HOW about rewarding clubs with more points for more goals?


A TIP on how to avoid moaning Arsene Wenger while it's squeaky bum time for United


CARDIFF v Barnsley may have been a great cup tie but surely Cardiff shouldn't be allowed into Europe

So how about rewarding clubs with more points for more goals?

Think about it. It would make for a better product for the viewing public, would concentrate the minds of managers and maintain competition right up until the final kick. Liverpool would not rest Fernando Torres, Chelsea couldn't afford to leave out Frank Lampard or Didier Drogba and all teams would attack more in the knowledge that they could score their way out of trouble and into trophies. Here's the Hatchet Man Six Point Plan...

• All results up to 3-0... three points
• Four goals and a win... four points
• Five goals and a win... five points
• Six goals and above and a win... six points

Goals win games, more points and a whole lot more excitement for all of us. Hatchet Man saves the day again.

• Friday's HATCHET MAN

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Here's a tip on how to avoid a moaning Arsene Wenger. Sky Plus or video Match of the Day and then you can forward past him complaining about tackles/penalties that weren't awarded/the opposition trying to beat Arsenal. Own up, Arsene, you didn't sign anyone in the window and your team has been left short of firepower, which is why you won't win the title this season. And, while we're at it, how about some more direct play towards goal? All this tippy-tappy football is pleasing on the eye, but there must be some variation, surely. Next week: Arsene moans about something else.

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Did I say refreshing change? Went to Wembley on Saturday and saw Portsmouth and West Brom bore the pants off everyone. What happened to that extravaganza of football that was promised by both managers? A lack of penetration, no out-and-out goalscorers, a scruffy, scrappy goal to decide the game and plunging temperatures in the capital... it all made me wish for Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool.

And then came Cardiff versus Barnsley, a wonderful cup tie with end-to-end football and a hero, Cardiff's king for the day, Joe Ledley (does that make him Ledley King?)

Let's have it all again next season, please.

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I'm still not sure what a Welsh team is doing playing in the English FA Cup Final. Let's hope the FA doesn't cave in and allow them to represent the English game in the UEFA Cup should they win. We don't want them... the clue is in their address. Ninian Park, Sloper Road, Cardiff, WALES, CF11 8SX

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It's squeaky bum time for Manchester United now. They have the experience, they have the points, but they also having mounting injuries and both Arsenal and Chelsea still to play.

Suddenly, kicking Ronaldo seems a really good idea.

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Lee Dixon and Gavin Peacock on Match of the Day looking about as cheerful as the cast of EastEnders... or someone who has been told that the BBC have given up on live football from next season.

Turn to ITV for the FA Cup, England, Champions League and UEFA Cup. Turn to Sky and Setanta for the rest.

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Thirteen changes in the Liverpool and Arsenal teams for their Premier League game on Saturday, but still only five Englishmen in the starting line-ups. I know I keep banging on about this, but somebody has to.

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Theo Walcott got his hands on the Olympic torch yesterday... and the biggest surprise was that Arsene Wenger let him complete his part of the course, without him being taken off half way through.

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His team won at Manchester City, he even allowed himself a smile, but until Avram Grant ditches the black shirts underneath his black suits, it will still look like he is attending a funeral.

At least, at this rate of advancing up the table it might not be his own.

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Prediction: Middlesbrough's Brazilian Afonso Alves will be a top striker in the Premier League. It's not about how you start, it is about how you finish, as Manchester United discovered yesterday.

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Good weekend

Kanu. Out of Africa and into the FA Cup Final.

Avram Grant. He's coming to get you, Fergie.

Steve Bruce. The Birmingham board get what they deserve from a manager who deserved a better send-off.

Jimmy Floyd. "You're just a fat Eddie Murphy," the West Ham fans used to chant. Now Eddie's going to Wembley. Bad weekend

Damien Johnson. Crude tackle.

Arsene Wenger. No more title challenge.

Bolton. Many more weekends like this and they'll be preparing to play Norwich and Sheffield United next season. It's looking bleak.

Roy Hodgson. Going down with Derby. And his No12, the big lump called Hangeland, is already looking like a Championship player. Did you see his defending against Sunderland?

The big bloke up front for Barnsley. That miss will haunt him throughout his career. It was his JFK moment. Where were you when Kayode Odejayi missed that sitter?