Pic & Video: Michael Essien Tackle on Jermaine Pennant

Michael Essien had already received a red card prior to this horrendous tackle on Jermaine Pennant against Stoke City on Saturday. After seeing this evidence, it should have been another red to add to the statistics, but instead of that, the Chelsea midfielder went unpunished - not even a yellow card.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has been banned for two games by the FA for swearing into a television camera after completing a fantastic hat-trick and stunning comeback for Manchester United. His outburst will see him miss the Manchester derby, and the Premier League game against Fulham as United fight to stay above Arsenal in the title race.

It seems that the FA have punished a player by punishing the club he plays for rather than punishing the player. The banning of Rooney could possibly have an adverse effect on United's FA Cup challenge as well as their title challenge with Arsenal. The banning of Rooney for swearing - which, lets face it, happens every week and done so by every player on the pitch is nothing when a tackle such as the above is committed - something that can break a players leg and wreck a career. 

Rooney's reputation has been damaged even more by this incident and his frustration has been added to by a two match ban, but Jermaine Pennant's career could have been deeply effected, yet there was no punishment but a free-kick. 

A £20 Million Bid for Berbatov Should be Accepted

You could say that Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney are like beauty and the beast. Watching the Bulgarian with the ball at his feet is a joy to behold, as he effortlessly glides past players with the silky skills of a suave, smooth and polished perfectionist. Meanwhile, Rooney charges around, with his undoubted quality, bullishly tracking back, rocketing cross field passes and sometimes getting involved in incidents he really shouldn't be.

You wouldn't, for example ever see Dimitar Berbatov screaming obscenities into a television camera after scoring a goal. That isn't his style, but both players are undeniably Manchester United quality, and are both passionate about their football.

However, the rumours circulating claim that Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing to sell the "beauty" of this pairing for an amount in excess of £20 million. Manchester United's top scorer, who is also the Premier Leagues top scorer with 20 goals, seems to have fallen out of favour with the United manager as his starts in games have become all to infrequent. Javier Hernandez's growing reputation as a guaranteed goalscorer at important times has seen him propelled into a starting spot alongside Rooney, whose place in the team seems more or less guaranteed.

Bayern Munich have apparently noticed this, and will reportedly attempt to persuade Berbatov to come back to the country where he made his name - with Bayern Leverkusen. The Germans are supposedly preparing a £22 million bid for the striker who was bought by United in 2008 for £30.75 million.

After two seasons which saw the Bulgarian score a total of 26 in 86 games, he was labelled rather harshly as "Berbaflop". He had cost a lot of money, and at his age, (now 30), it was beginning to look like a bad buy from Ferguson. This season has proved all of his critics wrong, with a stunning total of vital goals in vital games including a hat-trick against Liverpool. He has now almost scored the same amount of goals this season than he did in his firs to season's at Old Trafford, yet starting games is becoming a rarity.

I like Berbatov - he has grown on me - especially this season, but I think if United are offered £22 million like is being reported, then Sir Alex should take it. It would be sad to see Berbatov go after what he has done for United this season, and his incredible touch and fantastic hold up play will be missed by many. His calm, collected figure will be missed too, but at his age, £22 million is a fantastic deal, and one that will not be equalled in the future if this opportunity is passed.

United could use the money this summer to sign a younger striker or midfielder, someone who can contribute to the team for many years to come. A central midfielder is what is needed, and a player similar to Owen Hargreaves who is the engine of a side.

It will be sad to see Berbatov go. He is a brilliant player, with a unique style. Strong when he needs to be, quick when he wants to be, and deadly in front of goal - always.

0-1:El Barça consigue una valiosa victoria ante el Villarreal gracias a un gol de Piqué

Después de la sorprendente derrota del Real Madrid en el Santiago Bernabéu ante el Sporting de Gijón, el Barça tenía la obligación de ganar al Villarreal para dejar prácticamente sentenciada la Liga. Y eso hizo. Rossi avisa a los cinco minutos Plagado de bajas y con un once atípico, los azulgranas empezaron el partido con fuerza, pero fueron los de Garrido quienes tuvieron la primera oportunidad clara del partido a los cinco minutos de juego. Rossi, solo, se encaraba a Valdés que, con solidez, resolvía sin problemas. Cinco minutos después, el italiano volvía a poner a prueba los reflejos del meta azulgrana ante los lamentos de la afición amarilla. Por su parte, el Barça intentaba internarse en el área del Villarreal a través de las asistencias de Adriano o Alves a Villa e Iniesta o alguna jugada personal de Thiago, que debutaba en el once inicial. En el minuto 16, el susto llegó a la afición culé tras la dura entrada de Bruno a Mascherano que provocaba que se temiera por una lesión grave tras la pronunciada cojera del ‘Jefecito’. Todo quedó en nada. Acoso azulgrana a Diego López A partir del minuto 20, el Barça puso el acelerador. Afellay, que salía por primera vez de titular, intentaba un centro-chut que acababa en manos de Diego López, mientras que ocho minutos después era Alves quién, demasiado forzado, no lograba batir al guardameta castellonense. No fue hasta el minuto 38 cuando el Barça chutó entre los tres palos con un disparo desde la frontal del área de Adriano. Los azulgranas, aunque dominaban completamente el juego, no acababan de culminar las jugadas, algo que podía costarles muy caro. Al filo del descanso, Villa desaprovechó una muy buena oportunidad para adelantar a los suyos tras una buena combinación del equipo que acababa en manos de Diego López. La afición culé se lamentaba una vez más. Mejor juego, pero sin suerte cara el gol La segunda parte empezó de manera frenética. En dos minutos, el Barça tuvo dos oportunidades de oro para adelantarse en el marcador. En el minuto 48, Afellay asistía para un Iniesta que disparaba desde la frontal, pero Diego López mandaba el balón a córner. Un minuto después era Villa quién tenía la mejor oportunidad del partido, pero el esférico acababa rozando el palo. El Barça seguía acosando la portería del ‘submarino amarillo’ pero sin la suerte necesaria para adelantarse en el marcador. Con Messi en el campo, los azulgranas mejoraron su juego e intensificaron, si cabe, las acciones ofensivas. Una de ellas fue la protagonizada por el propio argentino quién se sacaba una gran jugada que no acababa de culminar Piqué por falta de entendimiento. Golazo de Piqué y la Liga más cerca Fue entonces cuando el partido se inclinó del lado culé. En el minuto 68, Piqué controlaba el balón con el pecho y fusilaba la portería de Diego López con un golazo que daba tres puntos esenciales para tener la Liga en la palma de la mano. El Villarreal, por su parte, tuvo una buena oportunidad en el minuto 80 mediante una falta lanzada por Borja que se fue fuera por poco. Los castellonenses firmaron una segunda parte discreta, donde las contras y las faltas fueron sus grandes bazas durante los segundos 45 minutos. Aún así sorprendieron a la zaga azulgrana cuando faltaban sólo cuatro minutos para el final del partido con un disparo a bocajarro de Cazorla que Víctor Valdés desviaba con los pies de manera antológica. El meta azulgrana salvaba a su equipo una vez más.