Good work Leeds and Burnley

Welcome back Leeds. And Burnley. Daniel Farke and Scott Parker have both done a terrific job at their respective clubs.

I have to confess I’m a little surprised Sheffield United didn’t make it automatically. They looked really strong for the majority of the season, but the wheels came off their campaign at the wrong time. Four defeats from their last five cost them and it could get worse yet.

You need to take form into the play-offs. The Blades are stuttering, but having said that, they should still make it. Of the teams they’re likely to come up against they’ve got the best squad. But don’t discount Bristol City. Their defeat at Luton was untimely - and a warning for Coventry, who go to Kenilworth Road next, but City are looking strong.

Should I mention it? I’m desperately trying not to. I’ve got to though - United are mathematically safe. What a relief for everybody at OT. Congratulations guys. 😂. I know I know. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s a cheap jibe.

Who would’ve thought United could fall so far? It’s sad really. And Spurs are no better. As I said last week - it’s over for Ange.

Because Spurs and United are both at the wrong end no-one is talking about West Ham - but they should be.

They look like finishing as the worst of the rest. What a waste of the work David Moyes did there. They’ll never compete for a CL place again. They certainly won’t ever a win Euro trophy again.

They’re 17th - despite a £135m spend last summer, which cost them £20m in agents fees. That figure puts them in the PL’s top 10 spenders on agents. Value for money Karen? I don’t think so. But at least there’s the consolidation of knowing they’re in a PL top 10. It’ll be a while before they finish that high again.

I can feel a CL problem coming on. I couldn’t ever back against an English team in Europe, but it’s Paris next for Arsenal - my bosses team. 😂.

The Gunners were fantastic v Real, in both games, and deserved their wins.
They’ll have to be better v Paris though. Since qualifying for the KO stage, they’ve been one of the stand-out teams in the competition. Them and Barcelona.

Both play a really exciting, fast football - getting the ball through the lines and from back to front quickly - like the Spanish national team. I’ll say it again - please god the tippy-tappy Guardiola era is over.

Arne Slot has been trying to convince us because Arsenal and Villa have done so well in the CL we’ve still got a strong PL. No we haven’t. It’s been a poor season domestically. The two things aren’t related.

And I’d say this to Slot - re-signing van Dijk and Salah is NOT like signing two new players. It’s the right thing to do, but if Liverpool are going to be competitive next season they’ll need proper new signings. Two certs are Isak and Kerkez, but that won’t be enough either.

Finally - Jamie Vardy has described Leicester’s season as a shit-show. In the article I read in The Mirror he blasted everybody. He’s got a point. What he didn’t do though was admit Leicester’s viperous dressing room might just have been wrong to turn on Steve Cooper.

Cooper was sacked after just five months in charge at Leicester. He left them in 16th - two points above the drop zone.

In his previous job, Cooper had performed miracles keeping Forest up in their first season back. He knew the course. He knew what was needed.

So why was he sacked so quickly at Leicester? For one thing - he wanted to move a few ageing players on. Players who had literally run their race in a Leicester jersey.

The more powerful elements in the Leicester dressing room were having none of that. So - once again - they flexed their muscles - called the owner - and let it be known ‘it’s us or him’.

As we now know - it was him. Bad call. It never got any better under Van Nistelrooy, but at least he kept playing Vardy. Having been in charge of the ‘shit-show’ Van Nistelrooy can’t survive. (Jon Rudkin should go as well).

The new manager would be wise to clear the dressing room out as fast as possible. And I think we all know who should be the first to go.

Maresca has just slit his own throat.

Of course there are a few different reasons a coach can lose his job. An obvious one is to not be very good - or perhaps he/she can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Both apply to Reuben Amorim.

A coach can be stubbornly wrong. Russell Martin comes to mind in this category. If he hadn’t been so naive - no daft - early in the season, Southampton wouldn’t be going down labelled as the worst PL team of all time. Russell arrogantly over-played and refused to change. Saints weren’t good enough to stroke the ball and play ‘the right way’.

A coach can sometimes overstay his/her welcome. Players can get tired of hearing the same voice. It’s usually the coach that goes in these circumstances nowadays - Fergie had the luxury of being able to change the players of course.

A coach will go if the chairman/owner starts getting stick from supporters. He/she doesn’t have to get on with decision makers but it helps to manage upwards as well as down.

There are many internal reasons that can lead to a change and we don’t always get to know about those, but the last two categories I’m going to mention are a no no.

Losing the dressing room will end badly. Ask the last half dozen coaches at Leicester and Chelsea. Players have so much power these days if they don’t fancy a coach they’ll be gone.

Steve Cooper found that out. He clearly wanted to take Jamie Vardy on, but didn’t get the time. Vardy took him out early.

And the last category is crossing a line from which few - if any - ever come back. That is - pissing supporters off.

Ange is a dead man walking. He picked a fight with Tottenham fans during the recent Chelsea game. Bad call Ange. You just can’t do that.

He’s gone - even if he wins the Europa League. I backed him half way through the season but I’ve changed my mind. I’m tired of listening to him mumble at the floor explaining ‘it’s what we are mate’. He knows he’s toast. Perhaps it’s why he doubled down at Wolves?

Knowing it’s a fast track out of a club is perhaps why Maresca has gone and committed the very same offence and slit his own throat?

It’s the only reason I can think of that explains why he went after Chelsea fans at the weekend, suggesting the ‘environment’ they created at The Bridge helped Ipswich take a two goal lead.

Madness. Absolute madness. If he doesn’t want out he’s got some making up to do now. Winning the Conference League might not be enough to get Chelsea fans back onside, although adding a success like that to his cv would suit him.

I’ve got mates who are Chelsea fans and they’re convinced Maresca wants that more than a top 5 finish - because he won’t be around next season.

I’m more of the view that Chelsea are still flaky. The current group are Spursy. I know someone who was at the training ground Friday and he said he could sniff Sunday’s performance. Everything was wrong. And that’s how it played out.

There’s no doubt Chelsea have a talented group. The problem is it doesn’t seem to matter enough to them. And Maresca doesn’t appear to know how to ‘whip’ them.

Performances like Sunday’s are all too regular. You can almost hear them saying to each other ‘it’s only Ipswich. We’ll beat them. Where are we going Sunday night?’

When Terry Mac would organise nights out - while he was on the pitch at Liverpool - it was because they were the best team in England. It didn’t matter.

Chelsea aren’t. In fact they might not even be the best team in West London. Chelsea fans have every right to express their frustration and Maresca was daft to take them on - unless he wants out but doesn’t want to make that decision himself. Getting sacked is far more lucrative than deciding to walk.

I wouldn’t say the automated off-side system was an unqualified success. They were slow at Chelsea and Wolves - and not once did I see the view an assistant gets. We need to see across the line to be sure decisions are correct - not be looking at incidents from angles. But as least it wasn’t a flop. Small mercies I guess?

West Ham were unlucky. There was a nailed-on foul before the corner that led to Liverpool’s winner. We’re told VAR corrects the ‘clear and obvious’. Well clearly and obviously not.

I read that Jim Ratcliffe is about to raid the Mercedes F1 team and steal their ‘senior performance simulation engineer’. Of course he is. They’ve already got a cycling expert at United It makes perfect sense.

Good luck to Arsenal and Villa this week. I really fancy Arsenal. It won’t be easy, but I think they did enough in the first leg. What I would definitely be doing if I was Arteta is publicly questioning both the ref and VAR. I’m not saying either is likely to be influenced by the occasion - but I’d be raising awareness about possible problems in advance of the game.

I’m not so confident about Villa. Paris have found a groove. They look a really good side, but if Villa get one early you never know. Remember - Villa weren’t supposed to win it in ‘82.

A sad tale of 2 once mighty clubs in 1 city. The derby was awful

I sat listening to Bruno Fernandes post Manchester derby getting more depressed the longer he spoke.

We’d all just witnessed the poorest game between United and City I can remember. And I can go back a long way.

I’ve watched games between the two from the mid-60’s. Worked on them as a commentator/reporter during a spell at Picadilly Radio and fronted the host broadcasters coverage of dozens of them.

I’ve watched a fair few in the last decade or so while I’ve been working for beINSPORTS and never have I seen one as bad as that one yesterday (Monday).

Fernandes was waxing lyrical about how well he thought United had done Really? In what area? I watch football to be entertained - to be excited - to ride a wave of drama whoever it is playing - to see goals. There was none of that.

Those two yesterday mustered one shot each on target in nearly 100 minutes of football. And there was Fernandes talking nonsense about how well he thought United had done and how Amorim tells his players they’ve got to ‘suffer’ if they want success. Suffer? The only people suffering yesterday were the ones watching - including those poor soles demonstrating about ticket prices at Old Trafford at the end. In general they are right - specifically they were right about the game. It was dreadful.

As City went backwards and sideways - and United stood off too scared to win the ball back - I thought I was watching a testimonial for Kevin de Bruyne. It was no faster than the recent legends game I saw clips of at Anfield. It was walking football.

It was months ago I called City’s demise. Guardiola fell asleep at the wheel celebrating that fourth successive title. He should’ve ripped his team apart after the third. They’re a shadow of what they once were.

If I was in charge at City I’d invite him to announce his resignation. They need to go in a different direction now. They need fresh blood, a new start and I don’t think he’s the man to deliver it.

Apart from his usual post match appearance on the pitch looking for cameras, I thought he looked totally disinterested yesterday. Perhaps he was just bored like the rest of us - but I’m afraid the football he’s convinced most judges is ‘the right way to play’ can be deadly dull.

City were lucky. United should’ve had a pen in the first 12 seconds. I don’t blame John Brooks for getting it wrong. He couldn’t make an accurate call from where he was - but VAR could. I’m afraid Paul Tierney - fresh from his disaster at Anfield last Wednesday - got it wrong. What was he even doing in the VAR seat anyway after the mess he and Sam Barrott made at Anfield?

Garnacho was fouled on the line. As we all know ‘on’ the line is ‘in’ the box. Tierney panicked and went with the on-field decision, making his mind up instantly. At the very least he should’ve invited Brooks to have another look at it.

An instant decision on something as critical as that - yet they took 4’50” to disallow a Spurs goal v Saints. It’s nonsense.

Why am I not reading about that incident today? There’s only two reasons why - because the PGMOL have succeeded in bullying U.K. broadcasters into toning down criticism or because those same broadcasters aren’t doing their jobs properly.

As for United - I stand by my call at the start of the season the team needs £1b of investment. Amorim says he’s not interested in signing big names. That’s just as well because they can’t attract them anymore.

Liverpool are running on empty. They’ll get the points they need at Anfield, but they’re making hard work of a shoe-in. If there had been a challenge of any kind this season they might be a little concerned - but there hasn’t been.

Fulham were good. They deserved the win and it could’ve been worse for a Liverpool. Fulham should’ve had a pen before Mac Allister scored. Kelleher recklessly threw himself at Pereira in the box, but nothing was given. When we asked the matchday centre why not they told us ‘both players arrived in the same space at the same time’. Yea? The generally happens when penalties are conceded. Honestly - you couldn’t make it up.

And the same people had no idea that van Dijk should’ve gone. They didn’t see his deliberate elbow in the second-half. I know that because they asked us what time in the match it occurred.

Keith Hackett agreed with me about the pen and so did the Fulham boss Silva. The cameras showed him remonstrating with the 4th official but he didn’t make much of it after the game because in the end it didn’t matter.

As for Hackett - the former PGMOL chief - he wrote a really good piece about van Dijk in The Telegraph. He thought he should’ve gone as well and went on to ask - in that piece - if officials are now intimidated by the Dutch defender.

He analysed about half a dozen of van Dijk’s indiscretions and his article ended like this ‘there is no doubt as far as I am concerned this player has become a serial offender and match officials are failing to apply appropriate sanctions’.

Poor Ange. 4’50” to find a way to disallow that goal at Spurs. He’s right about VAR. Operators are out of control. If you can’t see what you’re looking for after 60 seconds - move on. Stay with the on-field decision. It’s a joke.

That followed delays of 3’27 and 2’38” at Ipswich - a whole lot more time than they spent looking at the Garnacho incident - and 2’36” at West Ham as Evanilson scored for Bournemouth.

A couple of things here - my mate at beINSPORTS is convinced they created these delays so they can tell us how well their new semi-automated system works next week (he’s got a point) and I wonder how much the delays are responsible for so many of the muscle injuries teams are sustaining? My guess is a fair few.

The next time I write it will be after the introduction of the long awaited semi-automated offside tech. We’re not using the tried and tested system that works in the CL and WC. We’ve developed our own with Apple and Genius Sports.

It was tested recently in the FA Cup and led to that eight minute delay at Bournemouth - before it was abandoned. Howard Webb had better pray it works now - or I’m afraid he will have to go.

What a good Cup weekend that was.

Well that turned into a pretty good weekend of football. I saw a line suggesting all the FA Cup needed in order to be worth a watch again was teams that believed in it - that wanted to be part of it.

I’d go along with that, but I think there’s a bit more to it. Giving the Cup a weekend free of PL football is part of the formula. And I love a penalty shoot out.

That might sound strange, coming from somebody whose team has suffered more than most from penalty heartbreak in recent seasons, but you can’t beat the drama.

Getting ties settled on the day has been an enormous plus as well. I know the decision the scrap replays caused an awful fuss when it was announced, but we’ve gained more than we lost - and I felt that would be the case right from the off.

Perhaps Exeter fans won’t agree? They were denied a replay at Forest that could’ve made them a few quid and there could be another example but, the decision has benefitted the majority.

I’m delighted for Forest, whose season deserves a Wembley appearance, but had the tie had gone the other way I’d have been equally pleased. The next step for Brighton is to win a trophy.

Villa were terrific at Preston, who were sadly way out of their depth. What a season it would be for Marcus Rashford if he ends up with FA Cup and CL medals. What are the chances I wonder?

I got battered when I called Rashford out a few seasons back, but I wasn’t wrong. I don’t know the truth behind his fall from grace at OT, but it can’t have helped having to work for ten Hag. Like everyone else Rashford must’ve dreaded going to work during that deadly dull period, although he could and should have done better.

A lot of people were unsure about Villa’s decision to take him, but for me it was a no-brainer. At his best he’s a class act. He needed to work for someone that believes in him and in Emery he’s got that.

City got lucky. I’d have been very happy to see Bournemouth win. Their season deserved a Wembley trip as well and they were on course for a large part of the game.

I didn’t agree with Sam Matterface’s verdict that ‘Guardiola’s genius’ changed the game because he put subs on. What other coach wouldn’t have made changes 1-0 down - and then crossed his fingers? And Marmoush wouldn’t have got on if Haaland hadn’t got injured. That’s how it goes sometimes.

Sam’s a good mate and I’ve told him my thoughts! That tiny error aside - how good has he become? I think he’s doing a really good job as ITV’s lead commentator. He’s really grown into the job.

Palace were good value for their win at Fulham. That was another tie I was quite happy to see either team win. Both would’ve been good value for a semi-final place, but in the end Eze and co were better.

If recent history is anything to go by City will win it. One of the big boys always does, but they don’t deserve to. I’d be happier to see any of the other three lift it.

I’m hearing we’re not far off from learning the outcome to the 130 charges City have faced. The smart money has got to be on a fudge. Why do I say that? Well - a number of reasons really.

A big clue is Sky telling their pundits to go easy with their thoughts about the judgement. If City were going to get nailed I’m sure they’d be allowed to say what they like but I reckon their anger is going to have to be tempered.

Just as the British govt got deeply involved in the decision to allow the Saudi’s to take over at Newcastle, it’s a certainty they’ll have had something to do with the outcome in this case.

Boris Johnson didn’t want to piss MBS off - and Starmer can’t afford to fall out with the Emeratis. I might be wrong, but I don’t think so. 

Speaking of Newcastle - what a turnout they had to celebrate their Carabao Cup win. Top class. I saw Alan Shearer front and centre again, despite the fact he had nothing to do with the success. I had to wonder if he still thinks ‘medals don’t buy shoppin’? That was always his excuse for turning his back on United and a trophy haul that would’ve inevitably followed had he gone to OT. There’s no feeling to replace that of winning - even second hand it seems. 

I’ve also seen enough of those professional Geordies Ant and Dec to last a lifetime. Tell me - where do they live on Tyneside?

Thomas Tuchel made a solid start, but he had to didn’t he? Even Safegate would’ve pissed those two games. I liked what I saw though - and what I heard even more.

Tuchel is a winner. He’s right about the Safegate era. Too often England were scared. And ultimately Safegate’s timid approach cost them.

Tuchel doesn’t give a toss about the future. He is a ‘now’ man. He knows by winning the WC he’ll elevate English football to the next level and the next generation he might spurn now, will eventually find a way. I’m with him. And for the first time since Bobby Robson went close I really do think England can win the WC. 

‘Sieg Heil’ eh ‘Arry? Hilarious. How does this man get away with it? Even the great David Walsh let himself down at the weekend defending Redknapp. There isn’t a defence. None. 

 ‘Arry knows why he didn’t get the England job. The FA simply couldn’t take the risk. As well as insulting Tuchel I see he’s still making money and jokes about the tax case though so allow me. I heard he made £2m from recent book sales. After tax? £2m. 

A Geordie triumph well overdue.

Never mind Eddie Howe? Eddie did. And in doing so made himself immortal on Tyneside.

Some wondered Eddie why? when he got the gig at Newcastle. He’d been out of the game so long he’d almost been forgotten about. And he’d only managed Bournemouth - leaving them after taking them down in 2020.

Howe didn’t have the sort of cv that made him the outstanding candidate for the job at Newcastle. But they gambled and won. Won big yesterday.

I’m pretty sure all the neutrals watching wanted them to win. Probably because so many of us remember King Kev’s ‘entertainers’ coming up short.

But the wait is over now. Eddie’s ‘Likely Lads’ delivered. They were the hungrier team. The better team. And they’ve written themselves into Geordie folklore.

As mayhem erupted on the final whistle I couldn’t help thinking about Sir Bobby Robson - a unique and charming Geordie, who would’ve loved to have been at a Wembley to see it - and Freddie Shepherd, who gave everything to the cause of winning a trophy when he was majority shareholder and chairman at a Newcastle. Both deserve mentions.

It’ll be interesting to see how far the Saudi’s are prepared to back Howe and his team now. I’ve felt for some time they’d lost interest in the project.

It was a different when they bought Newcastle. The original idea was to make a mark on the world’s sporting stage like the Emeratis had done with City. And the Qatari’s had with Paris.

But it seemed to me the money dried up when the formula changed and they started buying sport ‘in’ - staging big boxing bouts in Saudi - football matches - tennis and the like - and setting up their own football league.

Perhaps now they’ll have another look at their involvement and give Howe the money he needs to get to the next level?

As for Liverpool. It’s been difficult all season to judge them. Until these past 10 days they hadn’t really faced a serious test. Then came Paris - and they failed. And they failed again yesterday.

They’ve won the title - we know that, so they’ve got something about them - but you have to add that all the challengers this season have gone backwards. I’ve said this here before and I repeated it on Twitter yesterday - only to set off the expected firestorm.

For me, they’re not as good as any of Klopp’s teams. I know he rebuilt this one, but they don’t play in his image. I’ll go further - they’re not as good as many of their trophy winning predecessors.

Here’s a prediction. That stadium United have announced will never get built. Something might - but the oversized tent they’ve said they’re going to put up won’t.

And now United’s long suffering fans know how to get rid of the Jim Reaper - treat him like the Glazers. ‘If I got abused as much as the Glazers I’d have to walk away’, he said last week. Fine. Do it Jim. I don’t think too many United supporters would be shedding many tears.

Did you see the story last week 530 footballers are being treated for addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling and other mental health issues?

And last season 80 pro footballers sought therapy for issues with illicit substances such as cocaine and nitrous oxide, as well as sleeping pills.

Staggering numbers aren’t they? And where are they being treated? At the Sporting Chance clinic, which now works with the PFA. Not that it always did.

It was founded by Tony Adams, who we all know suffered with alcoholism himself at one time.

I admit I was one who thought Tony had gone stark raving mad when he set the clinic up. How wrong I was. When I needed help for a family member he couldn’t have been kinder. He’s a gem. He’s helped so many people.

The reason for my scepticism was that I didn’t believe so many players could be in trouble to the degree they were. Tony knew better. The clinic has never had down time since he opened its doors.

The next time honours are handed out I’d like to see Tony’s name feature. What he’s done for so many is incredible. What a guy he is.

Are we creeping unwittingly towards a Super League?

There’s something very odd about the PL this season - the worst I can remember since the league was formed back in 1992.

One or two of you didn’t like it when I said a couple of weeks ago we could give the trophy to Liverpool. How about now? Agree yet?

There simply isn’t a challenge. There hasn’t been a genuine challenger to Arne Slot’s team all season. That’s why I’ve said - time and again - I don’t know how good this Liverpool side is.

Look. They’re top and deserve to be so. They’ve won it because they’ve been better than the rest. But there hasn’t really been a ‘rest’. There hasn’t been a test.

This week will give us a better idea of their quality. If they get past Paris and win at Wembley that will be a real statement. Mind you - they won’t do either if they play as badly as they did in Paris and during the first half v Saints.

Has a little bit of fatigue set in I wonder? Certainly a little bit of doubt must’ve done. Finally - Slot has got his first real test this week. What if Paris turn them over? And they could. They’re good enough. What mood would Liverpool go to Wembley in then?

I hope they do beat Paris. I always want success for our teams in Europe.
But, having said that, I’d like to see Newcastle win the Carabao Cup. They are long overdue - way overdue - and it would be reward for the work Eddie Howe has done at St James’.

Back to my point though - it’s the lack of a challenge to Liverpool in the league I can’t fathom. Why is that? They’ve all gone backwards - including Arsenal. I happen to think if Arteta’s side had simply been as good as they were last season they’d have won the title. But they haven’t been.

It isn’t the lack of a centre-forward that’s cost them either. Liverpool have won it without one. City have the best in the business, but it hasn’t helped them this season. There’s a lot more to it than that.

Arteta knows that as well, which is one reason he walked away from Sky’s reporter post-match. What a daft time that reporter chose to ask about Arsenal not having signed a ‘proper’ 9. He got what he deserved - short shrift.

I don’t usually like to see reporters dismissed like that. I don’t like how Guardiola looks down his nose at an inquisitor, but the job after a game requires a touch and feel.

Sky’s man showed neither, but I guess his bosses will be congratulating themselves on the clicks they got. It’s sad that matters more than anything else nowadays.

To digress a little further - I know the wall was further away from the ball than Anthony Taylor’s house is from Old Trafford, but that’s not why Fernandes scored. The keeper got it all wrong. He was too far to his right. A right footer can’t score into that corner from the angle Fernandes was - unless he’s David Beckham.

Raya should’ve been in the middle of his goal. There was only one place Fernandes was going to put the ball. If a left-footer had been standing with him that would’ve caused some doubt - his target would’ve been to Raya’s right - but as we know, only Fernandes was over the ball.

Anyway - Arsenal have come up short. So have Villa. If they’d had a go they might have got close - or even won it, but I’ve had the feeling all season Emery has identified the CL as his primary target. He loves Europe. Villa surprised us all back in 1982 so why not again? That’s maybe how Emery is thinking. Europe is certainly his signature dish.

Tottenham’s (😂) team v Bournemouth made clear Postecoglou’s intentions. It’s Europe or bust for him. And Amorim. And Arteta now. And Maresca Wait a minute. Are we seeing the seeds of a Super League being sown? An era where success in Europe is considered more important than domestic success?

It’s a subject for another time - but mark my words, it will happen. Maybe not in my time doing this job - but it will happen.

Did you notice the crowds in the C’ship this weekend? Wow. There were 20,000+ at nine different games (ok Burnley were a few hundred short of that mark) - in excess of 30,000 at Coventry and Sunderland. More than 26,000 watched Birmingham in League One. The EFL are clearly doing something right.

In my view - no VAR would be one reason. It’s football how it used to be. Genuine. Authentic. And it’s all the more enjoyable to watch as a result.

Justice was eventually done at Coventry when Bobby Thomas smashed in our winner. We should’ve had a pen and Stoke’s 2nd was clearly off-side. Fans of tech have said to me ‘VAR would've picked those errors up’. No. Officials doing their jobs properly should’ve picked both incidents up - they were both clear enough - but I’d still rather live with that jeopardy than technology.

It’s a massive week in Europe - all of it on beINSPORTS. We’re going to lose some big clubs in the CL. I wonder if the owners of those clubs are thinking like me?

The ‘big league’ was a clear success. Agree? 27 of the 36 teams had something to play for on the final day of that format. So - why not revert to a league system for the second phase - keeping all the big clubs involved longer? You watch - coming to a tv near you soon……

How bad does it have to get….?

Two things got a whole lot worse this weekend - Manchester United and refereeing. Two things that I’ve been banging on about for years now, but I genuinely didn’t think could get much worse.

I’m actually bored writing about both subjects so I’m not going to dwell on either. United are now so bad it’s scary. The fans singing ‘sixty quid - you’re having a laugh’ weren’t wrong. They were referring to ticket prices of course; whilst watching their team implode again.

Week after week I’ve suggested solutions. Week after week I’m criticised for apparently not liking United. Nonsense. All I do is point out what’s wrong. Some time later the rest of the world catches up and realises I was right all along. That’s a bit Brian Clough isn’t it? 😂.

Gary Lineker is making headlines today for suggesting Fergie left a poor team. Brilliant. I said that the season he actually left. That title winning side was a poor one - with huge cracks papered over by Van Persie and Scholes, who’d come out of retirement to help win it. After Fergie had gone I said United were eight players short of being a good team. Great spot Gary - a decade or so later. 🥱

Another line I’ve just read is that Onana is considering his future at United. Really? He shouldn’t have one. He’s hopeless. Who was it told you he’d cost United as many points in a season as de Gea used to save them?

And a Rooney was correct this weekend. United are miles away from another title bid. Miles and miles. And Amorim isn’t naïve - he’s stupid if he thinks differently. Amorim is so deeply out of his depth it’s embarrassing. That’s it. I’m fed up talking about United now.

Sadly that leads me to refereeing. What on earth is going on? Why isn’t Richard Masters demanding more from Howard Webb? I had a lot of faith in Webb when he succeeded Mike Riley. I couldn’t see how things could get worse - but they have.

What was that all about at Bournemouth? Eight minutes - eight minutes to make an offside call - and then get it wrong.

I was fuming watching it. Webb and his inept charges are nothing short of a disgrace. Eight minutes? I still can’t quite believe it.

The main reason for the delay was because our new semi-automated offside system didn’t work. Are we surprised about that? Of course we’re not. These things are all so predictable.

Why are we developing our own system anyway? What’s wrong with the tech that works very well in CL? I hate it, but if we’ve got to have it, why don’t we use something tried and tested.

I know. I know. Because the ball is different. And the tech isn’t available. So? Buy it. How hard can it be?

Eight minutes lapsed before we went back to using a protractor and coloured crayons - and a system we know isn’t accurate, but it’s all we’ve got right now because we’ve waited far too long to buy in anything better.

And I ask again. What happened to ‘raising the bar’ and allowing goals to stand that clearly aren’t controversial? Why the obsession with finding a way to disallow goals? They’re what we all pay to see.

How much longer can Michael Oliver be allowed to arrogantly strut around making one big error after another? He’s having a terrible season.

First there was the pen at West Ham that wasn’t. Remember him telling the match ref David Coote (from the bunker) to change his mind and give West Ham a pen in the dying minutes v United? Wrong call.

Then there was the Lewis-Skelly red at Wolves. That decision is made to look all the more ridiculous when you watch Liam Roberts assault on Mateta. Have another look at it. Oliver doesn’t even whistle initially. Doubtless Webb will tell us on Sorry! Oliver was allowing a phase of play to develop. Bollocks.

Even when he realised something had happened Oliver only showed Roberts a yellow card. What didn’t he see? Ffs. VAR should never have had to get involved? Mateta ended up with 27 stitches. Oliver failed again. It’s time to give him a rest and let him know he’s not as good as he thinks he is.

I know why Anthony Taylor sent Gordon off at Newcastle. Gordon was daft and probably deserved to go, but it’s mad to think right now he’ll serve the same ban as Roberts.

I hope Newcastle appeal it. I’d say they’d have a 50-50 chance of winning. I’d like to see them win it. Gordon should be allowed to play in the Carabao Cup Final. I’ve argued for years when it comes to a final we want to see the best players on the pitch. It’s a showpiece so why not?

If we restricted punishments to the competitions bookings or red cards were picked up in - that would happen more often. If you’re sent off in a league game your ban should apply to league fixtures. The same with the FA Cup. It’s simply wrong that Gordon will miss a cup final because he got sent off in a league game. I’d make an exception for something like Roberts challenge mind you.

And finally - the FA Cup ball isn’t to Guardiola’s liking. Well, well, well. That’s the League Cup ball not good enough for Arsenal and the FA Cup ball not good enough for City. There’s a theme here somewhere.

Salah might just be Liverpool’s best ever.

Never mind the PL’s best ever - Mo Salah might just be Liverpool’s best ever - despite the fact he’s never played in a big tournament. Seriously. What ignorance. Unforgivable ignorance.

Time and again down the years I’ve referenced the arrogance of so-called experts that live and work within the borders of the U.K. who think nothing beyond their territory matters.

It’s why our WC here in Qatar was dismissed by so many of them - despite it going on to be the best ever - climaxing with the best games of football I’ve ever seen. ‘Qatar?’, they asked. ‘Not England? Why? How could that happen?’

I’m slightly off course, so let me correct that. In a stat-based world, here’s one to think about. In Egypt alone, we at beINSPORTS probably had in excess of 100m people watching the showdown of the Egyptian Kings on Sunday. And that number doesn’t take into account the 22 other nations in our territory.

Yea. Egypt, who’re the most successful team in AFCON history, having won it seven times. Salah hasn’t won it yet - but he gets another chance towards the end of the year. Still - it’s not one of the big tournaments is it? It’s not played in England - or Europe, so it can’t be.

Now let me make the case Salah might just be the best ever at Liverpool.

We had Arsene Wenger is our studios again at the weekend and he said something very interesting. Well - he always says something interesting, but this was about Salah. ‘He’s better than ever’ he said. ‘This version of Salah is the best he’s been. He’s more aware of the team’.

True. And think about that - getting better as he ages. There’s really no sign of him slowing down. He’s still doing all the things that have made him such a force down the years, but now he plays with his head up. Even Mane might enjoy playing with this version of Salah!

Remember when I told you they didn’t like each other and I got buried under an avalanche of criticism for doing so? Turned out to be true didn’t it? But not until somebody in England had the courage to say it. 🤷‍♂️.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see some great Liverpool sides down the years. When asked to name my best ever I've always simply said ‘Paisley’s team’. They were magnificent.

King of all he surveyed was Graeme Souness. He’d win a game in the tunnel. He was scary, but he could play as well. His reputation for being a hard man overshadows what a good player he was. He was a Rolls-Royce, caressing balls, with either foot, all over the park. He was my best-ever up to this point. First pick before Dalglish even.

I understand why Kenny is most people’s ‘go to’ when this debate comes up. Without question he was one of the very best in his era, but I think we get emotional about players from the past and time often blurs the memory

For example. Was Gordon Banks as good as we think we remember? Good - yes. The best ever? No chance. Bobby Charlton? Now we’re into dangerous territory. Who would you leave out of an all-time best X1 at a United to fit him in? Scholes? I’m sorry - no. No.

Look. Good players would be able to play in any era - and all this is subjective. Best? He was Messi before Messi. But better?

Back to Liverpool. My mate Ray Clemence was always my pick in goal. But I’d have to say I think Alisson has now surpassed him. So there’s one change in my best ever Anfield X1 straight away.

I’m going to keep Phil Neal at r/b. I’m afraid neither Lawrenson nor Thomson make it anymore - van Dijk and Hansen do and I know they both play/played left side of two - but they’d have to sort it out.

Robertson gets in at l/b. Up until now it had always been Alan Kennedy, but Robertson has been consistently better.

Right side of four in mid-field it ls Gerrard. He’s got to play there because I can’t disturb McDermott and Souness. What a two they were. Terry Mac was magnificent. And I mean magnificent. Take a look at the quality of some of the goals he scored. And he could run all day.

It was nice to catch up with Stevie G in Qatar last week. He looked in good nick, but I got the impression he’s smarting a little bit after the way it ended in Saudi. Here’s an idea - perhaps when he gets home he can help educate a few people about what a big world we live in now?

Left side is Barnsey. Ray Kennedy was a class act. Ronnie Whelan should also get a mention when the left-side is discussed - and I think he got even better when Kenny moved in in-field alongside McMahon. But Barnes it is on the left.

So that leaves two up top. Rush is an obvious choice. He’d get in most teams now - even after his recent knee op! 346 goals? Stunning.

And I’m playing Salah off him - around him - wide right - with Gerrard floating around Rush like he used to Torres. Again - they’d work it out. I’m sorry Kenny.

Right now - Salah is the best player in the world. He’s a Ballon d’Or shoe-in. That makes him Liverpool’s best ever in my view.

Can you imagine the weekend they’ve had at PGMOL HQ? Never mind that Brighton should've had a pen before they scored. That Bournemouth were rightly pissed off. That Craig Pawson needed the tech to realise what was blindingly obvious to us all at Arsenal. And Jarred Gillet missed a handball as clear as you’ll see - but somehow they managed to concentrate on the wrong offence at Everton.

Of course Maguire’s little tug on Young wasn’t enough to bring him down. It was de Ligt who committed the offence - pulling Young back as he tried to get to the loose ball. It was a pen.

I know what they’ll say on Sorry! Howard Webb will argue de Ligt didn’t have hold of the shirt for very long. Again - I agree, but he had hold of it long enough to stop Young getting to the ball and scoring. And what have I told you about ‘the lingerer’ Maguire? He’s always first to the ref putting pressure on the official. He was at it all day at Goodison. He’s not captain. They should tell him to fuck off.

Oh. Congrats Liverpool. They haven’t got one hand on the trophy. They’ve got two.

How time flies…..

How time flies. It’s a year Thursday (Feb20) that Jim Ratcliffe turned up to fanfares at Old Trafford, having added £1.25b to the Glazer family fortune. Not a penny of that money went to Manchester United by the way.

The Glazers must still be pissing themselves. They got a nice few quid and a quiet life - Ratcliffe got control of footballing matters at Old Trafford and one nightmare after another - all of his own creation.

When he turned up to watch his first game Ratcliffe was afforded a hero’s welcome. I understand why. Desperate United fans wanted to believe. Initially they did believe, but it’s all gone horribly wrong hasn’t it?

It wasn’t good at United post-Fergie, but it’s never been as bad as it is now. Not only has Ratcliffe ripped the heart and soul out of the club off the pitch - sacking long time employees and even Fergie - but on it he’s reduced United to little more than bits and pieces. I’m afraid to say - a laughing stock.

I hate to keep writing about it. I genuinely want to see United back at the top table of English football, but they’re light years from re-joining the best. Light years and a £1b spend on the team.

They’ve got a manager who clearly doesn’t want to be there - a cycling expert in charge of football matters (who should never have been allowed back into pro sport after his time in charge of Team Sky) and an owner flailing about without a clue what to do next - except sack more good people.

It’s sad. It really is. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. How many times have I pointed out what happened at both Lausanne and Nice after Ratcliffe took controlling interests in those clubs?

Every time I do my mates accuse me of hating United. Wrong. I hate what’s happening at United.

And I don’t see it getting better anytime soon. I tweeted an article I saw in the business section of The Guardian last Thursday. The Mail on Sunday’s Riath Al-Samarrai referenced it in his column this weekend. I’m impressed. His reading is clearly as broad as mine.

The article points out much financial trouble Ineos’s chemical empire is in. According to The Guardian, debts are forecast to reach almost £10b this year. It went on to claim at least two leading credit rating agencies estimate the burden to be five to six times the size of the companies annual earnings. If true - and I’ve no way of finding out, but I trust my favourite newspaper - this will inevitably impact United. I believe it already has.

As for Spurs. It was good to see them back to something like their old selves. Good on you Ange. Oh - you’ll be interested to hear that I was in the company of someone this weekend that reckons a deal to buy Spurs is done. I don’t think it is, but I’m pretty sure conversations have been taking place.

If so, I’d say this to Daniel Levy. Don’t play hard ball Daniel - you might regret it. I’m also hearing the owners of one of the top four clubs could be ready to sell. They’re arguably a better proposition for a buyer and would tempt a bid before Spurs.

And now we know why Konate wasn’t sent off. According to Peter Walton in The Times it’s because of a directive for less fussy refereeing. What absolute nonsense. Laughable nonsense. Why do these PGMOL patsies treat us like idiots?

No. It was because Simon Hooper fucked up. Everybody knows Konaté should’ve been booked a second time for clattering into Cunha. Hooper shit it.

He didn’t have a very good game I’m afraid. He doesn’t look fit to me and I think he struggled to keep up with play again. I’ve watched him a lot recently. Keep your eye on him and see how many free-kicks he gives in the last 15-20 mins of games when he starts blowing and needs a rest. I might be wrong, but I think the frequency increases in the last quarter-hour of games he’s in charge of.

VAR was at it again. What was that all about at Palace - a four minute delay whilst they tried to disallow Mateta’s goal? At Anfield they were making similar decisions in the blink of an eye.

I’m told there’s semi-automated tech on the way. Not as we know it. Tech we know that works in the CL, but the PGMOL have developed their own system using Apple cameras - working with Genius Sports.

Is this the same Genius Sports who own BetVision, a sportsbook streaming solution on the NFL, used by Caesars, Fanatics, BetRivers and FanDuel? A Quick look at their website makes for very interesting reading. I’m quoting from it.

I don’t agree with Guardiola that City have only a one per cent chance of winning in Madrid. I’d say it was less than that. I’m joking - but why say it? Perhaps he’d like to refund fans who’re paying good money to go and watch their team, in the knowledge that the coach has written them off before a ball has even been kicked. Mad.

Well done the Moyesiah at Everton. In no time at all he’s got the Toffees higher in the league than both West Ham and United - two clubs that sacked him. 😜

Well played Plymouth - but it wasn’t an old fashioned cup shock.

Well played Plymouth. It’s not a Cup weekend unless we get a surprise or two. Argyle went one better. Their result is in the ‘shock’ file and they deserve all the credit in the world for pulling it off.

Having said that - and I don’t want to piss on their chips, but they didn’t really beat Liverpool did they? They beat ‘a’ Liverpool team. Ok - a good side that should have won, but modern Cup shocks aren’t the same as they used to be.

Wherever you looked at the weekend most of the top teams were making significant team changes. I don’t have a problem with that. They’ve got to because of the demands on players now, but things ain’t what they used to be in the FA Cup.

And I don’t have a problem with that either. I like finishing games at the first attempt. I’ve always enjoyed the jeopardy of penalties. It’s great tv, although I appreciate it’s a tough way to end a game if you lose the shoot-out.

We should also thank Plymouth for ending the 48 hour debate about Liverpool completing a treble. It wasn’t going to happen. It’ll never happen. It’s impossible to achieve - which is why it’s never been done.

I tweeted Thursday morning posing the question ‘when should we expect the quad debate to start?’ because I hadn’t seen any discussion about it. I shouldn’t have bothered. The very next paper I read there it was - ‘Slot’s got the hand of quad’ read The Mirror’s headline. No chance. And definitely not now. 😂.

So apart from Plymouth’s win - and let’s phrase it like that - not Liverpool’s defeat - what else can we take from the weekend?

Not using VAR made it all the more enjoyable. It’s a small change this season - not using the tech until the 5th round. It’s been wrong to have it available in some games and not others in previous seasons. How can the competition be fair when that’s the case?

Clearly the FA believe most of the smaller teams will be out by the 5th round so they’ll be able to start using it again. As for a smaller club winning the competition? A bit like a ‘quad bid’ that’s not going to happen anymore. Those days are long gone.

A lot of fuss was made about United’s winner v Leicester. Oh the irony Ruud. How van Nistelrooy had the cheek to complain about a decision going against his team I don’t know. How many times down the years did he benefit from United getting dodgy decisions?

Of course there was the usual clamour by lazy pundits and journo’s claiming Maguire’s header wouldn’t have stood if technology had been available. It didn’t need VAR. Maguire was a mile offside. You could see that with the naked eye. It just needed our hapless officials to do their jobs properly.

VAR wouldn’t have made any difference at Birmingham either. Goal line technology wouldn’t have cleared that one up. It’s not used to decide those arguments - goal line technology is.

As for Chelsea’s appeals for a handball offence at Brighton - somehow the on-field officials got that one right so once again it didn’t matter VAR wasn’t available.

While we’re on the subject - what about the PGMOL’s ludicrous claims last week that so far this season only 13 VAR errors have been made? I’ve only just stopped laughing. 13? They make 13 most weekends. Ok - that’s an exaggeration but it’s about as accurate as the PGMOL’s claims. 13? Who says so? Oh - they do. They mark their own homework ffs. It’s nonsense.

Apologies that we’re a bit short of words this week - I’m sitting on the runway at Heathrow and have got to file before we leave.