"CHELSEA are playing beautiful football now. Their 3-1 victory over Everton last weekend showed just what a quality team they are. In fact I would pick them as my dark horse to win the Premier League and I think it would be great. They have so many classy players like Zola and Hasselbaink. They have always had very good players but this year I think they are playing far more consistent. And they are only a couple of points behind league leaders Arsenal. Chelsea are also helped by the fact that they are not playing in Europe. They will not have the injury worries and tiredness that Arsenal and Manchester United will have by playing in the Champions League - they do not have those extra games. Chelsea have come of age this year. Usually at this time of year they are hanging around in fifth or sixth place. It would be nice to see them win the league because they have class players who are a joy to watch.

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MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United are really clicking now - they beat Arsenal 2-0 last weekend and yet they still have so many good players out injured - people like Ferdinand, Keane and Butt. But the two players I have been pleased with lately have been the Neville brothers - especially Phil. He has really got stuck in and is playing well.

I think that defeat by neighbours Manchester City made United sit up. Sometimes you need a defeat like that because you can become too complacent. They probably took City too lightly but in the end it has benefited them.

What really impressed me with United last Saturday was the fact that they did not give the Arsenal players any room to move - they denied Arsenal space to play in. Every time an Arsenal player had the ball a United player was right on them. Hopefully a lot of our players in Bermuda were watching that - it was a great defensive display. You can't give Arsenal room to play in because they are so dangerous.

West Ham visit Manchester United this weekend and I suppose anything is possible! I call West Ham the 'crazy gang' now - they get points only away from home! I hope in the New Year West Ham can make a couple of purchases to help us out at the back.

What is happening to Liverpool now is what happened to Manchester United earlier in the season. They have suffered a loss of form and that will happen to nearly every team throughout a long season. There are bound to be highs and lows. But they will be OK. I have to hand it to Charlton who beat them 2-0 last weekend - they are playing well having won their last four league matches. Charlton are not the biggest club but they battle hard.

Manchester City also had a victory over struggling Sunderland last Monday. To be truthful it was so boring in the first half I went outside to do something but I understand that it was a fantastic goal from Shaun Goater. And it was a good weekend for Kyle Lightbourne who scored in the FA Cup match for Macclesfield against Vauxhall Motors.

Southampton's James Beattie is on fire right now. He has scored 11 goals in about eight games and leads the goal list in the Premier League. He is really doing the business for Southampton. You have got to take your hat off to him.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Manchester United also looked good against Deportivo in the Champions League this week. Ruud van Nistelrooy is back to his best scoring both goals and he could have had more.

It was always going to be tough for Newcastle to win at Barcelona without Shearer and Bellamy. But they did score an away goal and you never know when that will come into it. Newcastle left it late in the last round to start playing well and they got through. So you never know. I wouldn't count them out right now although they do have a tough road ahead.

You have to hand it to Barcelona though - they played very well. However they are stuggling in their domestic league as opposed to the Champions League.

Real Madrid are struggling in the Champions League - in fact they are at the bottom of their group. Their form is also strange in the Spanish League as well although they looked great last weekend. They are going to have to do some work to get back up there in both competitions.

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EURO 2008

Austria and Switzerland were awarded the Euro 2008 Championships and I think they will do a good job.

But I imagine that Scotland and Ireland are disappointed that their bid was turned down. Ireland and Scotland both have good fans, good facilities and good fields. But someone had to lose out.

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UNDER-17

Bermuda did well to draw with Cuba 0-0 last weekend in their Under-17 World Cup qualifying campaign. They didn't get beat but now they have to go down to Cuba which will not be easy. As I said before I would have preferred to play my home game last. But hopefully they will go down there and do the business. It would be nice for them to get through and I am hoping they do get through but it will be a task.