The self appointed top PL coach is still setting records.

I’m in good health thank you. No worries. I only mention that because so many of you have been in touch to check on me because I haven’t filed these musings for a couple of weeks.

I don’t usually write during PL breaks. And the last one was longer because the FA Cup 1/4 finals were scheduled in after the international games, so I gave myself an extra week off.

Oh yes. I didn't file yesterday (Monday) because I spent the day recovering from a really good night celebrating Nicki Crosby’s departure from beINSPORTS. It’s not like me to inflict damage on myself the way I did, but we had to have a blast. 😂.

Nicki is a good operator and she’ll be missed by what’s left of my former colleagues here in Qatar. I haven’t seen too many - if any - better than she is. When she’s settled in the uk she’ll eventually make quite an impact on the domestic broadcast scene. Keep an eye out for her.

The problem with sitting idle for a couple of weeks is there’s so much to catch up on.

I see Liam Rosenior (self appointed top coach) is still setting records at Chelsea. The latest is startling. The defeat to City means Chelsea have now lost three consecutive PL games, without scoring, for the first time since 1998. Well done Liam.

I stand by my prediction - which I made when he got the job - Chelsea will be looking for another coach in May. He’s taking them backwards at a rate of knots. I know he rates himself highly, but I haven’t come across anybody else yet that does.

Arsenal will be looking for a new coach as well if Arteta doesn’t get them over the line. Forget the CL - they should have only one thing on their minds now and that’s winning the title. If Arteta doesn’t, he’s toast.

Let me remind you what I said about him in an early season blog - that he’d be the reason Arsenal didn’t win it. I tipped them this season, but my one reservation was Arteta’s lack of ambition. He’s too conservative. He’s got the tools to win it - arguably the best squad in the PL - but he’s so boringly cautious.

I could understand Arsenal fans having a go after the defeat to Bournemouth. It was driving me mad watching Raya stand around with his foot on the ball. Arsenal are never going to score while he’s doing that.

The lack of ambition reminded me of watching them at City in March 24 when they were the far better side but were happy to settle for a 0-0. My view then was they were ‘scared’ to win it. They didn’t have the belief or the attitude. I really hope that failing doesn’t see them lose out again. They deserve this title.

I do wish the PL had appointed a different ref for the game v City this weekend though. They’ve named ‘Altrincham’s’ Anthony Taylor. Why do they stubbornly do this sort of thing? I’ll repeat what I always say - not for a minute do I think Taylor will make bad decisions on purpose, but what if….? What if he makes a big call and it’s wrong? Why put him under that kind of pressure? It’s Taylor I feel for.

If you’re telling me we don’t have another ref good enough to handle the game of the season, then that’s a further indictment on Howard Webb and the PGMOL.

Can someone please explain to me what de Zerbi has done in his coaching career to land the Spurs job? I want surprised to see him get it, but I just don’t know how he qualifies for it. I guess one reason would be Spurs are running out of options. They’re also running out of time. How? How on earth has it come to this?

I was really pleased to see Leeds get the win at OT that secures their PL place. I said it would be home form that kept them up, but that was an ‘away’ performance as good as they’ve put in. City wasn’t bad earlier in the season, but they got nothing out of that game. I think it was the turning point in their campaign though.

And of course Martinez had to go off. We all know the law concerning the offence he committed. I’ve no idea what Carrick/Ferdinand and co are whining about. The decision was correct.

I loved the Mirror headline after Liverpool’s defeat in Paris last week - ‘One Foot in the Grave’ it read, referring, of course, to Arne Lost. Brilliant. I know Liverpool have had some wonderful nights in Europe at Anfield - I’ve experienced many of them - but I can’t see it happening again tonight (Tuesday). Paris will score, which will make it almost impossible for an ordinary Liverpool side. I hope they win - I always back English sides - but I don’t think they will. And I don’t think Lost will survive if they lose.

How the hell can City be ready to spend £65m on Elliott Anderson? They’re taking the piss. Three years on from 135 charges relating to financial irregularities they’re still spending. It’s nonsense. An absolute joke.

The PL should be ashamed. I’m honoured Liam Gallagher thinks I’m a ‘spunk bubble’ for keep raising this, and he can be sure I’ll keep doing it until finally we have a decision on the alleged irregularities.  Oh - and West Brom are on a charge now, in the same week Leicester’s appeal failed. Why don’t the rules apply to City the same way as they do to every other club?

And in closing - top marks to the owners/operators at Union Berlin who’ve appointed Marie-Louise Eta as first-team coach, making her the Bundegliga’s first woman coach.

At present it’s only an interim apppintment, but it’s an historic one and I hope she lands the job permanently. I’ve argued in this blog for a long time now that it’s time this happened in England. If Eta makes a go of it perhaps it will, sooner rather than later?

Finally, finally. Well done Super Frankie Lampard. What a job done at Coventry. No-one else will say it, but we’re up. Our goal difference is so superior it means we can’t be caught. Next stop - the title please. 🩵.