After saying on the Friday show that I thought it inconceivable that Manchester United could lose to City in the Manchester derby the inconceivable happened. I feel obliged to impose a one show suspension on myself and so I will not be appearing on the FSR on Monday night. Well actually the truth is that I have long standing commitment on Monday night.

At least my second prediction of a certain Liverpool and Chelsea draw came true. But even then the Chelsea penalty award was as soft as I have seen for a longtime. But a soft penalty was enough to satisfy Jose Mourinho who also wants to invent new rules. His comment about no advantage rule in the penalty area (not that it was applicable in this case anyway) is not only wrong but will last until a referee opts not to play advantage after a foul in the penalty area and calls back a Chelsea goal!!

I noticed that there were a few questions that got posted late or cropped up in the comments section. If you would like them answered please repost and I will get to them this week. finally a Serie A preview will be up this week and I'l throw up a predicted La Liga finish later this week.

And to some articles.

Paul Wilson on the problem’s caused by having the most popular league in the world and trying to field a successful national side.

Gabriele Marcotti on Mourinho vs. Benitez. Needless to say the relationship will not have improved after Sunday's game.

Ian Bell on the demands placed on managers.

Patrick Barclay thinks it is too early to write off Steve McClaren.

Brian Glanville doesn’t seem to agree.

A piece of Arsenal history. Whe I read the headline I thought it was a piece on Alex James as his first senior club was Raith Rovers. But this is someone that predates James and there is a Canadian connection.

Terracing talk is on the agenda again in England.

Simon Kuper’s article starts with the following – “A friend of mine once tried to do business with a revered institution of English football. "I can do business with stupid people," he said afterwards, "and I can do business with crooks. But I can't do business with stupid people who think they are crooks."”

Paul Gardner on goalkeepers.

Matt Dickinson with an excellent article on Chris Coleman who is now in charge of Real Sociedad.

An update on MyFootballClub.com and the imminent purchase of a team.