Wayne Rooney missed a penalty during Manchester United's 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday, December 13, 2010. The penalty was awarded for a handball by Arsenal left back Gael Clichy, but Rooney blazed the resulting spot kick over the bar. Wayne Rooney missed penalty against Arsenal ( Man United 1-0 Arsenal) Rooney [.

Former Manchester United and England defender Viv Anderson has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United's current youth players, questioning whether or not they're up to United standard. Anderson witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson's latest batch of youngsters crash out of the Carling Cup quarterfinals, and Avram Grant's West Ham side thoroughly taught young Red Devils such as Bebe and Federico Macheda a lesson amidst the snowy weather at Upton Park.

Some midfielders are born to play the position. Barcelona and Spain's Ballon D'or winner Xavi comes to mind. There's plenty to say about a player like Xavi, who was seemingly handed the keys to the middle of the pitch at birth. But that's not a topic for me to tackle, not today anyway. No, today we're going to look at a player who took a decidedly more circuitous route to the middle of the park.

By Ollie Irish

West Ham striker Carlton Cole sees the funny side as he tumbles into snow on the sidelines at Ewood Park.

The Irons drew 1-1 at managerless Blackburn Rovers in one of the few matches in England that was not a victim of the cold weather.

If the Premier League was to be decided by home form alone, we would be looking at Liverpool having a serious shot at the title. But of course, things don't work that way.
The Reds have been very strong at home, losing only one of their eight games to date at Anfield. This should give manager Roy Hodgson a lot of confidence ahead of this encounter, as he is currently under pressure.

By Eric Beard, ready for 8 Crazy Nights.

The ineffable presence of English cup football reigned supreme at Upton Park as Avram Grant, the Hebrew Hammer himself, received four of his eight gifts for Hanukkah early. The Hammers somehow smashed four goals into the Manchester United net and ended Sir Alex Ferguson's side's 29-match unbeaten run.

By Eric Beard, ready for 8 Crazy Nights.

The ineffable presence of English cup football reigned supreme at Upton Park as Avram Grant, the Hebrew Hammer himself, received four of his eight gifts for Hanukkah early. The Hammers somehow smashed four goals into the Manchester United net and ended Sir Alex Ferguson's side's 29-match unbeaten run.

Manchester United were in action last night in the quarter final of the Carling Cup against depleted West Ham United; the Hammers have been struggling all season, their manager Avram Grant is said to be on the verge of being sacked. Ahead of the game - and ignoring the fact that United rarely have an easy time of it when visiting the Boleyn Ground, United will have fancied their chances of

While Manchester United fans may argue that Sir Alex Ferguson deliberately picked a weakened team to take on West Ham in the Carling Cup quarter final game at Upton Park last night, we all know that Ferguson put out a team that he thought were capable of getting a result against the Hammers, something they [.

England experienced a cold front last week but by the time Saturday's fixtures kicked off things were already warming up. Chelsea's draw against Everton sees manager Carlo Ancelotti sweating like never before. But Ancelotti isn't the only manager in London feeling the heat.

By AVI CREDITOR

Its fans likely have no more hair to pull out. Its new manager has been questioned since the first game of the season. Injuries and poor play had the club lingering around the drop zone for an unusual amount of time.

But is it finally time to put some faith in Liverpool?

The rumors are everywhere that West Ham are looking at Chris Hughton IF Avram Grant fails.
I don't get it. Who's waiting, and why? Might as well break out the posters saying "Welcome Chris!"
The 52 year-old manager who brought Newcastle from Zero to Somewhat Stable If Not For Insane Owner, would be the absolute perfect fit for a club like West Ham, who happen to be floundering in relegation and underachievement.

So Mike Ashley isn't the only retard making decisions about who should run their football team. Not even Sam Allardyce's fetching purple/yellow/orange tie/scarf/shirt combo could save him from the sack.

You would have thought the mid-table safety he's acquired would be enough – apparently not.

Weather permitting it's Gameweek 18, this roller coaster Premier League season is about to enter its crucial Christmas period. Three points going into the festivities will be a priority for all managers this weekend.

Sam Allardyce can put is feet up on Saturday and watch the club that unceremoniously sacked him take on his potential new employers.

Only two Premiership fixtures survived the weekend's winter weather with the Top Four seeing their clashes deferred to later in the season. While the snow delay proved much needed respite for some, how Avram Grant and Owen Coyle might have wished their matches too were postponed.

Only two Premiership fixtures survived the weekend's winter weather with the Top Four seeing their clashes deferred to later in the season. While the snow delay proved much needed respite for some, how Avram Grant and Owen Coyle might have wished their matches too were postponed.

The sacking season is upon us. In the past couple of weeks, Newcastle has fired Chris Hughton and Blackburn Rovers has dismissed Sam Allardyce. It's difficult to believe that at least one more chairman won't mark the turn of the year by pulling the trigger -- Hughton and Allardyce were in mid-table, after all.

The final club being examined in this series is the struggling West Ham United. This surely is not one of the finest years in Avram Grant's managerial career. He experienced hard times at Portsmouth last season and just when he thought he had a fresh start at Upton Park, he finds himself dead last in the table with the guillotine dangling perilously above his head, ready to drop at any given time.

Lee Bowyer scored a somewhat controversial equaliser vs Manchester United for Birmingham City on December 28, 2010. With Birmingham City trailing 1-0, Roger Johnson whipped the ball into the box. The ball hit Nikola Zigic's arm before falling for Bowyer, who slid in from close range. Birmingham's own little version of Hand of God!

With the Premier League tighter than ever before there are a number of decent sides fighting it out at the wrong end of the division and desperately trying to avoid the dreaded drop. Let's have a look at some of the candidates who at the beginning of the season looked too good to go down...

Liverpool has revealed that have renewed their interest in West Ham United striker Carlton Cole, according to Sky Sports News.
It is understood that an Anfield representative was at Craven Cottage on Boxing Day when Cole netted twice to give West Ham a much needed 3-1 victory over Fulham.
Reds' boss Roy Hodgson originally attempted to sign Cole - who has five goals to his name this season - in the summer, but a deadline-day deal could not be completed in time.