Many pubgoers get a bit overzealous on an evening and hands are sometimes raised, but it doesn’t force them out of the next four Friday nights on the town.

In contrast, Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere earned a three-game suspension for his exchange of handbags with Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, before the ban was extended to four matches after the FA rejected Boro’s “frivolous” appeal.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson has branded the FA “amateurs and silly little men” while chief executive Keith Lamb is “furious and astounded” at the lengthening of the ban.

Punishing a genuine appeal - Mascherano did in fact grab the Boro player’s face prior to Aliadiere’s petulant slap - gives the impression the FA simply doesn’t want the hassle of dealing with such pleas and sets a worrying precedent.

Their decision is also inconsistent. As Lamb pointed out, Chelsea appealed a similar decision against Michael Essien last November and although it was dismissed, he was not punished further.

The greater problem lies in the “you can’t raise your hands” line that means referees feel they have to show red cards for any little slap or poke.

Did Aliadiere’s transgression initially deserve the same punishment as Martin Taylor’s clumsy and far more damaging lunge on Eduardo? Certainly not.

If officials are allowed to give attackers the benefit of the doubt in a tight offside call then they should be permitted to use common sense when faced with a mere slap.

Like with most disciplinary procedures, the FA could do worse than speak to their counterparts in rugby or more particularly watch a re-run of Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at the weekend.

An hour after Aliadiere saw red, the more powerful flailing arm of Scotland’s Nathan Hines caught Denis Leamy while the Scots attempted to take a quick penalty on the Irish line. A reversal of the penalty was deemed sufficient with a letter of the law sin-binning not necessary.

Common sense, simple common sense….

Padraic Halpin, London

It’s just gone 4 o’clock on an August Merseyside Sunday afternoon. Fernando Torres slips, slides, leaves Tal Ben Haim on his backside and fires Liverpool ahead of Chelsea in the season’s first battle of the big four.

For the next hour Liverpool fans start to believe.

Five months later, it’s a similar time of the day, Alfie Potter doesn’t exactly slip or slide but he does leave Steve Finnan on his backside before his shot clips Martin Skrtel and gives part-timers Havant & Waterlooville a 2-1 lead at Anfield.

Liverpool fans had long since stopped believing…for another season at least.

Sunday’s return fixture to August’s 1-1 draw should have title repercussions written all over it but instead Liverpool lie 11 points behind Chelsea and 17 behind leaders Arsenal. And with those double digit margins, what’s a game in hand between “big four” mates?

With Inter Milan ten days away, Rafa Benitez faces another one of his crucial do or die periods yet tossing all his eggs in the Champions League basket is now too dangerous a tactic even to contemplate.

No only could Liverpool be pipped to fourth spot by Everton as they were three years ago, there’s a real threat they could finish outside the top six for only the third time in 43 years.

If only it were just the club’s prestige at stake. With mounting debts to pay, failure to qualify for the next season’s Champions League could be disastrous.

Liverpool must face facts: it’s time to concentrate all their resources on the Premier League and if that hurts their European chances, so be it. At the very least it’s a game in which the boss can’t take the captain off with half an hour to go.

PHOTO: Benitez watches from the touchline before the match against Sunderland at Anfield, February 2, 2008. REUTERS/Phil Noble.

Just as David Beckham admitted he “half expected” to be left out of Fabio Capello’s first England squad, the appointment of captain was even more predictable.

Naming Steven Gerrard in temporary charge, Capello has started the debate as to whether the Liverpool midfielder or his injured predecessor John Terry should be made permanent captain come September.

In Terry’s absence, Gerrard is clearly the right man for the job. He’s one of only two club captains in the 23-man squad to face Switzerland on Wednesday - the other being Gareth Barry - and as a poll on our soccer site confirmed, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen were outside shouts.

If this is a “new era” (how many new ones have we had now?), then should it have a new lieutenant? Should Terry now take his share of the flack that not even the sturdiest umbrella could shield Steve McClaren from?

Yet it must be remembered that it was Gerrard, and not the injury-troubled Terry, who looked decidedly lost when captaining the side that were humiliated by Croatia in November. On a day when 11 men went missing, he pulled the biggest Lord Lucan of all.

Whoever he chooses, Capello is no doubt aware he has bigger problems to solve. Certainly an international manager needs a good skipper - as World Cup winners Deschamps, Dunga, Moore and Matthaus demonstrate - but he also needs 10 other consistent performers to match.

Padraic Halpin, London

Cheryl Cole might disagree, but who says there’s no romance left in English football?

The overly-ambitious money men, the behind the scenes wrangling, the loss of traditions, the dull games, the teenage trade… for 45 minutes on Saturday they were all forgotten.

Havant & Waterlooville’s performance at Anfield was beyond remarkable. They didn’t just have a day out or merely give it a go; they twice took the lead against Liverpool and nearly pulled off the biggest shock in the competition’s history before losing 5-2.

The fact the minor league side are six divisions and 123 positions below Liverpool barely does the achievement justice. You could almost add another tier or two, given the game of ‘haves versus havants’ was against one of the ‘big four’.

The FA Cup has divided opinion on this blog over recent weeks, with some seeing it as an annoying sideshow and others believing it can still warm the heart. The tears of joy in the crowd and the 20 minute post-match celebrations on Saturday certainly did the latter.

It was just a pity only the lucky 42,556 in attendance saw it live. Mansfield and Sheffield United fans may disagree, but in an age where television dictates all, it seemed strange to have to rely solely on radio coverage. Perhaps that made it all the more romantic?

While it’s back to normality with a full midweek Premier League programme, the real action continues next week when Havant travel to Hayes & Yeading in Saturday’s midtable Blue Square South battle.

Padraic Halpin, London

PHOTO: Havant and Waterlooville’s players show a banner to their fans following their FA Cup fourth round match at Liverpool REUTERS/Phil Noble

During a lively debate last week on whether Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, one of our contributors, WSAS, raised the sort of question that’s hard to resist: “This is the BEST ManU team since….?”  

The treble winning team of 1999? The double winning side of 1994? 1968’s European champions? The Busby Babes, hit by tragedy 50 years ago next month.

Before we go on, let’s get one thing clear. For the moment, when we talk about the current United team, it’s all about potential rather than actual achievement. With just one league title in the trophy room, this crop have yet to amass the silverware to make a case for greatness. 

But could this United team, one day, eclipse the achievements of all the others? Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson, Rooney and Tevez are all under 26 with the latter, thrillingly attacking foursome comfortably so.

Add the assumed progress of Nani and there aren’t too many gaps to be filled. Man for man, they look better than ’99. Peter Schmeichel and Roy Keane would walk into any United side but Ronny Johnsen and Jaap Stam? Would Andy Cole or Dwight Yorke trouble Rooney, Tevez or Ronaldo for a place up front?  

The same could be argued against ‘94 and, perhaps less clearly, ’68 with the individual brilliance that marked both those sides - Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs, George Best and Bobby Charlton - matched today by Ronaldo and Rooney (a 200 million pound partnership according to Red Rants).  

But great teams are measured by success as well as style. Back-to-back championships would be a start but hardly a unique achievement - the club have already managed the feat four times since 1993. The real test is in Europe and one bad performance, one bit of brilliance by a Raul or a Kaka, could see them come up short again (remember 2000 and 2007). 

I can’t help feeling, though, that a European Cup win is just a matter of time for this team, perhaps even in Moscow in May. But what do you think about this United side? Are there weaknesses that will consign them to more disappointment, in Europe if not at home? Or do they truly have what it takes to become the best United team ever?

Padraic Halpin, London

PHOTO: Manchester United’sTevez celebrates after scoring during the 6-0 Premier league win over Newcastle United, Jan. 12 REUTERS/Phil Noble

“Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the best player in the world…but probably the single most gifted player to play in England since the Belfast Boy….What a *so and so* player. I am in awe…”

So wrote the curiously named Pimpy the Magic Elf on the RedCafe message board after Cristiano Ronaldo scored three of Manchester United’s six goals in Saturday’s second half demolition of Newcastle.

So just how good is Ronaldo? On current form, he must surely be the world’s best.

He’s always had the skill, talent, and particularly in the aftermath of that wink, the attitude to excel. Over the past season and a half however, he’s maximised these attributes to become more indispensable than any other player.

The statistics are staggering. His 25 goals in all competitions last season led him to an unprecedented clean sweep of England’s three major individual honours. This term he’s scored 22 in all competitions, with 16 coming in the league. And remember, he’s a winger and it’s still January.

Comparatively, it gets scarier. He’s already scored as many Premier League goals (51) as Steven Gerrard and is fast catching the league’s highest scoring midfielders Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes (95). His team mates took a combined 737 games to reach their totals. Ronaldo has almost averaged a goal every other game in his 112.

But the best since Belfast Boy George Best?

There’s still a bit to go. Question marks remain over a failure to yet light up the latter stages of the Champions League as Kaka did last season or indeed Best 39 years earlier. Despite performing well in major tournaments for Portugal, he was found wanting in both their Euro 2004 final and World Cup 2006 semi-final exits.

But you just get the feeling all that could change in the coming months. With United on course to crack the Champions League again and Euro 2008 on the horizon, he is on the verge of reaching the kind of heights last scaled by Zinedine Zidane 10 years ago.

First he must celebrate a birthday in February. His 23^rd. That is perhaps the most frightening statistic of all.

Click here to read an envy-filled tribute to Ronaldo by Mitch Phillips, but please leave your comments about the Manchester United maestro below.

Padraic Halpin, London

PHOTO: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his third goal in Manchester United’s 6-0 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League, Jan 12 REUTERS/Phil Noble

As recently as November 20, Rafa Benitez restated his belief that “the priority for this season is the Premier League.” Liverpool fans who watched their manager raise the white flag on Saturday, substituting Steven Gerard while trailing 3-1 at Reading, might have trouble believing the Spaniard.

Glory and not money is driving Liverpool’s European ambitions, their boss says. Yet would Liverpool be better off going out to Marseille tomorrow night? It would at least force them to prioritise their “priority”.

Reading manager Steve Coppell suggested as much before his side’s victory, saying:

“Their demand is to win the league. If they finish fourth then they will have failed. I have always said what will decide the title race will be the effect of Europe and key injuries. Those two factors, when you get to March, might work in Liverpool’s favour if they are not in Europe.”

The performance on Saturday certainly had fans wondering what was going on.

Red Cauldron said, “How Liverpool looked so impotent yesterday, it was pure baffling. Many questions will be asked as usual … how he (Benitez) had a ‘captain-go-round’ when they are 3-1 down. Seemed like a pre-season friendly attitude to me.”

Benitez said he was trying to protect players:

“It is an important week for us now and we have the Champions League match to look forward to. We must approach it with confidence and try to win. Only then can we think about Manchester United because you know my idea is to take one game at a time. The target is now Marseille.”

One can’t help but feel his ‘one game at a time’ attitude should extend beyond the 70-minute mark, regardless of circumstance.

PHOTO: Benitez gestures during Liverpool’s defeat by Reading at the Madjeski Stadium, December 8, 2007. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

The public row between Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett sent the media into hyperbolic overdrive. Just yesterday, Benitez was variously described as “living on borrowed time” and a “dead man walking“. 

The Spaniard certainly seemed to be playing a dangerous game by calling into question how much the co-owners knew about the transfer system and after that bizarrely monotone press conference you couldn’t help but wonder if Benitez was about to reach the same point of no return as another seemingly unsackable manager, a certain J. Mourinho two months ago.

Now the story, according to last night’s Liverpool Echo, is that Benitez wants to call a truce. The problem is, the club’s owners won’t be visiting again until the December 16 home game with Manchester United, leaving three long weeks for every comment to be interpreted. Oliver Kay in The Times this morning still says the most likely outcome to all this is the departure of the man who guided Liverpool to their fifth European Cup win.

We have a poll running at the main soccer site over whether Benitez could yet lose his job and we’d like your views back here on what could or should happen next.

Benitez spent a lot of money over the summer and it’s unclear as yet whether Liverpool are any more serious candidates for the title than in previous years. Certainly they are unbeaten in the league and only six points from the top but four home draws out of six is not league championship form.

But perhaps the key question is a simple one. If Hicks and Gillett believe Benitez is not the right man for Liverpool, then who is?

PHOTO: Benitez gestures as he speaks to his players during training at Melwood, November 5, 2007. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

Liverpool’s 8-0 win over Besiktas on Tuesday will be remembered well after Anfield is torn down and the club move next door to Stanley Park.

Yet are the Champions League record breakers any closer to solving the flaws that have dominated a sluggish start to the season? After all we’ve been here before, a little over two months ago with a 6-0 thrashing of Derby.

Such victories are a bonus, but given their resources it should be a given that Liverpool can overrun lesser teams. What’s still in doubt is whether they have the width and creativity to open up more resolute sides or the killer instinct to finish off top teams.

Recent league draws against Arsenal and Blackburn suggest they do not.

Have the listless Liverpool team that have won just once in five home league games this season suddenly reached a turning point?

Sorry to rain on your parade Liverpool fans, but has anything really changed? And more to the point, how did you manage to lose to that lot in Istanbul?

Padraic Halpin, London

Employing from within used to be one of the great art forms of English football. Best practised on the Anfield boot room canvass of yesteryear, the promotion of number two to number one hasn’t been working in recent years.

The latest victim is an old pro at failing to make the step up. Chris Hutchings, who seven years ago was sacked 137 days into his charge as Paul Jewell’s successor at Bradford City, has been, well, sacked 175 days into his charge as Paul Jewell’s successor at Wigan Athletic.

His departure follows swiftly that of Sammy Lee who spent a near identically short run managing Bolton after 12 years in coaching. Both men were surprise successors to the overachieving bosses they used to sit next to and the collective head scratching has proven accurate.

Their path is becoming increasingly well trodden, particularly if you happen to have worked under Alex Ferguson. Both Brian Kidd and Carlos Queiroz lasted less than a year in charge at Blackburn Rovers and Real Madrid respectively, while Steve McClaren’s time as England boss looks tenuous.

Indeed, aside from Rafael Benitez and Avram Grant who earned their coaching gold stars in youth football, none of the current crop of Premier League managers possessed a comprehensive coaching background prior to going into management.

Harry Redknapp, Alan Curbishley, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Gary Megson all served their time briefly but Redknapp’s two-and-a-half seasons as assistant at Bournemouth stands alone as the longest apprenticeship.

In an age then when recently retired players like Roy Keane and Gareth Southgate are increasingly getting a direct shot at management, should the Steve Clarkes of this world stick to their day job? Or is the next Bob Paisley out there just waiting for his opportunity?

PHOTO: Wigan Athletic’s Kevin Kilbane (R) challenges Chelsea’s Shaun Wright-Phillips during their Premier League match at the JJB Stadium in Wigan, November 3, 2007. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis.