Champions League Draw Throws Up Double Reunion

Yesterday's draw for the last 16 of the Champions League brought about an intriguing Anglo-Italian duel, where England's big two clash with the giants of Milan. Manchester United will take on AC Milan, whilst Chelsea take on Inter.

Tasty enough you might think but when you throw in the double return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge and David Beckham to Old Trafford, the pinnacle of European football will be eagerly anticipated after the winter break.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United will be expected to progress into the quarter finals, especially with the second legs being played in England, highlighting the importance of topping the group.

For both of these men, it will be their first competitive return to their former clubs since leaving the Premier League. Chelsea have never quite been the same since the 'special one' left in 2007, and are now only returning to the sort of form displayed under him, though they have been shaky of late.

As for Beckham, this is perhaps the most interesting. Since leaving Old Trafford in 2003, it's very much the opinion that his career has gone downwards. After some success at Real Madrid, he was eventually forced out and chose America to play his football. Maybe he realised his mistake and he didn't want to admit it or he was just being loyal to LA Galaxy who he had promised so much to, but he returned to Europe last year to have an impressive spell on loan at AC Milan, where he has since returned again as the MLS season is over.

Of course, Beckham can also cite his claims for a place in England's World Cup squad, where I think he should still be. While some of the pace has gone, the quality still undoubtedly remains. His ability to pick out the perfect pass, or a fantastic delivery from a set piece is still there. He showed in performances in qualifying that he will never let England down and will always there when called upon. There are many by now who would have called it a day.

Of Chelsea and Manchester United's chances, they know that they can beat anybody at home so as long as they avoid a hammering in the San Siro they should have enough. But with Beckham and Mourinho adding an extra spice they will need to be on their guard.

----------

Less than a month after being sacked by Portsmouth, Paul Hart has already stepped back into management as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers. After the incident between Jim Magilton and Akos Buzsacky that was reported in this column last week, it was decided that Magilton wouldn't be continuing as boss.

So in comes Hart, and you would have thought he'd have had enough of uncertainties in the boardroom at Portsmouth only to step into a club which is probably even more uncertain.

You've got to give it to him though, he won't be deterred and is determined to get his managerial career back on track at Loftus Road. You sense he will have to be quick in getting results though. Hart is now the fifth permanent manager since October 2007, which is absolutely ridiculous.

The moguls that run QPR expect instant success, but how can they achieve that if a manger is given no time to get his own team together. All I can say Paul Hart is good luck because you're going to need it.

----------

Finally, of those Tottenham Hotspur players going to have their secret knees-up in Dublin behind Harry Redknapp's back. How on earth did they think they were going to get away with it?

Premier League footballers out on the town after their manager Harry Redknapp had publicly stated there would be no Christmas party in case of an incident that could potentially derail their season... kind of back fired then I guess.

Perhaps the most alarming thing of all though is the possibilty they didn't care if they were caught. But if there are players deliberately disobeying the manager's orders then there's only one thing for it - get them out. I suppose it depends who those players were which of yet we do not know.

Spurs have to quickly get this out of their system though and hope that it's not the secret Christmas party rather than the dodgy lasagne that derails their Champions League prospects.

Big Two Falter As Villa Make Their Move

What an unpredictable day it was in the Premier League yesterday. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all slipped up in apparent 'home bankers'. Spurs were toppled by my team Wolves, while United lost to Aston Villa and Chelsea were held to a 3-3 draw by Everton at Stamford Bridge.

So while it seems nobody wants to take the title race by the scruff of the neck it looks as if Spurs are determined to stuff up their chances of Champions League football - they have not won since that 9-1 drubbing of Wigan. We also saw more of Manchester City's leaky defence and ruthless attack in another goal glut at Bolton, another 3-3 thriller.

So it seems it all worked out perfectly for Aston Villa. Not only did they notch up their first win at Old Trafford since 1983, with their main rivals slipping up they found themselves sitting in the top four. While it has been Tottenham and Manchester City thumping their chests and talking up their chances of breaking into the top four, it's Aston Villa quietly going about their business on the pitch.

Incredibly Villa have now won at Anfield and Old Trafford this season while beating Chelsea on their own patch - that's championship winning form! In fact, the only thing keeping them out of the title race are the defeats against the likes of Wigan, West Ham and Blackburn.

But it's a carbon copy of last season. A blistering start to the season including a win at The Emirates saw Martin O'Neill's men firmly placed in the top four, they were the only side who were going to do it. However, they faded dramatically after Christmas as Arsenal clawed them back to comfortably finish above them in the end as Villa finished sixth.

So O'Neill will be hoping that Villa have come into form at just the right time to have a real go at securing Champions League football. With no Europa League football this time around, Villa can focus firmly on the League, depending whether O'Neill fancies a crack at the FA Cup, but this wouldn't be too demanding.

Looking over their shoulders, you would expect the firmest challenge to come from Liverpool, who will surely return to top form at some stage, especially with the return to fitness of Fernando Torres. Though O'Neill may take comfort from the fact that the Reds will have to travel across Europe some Thursdays before returning to League action on the Sunday.

One thing's for sure, an interesting battle lies ahead for fourth spot just as for first. For now though, I'm sure Villa supporters are revelling in their fabulous victory and trying not to look too far ahead.

Spurs Miss Big Opportunity

Can anybody break the big four? The long established quartet that have dominated English football over the past few years. No one has achieved this feat since 2004/05 when Everton beat city rivals Liverpool into the last Champions League place.

And with Liverpool's current form, many have begun to wonder whether this will be the season when the 'big four' will be broken apart.

So who's in pole position? Currently it's Tottenham who sit in third for now, after yesterday's draw at Villa Park. Aston Villa themselves and then big spenders Manchester City will also think that they are in with a shout.

But I would say that Spurs are the only team who look likely to do it if anyone does. While on the face of it the point they picked up in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa may seem a good result, it was a game that Spurs dominated for large parts. A fantastic performance, especially as the away side, something that the 'big four' consistently do.

Something else they consistently do, however, is win when they're on top and Spurs didn't do this yesterday. Full marks to them for their performance, they were very impressive, more so than the home side. At present they certainly look more likely than Villa and Manchester City, who seem to be in the 'best of the rest' section of the Premier League.

You do feel though that if Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal had been playing so well in that game that they would have persevered at prevailed with three points. It was also a massive opportunity for Tottenham to put some distance between themselves and Liverpool, who will surely return to form and push hard for fourth spot.

It's quite unbelievable to be lamenting Spurs for wasteful finishing after they put nine past Wigan only a week ago. All the ingredients are there for Spurs to get into that big four. They must be ruthless though, and they must win games when they're on top. A point here and there off the big four wouldn't hurt either.

---------

What a long journey home it must have been for those Barnsley fans travelling home from Plymouth. After being euphoric with a 4-1 first half lead, those celebrations were cut short and the three points that were surely coming their way taken away.

This was because after 58 minutes the game was abandoned after the Home Park pitch was deemed unplayable and dangerous by referee Gavin Ward.

As a football fan, this has got to be the worst feeling in the world, worse than seeing your team get hammered, because you've not had that joy - especially on a long away trip - snatched away. Of course, if the referee felt that there was a danger to the players, then this had to be the right thing to do.

In the aftermath though comes the argument whether the points should be given to Barnsley. It's a difficult one. While it seems unlikely, with half an hour left Plymouth had more than enough time to go and get three goals. Barnsley boss Mark Robins was understandably outraged and said he didn't think the referee would have given the same decision had Plymouth being winning 4-1. This was probably just heat of the moment stuff though, if the pitch is unplayable, the decision has to be made regardless of the result. But what of the travelling fans? I'm assuming the return game will be free.

It all seems very unjust, for Plymouth to get another crack, for Barnsley's players to have to forget they ever had a 4-1 lead and go out and do it again. It's probably the only solution though as there was too much time left on the clock to give a final result.