I was extremely interested to learn the national team's next opponents would be Puerto Rico - I think they will pose a real challenge.

In fact, I'd say we're probably underdogs and that should suit us just fine. My reasoning for Puerto Rico being favourites is the fact the majority of their players have USL-D1 experience with the Puerto Rico Islanders

Like the Hogges they found life pretty tough during their first season and took 12 matches to post a victory. We actually only took ten games so we're quite proud of that!

Seriously though, it will be very intriguing to see how we get on considering many of their players have proved themselves at USL-D1 level, which is the division above the Hogges.

The Islanders have made great strides forward since joining the USL and blazed a trail for non-US teams like us to join the league. Although they've players on their roster from all over South America there's a strong nucleus that are Puerto Rican.

I've been told the Islanders coach Colin Clarke, who played for QPR and Portsmouth in England, has recently taken over as coach of Puerto Rico so he will already have an advantage, as the players will know his tactics and style of play. To be honest I'm really excited about these two games.

I saw some comments made by BFA president Larry Mussenden pointing out that we shouldn't read too much into Puerto Rico's FIFA World Ranking of 196. I totally agree with him. They should be a well-organised and disciplined outfit.

From the Hogges point of view I wouldn't mind having a drink with their coach after the game to pick his brain about his experiences in the USL-D1. During the USL's recent AGM myself, Kyle (Lightbourne) and Paul (Scope) had a chance to chat with other franchises and the Islanders share obvious comparisons with us.

Speaking of Paul, who is a huge Newcastle United supporter, I'm wondering what he made of Sam Allardyce's departure yesterday. I was pretty shocked but in today's cutthroat world of professional football maybe I shouldn't have been.

Allardyce has a proven track record and to only give him 24 games seems a bit of a joke really. I know Newcastle are a massive club and are so desperate for success, but a manger needs time to implement his own ideas. I've no doubt given enough time Allardyce would have got things right at Newcastle.

These days football is such a big business and chairmen will often rather pay off a manager's contract and lose a few million, rather than risk losing more millions from not achieving.

It's funny but Alex Ferguson was appointed manager of Manchester United in 1986 and yet won his first trophy in 1990. Can you imagine being given that time these days!

As for me I've recently returned from a family holiday in Disneyland, in Florida, where I had a chance to play in the annual Bermy Cup for the first time. It's been going for a few year's and involves local East and West select teams playing each other.

There was quite a few people who made the trip from Bermuda, but unfortunately my team lost 6-4. But the Goat did manage a couple of goals in my new role as an attacking midfielder!