When Brendan Rodgers first became Liverpool boss two-and-a-half-years ago, although results were inconsistent, his progressive, possession-based philosophy was continually praised.

It was viewed as modern and vibrant yet befitting of the club’s ancient values – reminiscent of the definitive give-and-go’s of the 1970s and 1980s – but this season it’s manifested into something dangerously dogmatic.

Unless Rodgers accepts his Liverpool side must begin taking a more balanced approach, the Reds will soon be walking in the footsteps of another top Premier League club forever shackled by their own philosophy – Arsenal.

Both sides have struggled this season for precisely the same reasons, although materialising in slightly different ways. Arsenal’s 62% possession average is the highest in the league and Liverpool aren’t far behind on 57%, whilst they boast 86% and 84% passing accuracies respectively. As a consequence, the Gunners rank second and the Reds fourth in terms of chances created this season.

Yet, football is decided by a side’s efficiency to score goals – not domination of the ball. You can have the ball for 30 seconds and still win a football match; you can have the ball for a whole 90 minutes (plus stoppage time) and still draw 0-0.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and Liverpool can both be accused of overlooking their defensive problems. Manchester United’s second goal against the Gunners at the weekend – a counter-attack involving just a handful of passes as pushed up full-backs left Per Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta as the only men behind the ball – was all too predictable, as was Ludogrets’ last-minute equaliser from a converted corner against the Reds yesterday evening, marking the 13t goal they’ve conceded from set pieces since the summer.

Not that Rodgers has ignored Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses in the same manner that’s turned so many supporters against Arsene Wenger in recent years. He somehow allowed Arsenal to enter the season with one defender less than last year, whereas the Liverpool boss has spent around £57million to bring six new defenders to Anfield since taking the hotseat in summer 2012 – not to mention an extra £10million on holding midfielder Emre Can. To claim he’s not at least attempted to rebuild the Reds from the back would be folly.

Yet, when all have struggled to prove good value for money – except perhaps Kolo Toure, who arrived on a free transfer – you have to start considering the nature of Rodgers’ philosophy and whether he’s beginning to echo Wenger’s worryingly idealistic approach.

For example, Rodgers insists upon the Reds playing out of the back as much as possible, even with impending danger looming on his defenders. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that – just ask Barcelona – but Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel all give the aura of centre-halves continually battling against the unrealistic demands of Rodgers’ possession football.

It’s no coincidence that Liverpool’s backline takes far more risks than the vast majority of its Premier League counterparts and the Reds have inflicted upon themselves the second-most errors leading to goals since the start of 2014 with 18, only trumped by the ever-self destructive Tottenham with 23. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal are third at 13.

Likewise, consider the style of team Liverpool have come unstuck against this season; Aston Villa, West Ham, QPR, Hull, Newcastle, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. All direct, well-organised and physical sides – the phrase ‘a rainy Wednesday night in Stoke’ – who, incidentally, Liverpool face on Saturday – quickly comes to mind.

These are the rough-n-ready calibre of opposition that have haunted the Gunners for years and one can see them troubling also Liverpool for the campaigns to come. Much like Arsenal, Liverpool currently lack the height and athleticism throughout their midfield and attack to deal with this type of opponent, with both managers clearly preferring the more diminutive, technical variety of player.

In foreign top flights, La Liga for instance, such imbalances would be overlooked. But we’re talking about primary requisites of the Premier League here; Liverpool will never be able to grind out wins against the division’s rank and file sides or compete with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea without having a more complete, better-rounded starting Xi that can win games in more than one way. Vigilantly keeping hold of the ball has rendered Liverpool and Arsenal both worryingly one-dimensional this season.

Fortunately for Rodgers, Arsenal provide the perfect template of where Liverpool are heading under his current philosophy.

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They should serve as enough warning for the Ulsterman to accept the Reds can’t get by on possession football alone; it was all well and good when Liverpool were enjoying their best form for nearly a decade last season, but when momentum alone isn’t attaining positive results, we need to see a different, grittier and more direct side to the Anfield game.

The prevailing concern however, is that in direct parody of Wenger, Rodgers would rather live and die by his own ideals than adapt to their limitations.

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Technically, Jermaine Defoe is the deadliest striker in Premier League history. His, low, powerful strike against Swansea last weekend made him the first player in history to score at least one goal against every current team in the Premier League.

In a career which has seen him grace the grounds of West Ham, Tottenham, Portmouth and Sunderland he’s has now scored 126 times – level with Robbie Keane – making him the 11th highest Premier League goalscorer of all time.

And his return from a brief sabbatical at Toronto FC has already seem him surpass Jose Altidore’s prolific stint of one goal in 42 games. It’s taken him just three games to achieve that, and Sunderland finally have a goal threat up front capable of influencing games.

For now, it all looks good. But long-term, this is actually an incredibly contentious deal when placed in the context of the financial constraints of the modern game.

Defoe and his agent have had an absolute field day on this one. At the age of 32, The Guardian reports he’s managed to seal a £70,000, three and a half year contract. This equates to about a £12.5m deal for a player who’s likely decline sharply in the very near future. Altidore had about £4.5m left on his contract, so ipso facto, this is essentially a staggered £8m deal that will run until 2018. Naturally no one will think twice about Altidore’s value given his traumatic tenure in England, but abstractly, he represents a £6m asset leaving.

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Whatever way you look at it, Sunderland have invested a huge amount of money in an ageing Premier League player. And for now it’s absolutely fine – Defoe will give them the shot in the arm they need to maintain their Premier League status for another year.

But terms of the deal after this auspicious honeymoon period will be significantly more dangerous when his fitness will inevitably lapse. That’s not a direct criticism of Defoe himself, more just a general observation on any player entering this stage of his career.

Without any access to immediate financial figures, the picture up north in fiscal terms is perhaps slightly darker than many people realise. In the financial figures released this time last year, The Mirror reported that Sunderland made a loss £23m with attendance turnover down to £12.6m from £14m and conference and banqueting revenues halved.

Granted, the windfall from increased Premier League TV rights may help wipe out a portion of that debt, but ultimately Defoe is the kind of signing that a team in this financial predicament should be avoiding. What happens, if, in two years time, when the team plateaus to a similar place near the relegation zone and Defoe is injured for three months, out of form, and inadvertently sucking the club money dry? What if the club get relegated and those lucritvie TV streams of money run dry?

While that may be the worst-case scenario the point remains: was there nobody in the world, nobody active on the radar of the extensive Sunderland scouting network, who could offer a more financially viable alternative?

And what message does that send to Conor Wickham, the man who showed glimpses of potential at the end of last season, or Duncan Watmore, or any of the young players working hard to have their chance in the first team?

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It sends a mixed, broken message to every player in the youth academy that chances will likely be limited in this Gus Poyet regime. Watmore and Wickham aren’t Harry Kane, but Mauricio Pochettino’s audacity to place faith in youth has paid unyielding dividends. The same can be said of Brendan Rodgers with a 17 year old Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe.

Sunderland should have looked to the future. Defoe’s arrival is more synonymous with Chelsea and Man City’s backward club cultures with regards to youth, and the polar opposite to Southampton’s extraordinary break-through into England’s elite.

There’s no doubting that Defoe offers a very viable short-term solution to a long-standing Sunderland problem. He’ll see them through for the next six months but after that it’s back to the drawing board for long-term progress. And for the financial ramifications that come with him, you can’t help but think there must have been some better alternatives to this expensive January outlay.

As a young footballer making their way in the game, which is more important; consistent football at a club or a move to a big side where opportunities are sparse?

The three examples we will look at all point to the fact that a move to the established ‘big boys’ may do more than harm than good.

Wilfried Zaha in the 2012-13 season, was playing the best football of his young career. He was spearheading his Crystal Palace side to promotion and was undoubtedly one of the best talents outside the top division and arguably the best in the whole country.

When Manchester United came knocking in January 2013, offering to buy the winger and loan him back to Palace, the deal seemed perfect for both parties. Sir Alex Ferguson was clearly a fan and could take the mercurial wide man under his wing and possibly turn him into one of the best players in Europe.

However, as we now all know, Ferguson was to leave Old Trafford and his replacement, David Moyes, never seemed to rate Zaha as highly. His opportunities were extremely limited in Manchester and he soon went from the potential future of English football, to another player seemingly destined to waste their talent.

Nearly two years after signing for United, he now finds himself permanently back at Selhurst Park and finally enjoying his football again and beginning to replicate the form he shown that earned him the move in the first place. But there is no doubt his move to Old Trafford stalled his career dramatically.

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The next case is Jack Rodwell, a man who burst onto the scene at Everton and found himself on the cusp of the England team. A multi million pound move to Manchester City followed and similarly to Zaha, his career stopped. Almost a two year break in his career.

Only sixteen appearances in two years meant Rodwell has almost had to restart his burgeoning career from a lower point than when he left Goodison Park. He is slowly rebuilding his career at struggling Sunderland but at least he is playing football. Whether he can fully recover from his two year hiatus is yet to be seen.

The final case, although of course there are many more is Scott Sinclair. This one is arguably the most peculiar as it could be argued he has found himself in the same position twice. After spending his formative years at Chelsea, he forged his whole reputation away from Stamford Bridge on loan. After finally leaving the West Londoners for Swansea he regularly gained plaudits for his outstanding performances. So when the opportunity to go to Manchester City it was one simply too good to turn down.

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However, his career at City has resembled his one at Chelsea perfectly. Only 13 times has he made it onto the pitch in City’s Sky Blue. His recent loan move to Aston Villa is enabling him to play consistent football and he is beginning to get him back to the level many have seen him reach before. His career at City appears to be over, so his next move may be his most vital.

Now moving to a big club doesn’t always end in disaster for young players, but there are certainly plenty of examples to point at where it has gone wrong. Although the opportunity may be too good to turn down, sometimes simply playing football is vital for a young player.

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Newcastle fans could not wait to get rid of Alan Pardew earlier this season, and were viciously calling for his sacking.

Little did they know, they were doing Alan Pardew a favour. He had become stalemate during his final weeks at St. James’s Park, but Crystal Palace saw his worth and, since arriving at Selhurst Park, he has recorded some big wins for the Eagles.

Alan Pardew was announced as Crystal Palace’s manager back at the start of January. Since then, he has lead his side to victories over the likes of Sunderland – thanks to a superb Yannick Bolasie hat-trick –  West Ham and, most importantly, champions Manchester City.

Of the last possible 21 points on offer, Crystal Palace have bagged themselves a staggering 15, winning five games and losing just two. Considering they did not record a single win in December, this is an immense turn around, and the Eagles now find themselves in 11th place and well clear of the bottom three.

It has to be said, much of this is down to the appointment of Alan Pardew. Things may have turned sour for him at Newcastle United – and things aren’t much better at St. James’ Park since he left – but he did bring them European football back in 2012. He was also awarded the Manager of the Year award, and Newcastle rewarded him with an eight year extension.

Now he’s doing wonders at Selhurst Park, pushing his side further and further up the table. He has turned the Eagles around, and they could still end up finishing in the top half of the table. At the end of 2014, Crystal Palace had been sitting in the relegation zone. His former Newcastle side, on the other hand, now trail Crystal Palace by seven points.

Pardew for Manager of the Year again? Never say never, but he will have some strong competition from the likes of Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ronald Koeman.

Even if Pardew cannot receive the accolade – as his best work has only been done within the second half of the season – the way he has revived Crystal Palace cannot be ignored.

They could have ended up playing Championship football by August, now they have Premier League football all but secured for a third successive campaign.

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Manchester United’s return to the Champions League will have a huge positive impact on their already impressive financial situation, City Index’s Chief Market Strategist, Joshua Raymond, has told FootballFanCast.com.

The Red Devils look on course to reach at least the qualification phase for next season’s top European competition, with Liverpool needing to make up six points and 14 goals in two games to overhaul Louis van Gaal’s side.

Such news is undoubtedly positive for the club, who have seemingly only missed one term in the big time in what has been a tricky period following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson and the disastrous spell under the guidance of David Moyes.

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Although financial results show that United have indeed posted a £2.9 loss over the course of the first three months of the year – the same period 12 months ago garnered an £11m profit – Raymond believes that returning to the Champions League puts the giants on track to re-establishing themselves as one of English football’s top forces:

“Manchester United reported Q3 total revenues of £95m, in line with forecasts, but raised their earnings guidance for the full year to between £385m and £395m, a rise of around 15% on prior guidance. The club also rose its EBITDA guidance to between £103m and £110m.” he said.

“What we have seen from these numbers is growing confidence in the recovery of the Man Utd team’s performance over the coming year, with a return to Champions League football all but assured, assuming smooth progression through a qualification stage, likely to help the club increase both match day and broadcast revenues. This, alongside with another strong set of commercial revenues has helped the company to hike its guidance.

“What remains starkly clear is the impact of no Champion’s League football at the club, with match day revenue falling £11.6m and broadcast revenue dropping by £13.9m in the quarter, largely as a result of no European football. Despite this, the board remain confident on their commercial growth and it is admirable that the dramatic loss of form in the team has not had a derogatory impact on the commercial side thus far.”

United are likely, unless they can finish ahead of either Arsenal or Manchester City to end the season in fourth, which will see them entered into a two-legged play off with, potentially, a strong continental side.

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Manchester United have been increasingly linked with Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin in recent weeks, and their are strong suggestions that the Frenchman is close to a £24m switch to Old Trafford.

But of course with every transfer rumour or deal we do have to take it with a pinch of salt, and there are no guarantees that everything will go swimmingly. But the fact some bookies are suspending betting on the deal tells you it is pretty likely.

This is a move that United really need to complete, Schneiderlin is the exact defensive midfielder they need. He is good at breaking things up, whilst being economic with his passing, but not passive as he looks to go forward in possession.

United of course already have a man capable of all of that in the form of Michael Carrick, and if the former West Ham man was four or five years younger then Louis van Gaal would not be looking to do a deal for Schneiderlin. But Carrick’s age, coupled with his injury record in recent years, means United desperately need a top drawer defensive midfielder and the ex-Strasbourg man fits the bill.

United do have other midfield options, like Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera, but neither of those two are proper enforcers who sit in front of the defensive line, with their attacking instincts too strong.

Fellaini is far more effective when deployed in a more forward-thinking role, as was shown when he struggled in David Moyes’ Everton side as a holding player.

Herrera is a more attacking player too, he is more box-to-box than Fellaini and his high energy levels would be somewhat wasted in a shielding role.

All of which tells you that the signing of Schneiderlin is not only important in finding a suitable player to perform that all important role in front of the defence, but to allow United’s other midfielders to play their natural roles and perform to their best.

A good defensive minded midfielder is key for any successful side, as they perform a vital, if unsung, set of jobs. Breaking up possession from the opposition, using the ball neatly, passing forward between the lines to team mates and providing cover for the defence when players are pulled out of position, all of which build a foundation.

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All the top sides have good defensive midfielders, you only have to look at Chelsea with Nemanja Matic, and Claude Makelele even further back, to see the importance of a top drawer player in that area of the pitch. United are looking to get back to that level, so a signing like Schneiderlin is exactly the sort of deal Van Gaal needs to do.

Schneiderlin has all the key qualities a defensive midfielder needs along with good Premier League experience, that combined with the fact he is 25-years-old and in his prime, means he’ll only build and improve. He is already a quality player, and the fee of £24m looks like a steal for United.

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The summer transfer window seemingly never ceases to provide fans of the English game with their fair share of excitement and sensation with every passing season.

Regardless of the criticism it constantly receives among Premier League fans and managers alike, football simply wouldn’t feel the same without all the last minute bargaining and desperate deadline-day dealing.

However, in the case of Manchester United in particular, the culmination of the summer transfer window ultimately offers Louis van Gaal one last chance to perfect his squad ahead of what’s going to be an incredibly important season at Old Trafford.

Despite the multitude of high profile names that have already made the switch to his club this summer, van Gaal has so far mainly focussed his respective transfer activity on sourcing quality midfielders, rather than improving United’s somewhat fragile looking back-line and isolated strike-force.

So then, with just a few weeks left to go before the summer transfer window eventually slams shut, here are five potential last minute transfers Manchester United should make this deadline-day…

Antoinne Griezmann

Since Chelsea only recently ‘stole’ Barcelona’s Pedro from the grasps on Manchester United, perhaps it’s time the Red Devils ‘stole’ their very own former Blues target, this time in the form of Antoinne Griezmann.

The talented French international scored an impressive total of 22 league goals in last season’s La Liga proceedings, beaten only by the untouchable likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He would therefore represent a promising target for Manchester United this summer, even if Atletico Madrid happen to place a pretty lofty price-tag on the winger’s head.

Despite Griezmann’s obvious credentials in the modern era however, his is a position that is already somewhat filled at Old Trafford at this point in time. A move for either a recognised centre-forward or a solid centre-back would seem to make more sense from Louis van Gaal’s point of view in the cold light of day.

Thomas Muller

Whilst his name has never been far from a newspaper story linking him with an illustrious move to Old Trafford this summer, Thomas Muller seemingly has everything in his make-up to become a resounding success at Manchester United should Louis van Gaal decide to move for him on deadline-day.

The recent World Cup winner simply brings goals in abundance wherever he plies his trade. This is an area that the Red Devils dramatically need to improve upon if they are to succeed in the Premier League anytime soon, so the prospect of signing a player like Muller makes sense with all things considered.

Like his former German international teammate Miroslav Klose, the current Bayern Munich favourite is an expert in scoring goals in and around the penalty box. He will finish off chances very few even saw coming if he is given the opportunity at Old Trafford this season, making him an ideal candidate to replace Robin van Persie in the striking department for Louis van Gaal throughout 2015/16.

John Stones

One of the perhaps less convincing names to make an appearance on this list arrives in the form of Everton’s latest defensive sensation, John Stones. The previously capped England international seems to be in the good books of pundits and fans alike this season, even if the 21-year-old still remains relatively untested in the English top-flight for a sustained period of time.

Manchester United arguably need a reliable defensive head to help sort out their back-line this season, yet whilst Stones has no way proved himself to be worthy of such a position so far in the Premier League, Louis van Gaal may ultimately be left with no other choice but to make a move for the current Goodison Park favourite this summer.

The seeming unavailability of the club’s previous defensive targets – such as Nicolas Otamendi, Mats Hummels and of course, Sergio Ramos – may force the Red Devils to turn their attention to John Stones this window, despite his clearly inexperienced nature in playing at the highest level. Manchester United must be able to count on their centre-backs to perform well in the Champions League this season however, which may prove beyond a player of John Stones’ capabilities.

Aleksandr Kokorin

Another potentially surprising name to be linked with a high profile move to Old Trafford this summer is the up and coming poster-boy of Russian football, Aleksandr Kokorin.

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The 24-year-old Dynamo Moscow striker could potentially take the Premier League by storm this season as his previous goal-scoring form suggests, yet his possible arrival at Manchester United this summer would nevertheless represent a huge risk for the club. He remains truly untested at the highest level, without the strongest reputation amongst the European footballing scene.

However, considering the front-man’s relatively young age in the modern game, Kokorin could ultimately prove a gamble that pays off massively for Louis van Gaal. He will be hungry for goals in the Premier League – and that is exactly what the Red Devils require at this stage in the proceedings.

Keylor Navas

Whilst no Manchester United fan out there ultimately wants to see David de Gea leave their club for Real Madrid this summer, sometimes it’s simply pointless trying to halt the inevitable. Should the much anticipated switch between the two giants of the modern game take place before the close of the transfer window, the subsequent arrival of Keylor Navas could prove the perfect sweetener to improve the deal from the Red Devils’ perspective.

The Costa Rican goal-keeper certainly had a World Cup to be proud of last summer – and although he doesn’t quite represent the ideal signing for Manchester United by any means – the 28-year-old shot-stopper could nevertheless add some much needed experience to the squad at Old Trafford throughout 2015/16.

His potential arrival wouldn’t likely displace Sergio Romero from the no. 1 spot at United across the upcoming campaign, yet his possible addition still offers up a fair amount of potential even if most Red Devils fans would rather be counting on David de Gea this term.

Tottenham Hotspur have had their fair share of heart-break over the last few seasons. Whether missing out on the top four, or enduring transfer misery, Spurs fans have experienced it all whilst following their club.With the birth of Twitter in 2006, it perfectly matches up with some of Spurs’ most dramatic seasons. Whether capturing the signing of the ‘magnificent seven’, seeing five different managers take the helm, or the magic surrounding their Champions League success, Twitter has been there for it all. As a result of this, the emergence of several Spurs accounts has happened during this period. From comedy, to hard-hitting journalism, fans of the White Hart Lane club have been spoilt for choice when it comes to Twitter idols. Not quite as delirious as fans of their North London rivals, Spurs Twitter is an entertaining place come match-day.So here are the top ten accounts that all Spurs fans should be following!

1. @TalkingTHFC

Followers: 36,000

Having gained chances with the Telegraph and the Sun, TalkingTHFC is at the front-line of Spurs reporting. A runner-up at the 2014 Football Blogging Awards, this Spurs source is a must follow for the most up-to-date news.

2. @HotspurRelated

Followers: 61,000

One of the first Spurs accounts on Twitter, Hotspur Related has been through the ups and downs of being a Spurs fan. With a professional twist combined with the latest news, it prides itself on being a top Tottenham source.

3. @TheTottenhamWay

Followers: 4700

Despite not having the biggest following, The Tottenham Way is a primary online source for Spurs news. With an excellent podcast on the side, their articles draw information from far and wide to keep fans up-to-date.

4. @SpursInTheBlood

Followers: 19,500

One of the more comical Spurs fans online, Spurs in the Blood epitomises the passionate side of the fan-base. With some fantastic imagery and interaction with players, it is another awesome spot for Spurs fans.

5.@TheSpursWeb

Followers: 18,900

Professional as they come, TheSpursWeb has the appearance and presence of an official source for the club. If SpursOfficial mark two is what you are looking for, then look no further.

6.@SpursStatMan

Followers: 37,300

Everyone loves a stat, and with Spurs’ squad the youngest in the league, there’s stats a plenty over at SpursStatMan. With some fantastic articles also, it is a must follow surrounding match-day.

7.@TheSpursBrain

Followers: 10,300

Yet another comedian within the Spurs fan-base, you can count on the Spurs Brain to drum up a satirical stat surrounding one of the club’s rivals. You’ve probably seen their work before.

8.@Simply_Spurs

Followers: 15,800

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Now I know you’ve seen these guys in action. Now providing Vines for many notable sources, the original home of ‘the banter vine’ is always at the heart of fantastic Tottenham videos.

9.@LoveTheShirt

Followers: 25,200

If you’re a Spurs fan that hasn’t picked up a copy of their Fanzine, then you simply must. Home of the 1882 movement, the LoveTheShirt guys are an older generation of Tottenham fans that have seen it all before.

10. @SpurredOnTV

Followers: 4000

New to the online game, the first official Spurs fan TV account has enjoyed an impressive start to their spell. With fan interviews, pranks and videos, they are definitely making moves in the Spurs world.

The Football Association Challenge Cup, otherwise known as the FA Cup, has a new name this season. Despite it’s 144-year history, which apparently counts for nothing, the traditionalists of the English game are going to have to overlook the fact that football’s oldest competition has been bedazzled once again, this time by Emirates airline.

It is commonplace for the FA Cup to have a sponsor, before Emirates came in it was beer brand Budweiser that monopolised the rights to be associated with the competition. Unlike the League Cup, the FA Cup has never sold its name. It has always been the FA Cup, “in association with… said brand.” Well not anymore, because henceforth the FA Cup will be known as ‘The Emirates FA Cup’.

The original cup name is an abbreviated term, which represents the establishment that gave English football its identity, now that very same establishment is selling the national sport’s identity to the highest bidder. The game of football used to be a working man’s same, and the FA Cup epitomised this with its David and Goliath tales. So-called ‘minnows’ would knock about with the big boys, in a competition steeped in romance and prestige.

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Now the FA Cup isn’t seen as a commercially viable tournament for the Premier League frontrunners, due to its demanding schedule and limited financial reward. A team would rather qualify for the Champions League, or stave off relegation instead of winning the famous trophy. So the FA Cup has lost its most important asset, competitiveness, and the FA’s solution is to rename the competition.

Emirates are presumably paying top dollar for the privilege, which makes the rebranding all the more contradictory. FA Chairman, Greg Dyke, has preached his desire many times to improve the grassroots of English football, for the long term benefit of our national team. This was, no doubt, the justification for selling the FA Cup’s naming rights. However, the reason English football is in such disarray is because of foreign ownership, and a general disregard for youth academies. To allow a foreign brand to piggyback on the FA Cup completely opposes the FA’s desire to promote the distinctiveness of English football from grassroots level.

It’s not as if the FA is strapped of cash anyway, an extra £10million a year is nothing to the FA, and many will suspect where the money is being spent.

Unfortunately there still isn’t much money to be made in women’s football, disability football or Sunday league football. Instead the FA would rather try and create their next generation of moneymakers from their newly created football factory –  St George’s Park – where the future of English football will learn its trade.

Football is a business and the businessmen of the FA are running it into the ground, the people’s game no longer belongs to the people, and the Emirates FA Cup is living proof of that.

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It is the equivalent of renaming Wimbledon, ‘The Sony All England Championships’. What’s next? The Great British Bake Off? The Houses of Parliament? English football has sold its soul enough, so please leave the FA Cup in peace.

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When Wayne Rooney first burst on to the scene as a fresh faced scouser the world was in awe at his sheer ability, Euro 2004 was his tournament and led to United splashing out £25.6million for his services, but over the years I believe he has never lived up to his full potential.

Ok, he might be trying to smash Sir Bobby Charlton’s all time top scorer record at United and is now the all time top England goal scorer, and he also scored that over head kick against Manchester City, which won United the Manchester Derby. But does all this make him world class?

I’m not denying he isn’t brilliant, but world class is a different category all together. In my personal opinion you need to have the following to be considering World Class…

– You can change the game with a touch of class

– Your team is built around your ability

– You score the vital goals

That means Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are all world class. But can you add Rooney into this category?

This season Louis van Gaal has made Rooney his main striker, which I personally think is a massive mistake. Rooney just doesn’t play there.

At 29-years-old I still don’t think we have found his best position, which is a massive concern as he should by all accounts be in his prime. One week we find him playing as a deep holding midfielder, the next as a attacking midfielder – that’s where I’d play him.

He is only ever successful as a striker when he has a world class talent partnering him up top for either England or Manchester United.

Over the years he has had Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov and Van Persie alongside him. This has taken the light away from Rooney and I will admit in a few of the seasonS playing with these strikers he has been the club’s leading goal scorer, but not on many occasions. Three, to be exact.

From a club point of view, would he actually be a massive lost for the team? Shirt sales and sponsorship deals are the biggest attractions for United to keep hold of him.

And what about England? He is the captain and the face of our national team. He is close with Roy Hodgson and actually looks like he enjoys playing for the national side, but why is he captain? Just because he is the longest serving member of the England team, it shouldn’t automatically warrant giving him the armband.

And now the world class part?

Argentina got to the World Cup final because of some fella called Lionel Messi. Luis Suarez takes a average team like Uruguay and gets them to the last 16, and who know’s how far they would have gone if he hadn’t got the munchies mid-game Neymar took Brazil as far as he could before his injury, after which they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany.

These teams perform much better then they should because of one obvious factor – they all carry a world class talent, in Germany’s case maybe more than one.

England, with our ‘world Class’ talent in Rooney didn’t get out of their group.

For Rooney to make me change my mind (he would have to do a hell of a lot) is for him to take England or Manchester United to a final or, in England’s case, a semi-final at next year’s European Championships in France.

Manchester United won’t reach the Champions League final but if they do, and Rooney scores vital goals along the way, then perhaps I’ll listen to the claims he’s world class.

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If England make the semi-finals in France next summer, and Rooney has scored winners or produced Man of the Match performances along the way,  then perhaps I’ll listen to the claims he’s world class.

He need to start playing like a 29-year-old in his prime. He needs to take responsibility, and lead his team by example. I would love him to do that but already nine games into this new season he is showing he cant handle the pressure.

I really want him to change the tide and show the world what a talent he is, but he needs to start leading by example for both club and country, starting with the Manchester derby on Sunday.

If he wants advice on how to do that he needs to have a word with Steven Gerrard.

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