Ian Holloway: If I was Fabio I’d keep Green for next game... but tell him now

Blackpool manager's unique take on the world

Two things; a draw against the USA isn't a disaster and I'd pick Robert Green next game. Yes it was a bad mistake, a mistake he's probably never even made on the training ground before, but what you look at as a manager is how a player responds after an error.

Green remained strong. He showed good character and made a terrific stop to keep us in it.

I had a similar thing with a young kid at Blackpool last summer called Mark Halstead. He made a mistake in a pre-season friendly with Everton. But he responded by making some terrific stops and helped us win the game. That's what you want and it's why a keeper shouldn't be buried after one mistake. So I'd pick him next match but – and here's a key thing – I'd tell him early I was going to keep him.

Mr Capello said all last week that he knew what his team would be Well in that case he should have had a quiet word with the ones who were playing, because you can prepare better that way.

Life is all about confidence and if none of his keepers knew who was playing then they were bound to be nervous. If he hasn't said a word to them then that is a mistake because the last thing you want is a goalkeeper feeling under pressure.

But forget that. We've got Algeria and Slovenia to come so what are we worried about? I'm not being funny or rude but why on earth are we fretting?

I was worried about the USA, a team who were 2-0 up against Brazil last year and beat Spain. But we would have beaten them but for a mistake by the keeper. So chill out a bit, it's early days.

There are two things perplexing me though. Why was James Milner taken off? Was it because he had been booked? We are 1-0 up, they aren't going to score, so why worry about someone getting sent off?

Then there's the shape. Emile Heskey did well but it meant Wayne Rooney wasn't able to play his usual game. Rooney is one of the best players in the world, but he's best when he's playing on his own up front, like he was all last season.

The 4-4-2 formation was wrong. We could have swamped them in midfield. Next game we need to play Rooney as a lone striker, have three central midfielders and two out wide.

South Africa’s problems aren’t over by a long shot

South Africa's opening game was a joy to watch, not least because it was wonderful to see what it meant to the country. I have never seen so many people so happy about a football game and I was delighted they didn't lose.

It has been fantastic to see how the South Africans have welcomed everybody in and their team did them proud. They also scored a goal so good that it might end up goal of the tournament. It takes some skill to strike a ball right in the top corner when you are running flat out. What a finish – absolutely magnificent.

And the lad – Siphiwe Tshabalala – was such a nice fella, if his interview afterwards was anything to go by. He was so honest and humble. That's the bit that got me. He wasn't like one of these world- famous superstars. He said he'd only played five times! Brilliant.

Hopefully that will be the theme of the tournament – some surprises will pop up and some young fellas will do outstanding things. But as I sat watching the game, I couldn't help wondering what is going to happen with these beautiful stadiums after the tournament has ended.

I heard David Ginola say how marvellous it was to have the World Cup in South Africa but why couldn't they have spent the money on the people that matter? I agree with what he's saying. How is it going to work? There has to be some lasting benefit to the country. The sheer size and beauty of the stadiums is incredible.But how are they going to fill them every week after we've all gone home?

The best thing would be for their players to do well. But let's be honest, if that happens they won't be playing in South Africa. They'll be off all round the world. They'll be snapped up by the vultures over here – maybe even me now I'm a Premier League manager – and then all those stadiums won't be used by their own players. So I just hope when the dust has settled, those stadiums aren't hosting matches being watched by one man and his dog.

I'd like some more information about what is being done by Fifa to help that country develop. It's great South Africa has the World Cup. I just hope it won't be wasted and it does generate some wealth in the country.

The gaul of Henry just adds to French farce

I had France down as one of the favourites but after watching their opener I'm going to scrap that.

They almost have so many world-class players they don't know what to do with them. And it's like a witchhunt for the manager already.

Every one of their players should just shut his face and do what he needs to do, which is try and get in the team. Whether you agree with the manager or not, get on with it.

I'm sure that there were a few lads at Blackpool who didn't agree with me last year but I was the boss and they had to do what I told them.

I'm sorry but I don't want France to do very well at the moment because they aren't disciplined and it isn't right. They don't deserve to do well.

That said, Raymond Domenech made some strange decisions. Did he try and win the game against Uruguay? In a tournament like this you can't be cagey. You have to go for the jugular.

I couldn't help but smile when Thierry Henry appealed for handball. When it wasn't given I stood up and shouted 'yes!' I shouldn't be like that, I've got to move past what happened in the play-off against Ireland. I still feel gutted about that because Ireland were hard done to. I didn't want someone getting through with a handball because it's cheating and maybe justice was done when France only drew against 10 men.

Why I'll be cheering on Algeria to win my £80

The Holloway family has decided to make things a bit more interesting by holding our own sweepstake.

We have all put a tenner into a pot – I've even got my daughters doing this – and the winner gets 80 quid. We cut out the names of each country and put them in my son's crash helmet and we've each picked out four teams.

My wife Kim and the kids have done well. Kim got Brazil and my daughter Hattie got Spain and Portugal.

It was funny the other night because we were watching Uruguay-France and my son was shouting for Uruguay while my daughters were screaming for France. It's made it a little bit more interesting even when England aren't in action.

I've had a bit of a nightmare because I've ended up with the USA and Algeria. It means that I've got to cheer for them against England otherwise I'm going to lose my cash. I think I'll cheer for England though because to be fair I want us to win more than get 80 quid from my family.

Having said that it would be nice because I would definitely gloat something rotten.

I'd be walking round the house waving eight tenners in their faces singing "happy days".

Give us Chelsea at home first up!

The Premier League fixtures come out on Thursday and I'm as excited as any Blackpool fan. I keep being asked who I'd want first game and the answer is Chelsea at home. I'd love it to be one of the big clubs and Chelsea (and Didier Drogba) would be perfect because the World Cup will have a bearing on their mood and mindset. Manchester United have got six players at the World Cup but Chelsea have 17.

If they have to come to Blackpool first game and they've just won or lost the World Cup, they aren't going to be in the right frame of mind. So I want Chelsea at home – and if that's the case, watch out Chelsea!