The Gardeners' World Blog

The old line was rolled out this week: "all political careers end in failure". Not much consolation, I suspect, to the cabinet ministers currently under fire. But it's a good rule of thumb that if politics is tough, then sporting politics is even tougher.

People at the FA would doubtless subscribe to that after the week they've just had. Whatever you think of what happened, managing all the characters in the game isn't easy; and everything the FA does is under an unremitting spotlight.

Which brings me to Jose Mourinho. His interview (currently on our site) marks Chelsea's second successive Premiership title with the disclosure that he's not 100% happy - and there's something about the culture of this country that's at odds with the way he wants to be.

Quotes: "Why don't I go to press conferences? Because I have no pleasure to go... Maybe I have to be a different person in this country. Maybe this country - football-wise - is not adapted to my mentality and I will have to change.

It's been quite a week to launch this blog, with our World Cup coverage announced as well as big announcements about the BBC's future and the end of Grandstand.

All the talk of relaunching bbc.co.uk for web 2.0 has helped remind me why my team has a collective headache trying to do great new things for the World Cup. A project this size almost makes you sympathise with those building Wembley.

This week's variety of feedback also shows those of us in the BBC who have been waiting for this corporate message that new media was a top priority that people change at a different pace.

For every endorsement of our forward-thinking there has been another email complaining about the end of Grandstand.

However I believe those who bemoan the end of this institution need not worry.