Play Off idea is a stroke of genius.

Now prepare yourselves, this is quite a rare occasion. A praise for the FA from myself. In the past few years I haven't been particularly happy with the FA mainly due to their lack of vision in improving the English game on and off the pitch. The list of things they have done or failed to have done could fill a blog post in itself so I won't go into detail. But the FA and the Premier League suggestion of a play-off system is in my opinion the best idea they have had in the domestic game for a long time, dare I say since the invention of the Premier League itself.

This season has been one of the most competitive in the Premier League as Everton's win at home to Manchester United showed as an example. If any of the big four have a bad day they are very liable to lose points and this made me think of what happens when Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal have played badly in Europe. For me they can play badly in a group stage game against a lesser team and probably still win and begs the question, could the chasing pack of teams from 4th to 8th cut it in the Champions League. I very much think they can, for instance, take the Scottish powers of Celtic and Rangers, one of them often reach the group stage of Europe's primary competition and with good form stand a chance of getting into the knockouts although this is less likely these days. The introduction of the Old Firm to the English league is another idea that has been muted for many years and one of the question has always been, 'where will they finish in the table?'. I reckon with their current squads they would do well to finish 12th or higher, yet their route to the Champions League is a lot easier than Tottenham, Everton and free-spending Manchester City.

Michel Platini's tweaking of the Champions League has meant that many more league champions from different countries are now reaching the group stage which is probably right in the spirit of the competition as one for domestic champions of Europe. But apart from the larger leagues of which am I including Spain, Italy, Germany, France and to a lesser extent Holland, there aren't many champions who could cut it against that many top half Premier League teams.

Of course there is the m-word, money and especially Manchester City's big bucks. Having a four team play-off would bring in a load of money for clubs and the game as a whole which needs it at the moment, through ticket receipts and TV revenue. Speaking to some supporters of the top four clubs, a common response is that they would rather things stay as they are. My feeling though is that this is a feeling of fear, sure over the course of 38 games the top four should stay as they are, even this season if Liverpool pull their finger out. But over three games, anything could happen and this is where we now look at the Football League, which has had a promotion play-off for years, especially in the Championship/Division One (old name) the team finishing highest in the league has found it hard to actually win the play-off competition. This normally is due to the pyschological pressure of the competition, the 3rd place team is often the side that has come excruciatingly close to automatic promotion and it takes a lot to pick yourself up and win the play-off, as my club Sheffield United has experienced twice in the time I've supported them.

I went to Wembley last year and yes it was very disappointing to lose the final having come so close to 2nd place in the league, one Kevin Phillips goal for Birmingham against us on the first day of the season ended up being the difference. But the experience and atmosphere of the play-offs both at Bramall Lane and Wembley was brilliant and still a great experience. Another thing to consider as to why the play-offs work so well is that no-one seems to moan or cry if they finish 3rd in the league and don't get promotion in the end because that's the nature of the game. The other teams have as much of a chance on the day because the competition in the lower leagues is that much closer, or it was. A play-off a few years ago wouldn't have worked, your 4th place team whether it be Arsenal or Liverpool would knuckle down and win. But not now, they would have to play very well to ensure their Europe place.

As a neutral that is fascinating and I will probably get a response from certain people but the English domestic game isn't all about the big four and their domination is by far the most boring aspect of the league and needs tweaking and a play-off is the perfect idea. So don't knock it till you've tried it, yes fans of the big four will be worried but think about this, how would an Arsenal win over Spurs to get into the Champions League feel, how would a Liverpool win over Everton feel. Pretty damn fantastic is what I think. The one concern I have is that the final would be played at Wembley which I think would take something special away from the Championship play-off final. In addition, a two-legged play off would be in keeping with the normal progression in the qualifying and knockout rounds of European competition.

The Premier League needs 14 clubs to agree so the changes can be pushed through to be implemented when the TV contract needs renewing in three years time, I can see it happening and really hopes it does, come on FA, for once pull yourselves together and restore some faith from the clubs who previously wouldn't have a chance of getting into the Champions League.

Why I admire the Winter Olympics.

In planning to write this blog earlier in the week I was fully ready to wax lyrical about how I love the Winter Olympics due to its madness and spectacle but events in the hours before the Opening Ceremony put that all in perspective. As I'm sure you will be aware there was tragedy in the luge during the practice runs when Georgia's 21 year old luger Nodar Kumaritashvili crashed and sadly passed away due to his injuries. The incident has for me as well as many others put everything in perspective not only in the Olympic world but in sport as a whole. Talking about the madness and sometimes comical side of winter sports doesn't feel appropriate. The aspirations of the Georgian have made me think of the deep down reason as to why the Winter Olympics is so great. It's not those who take the glory or see it snatch from their hands but it's those competitors who are there to live a dream, the dream of being a Winter Olympian and the bravery they have to perform in these super human events such as ski-jumping, skeleton and biathlon to name a few.

The British team embodies this sentiment and anyone watching the short track speed skating last night might have seen the reaction of a first time Olympian from Nottingham. 18 year old Jack Whelbourne scored a third place finish in his heat albeit with some luck after a fellow competitor fell on the last corner but his push to 4th at that time and the happiness that Whelbourne showed as he crossed the line made me smile. Hopefully Team GB will take a few medals in the next two weeks but the reality is that many of our athletes are under funded compared to other Olympic sporting stars that will get their chance on an Olympic stage in London. That doesn't many that the Winter Olympians are any less worthy of a hero's welcome back home at the end of the Games, sadly that won't get it. To finish I hope the next two weeks is full of similar stories of bravery both at the top and the bottom from teams across the world, starting with the men's downhill which will hopefully be held tomorrow.

A bit of everything

Another great week of sport has passed. First up, 6 Nations rugby and what a strong start it was on Saturday with Ireland and England taking their first wins of the championship. I was buoyed to see England in control for most of the game and I really feel they have one of the strongest chances to at least take the championship come mid-March. But obviously certain things have to happen for Martin Johnson's side. First of all, good wins at home, the first half of that against Wales has been done and a similar sort of result against the Irish on the 27th would be a great boost to any chance England have. Secondly something out of their own hands, France failing to beat Wales, as I think it will go down to a showdown in the north of Paris to see who takes the trophy and even though England played well, they'll have to play even better to take the French on in the Stade de France. Next weekend's game between Wales and Scotland could be a cracker, Wales will have felt avenged on Saturday as their performance wasn't too bad at Twickenham whilst the Scots never really got going at home on Sunday. Neither side wants to finish 5th and given how the first weekend of results this could be a 4th place game that will be eagerly constested.

As the title suggests it wasn't all about rugby union this weekend. Last night I stayed to watch SuperBowl XLIV, played out between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The Americans really know how to put on a sporting display and once again I fully enjoyed the spectacle of a full length game of American Football, I really do regret losing touch with the season dismally quickly after watching quite a bit of pre-season action when on holiday in Florida. What a shame I have to wait until the summer for it all to start again. The key play was obviously at the start of the 2nd half where the Saints pulled a cheeky on-side kick that surprised the up-to-then leading Colts, retained the ball of the kick off and scored a touchdown in the consequent play. The Saints never looked back and you have to admire the tactical nouse of head coach Sean Payton. Another great American sporting tradition takes place next weekend with the running of the Daytona 500, the first grand race of the NASCAR season. If you've never seen NASCAR before or think that it's boring because it literally is cars going in circles then please give it a chance. I mean come on, guys pushing each other and truly pushing each other, at 200mph, in packs of 20 cars plus, and the frequent pile-up, how is that boring?

Carrying on with a motorsport theme I'll quickly mention last week's F1 tests. Ferrari do look in ominous form but of course we won't really know where everyone is off the back of one test. Instinct tells me that Sauber where running low fuel to grab some headlines to gain some sponsorship but people said that about Brawn and Jenson Button last year so once again, watch this space. We see the true performance of a car from one of the new teams this week as Virgin Racing/Manor Motorsport join the established ranks at Jerez for test two. Whatever the pace though I already love Virgin Racing, good drivers, cool livery and it's got a Yorkshire rose on it, what more could you want. Red Bull launch their car this week to and their pace will be a large talking point, can they carry on good form from the 2nd half of '09 into '10. Let's wait and see...

PS. Next week, Winter Olympics, come on people on teatrays!