verbal97 - Is there any chance that Platini's plan to limit the number of Champions League places to the big leagues comes to fruition?  I think it's one of those ideas that sounds nice in theory and when campaigning, but is not practical because if implemented perhaps the talk of a Super League gets more traction.

realmadridcffan - Now that Platini is the President of UEFA and he has said on record that he wants to limit the amount of UEFA Champions League spots from 4 to three for the big countries (Spain, England, Italy) and spread them around to the smaller countries, what do you think this will do if it does go through, de-value the UEFA Champions League at it's current format of 32 teams? Also do you see any ramifications for the UEFA Cup because of this (i.e.: possible format change)

Bobby – This is definitely the question of the week after Platini’s election. Just like any other politician who has just been elected Platini’s political capital is at its maximum. Unfortunately for him the TV deal does not come up for renewal until after the 2009 Champions League.  This almost certainly means that there will be no tampering with the Champions League until a new TV contract is agreed. In the meantime the big clubs in Europe will muster their forces in an effort to make sure that Platini's plan is not implemented. And remember he is only one man with one vote in an executive of 15. In the end, it will probably finish up with some sort of compromise and already there are a number of ideas floating around.  One suggestion I have here heard is that the top three countries will keep their four spots but only one team will be guaranteed a spot in the group stage.  This would leave the other 3 teams to go through the various qualifying rounds.

Another suggestion is that the group stage be expanded to include more teams.  This could be done by increasing the number of groups or by increasing the number of teams in eight groups. Either way it is difficult to see how either option could work without teams having to play more games or without the present knockout rounds being dismantled. As for talk of a European Super League I don't think the big clubs are really interested.  What they really want is a competition limited to the likes of England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.

The UEFA Cup - the competition is already a dog's breakfast and needs a complete revamp. Platini, at one point, did talk about reactivating the European Cup Winners Cup which I think is a good idea if it was restricted to only one club from each country and operated on a straight knockout basis.

Gunner 44 - My question to you is can't Wenger call up one of those players on loan (Stokes, Larsson etc.) instead of buying a new player if injuries become too many?

Bobby – It would depend on the deal that was made.  Some loan deals include the rate of recall at any point, while others are for a set period of time. However, Wenger would have difficulty recalling Anthony Stokes as the Irishman was sold to Sunderland.

Bigdavedisaster – I’ve been in a bit of an argument with a few friends. Who do you think are the 5 biggest clubs currently outside of the premiership? Big as in history and large fan support as in clubs that probably should be in the EPL.

Bobby – What a great question and probably not as easy to figure out as it sounds. I think you would to have separate history over the last 40-50 years from the early stages of the English league.  Here are my 5 pics; Sunderland, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, and West Brom. Birmingham supporters will be after me but they lost out because they have never won the League or FA Cup. Derby County also came very close to making the top five. I am waiting to see your and your mate’s picks.   

Djnima - After Rooney scored his goal against Arsenal and his double against Pompey (I love it when he chips the keeper especially calamity James) commentators said that he had "broken his scoring duck"

I understand that it means he ended his goal drought but I was wondering if there is any significance to the word 'duck' and if there is a story behind it.

Also, how's your fantasy team doing? Do you think it would be a good idea to incorporate the fantasy league more into FSR?

Bobby – “Duck” is a cricket expression and is used when a batsman is “out” before scoring a run. When the batsmen scored his first run is sometimes said that he is off his “duck”. When a batsman is out to the first ball he faces it is referred to in some cricket playing countries as a “royal duck”. As far as Fantasy Football is concerned as of tonight (Tuesday) I am just over 5,000 points and in 300th place – safely above the relegation zone so far. The idea of incorporating a FF feature into FSR has been talked about and it is something you might see next season.

gregz - Recently coach Bora Milutinovic was named as national coach of Jamaica. I know a little about him and his accomplishments of taking 5 different teams to the World Cup, but what else can you tell me about him as a coach and how do you rate him Bobby?

Bobby – Bora has managed 5 countries at the World Cup but I think he may have only seen one of them (Costa Rica) through the qualifying stages. He seems to have fallen a bit out of favour since the 2002 World Cup and although he was linked with the Serbia national team job after last summer’s World Cup nothing came of it. His critics would point to his relatively poor record as a club coach while his supporters will quickly point out that he's taken for countries to the second round at four World Cups - no mean feat.  No matter how he does with Jamaica, there will probably be a country out there willing to hire him given his record. As a sidebar if Carlos Alberto Parreira manages to stick around with South Africa for the next three years he will also have managed five different countries at the World Cup.

 Napier22 - I enjoy your analyses on FSR. You obviously have a good eye for the game and pick up lots of things I don't see. I was just wondering if you have ever done any coaching?

Bobby – Thank you. I coached for a number of years. I got certified a few years after arriving in Canada and followed the usual route taken by most parents - coaching my stepson’s teams while still playing. I then moved on to player/coach for a local senior team and as the legs began to give in that became reduced to coach. Work then intervened and I haven’t coached a team for the last seven years. However, I should add that after attending the NSCAA convention in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago I sent in a membership application and registration fee.

I am a bit behind this morning. We went to see country music legend Don Williams last night and so I am going to have to watch the EPL highlights show and the FSWR on tape.

Another wild and woolly weekend. It could not have turned out better for SAF (my thoughts on Fergie the greatest ever can be read tomorrow). Meanwhile we are still waiting to hear why Terry got sent off. Watching the replays of the incident during the match there is something very untoward about it. Terry and a Spurs player (King?) get tangled in the penalty box but there is nothing unusual about that. Then when Terry gets up and starts to move away some of the Spurs players are livid. A ruckus ensues then Terry gets called over and sent off – he says nothing which given what is becoming Chelsea’s natural reaction to referee’s decisions is surprising. Terry did something (I have read elsewhere that he threw a punch but I have yet to see it) otherwise he and the other Chelsea players would surely have reacted. Maybe Terry can come clean and tell Jose.

Anyway on to some weekend articles.

Anthony Stokes is on loan from Arsenal at Falkirk and he is currently the hottest player in Scotland.

Michael Grant on the club that the then Alex Ferguson left twenty years ago. It was a move that all but brought to an end an era when the Old Firm was firmly second class citizen in Scotland.

One of the British games great characters Tommy Docherty (the original man who has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus) has just released on new book “The Doc, Hallowed Be Thy Game.”

Some interesting observations from Stewart Robson on the ability of Jens Lehmann and Edwin van der Sar to start attacks with excellent distribution.

Steve Tongue makes some astute observations about Chelsea. I find it interesting that on a number of occasions since he took over at Stamford Bridge Mourinho has been compared to Brian Clough. It seems to me that Mourinho has more in common with Don Revie. Revie’s Leeds team of the 60’s and early 70’s, although widely admired for the football that they were capable of playing, was widely despised for the cynical win-at-all-costs approach.

…….and now that I have brought up Leeds. After losing on Saturday to Barnsley, Leeds now sit 23rd in the 24-team Championship. Six years after playing in the Champions League semi-final. Leeds and new boss Dennis Wise are facing a relegation battle to avoid what is really Division Three.

Peter Risdale may have lived the dream, but he has the left Leeds to face the nightmare.