WHAT'S HAPPENED TO CHELSEA?NO WAY TO TREAT ANCELOTTI

The wheels are falling off Chelsea and they are clipping the managerial wings of the outstanding Carlo Ancelotti.He says he is more of a technical director than a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson.The sacking of assistant manager Ray Wilkins seems crazy and Chelsea haven't picked up a Premier League point since.Three defeats out of the last 4 games,no goals in four of their last five away Premier League games,eight less points than this stage last season and now level with points with Manchester United spells out that United may well regain the League title.The inconsistencies of the other big teams keeps them top but December brings these opponents for Chelsea--Spurs,Man Utd,Arsenal and the team in form Bolton.John Terry and Frank Lampard(he's missed 16 first team games since his August hernia op) need to return and Chelsea need to start scoring and winning again very soon...or Ancelotti will be sacked.One thing is for sure,he will not resign.Why should he when Roman Abramovich has spent heading towards £35 million on managerial and back room staff pay-offs?Its a crazy Premier League season and the owner's decisions seemed to have added to the unpredictability!Who would have thought Birmingham would have beaten Chelsea one nil last Saturday.Chelsea had so many chances to score in the game but as that famous American football coach Vince Lombardi once said:" They don't ask how;they ask how many!"

SCOTTISH REFEREES THREATEN STRIKE BUT SHOULDN'T THEY SACK ONE OF THEIR OWN?

Picked up a Scottish newspaper recently and saw Celtic manager Neil Lennon ranting at the referee.English newspapers had more of the same from Premier League and Championship managers.Not a word of their own players shortcomings.But thats par for the course...and its getting very predictable and boring! The Scottish referees have clearly had enough and are threatening strike action.But they would have more credibility if they sacked Dougie McDonald who admits he lied to Lennon.McDonald's decision to rescind a penalty to Celtic in their away match to Dundee United last month led to his fib...but the SFA have yet to take any action about McDonald.If managers continue to slag off the standard of referees north and south of the border then future officials of top standard will be hard to encourage.The League Managers Association are quick to issue statements on their members behalf.Its about time now that they encouraged them to show more respect for the officials.Without them there would be anarchy.That's why I have sympathy for the Scottish refs-their integrity is being questioned and that's why they now must also sack McDonald.No double standards,eh?

ENGLAND OUTPLAYED BY FRANCE BUT ANDY CARROLL IMPRESSES

England short of some regulars but who says they would have played any better.Some of the seniors were not very good in manager Fabio Capello's first defeat at Wembley.France played a strong side and scored two good goals,looking much better for most of the match.England's two strikers made their mark--debutant Andy Carroll is an old fashioned type of striker and when England finally plonked the ball up in the air towards him Carroll was very effective.He is 21 and should be the new fixture up front.You have to feel for Peter Crouch who has done well for England.He comes on as sub in this one,scores England's only goal and acknowledges afterwards that the competition will be between Carroll and himself.Crouch has scored 22 goals in 42 England games.Some against the likes of Jamaica but in general a fine strike rate yet he is on the fringe these days.Biggest problem might be Capello's reluctance to change the playing system.

IAN HOLLOWAY SHOULD NOT THREATEN TO RESIGN

Ian Holloway is a great character in the game.Goodness knows we are short of some bubbly personalities.Harry Redknapp is another.But who is advising them about threatening to resign,in Holloway's case and not giving TV interviews in Harry's if the FA take action because of Ian fielding weaken teams and Harry saying something that may bring the game into disrepute( as if it would by the way)?Its not right to threaten-particularly before anything has happened!There are correct procedures for that.What example does it set their own players?Otherwise both are going a great job for their clubs and we love them!

SURPRISES SO FAR..........

My surprise packages so far this season are:Bolton in fifth place under the impressive Owen Coyle;Sunderland in 6th not long after Steve Bruce was apologising for that huge defeat at Newcastle;Liverpool down in 11th spot( still a recent improvement after being in bottom three!)and the form of promoted clubs Newcastle(8th),West Brom(12th) and Blackpool(15th).However it is tight in the Premier League-Villa in 9th place are only four points clear of the drop zone.Unluckiest team to date? Wolves who have been so close to picking up more than their 9 points that leaves them one place above bottom team West Ham on one better goal difference!

ITS AN UNPREDICTABLE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON

The Premier League is showing some strange results and form.Would you have expected Chelsea to lose 3-0 at home to Sunderland?If you heard the result cold you would be forgiven for thinking the Champions had suffered a red card!Some fancied Arsenal to have a good season while still playing their so attractive football.Arsene Wenger has still got it Arsenal fans!Manchester United are not playing well but they are still unbeaten albiet they have drawn 7 of their 13 matches.They are one point behind second place Arsenal and three behind leaders Chelsea...Noisy neighbours Manchester City,having spent millions,are in fourth place at present.

SYMPATHY FOR TONY PULIS BUT HIS PLAN WILL NOT WORK

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has been upset at some of the referee's decisions in his team's matches.He has a point.For example when Gary Neville should have has an obvious second yellow and sent off.There does seem to be more pressure on some referees in matches involving the big clubs.Others are not affected.That is down to the refs boss Mike Riley who is not as forthcoming as the previous occupant,Keith Hackett.I would like to hear more from Riley.But the Tony Pulis plan for clubs..ie managers..to mark referees and at the end of the season relegate the bottom three and promote the best three from the Championship is a non-runner and unfair.Clubs will hold grievances against certain refs an the officials could make even more mistakes.Of course the refs will make errors but managers should support them.When their own players cheat or try and con the ref I never hear managers condemning it.They use the attack on refs to cover their own teams shortcomings at times.Anyway the managers would soon be critising the refs from the Championship no doubt saying they are only good for that level!So Tony some of your players have been hard done by but they have always fallen short on the field particularly away from home.Its not just a few decisions that have left you level with the relegation zone.I have not heard West Bromwich Albion moaning too much...

MANCHESTER UNITED NOT ALWAYS GREAT BUT THEY HANG IN THERE

No Wayne Rooney but Manchester United keep finding unlikely heroes.Latest is the South Korean Park Ji Sung who popped up at Old Trafford with two late goals.The first in terms of the first half...45th minute and the winner 90+3..Wolves lost 2-1 but consider themselves rightly unlucky!United are unbeaten in the Premier League but have five draws-four away from home...Chelsea who lead their defence of the title by two points have drawn one and lost two away.Manchester United have two away games this week;Chelsea two at home. United go to Manchester City on Sky Sports 2 this Wednesday and then travel to Aston Villa (12.45p.m. ) this Saturday on Sky Sports 1.Meanwhile Chelsea are at home to Fulham on Wednesday and against Sunderland on Sunday(4.10pm) on Sky Sports 1.

FERNANDO TORRES IS REALLY BACK

Lately we have wondered which Fernando Torres is playing for Liverpool?The hardly fit off tune one or the Torres we saw on Sunday with those two goals.The second being world class.I hope the REAL Fernando Torres is back.Meanwhile I am glad the new Liverpool owner American John W Henry is indicating he is bewildered by the role of agents in English football.I have always been baffled how they are able to work for both club and player.That cannot be right.Some agents encourage players to change clubs too often.The clubs cannot agree on much collectively so Mr Henry should not hold his breath for anything other that sympathy on this subject!

GARETH BALE'S RUNS ARE SO EXCITING

Its normally striker and wingers that excite us.Step or rather sprint forward Spurs left back Gareth Bale.Super speed and attack....and goals.Its wonderful stuff.We are all loving it unless you support or are involved in his opponents.

GERARD HOULLIER UNDER PRESSURE TO WIN AND SCORE

Aston Villa should have won at Fulham on Saturday.I felt for new manager Gerard Houllier.Villa have just one win in eight Premier League matches under the Frenchman.Indeed they have not won in five games and only scored twice since Emile Heskey's late winner against Wolves.Now Houllier has a run in with striker John Carew.I am sure Gerard will show Carew who is boss!Meanwhile Villa desperately need a home win over Blackpool on Wednesday.Its that tight at the bottom that only five points seperate 5th place Bolton and the three teams in the drop zone!

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO MARTIN O'NEILL?

Why is Martin O'Neill not back managing in football?The answer is that a top job in the Premier League has not become available.When there is an opening where will it be and will the Northern Ireland man be offered it and will he take it?Martin quit Aston Villa at the start of the season.Top managers earn so much money these days that there is no pressure when they are out of work.Nice!