Hello good people of the world. The most important thing to tell you is that Football Focus is on BBC2 on Saturday at 1130 GMT. We are caught in a formidable broadcasting triangle which involves F1 qualifying in Abu Dhabi and The Lord Mayor's Show. You don't come out of that without a few bruises.
It's been an interesting week at the new home in Salford with the vast majority of the BBC's football operation having moved up here. We just need Gabby Logan and the Final Score warriors to complete the set. They arrive in a couple of weeks.
There was something quite beautiful about walking into the production office last Saturday to see Alan Hansen lounging freely on his sofa watching the second-half of Newcastle's win over Everton. For a moment, at least, all was right with the world.
St James' Park will now be known as the Sports Direct Arena. Photo: Press Association
Talking of Newcastle, I was a guest on the Tony Livesey show on Wednesday night when I heard the news about St James' Park, or should I say, The Sports Direct Arena. I am not a head-in-the-sand football supporter but I do feel there is something deeply unsettling about the commercialisation of the beautiful game.
I don't have a problem with new stadia being sponsored. The Emirates, The Reebok or The Ricoh Arena all work but St James' Park has well over a century of history wedged into it and all this leaves a sour taste in the Geordie mouth.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had actually gone a few months without a PR disaster. The team are doing well, the manager is handling things expertly and now, as they prepare to face Manchester City, Manchester United & Chelsea in their next three games, another little hand grenade has been tossed from the directors' box.
There are some who argue that it's a stroke of genius from Ashley - deflecting attention away from a potential future sponsor by taking the hit himself. Remember, there is a precedent. It was only two years ago that we were asked to use the mouthful 'SportsDirect.com@StJamesPark' when referring to the stadium.
Michael Vaughan, who was also a guest on the Livesey show, made the point that this is the way of the world and we just have to wise up and accept that it is what happens.
The problem is that fans are already messed about, marginalised and/or alienated by ticket hikes, kick-off times, prices within stadia and the lifestyle and behaviour of some of their heroes. You would think that at least history was sacrosanct, seemingly not.
We'll have to wait and see how all this pans out. Let's not forget that that Bradford City's stadium has had a couple of sponsors but everyone still calls it Valley Parade. I can't see paid up members of the Toon Army queuing for the Gallowgate or gathering in Shearer's Bar referring to the 'SDA' or anything equally crass.
I'm sure Newcastle fans will get over the gentle barracking from Exeter City supporters. I'm sure they won't be affected by jokes suggesting the lobby of the Sports Direct Arena will now be filled with golf umbrellas, old red England kits and �2 footballs. But changing the name will hurt, and it should.
There is no Premier League game at St James' Park (see what I did there) this weekend due to the international break but we still have a very tidy Football Focus for you.
It's been an interesting week for preparation for England. We'll have a camp report as they prepare to face Spain and we'll hear from Liverpool's Pepe Reina on what makes the world champions tick.
We'll have reaction from the Euro 2012 play-off between Estonia and the Republic of Ireland and goals from Scotland's friendly against Cyprus. We'll also be talking to Craig Bellamy as Wales take on Norway - he has an interesting take on Team GB.
The highest paid footballer in the world - Samuel Eto'o - will give us an insight into his new life in Russia and Russell Grant has the lowdown on the first round of the FA Cup. I'll warn you now, he has a remarkable depth of knowledge when it comes to non-league football.
We'll see you at 1130 on BBC2. If you have any questions or comments stick them below and you can find me on twitter at
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2011/11/hello_good_people_of_the.html
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