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shame to see a legend go... but even legends become old and brittle...

Going to have to make this quick, because I've now twice lost my post. Long story. None of it interesting.

ENGLAND 158 ALBANIA 103

Although we led early, we had a lot of foul problems. 9 in the first 6 minutes, 11 in the first quarter. Second quarter both teams were almost scoring at will. Although this was indicative of FCP, I initially thought not, based on the fact that we didn't turn the ball over in the first quarter.

Albania tired in the third quarter, which is really when we starter running up the score.

Sharpling (again), Gascoigne (in his first NT game of the season), and Andrews scored more than 20 pts, Sharpling also contributed 10 assists, and Holm (also in his first NT game of the season), and Simpson added 15, and 13 rebounds respectively.

Only making 8 turnovers against a FCP I feel is also noteworthy. All in all a decent performance which keeps us top of the group. Of course we've had the easier fixtures so far, and from next week it will be much more of a test.

In the other games Italy beat Scotland, Croatia beat Germany despite losing two starters, and Belarus went against rankings for the second week in a row by beating Israel.

This leaves us still topping the group after two games, but really that's where we ought to be. Its going to get more difficult from now on. Starting with Belarus next week. The only other unbeaten team, I feel we'll know a lot more after playing them where we stand. They've beaten two good teams already, two teams higher ranked than us, and its probably fair to say they're favourites to win next week.

Still, lets enjoy being top of the group for now. We're there for at least the next seven days.

There's a couple of things probably worth a comment ahead of tomorrow's game. Shatrughan Palit is injured and out for two weeks. My sympathies to arrows for that one, it must be a blow to him. Dick McDonough was still injured on friday and though he's fit now, he missed the whole of last week, so his game shape is not good enough for him to play. His teammate, Bobby Bucky is also not in good enough shape to play.

This leaves us a man short, and will probably mean I need to call up a player or two before this game. That's not an ideal situation and I'd have preferred not to make the squad this large so early, but it looks like I have to.

On the subject of game shape, most of our players are in much better shape this week than last. That at least is a big plus so thanks to everyone for that.

Thanks man, was a great game to watch, you have a really good team. I'm sure you'll continue doing well this season. Good luck.

That's a good win, chap. V. good.

First things first. An explanation of today's call ups. Millar at SF: I brought him in hoping Gascoigne and Marshall would play more time at their expected positions. With Palit and McDonough not being fit that seemed expedient. I spent a long long time thinking about which big to call up. I actually told MacAusland's manager it wouldn't be him. However, of the bigs I considered, he had the skills I most wanted today, and if Marshall played more at PF, then Mac would possibly only be there as cover.

Tactics. Obviously I expected inside tactics, they're very strong inside. Predictions are always a risk, he's used II before too, so I could have been wrong, but I got lucky there. On offence, I initially thought about inside too, but I felt he would predict that, so I chose PTB. I didn't quite expect the way the shooting was spread but I feel it worked well enough.

The game had a strange ebb and flow to it. We were exchanging the lead regularly throughout the first quarter but we ended it well and had the lead. Belarus had a strong second quarter and deservedly had the lead by the half.

It looked like the third quarter might be the same, but the best period of the game for use came about midway through that quarter when we turned the game around with a 10-0 streak that put us in front.

Belarus kept playing well and when their D shut us down through the first half of the fourth things were looking bad. Certainly some Belarus fans were acting like they'd won but that seemed to fire up our boys and with typical English grit we fought hard late on to first regain the lead, then hold on to it under pressure at the end.

Another excellent team performance, worth particular note is the fact not one player committed more than one turnover. Sharpling again top scored. Esposto had 7 assists, and Sharpling 6. And Simpson's 13 rebs in a team total of 47 helped us to almost match their 51 rebs.

Again I want to emphasise how important game shape was today. Every manager who had a player on today's team deserves credit for the win. And of course my thanks.

In the other games, Italy bt Albania, Israel bt Germany, and Croatia bt Scotland. We're the only undefeated team left, and while that does sound good, I still don't think we can consider ourselves favourites to qualify.

Well done mate!

Many thanks Elmacca, Vecx, Joe and Lemon. Belarus had beaten Croatia and Israel already so it seemed a vital game for us. Germany next, a country with three times as many teams as us.