Regular readers, and there are quite a few believe it or not, will know that I have never been in favour of England having a foreign manager.

It’s not a xenophobic thing at all. I just believe national teams should be managed by nationals from the same country. I was one of the most vociferous opponents of Sven being appointed, for example, even before we found out he was crap.

You see, in my opinion, international football should be about countries competing as a package – players, manager, backroom staff – the full monty. It just feels more patriotic that way.

However, I think I may have just changed my mind.

The news on Sunday that Jose Mourinho wants the England job should it – and he – become available this summer, has actually whetted my appetite for having another foreigner at the helm.

Can you imagine an England team with his motivational skills behind it? Don’t worry, I haven’t changed my opinion that he is the most irritating manager in the Premier League. But I also believe he is one of the very best and the results don’t lie.

At the moment we all love to hate Jose because of his arrogance, his smarminess and his ability to wind up and annoy his opponents – just like he is doing at the moment with Sir Alex.

However, speak to any Chelsea fan and they will tell you they love him to bits. More so, in fact, than their financial benefactor Roman. If they had to pick between the two they would all rather see Jose on the bench than their sugar daddy in the stands.

The reason we don’t like him is because he is so good at what he does, but he is doing it for one team. And that team is not exactly the most popular in the top flight. But if he were to be doing the same sort of stuff for an entire country, then it would be a different kettle of fish.

I don’t think we would see any major changes in personnel under Jose. As we have said all along, the team pretty much picks itself. But we would see a difference in their approach to the game.

The biggest single quality that Jose possesses is the ability to get 110 per cent from each and every one of his players. The current Chelsea squad seems almost ‘devoted’ to their manager and that can only be a good thing for any side.

Nobody doubts that the England team, individually, has the skill and ability to succeed at the highest level. It’s the passion and desire that’s missing.

And, to be honest with you, I genuinely can’t think of any manager who would be more capable than Jose of instilling those particular commodities in the team.

How’s this for a thought. Jose in charge for four years with Stuart Pearce as his assistant, ready to take over when the Special One has achieved his dual aims of European Cup and World Cup?

Warms the heart.

Formula 1

Is it just me or does Formula 1 seem to have lost a little bit of its magic now that Michael Schumacher is no longer in the picture.

So far, two races in and I haven’t seen either. And, to be honest, I don’t really feel like I am missing all that much.

Of course it could just be that the first two races were in the morning and not at the usual early afternoon time slot that is responsible for my indifference.

But somehow I feel that Michael’s retirement has more to do with it. Don’t get me wrong, I was never a Schumi fan. Yet having such a legendary driver around seemed to make the sport that much more inviting.

This feels, to me, a bit like the season after Ayrton Senna was killed. Does anyone else feel that way? I would be interested to hear from you if you do.

Exciting end of season

Thanks to Portsmouth the last few weeks of this season look like being exciting at both ends of the Premiership table.

Down the bottom, things had already heated up thanks, in no small way, to Sheffield United, Fulham and Wigan playing like donkeys while Charlton and West Ham strung decent runs together.

However, the title race had looked pretty much over until on a balmy Saturday evening on the south coast of England, Harry Redknapp’s Pompey decided it was time to throw the whole thing wide open once again by beating the leaders 2-1.

And do you know what the stupid thing is? I actually had a premonition that the result would be 2-1 but I didn’t have enough courage to back my beliefs with cold hard currency. More the fool me.

I, like many others, had written this particular race off a few weeks ago when Manchester United were building what looked like an unassailable lead. But no more. This is one that could go down to the wire.

And that will be fun to watch from afar.

Contact James on: [email protected]