I can scarcely believe that Norwich City have been stupid enough to appoint Glen Roeder as their new manager. In all the managerial jobs he has had he has failed – Watford, Gillingham, West Ham, Newcastle. Can any one explain to me why he, and Gary Megson for that matter, seem to constantly come up smelling of roses? They must give bloody good interviews, is all I can say.

I shall never forgive Roeder for his insulting behaviour towards West Ham fans when he was at Upton Park last year with Newcastle. His hand gestures towards us were a disgrace and he nearly caused a riot. And we were the ones who were at one with him over his illness. What a way to repay our loyalty.

Having spent many years of my life in Norwich and Norfolk I feel so sorry for the Canaries. I have spent many a happy hour at Carrow Road. However, I can do my little bit to puncture Roeder’s balloon as I have a fortnightly column in the Eastern Daily Press, in which I often write about football as well as politics.

Norwich City know not what they have done.

UPDATE: Apparently my comments above have upset a few people in Norfolk. Indeed, one person has written to the editor of the EDP claiming I have a vendetta against Glen Roeder and urging him to suitable edit my comments about Norwich’s new manager, should I write about him. In more than a year, not a word of my column has been edited out. That’s not what writing a column is about. A columnist is employed to write (sometimes) provocatively. I write as I find. If I think a politician is crap I’ll say so. Why should it be any different for football managers. Sadly my next column isn’t until Saturday week. Let me make it clear. I have no vendetta against Roeder. But I do think he behaved badly at Upton Park and that he wasn’t a very good manager. And I shall feel free to say so in my column.

Now you know that I am not a rugby fan, but even I watched the game on Saturday night – ok, ok, it was on in the background over dinner. Anyway, Jonny and the England rugby team certainly did the country proud at the weekend. Although it may be early to think of Xmas pressies just now, England rugby fans could do worse than visit www.notjustagame.co.uk where personally signed Jonny Wilkinson limited edition prints are still available. The images are by the caricaturist John Ireland and all the official prints come with a photo of Jonny signing his prints. HERE’S a direct link to the Jonny print.

I don’t know why, but I have a feeling of foreboding about this afternoon’s game. I can’t rationalise why, but although it is a game we need to win, something tells me it is not going to go to plan.

It will be good to see Craig Bellamy back, but what a shame it won’t be alongside Dean Ashton. I imagine Carlton Cole will get a runout again and he certainly has something to prove. Maybe that will spur him on, but he certainly seems to be a player who doesn’t react well to pressure. I’m assuming Freddie Ljungberg will be missing, having not appeared for Sweden during the week. Presumably Bowyer will play on the right, or maybe we’ll see Solano make his debut. Here’s the team I’m expecting…

Green, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Neill, Noble, Mullins, Bowyer, Etherington, Bellamy, Cole.

I normally only do political interviews but today I had the pleasure of talking to veteran football commentator Barry Davies for half an hour on my BROUGHT TO BOOK show. Click HERE to watch it.

And if you enjoyed that, you may like another 30 minute interview I did a week or two ago with former FA Executive Director David Davies. Click HERE.

The Sun reports this morning that Arsenal want to sign Robert Green and will offer £6 million. They allege that Green is unsettled because he has failed to get back into the England squad and that he thinks a move to a top 4 club would secure that place. I can see why Arsenal need a new goalkeeper, but they can keep their thieving hands off. Mind you, their need is not as great as that of Spurs….

Dean Ashton will be out of action for six weeks with knee ligament damage, according to reports today. However, there is better news on the Craig Bellamy front. He is back in training after a groin operation and may play for Wales next Wednesday. I doubt whether Alan Curbishley will be very pleased about that.

John McDowell is possibly best known for his frizzy haircut, but he was a classy fullback who played nearly 300 games for the Hammers between 1970 and 1979. Anyone know what he is up to now?

The team for Villa has just been announced. No place for Mark Noble! WTF!? Mullins and Bowyer in the centre. I don’t know the subs yet. The only explanation can be he has picked up a knock. Surely there’s no way Curbishley would drop him? He’s been our star player in more or less every game so far.

I suspect Nigel Reo Coker may come in for some stick from the West Ham away fans today. He deserves it. He was an intermittently great player for us, but last year his mind seemed to be all over the place. It was a shame as there’s no doubt he is a huge talent. I don’t mind admitting, I would have relished this season with him and Mark Noble in the centre of midfield.

It seems Anton Ferdinand is out of the game today, having gone off last Saturday with a groin strain. Bellamy is still out too, as our injury list grows by the week. I hope Curbishley plays a wider midfield today. Last Saturday it just did not work playing Bowyer and Freddie wide. I don’t know what the situation is with Matty Etherington but he wasn’t even on the bench last week. Let’s hope he returns today. Scott Parker is also out so I would expect either Bowyer or Mullins to replace him – probably Mullins.

I would expect the team to look something like this: Green, Neill, McCartney, Collins, Upson, Noble, Mullins, Etherington, Ljungberg, Ashton, Camara. Subs: Wright, Spector, Gabbidon, Cole, Bowyer