that the Murdoch press uses in particular which seems to portray him as being gawky and a bit of a pushover. For crying out loud, let's judge him on his squad selections, tactics and results rather than the way he looks or the way he talks.

He has also made a very astute signing in taking Gary Neville on board as coach, somebody surely who should have captained his country many times had it not been for the presence of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. He always talks a lot of sense when on Sky Sports and as Roy has said in an interview is more the player's generation. It also looks like he could still do a useful job for his country on the pitch also if the clips of him training are anything to go by.

Norway failed to qualify for the Euros, but as ever will prove an awkward test for our boys on their own patch. There are some hardened, familiar names in their squad, including Fulham's Brede Hangeland and relegated Blackburn' Morten Gamst -Pedersen, who may use this game as a shop window for his talents.

Andy Carroll has a fantastic opportunity to prove what he can do in an England shirt and stake a claim for a place in the opening game against France. Steven Gerrard will captain his country officially for the first time and hope to start in his favoured attacking midfield role.

For us fans this friendly will also be a good opportunity to try out different pubs and locations to watch the football. I for one will be out somewhere in York this evening, as I had a DJ cancellation for a wedding watching the game. It's all about preparation!!

As I write this blog the cricket is on in the background. The West Indies are batting in their first innings and have reached (at the time of writing) 340-6 with...Darren Sammy hooking one straight down Kevin Pietersen's throat..make that 340-7 out for 106... The pitch looks like a flat, batting paradise, thanks to the lovely sunshine and therefore I think it will end up in a draw, unless either team has a totally disastrous session between now and Tuesday afternoon. Well played though to Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels for their 200-run seventh wicket partnership. They have epitomised the hard-working team ethic that has been much needed in the West Indian ranks for some time. They look like a team who actually WANT to play test cricket for their country and give a good account of themselves. I think though England's extra quality will ultimately shine through  in the series, but it is great to see a team who are giving us plenty to think about before the South Africans visit later this summer.

Engelbert Humperdink at the ripe old age of 76 will take the stage for the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest. I think it has actually been a good move to send him, as he is an accomplished performer and well known throughout the world. It is better to have him than some young upstarts that nobody has ever heard of in this country, let alone the rest of Europe. So good luck to him and the song I suppose isn't too bad, although I doubt we will win it. The Song Contest seriously needs to review its judging and points system to stop the political voting that takes place. How about a rule saying that a nation cannot award 12 points to the same nation two years in a row...? or have neutral judges for each country.. as long as they don't vote for Jedward... However as the current rules stand I predict another trip to Eastern Europe next year....