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.

It’s official. City have gone.

Now we know. This City team is shot. It’s a shadow of what it once was. And it was one of the greatest. Not anymore. After 45 minutes of shadow boxing Arsenal tore the champions to shreds. They were better in every department.

As if the team passing its sell-by date isn’t bad enough - the coach doesn’t seem to have any idea how to fix it. When we spoke to him on beINSPORTS post match he looked haunted.

When I suggested a couple of months ago he might not start next season in charge at the Etihad - even after signing that extension - I was ridiculed. Are we all still sure I was wrong?

Pre-match there was a lot of talk about City ‘being back’. After all - they were unbeaten in six league games going into the match at Arsenal. The problem was few drilled down on that stat. Yea - they’d beaten West Ham, Leicester, Ipswich and Chelsea. And they’d drawn with Brentford and Everton. But does that sequence of results say ‘they’re back’? Of course it doesn’t. Look at the quality of the opposition.

People should’ve been talking more about what Paris had done to them in the CL. You can only really judge a side on what they do in big games.

City have gone. Legs have gone. Guardiola fell asleep enjoying that 4th title success instead of tearing the team apart and replacing players sooner - like Fergie always did.

Buying Marmoush and Khusanov isn’t the answer. They’re not going to change anything.

City’s problem is finding the next de Bruyne. The next David Silva. Bernardo Silva. Gundogan. These were massive players for them. It’s worth noting they were all at the club before Guardiola arrived though.

They were City’s first line of defence. As long as City had the ball they didn’t have to worry about defending. Now they can’t keep it they’re exposed every time teams have a go at them. They’ve been rumbled.

In recent games they’ve been going longer, but Arsenal were just too good for them whatever they did.

They’ll still beat most of the ‘ordinary’ rest, but it’s big games they’re struggling in. Right now you’d back Madrid to do what Arsenal did to them.

City have got to find another way and it could be that Guardiola isn’t the man to find it.

How about setting a team up to have only 37% possession in a game - yet win 7-0? Did you know only Everton have had less possession than Forest this season, but they’re finding their feet under the Moyesiah, scoring goals now and getting from back to front quickly - just as Forest do.

Is it possible we’re moving away from the deadly dull era of being told ‘the right way’ to play is mind numbingly sideways and backwards? Any way - but forward - as long as you keep the ball. Bollocks. Forest and Brentford are proving that doesn’t have to be the case. I’d rather watch my football at the City Ground or Brentford’s Community Stadium than anywhere else right now.

A quick word from the Celebration Police. Well done Arsenal. The win and performance were to be celebrated Sunday, but they were restrained and largely magnanimous. I loved Lewis-Skelly’s cheeky moment though.

There’s not much to say about United this week. Poor again wasn’t it? But it always is when they have to take a game to the opposition. If they’re sitting in a low block and stopping the opposition from playing they’re ok. If they have to take a game to teams they struggle, which is why they’ve now lost seven home games.

As for playing Mainoo as a false 9? And you’ve got Hojlund and Zirkzee available. What are you actually saying to those players with a decision like that?

I’m afraid Amorim looks totally out of his depth. I wanted it to work, but it isn’t. He’s going to have to change and learn fast IF he wants to stay in the job. I’m still not convinced he doesn’t want out already.

As usual we got a raft of baffling reffing decisions. There’s no way Villa’s equaliser at Wolves should’ve been disallowed. Why are we trying to find so many different ways to rule goals out? We should be finding ways to ensure they’re given.

Everton should’ve had a pen when Beto was cleaned out in the box. ‘He wasn’t in control the of the ball’ the matchday centre told us - proof that these guys know the laws but nothing about football.

Beto wasn’t in control of the ball for either of his two goals. He didn’t have a touch before scoring on both occasions. Absolute nonsense. It was a pen.

But Liverpool’s wasn’t. Darren England must’ve been really nervous taking charge of a Liverpool game for the first time since he incorrectly disallowed that Luis Diaz goal at Spurs. And it showed.

England guessed that Gakpo had been fouled. Except he hadn’t been. You can’t guess when the decision is as big as that.

Best business in the transfer window? Villa’s decision to take Rashford. Clearly Rashford is out of love with the game at the moment, but can you blame him? Working with ten Hag would’ve bored the arse off anyone.

If Villa can get him firing they’ve got a bargain. Rashford is a player for sure. If he concentrates only on football he’ll find his way again and make Amorim look very silly. What a disgraceful thing Amorim said claiming he’d rather play his goalkeeping coach than Rashford. That was a shocking insult.

Finally - a quick word on Ian Holloway. What a terrific job he’s doing at Swindon. Good on you Ollie.

For every action there will be a reaction. Social media criticism is inevitable

Let’s get this on record right away. A lot of people that populate the social media outlets are poisonous scumbags.

But like them or not - we can’t do without the socials. If you don’t have ‘followers’ employers, advertisers and businesses alike aren’t interested in you. It doesn’t matter how stupid you are - or how banal your site - if you’ve got millions of followers then you are king.

The lies propagated about me are scandalous. Lies often given oxygen by our national newspapers, who aren’t blameless when it comes to putting people on offer. In fact, they are often the reason people are destroyed on social media. In my case, their unchecked nonsense is a disgrace. Despite this - I still engage with Twitter. Don’t get me started on Musk. Try doing what he did at Trump’s inauguration next time you walk down your High St and see how you get on.

I digress. I don’t even bother to respond to the gutter-snipes these days. That makes them even more angry - and me laugh when I read their replies.

Having said that - I’ve got to admit there are occasions I know full well I’m fishing, and I understand there will be consequences as a result. We all do it. For every action there is bound to be a reaction.

What did Michael Oliver think was going to happen when he whipped that red card out of his pocket at Molineux and wrongly sent off Lewis-Skelly? Yes - wrongly. I’ve rarely known the football world be so joined-up when it comes to criticising a refs decision.

Oh. Hold on. Perhaps there was one other occasion - when Howard Webb ducked sending Nigel de Jong off in the 2010 World Cup final. Webb was the only man who thought he got that one right. The rest of us didn’t. All of us.

He’s currently the only other man that thinks Oliver got it right at Molineux.

Instead of admitting Oliver was wrong and standing him down for a couple of weeks - he poured fuel on the fire and went the other way. The socials reacted with understandable anger. Consequences you see. For every action there is a reaction.

Oliver is a law unto himself. For some reason his colleagues - and his bosses - are all scared of him.

I’ll give you another example to support that claim. There was no sanction when Oliver told David Coote to give West Ham a pen in ten Hag’s last game. That decision eventually cost ETH his job. Ok - I know he was on the way out anyway, but that’s not the point.

Oliver got it horribly wrong that day as well. On that occasion the PGMOL admitted as much, but no action was taken against Oliver - who was only empowered by the lack disciplinary sanction.

We’ll never know what Darren England made of Oliver’s decision at Molineux. He was in VAR but was never going to get involved, which is why Webb should’ve taken him off VAR at Palace yesterday. And he shouldn’t be back until he’s grown a pair.

My criticism is fair. It’s based on what we all saw. Refs wanted to be centre stage on matchdays. Somehow we’ve allowed that to happen, but the problem is their wish comes with consequences. Action and reactions you see.

Of course I don’t condone the death threats allegedly aimed at Oliver. That kind of behaviour is outrageous, but I know all about it. I’ve had a few myself. I don’t take them seriously though and I certainly don’t look to make capital out of them. Mind you - if the police wish to investigate, please be my guest guys. I haven’t heard from them yet though.

No. Actions and reactions. If Webb had done the right thing I’m certain everyone would’ve quietened down.

By the way - the Lewis-Skelly decision wasn’t Oliver’s only mistake at Molineux, but the furore over that decision masked his second rick. He gave Joao Gomes only a second yellow after a really nasty lunge that should’ve been red.

Anyway - in the end justice was done and Arsenal won the game. I was delighted they did. If they appeal the Lewis-Skelly red they’ll win.

This one also had me scratching my head at the weekend. What was Guardiola doing giving a debut to 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov v Chelsea?

Guardiola was asking for trouble. And he got it. The kid’s first touch led to a goal and his second would’ve seen him sent-off if Oliver had been the ref.

Khusanov doesn’t speak English. He’d had one training session with his new colleagues and yet he was given a start in the most important area in a team.

What’s the one thing that’s been happening to City regularly this season? Yep. They can’t stop conceding goals.

Successful teams need to be strong at the back. That requires big players. Experienced players. John Stones-like players. Not 20-year-old debutants, who can’t speak to their team-mates.

The poor lad had a beast. When Guardiola eventually took him off - after 55 minutes - not at half-time as he should’ve done, but that would’ve been an admission he’d got it wrong - Khusanov looked close to tears. He was replaced by Stones - who should’ve started of course. And don’t tell me ‘he wasn’t fit’. If he wasn’t fit he shouldn’t have come on.

I felt for Khusanov. I wonder how long it will be before we see him again now his confidence is totally shot? 

The worst side in United’s history? Why say that?

So what line of business are you in? Retail? Hotel management? Restaurants? Shipping? Building? I don’t know. Pick a trade. Any trade.

How do you rate what you do? We’ve all got frustrations in the office and we all believe we can do our job better than the next person.

Perhaps you’ve seen areas you know the company you work for could improve in? We’ve all had those conversations with colleagues haven’t we? It’s only natural.

But I doubt you’ve ever gone public and told the world you think what you’re doing is shit. That the people you work with aren’t good enough. That you can’t think of a time in history when things at work have been so bad? I don’t think your guv’nor would be too happy if you did.

So what the hell was Ruben Amorim thinking when he said just that yesterday? Is he mad? Why would you do that? Isn’t he the man charged with making things better?

Trust me - I really didn’t want to talk about United today, but how can I not?

‘We’re the worst side in United’s history’ screamed the Mail’s back page. No criticism of them. Every other outlet did the same - whether it was the socials, radio, tv or the rest of the newspaper world.

I still can’t fathom what Amorim was trying to achieve. We know United are bad. That’s why you’re there Ruben. It’s your job to fix it - not tell us ‘I only have one way’ and follow up by telling the world your players are shit - the very same players you need to help you out of this mess.

I said a couple of weeks ago I thought he was trying to get the sack. I’m even more convinced now. If I was his boss I’d call him in this morning and give him his wish.

Not only does every other team now start on the front foot knowing he believes that - but he’s actually saying to fans - already ripped off by Sunny Jim’s price rises - ‘you mugs - we’re taking your money under false pretences’. My goodness. How bad is it going to get at Old Trafford?

How much longer are United fans going to let Sunny Jim and the brains trust get away with what they’re doing? It’s been a year now - and things have only got worse.

They’ve ripped the heart out of the club. And produced a team Amorim now claims is the worst in their history.
Except it isn’t. I saw the team that was. Tommy Doc inherited a mess when he was appointed manager at OT and went down with that team, but never once did he say what Amorim has.

He was always on the front foot. Always positive. And he rebuilt United in Busby’s image - with fast wingers, clever midfield players and ball playing centre-backs like Martin Buchan and Brian Greenhoff. What an era that was.

Surely that’s what Amorim should be doing? He should start a war. Deflect like Fergie would’ve done. Get players and fans alike onside. Give them hope.

Every time we think United have hit rock bottom we quickly discover there’s further to fall. How has Sunny Jim managed to make the Glazer-years look so good so quickly?

Love them (few do) or hate them (all do) the facts are they spent £2billion on players and were sole owners as Fergie won five titles. A Champions League. Three League Cups and a Club WC. What would United give for just a fraction of that right now?

I stand by my tweet from the weekend as well. When are we going to stop officials from trying to find ways to disallow goals? They’re what we pay to see.

It was a nonsense to disallow Joao Pedro’s goal. In the end it didn’t matter, but United pull the same trick every time a goal is scored again them - Onana and Maguire skulk about trying to pressure refs to go to monitors.

There’s no way van Hecke’s shot at goal - which led to a slight meeting with Dalot’s foot - should’ve led to the goal not standing. Dalot went down like he’d been shot and waited until the goal had been ruled out before jumping back to his feet.

Refs have got to get wise to that kind of thing. We want to see more goals - not less. What a joy it was to be at Torquay the other week knowing that when a goal was scored it could be celebrated without the fear of someone in VAR objecting because he heard a sneeze in the build-up.

Memo to all those coaches Guardiola praises for ‘playing the right way’ - like Kieran McKenna - so that City can batter them.

There was a nice piece in The Sun today with Tony Pulis. (I know, I’m sorry - I hate the paper too but I have to read it) He was telling the story of getting promoted with Stoke and calling Fergie for advice.

‘Your best chance is making the Britannia a place no-one wants to go’ said Fergie.

‘If any of the top teams go there and praise you, you’re not doing it right’. Correct.

I’m afraid I’m running out of patience with big Ange. It’s coming to an end isn’t it? He looks a beaten man. I’m genuinely sorry that it is, but some things are simply inevitable.

Fonally….how good is it to see Tony Mowbray back at work? It’s not long since Tony almost gave up on his fight with cancer. He's been to hell and back recently. Welcome back Tony. And good luck to you.

Ok. So there was Tamworth. My bad.

Ok. So there was Tamworth. I tweeted Sunday, during a break driving back from Devon and forgot about Tamworth’s heroics v Spurs when I said I couldn’t see where a smaller club would’ve benefitted from a replay. Apolgies guys - and what a very good effort at glory you put in.

But. There’s always a ‘but’ isn’t there? I stand by what I said about FA Cup replays. They had to go. There’s no place for them in the game now.

And let’s not pretend that the ‘magic of the cup’ is diluted as a result. There isn’t any magic anymore. By the way - what a tired old cliche that is.

There hasn’t been any cup magic for years. Not since the days when Hereford could beat Newcastle on a mud bath of a pitch in the 70’s. Since Mickey Thomas and Wrexham could do the same to Arsenal in the 90’s.

Sutton United beating Coventry went down well in Surrey the season after the Sky Blues had won the cup - not the season we were holders - and there are others, but they don’t happen often nowadays. And if they do - there isn’t the same fuss.

Plymouth’s win at Brentford this weekend got respectful mentions, but no more.

So much is different. I noticed the Mirror’s Andy Dunn raging at everybody after Sheffield United’s limp performance v Cardiff last Thursday. Yes - Thursday. That was the first thing that upset Dunn.

In case you missed this non-event I should point out Cardiff beat United’s reserves 1-0 at Bramall Lane in front of 6,126 people.

That so few turned up disappointed Dunn as well and he was apoplectic when Chris Wilder said ‘the last 20 Championship games are all that matter now’. Spot on Chris. Of course they are.

Dunn’s take was different. ‘The FA cup used to matter to clubs such as Sheffield United’ he wrote. ‘And who we like to think of as traditional football men such as Wilder’. Ah. I see . Managers like Wilder are ‘traditional football men’ on occasions such as these, but they’re derided and called dinosaurs the rest of the time.

Wilder is right. Sheffield United have to get promoted this season. The FA a Cup is a distraction. Are they going to win it? No. So what’s the point?

Coventry made the mistake of going on a run last season. We won the semi-final v United, but were never going to be allowed to go back to Wembley. Does anyone seriously think our winner would’ve been ruled out had United scored it?

They reckon a cup run costs a team like Coventry - chasing a play-off place - at least six points. It cost us more. And eventually our manager Mark Robins.

In the last 20 years only Leicester, Wigan and Pompey have stopped one of the big six winning the FA Cup. And Leicester were a pretty good side when they won it. Cup magic? Really? Nope.

I’m sorry Tamworth, but it’s all very different now. The weekends drama came from the shoot-outs at Arsenal, Coventry and Hull and I don’t have a problem with that. Getting a result on the day adds jeopardy.

I’ve caught up with the game at Arsenal now. Fair play to United. That was another fine performance, but I had to smile when I saw Harry Maguire getting so upset with Havertz. What was it Maguire said ‘you cheating scumbag’? Has he ever said that to Fernandes? Or Rashford. Or Pogba when he was diving in the box after being sneezed on I wonder?

Do you remember that era when United were getting penalties every week until we called it out on beINSPORTS? Fernandes is still at it. And if I’m not mistaken - I’ve even seen Maguire tumble embarrassingly looking for a pen. Behave Harry.

A final word on the Cup. The new format didn’t stop some shocking old officiating habits from being repeated did it?

It’s great to have David Moyes back amongst us. Everton is his club. I know he’s always felt that. It’s fitting that he now gets a chance to lead the Toffees into a new stadium and a brand new era. And as I said in another tweet - we now have a Scot managing in the PL again. That’s very welcome also.

Karen Brady is pretty sure Graham Potter is going to win things at West Ham. I’m not. ‘We believe we have appointed not only a good man, but the right man’ she has said - just six months after saying this of Julen Lopetegui ‘Julen has been a breath of fresh air. He’s an experienced individual we believe can build on David’s (Moyes) work’.

David Moyes? Who out-performed the norm at West Ham in every season he was there? David Moyes? Who Brady sacked first time round to replace him with Manuel Pelligrini. Remind me how that worked out?

I’m sorry to see Niclas Fullkrug is injured again. He’s out for another three months with hamstring problems. Who on earth decided to pay £27m and hand a four year deal to a 31-year-old? Wow.

Manchester United have no choice but to accept Kobbie Mainoo’s demands. He’s a young man I’ve followed closely since I was told to watch out for him - at least four years ago. He is the future at Old Trafford. Be warned United - if you mess his agent about Mainoo will leave.

And it’s great to see Jack Grealish back amongst the goals after 37 games and 392 days. Well done Jack.

What a good weekend for United.

With Ipswich only drawing - that turned into a very good weekend for United.

I’m sorry. I’m being facetious, but the talk before the game at Anfield was all about United being relegated. Forget that if they can now build on the performance at Liverpool.

Second-half they were terrific. Over the piece (as my Scottish friends would say) they were the better team. If they’d won it - and Maguire should scored - Liverpool couldn’t have had any complains.

Which leads me to refer back to last week’s blog and ask the same question again - how good is this Liverpool team?

They couldn’t break down United’s low block. There’s no disgrace in that. If a team set up as United did it’s really hard to break down a well marshalled defence, but they should’ve done better. They lost control of the game in the second-half and never got going again.

I expected more from Salah, Diaz and others round about them. They were all too slow. They moved the ball too slowly as well and United were never really troubled.

And we shouldn’t criticise any team for strangling a game like United did in the first 45 minutes. Defending properly is an art form. It’s important.

If they’d only defended well I’d still have concerns about them. The week before they really did look like relegation contenders, but surely not now? There’s still a massive re-build needed, but there was signs of better things to come during the second-half.

As for TAA. There’s not a lot more to say isntherw? His performance proved that Liverpool should take Madrid’s £20m and settle the on-off transfer saga surrounding him. Clearly he’s leaving - so bring the issue to a head.

Never mind all the sentimental mis-guided nonsense being spouted by Liverpool pundits who should know better - get the deal done. Believe me - Liverpool’s season is not going to hinge on whether a bang ordinary ‘defender’ stays or goes.

I’m not saying he isn’t a good player - I just think his skill set is better suited to Madrid. Defending is not his strength. And the debate is a distraction.

One other thing. What was he doing in Venice between Liverpool’s last two games? James Maddison got hammered for attending an event in north London - from his home in north London - on a day off in north London Why has there been no questions for TAA to answer?

I’ve nothing but sympathy for Marco Silva. Of course Leif Davis should’ve been sent-off. And ref Darren Bond had a nightmare. Silva was right on both counts.

The PGMOL continue to bed-in new refs with games that they don’t believe are important. But ask fans of Fulham and Ipswich if their match at the weekend was important. Of course it was.

It’s an insult to teams of that stature to drop inexperienced refs on them. Why not send them to Old Trafford or Anfield? I think we all know the answer.

Two other big calls caused a bit of a stir. At Tottenham - if Andy Madley penalises Joelinton for handball nobody is going to question the decision. I know - by the letter of the law - he was correct not to because Joelinton didn’t score and it wasn’t intentional handball - but Newcastle certainly did benefit. Gordon had the ball in the net literally moments later.

Refs have got to apply common sense as as well as the laws of the game.

The same can be argued about the incident at Brighton. Yes - Saliba catches Pedro and the law says pen, but if Saliba goes down with Pedro is it anymore than an accidental clash of heads? He should’ve done. Taylor wouldn’t have given a pen then.

By the letter of the law Taylor was correct. But come on. If it really was a pen then why didn’t Newcastle get one at Spurs when Kulusevski smashed into Gordon? That one was also an accident, but Gordon was left bloodied and bruised. Pen? Yes - if we apply the same criteria as Taylor did. But no if we apply common sense.

Maresca was right. Chelsea are fake challengers. They’re weak.

Southampton are down. They’re an embarrassment. The club allowed Russell Martin to indulge himself far too long. That’s why they couldn’t find a proper manager to fill the void when they sacked him.

Don’t rule out Everton getting into serious trouble. I’m not a big Jordan Pickford fan, but he’s keeping them in games single handedly at the moment. The Toffees are poor and there isn’t a goal in them.

What are the odds on Lopetegui getting the sack after the cup-tie at Villa? I’d say pretty good. The Hammers are once again no more than they’ve always been - an ordinary bottom half team. What a shame clever Karen and co have thrown away all David Moyes good work.

It’s also a big week for Postecoglou. His starting line-up v Newcastle said he knows his season is all about the Carabao Cup now. We’ll find out a lot more about his team - and Liverpool - on Wednesday night.

How good are Liverpool?

I’m trying to work out just how good this Liverpool team is. Good? Yes. Very good? Yes - I think so. Better than very good? A team eight points clear of its nearest rival - with a game in hand - and nine of the team in third you’d usually say ‘yes’, but I’m not sure. 

They looked terrific at West Ham, but the home team were abject, so I’m not sure we can draw too many conclusions. 

I should add that the CL table says they’re the best team in Europe right now as well. 

Arne Slot has already proven himself to be smart and flexible and he’s allayed my one big pre-season fear - that he’d turn Liverpool into another dull pass-fest outfit. 

We should never forget that Jurgen Klopp left this team behind when he walked away, having done all the re-building that Guardiola is now faced with at City, so he takes a great deal of credit for what’s happening now. 

But is the current side as good as Klopp’s original? No. Not for me. Let’s not forget those players won a title and in the two seasons they came up short it was only by a point behind a record haul by a very very good City. They also won the CL. 

Of course this current crop need to mature and that can only happen with time, but I don’t think they’re being pushed. I don’t think it’s a very good league this season. 

Arsenal have gone back. City are miles off. So are Spurs. I can’t see Forest continuing as they are, but fair play to Nuno - he’s done a fantastic job at the City Ground. 

The only other team that have made progress are Chelsea and I don’t see them as genuine title challengers. On their day they can be impressive, but as Fulham proved, they’re still flimsy. 

So it’s Liverpool’s title barring a dramatic fall off and I guess time will ultimately decide how good they are. 

On the subject of West Ham - how clever Karen and co must be wishing they hadn’t treated David Moyes with so much contempt. 

I guess it was only right Fulham and Bournemouth shared the points at the Cottage - they’ve both been a pleasure to watch so far. 

As for United and Reuben Interim. What on earth was he thinking when he started talking about relegation in his most recent press conference? Is he serious? If he is he should keep his thoughts do himself. Or is he actually trying to get the sack? 

Interim is clearly one of a new breed of arrogant coaches that believe they’re always right and the rest of us are wrong - so there’s no flexibility - it’s his way - 3-box-3 - or no way. 

I mentioned this last week. Don’t be a fool Reuben. Find a system that suits the players you’ve got and start winning some games. So far all he’s done is make United worse. 

And what a shambles of a year it’s been under Sunny Jim and the brains trust. They’ve stumbled from one bad decision to the next - the most recent being the cancellation of funds to X- players facing hardship - their own charity. 

Is Sunny Jim really as inept as I’ve been suggesting? I was actually hoping I was wrong - but I’m not. The only reason he’s getting away with all his penny-pinching nonsense right now can only be because the United faithful are so weary. 

I had to laugh at this headline ‘fans are left shocked as Haaland swears in post-match interview’. Oh fuck off. Grow up. Here’s my headline ‘grown man says shit during sports channel interview’. So what? 

Why is there always a melt-down on this channel, and in the press, if a mic picks up a player or a fan swearing? It’s a sports channel ffs. It’s going to happen. 

I can turn any ‘entertainment’ channel on any time of the day and night to find the likes of Jonathan Ross trying to make people laugh by simply swearing. Why is that ok and yet the odd expletive on a sports channel isn’t? It’s ridiculous. 

Did you see Jaoa Pedro get away with that flailing elbow? That was as clear a red as you’ll ever see. It was violent conduct - and to be clear law 12.3 states there doesn’t have to be contact for it to be so. 

Except ref Andy Madley and Chris Kavanagh in VAR saw differently. And the PGMOL released a statement that read ‘the referees call of no red card to Jaoa Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clear and obviously wrong’. Why was it checked then? And clearly it was. 

As for the 3’40” it took to incorrectly disallow Gakpo’s goal v Brighton - can I ask why is it we’re still using wax crayons and rulers to make these decisions? They’re not accurate. Where is the semi-automated technology we were promised? 

What a miserable weekend for Manc football fans.

Once is a mistake. Twice is a decision. Any more than that has no chance of being forgiven. So said the Brazilian lyricist and novelist Paulo Coelho.

I wonder what he would make of this? How many mistakes can you spot here? Brahim Diaz Madrid. Morgan Rogers Villa. Cole Palmer Chelsea. Sancho Chelsea. Romeo Lavia Chelsea. Tosin Chelsea. Ko Itakura Gladbach. Pedro Porro Spurs. Douglas Luiz Juve. Rory Delap Ipswich. Felix Nmecha Dortmund. Quite a list isn’t it?

I’m sure you’re ahead of me and have worked out what they have in common? Let me tell you if not - in his eight years at City Guardiola has sold them all.

Staggering isn’t it? Look. I get it. Every coach has dropped a bollock and let someone leave whose gone on to have a career. Every coach except Fergie that is - but come on. That’s a barrel full of bollocks dropped.

No wonder people are beginning to wake up to what’s happened at City. It was fine when things were going well. There was only me questioning Guardiola and his methods. Now - with City falling apart - there’s a few more starting to.

James Gheerbrant wrote a terrific piece in The Times last Friday making much the same point as I am - adding that City’s usual starting X1 right now has an average age of 28 1/2 making them, most weekends, the fourth oldest team in the league.

What I find even more incredible is the line I heard at a recent Guardiola press conference. It went something like this ‘after eight years of constant success I knew there would be a drop off’. Really? Well why didn’t you do something about it sooner?

The re-build should’ve started 18 months ago. And don’t tell me I’m being smart after the event. How many times did we watch Fergie realise big players were on the cusp of losing their power - so he got rid of them? Remember - 13 titles in 27 seasons. Never - ever were United scrambling around in seventh with a record of four points from 24 available. If they didn’t finish top they generally finished second.

Can you recall Fergie letting a player leave who went on to have a career elsewhere? A proper career that is. Only Beckham. None of the rest did.

His judgement was spot on. He knew. Never did I hear him saying like ‘everyone knows how good Morgan is’. Yea? Well why isn’t he playing for City now? Why isn’t Cole Palmer?

Add it all up. It’s millions of pounds worth of talent that’s been allowed to walk away from the Etihad. What’s Julian Alvarez doing in Madrid? I can only think Guardiola’s daughter wanted to go back to Spain last summer.

If the City managers’ name was - let’s say Mancini - with a record of four points from 24 and list of mishaps like the one above, he’d already have been shown the door. If Guardiola wins the title from the position City are in now I’ll accept he’s a genius. If not - can we all start asking a few more questions?

A point at title chasing Arsenal. And a point from the next game against title chasing Chelsea - I’d say that was pretty good going. The trouble is Everton did it without taking a shot at goal at Arsenal and mis-firing badly v Chelsea.

Sean Dyche should get top marks for taking something from both games - but Everton are seriously boring.

I said it last week. I’ll say it again. Can we please give Postacoglou a break? Did anyone notice three of his regular back four were missing v Liverpool. Oh - and his first choice keeper. Not once did I hear him make an excuse for the defeat nor list his injured players. City haven’t stopped whining about missing just one - Rodri, despite the fact they won six and drew one of their first seven games after his injury.

Liverpool were good though weren’t they? I’m more impressed every week.

If Amorim didn’t know what he’d taken on he does now. I couldn’t help think about Mike Keegan’s piece in The Mail a week last Thursday as I watched Bournemouth stroll to another win at OT. Keegan revealed the Qatari plan for taking over at United was called ‘Project Ruby’.

He wrote that Project Ruby would be revealed like this - Day One: announce takeover. Day Two: announce that all debt has been removed, that the club has been taken off the New York Stock Exchange and that it is no longer answerable to faraway stakeholders. Day Three: announce fully funded plans for a new stadium.

What’s happened in the year Sunny Jim has been involved?