The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

Can they run they line? Can the referee a top flight game? Are they any better or worse than male referees? Or should they stick with the female version of the game? Richard Keys & Andy Gray have once again brought this issue in to football. Here are a few for’s and against women officials. The Pro’s Women have become part of modern day football. That is a fact. At all levels they plan the game and in some cases they run the show, for example Karen Brady. They now attend more games than they use to. You see them in the crowds, mainly in the home end sitting down not signing but they’re still there. There’s no reason to say they don’t know the rules of the game, especially the offside rule as its now become very, very vague to what it actually is! As long as their adequate and have the ability to do the job properly and fairly surely that’s all that matters. Could this be the key that brings a bit more respect in to the game of football? The Con’s Can the female officials take the a...

Saturday, 15 January 2011 Chelsea v Blackburn - Chelsea Win Man City v Wolverhampton - Man City Win Stoke v Bolton - Stoke Win West Brom v Blackpool - Blackpool Win Wigan v Fulham- Draw West Ham v Arsenal - Arsenal Win Sunday, 16 January 2011 Birmingham v Aston Villa - Birmingham Win Sunderland v Newcastle - Sunderland Win Liverpool v Everton - Draw Tottenham v Man Utd - Man United Win

AS we welcome a new year we could be witnessing the best run in to a Premier League title race for many a year. Manchester United currently sit top of the table, still unbeaten in the league but have struggled away from home. They have only picked up two wins on their travels this season which is poor for any United team. Rooney finally scored his first goal in open play for The Reds since March 2010! at West Brom on New Year’s Day. So hopefully with him slowly getting back to top form United can look to improve what has been an unimpressive start to a season. Remember though they do tend to kick in to top gear come late January. The noisy neighbours City sit in second, and have shown that their true title contenders this season. I predicted they would finish third, but with Tevez leading the frontline they have done better than I thought. I expect them to buy again in January and they should finish in the top four, but where depends on how City go in the second half of the season. ...