Premier League In Roo-in

AFTER hearing that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has escaped FA punishment for his sickening elbow on Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy at the weekend, I can frankly say that I am appalled. What he did was no more than a vicious assault. If that happened in the middle of a town centre, police would have had the 25-year-old arrested.

But no. Because Sir Alex Ferguson has the FA sat snugly in his top pocket, the former Everton man has had a major let off. Where is the justice in that?

I can only agree with what John Hartson said on Match of the Day 2 last night. While arguing that Rooney is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in the world, we have to take into account that if it were any other player - for any other club, might I add - the FA would more than likely have taken action.

"How on earth you can defend that?" stated the former West Ham United striker. "Having seen those pictures, I do not know. We like the fact that Rooney gets stuck in, he's a really good footballer. But it's not about him. We are not singling him out here."

The FA are far to scared to persecute players who are perched alongside Fergie and his crony Mike Phelan, who said; "We can't dispute the referee's decision. He's kept the game flowing and we're happy with that."

Reading between the lines, to me that sounds as though Phelan is relieved that referee Mark Clattenburg did not see the incident - not that it is the first time an official has shown signs of blatant incompetence to show a red card to a Red Devils' player. I distinctly remember a certain Gary Neville getting away with what should have been a second yellow card at the Britannia Stadium on October 24 2010, but Andre Marriner bottled the decision and United went on to win 2-1.

Just earlier this season, Ryan Babel was strung up and charged with improper conduct for posting a picture of referee Howard Webb in a United shirt on his Twitter page following the FA Cup 3rd round tie at Old Trafford.

What the Dutchman did was a matter of opinion. Yes, it was ridiculously idiotic, but passions were running high. It is not as if he walked up to Webb and cracked him round the skull with a baseball bat or kneecapped him. If the boot was on the other foot and Rio Ferdinand had posted an image of Webb in a Liverpool shirt, would the FA have took action, or would they have cowered, scared of United's Scottish leader?

I am not saying that it is United's fault that referees are more inclined to give decisions their way, I am saying that the FA are scared of Sir Alex and the power he seems to have at the club.

It is about time that our football governing body strapped on a pair and dished out a hefty fine for what was nothing more than a brutal, thuggish attack by a stupid, moronic imbecile.

The Divine Right To Win

THE Carling Cup final between Arsenal and Birmingham City is being hailed as one of the most important games for Arsenal this season as they look to win a trophy for the first time in six years.

But, what most people seem to forget, unless you are a Blues fan, is that there are two teams contesting this competition. What gives the Gunners the divine right to win?

Sure, the quality of football that Arsene Wenger's team play is simply fantastic. But, if it is that good, then why have the North London club failed to win a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2005?

People seem to forget that, despite the hoards of flair players at their disposal, Arsenal are indeed human, as many teams prove time and time again.

The win against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions' League last week was nothing more than steely determination mixed with an element of fortune that allowed Robin van Persie's equaliser to squeeze in at the near post.

So why are Birmingham not in with a shout? Alex McLeish had a terrific track record as Rangers manager before moving to St. Andrews after a stint as Scotland manager. "Big 'Eck" won seven trophies with the Glasgow club and even guided City back to the Premier League, so he knows how to win a competition.

Birmingham have just as much chance as Arsenal do to win their first major trophy for over four decades. The Carling Cup remains the only trophy they have won, courtesy of a 3-1 against fierce rivals Aston Villa in 1963.

The Gunners are without talisman Cesc Fabregas and quick silver Theo Walcott for the Wembley showdown, which will be a huge boost to the Blues' dressing room.

Arsenal are the only team who are still in with a shout of winning every competition they have entered, and City will be looking to end their dream of lifting four trophies by putting in a performance worthy of victory.

It would be ironic if Alexander Hleb were to score the winning goal, or even Sebastian Larsson or David Bentley. The three former Arsenal men will be relishing the opportunity for a crack at the whip against their ex-employers.

Or maybe it will all boil down to the enigmatic Kevin Phillips. The former England striker and one time Golden Boot winner with Sunderland is always capable of chipping in with a goal here and there and will no doubt be called upon if a late equaliser in needed.

The Blues will have to exploit the fragile Arsenal back line with the giant Serb Nikola Zigic looking to cause havoc from dead ball situations with his ability to find the net with his head, something which has caused the Gunners many problems over the course of the season.

Yes, Arsenal are more than capable of playing Birmingham off the park. But this is a cup final and no matter how hard Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri try, the Blues will be trying just as hard, and anything can happen.

Anyone for a cup upset?

The Future's Bright

LOOKING at the Npower League One table, it is hard not to feel a sense of joy for Brighton and Hove Albion, unless you are a die hard Crystal Palace fan, of course. But it just goes to show what can be gained by giving a young manager the chance to make an impact.

Gustavo Augusto Poyet Domínguez, or 'Gus' as he is better known to us, made his name in England when Ruud Gullit snapped up the Uruguayan in 1997 on a free transfer from Real Zaragoza, where the mercurial midfielder had netted 63 goals in 239 league appearances.

Poyet had a good track record of success before joining the Stamford Bridge outfit having won the Copa del Rey in 1994, then helping Zaragoza beat Arsenal in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in a year later.

His line of honours would not stop there after his move to the capital as he again won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 along with the European Super Cup, before lifting one of the greatest prizes in English football, the FA Cup in 2000.

Unfortunately for Poyet, the arrival of Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea meant that the one-time Copa America winner was surplus to requirements and Tottenham Hotspur gladly snapped up the deadly play maker for £2.2m.

He retired from football in 2004 after his time at White Hart Lane was blighted by injury, with a reoccurring cruciate knee ligament problem that saw much of his time at Stamford Bridge spent on the sidelines.

In 2006, Poyet was reunited with former Chelsea teammate Dennis Wise as his assistant at Swindon Town before the pair moved to Leeds United where Poyet was to make his name as a coach, despite being unable to lead the Elland Road side to the Championship.

The next season, Poyet was appointed as Juande Ramos' number two as he returned to White Hart Lane where he picked up his first trophy as a coach with Spurs beating Chelsea, of all teams, 2-1 in the Carling Cup.

It was in on November 10 2009 that the Uruguayan was made Seagulls manager after Russell Slade made a poor start to the campaign. Poyet helped steer the struggling club clear of relegation, finishing in a respectable 13th place.

And so began his first full season, and what a way to start it with seven consecutive wins, which saw Albion top the league - and the Seagulls are still there, one point clear of second place Bournmouth with three games in hand. A fine job by Poyet.

It shows what is to be gained by giving young managers a chance. We all saw Paul Ince do a fantastic job at MK Dons, leading them to promotion in his first season, and also to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. However, it seemed that the Blackburn Rovers job, as many predicted, was a step too far for a rookie manager and Ince was sacked on December 16 2008.

Another fine example of the value of youth is none other than Eddie Howe, who led Bournmouth to promotion from League Two in his first full season, having saved the Cherries from relegation the previous season - much like Poyet at Brighton.

Now, Howe's managerial skills have been acknowledged by Burnley who are currently battling for the Play-Offs in the Championship - what a year this could be for the 33-year-old.

Surely it will not be long before more managerial gems are unearthed, like Poyet, Ince, Howe and even John Sheridan at League Two leaders Chesterfield.

Young managers should always be given a chance, perhaps not at the top level of English football where the pressure to succeed is far greater, but in the lower leagues where the margin for error is not as extreme and the learning curve is more valuable.

The future is bright for young managers, they need to be given the chance.

Trials and Tribulations

FOLLOWING defeat in the Lancashire Derby on Saturday, Preston North End are staring relegation to Npower League One right in the face having failed to register three points since December 11.

It has been very gloomy days for North End since Iain Hume hit the winner at Deepdale in a 1-0 win against Ipswich 12 games ago, with respectable draws against high flying Queens Park Rangers and more recently Nottingham Forest the scant consolation amidst a run of terrible results.

The Lilywhites set out to avenge the 4-3 defeat suffered at Turf Moor earlier in the season where the Clarets came from 3-1 down to seal victory with three goals in six minutes following Billy Jones' red card for the visitors.

But with just three clean sheets in the league all season, the writing was on the wall for Phil Brown's men who were unable to keep their local rivals at bay.

North End are having the same problem under Brown that they had under Darren Ferguson - inability to defend. The standout result for the season has to be the 6-4 win against Leeds United at Elland Road on September 28.

Although the result was a great attacking display, it showed just how frail they are at the back. One of the more important results that Preston have had all season is a battling 4-3 win over fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on October 23.

It is a team capable of scoring goals, but the desperate need to stiffen up at the back is plain to see, as reinforced by the 4-0 defeat at home to Bristol City earlier this month.

Just two seasons ago North End made it into the Play-Offs, only to lose 2-1 on aggreagate to Sheffield United in the semi-finals. It is amazing just how much the club has fallen into ruin in such a short space of time.

After breaking into the Division One (as it was back in the day) in 2000 following a 95 point haul in Division Two - securing promotion along with Burnley, as chance would have it - the Lilywhites have failed to live up to many peoples' expectations that they would reach the Premier League.

Under the charge of the inspirational David Moyes, Preston made it to the Division One Play-Offs at the first attempt but lost out to Bolton Wanderers in the final after overcoming Birmingham City.

Three points separated Preston from the Play-Offs the following season before Moyes was appointed as Everton manager and a combination of first Kelham O'Hanlon and Craig Brown suffered two mediocre seasons with the Lancashire club.

It was to be Play-Off heartache again for the Lilywhites as Billy Davies led them to fifth place, only to be thwarted by West Ham United in 2005, as the Hammers made an instant return to the Premier League.

Sadly, it was the same old story the following season for poor Preston as this time Leeds United saw them off at the semi-final stage of the Play-Offs, in what would prove to be Davies' last game in charge of the club.

Now the club that boasted the talents of Sir Tom Finney back in the 40s is set to fall into decline after four failed attempts in the Championship Play-Offs, and tougher times are ahead you fear.