MOURINHO ALL CLASS AFTER BANTAMS DEFEATJose Mourinho showed a touch of class after Chelsea's humiliation by Bradford City. In the aftermath of one of the worst defeats he's experienced as Blues manager, Mourinho made sure to visit the away dressing to congratulate the Bradford City players and manager Phil Parkinson. It was a great touch from Mourinho and in stark contrast to Louis van Gaal's behaviour towards not only Cambridge United manager Richard Money, but before him also MK Dons boss Karl Robinson after their Capital One Cup shock against Manchester United. Neither men heard from Van Gaal after their respective Cup ties.

IT'S THE SYSTEM NOT THE PLAYERS, LVGManchester United players are being unfairly criticised for their inconsistency under manager Louis van Gaal. As much as the Dutchman protests, it is the system, not the players' inability to adjust to it, that is primarily to blame. The players are good enough - and bright enough - to play to Van Gaal's 3-5-2 formation. Although it's more 5-3-2. It's simply not a system that is suited to United and English football. Sam Allardyce, the West Ham United manager, is right. The tippy-tappy, possession football LVG is demanding from United is a load of "boll****"! Well done to United's away fans for barracking Van Gaal's tactics at QPR. It was the same we saw at Cambridge United. Plenty of possession, slow build-ups, sideways passing. All played out in front of Cambridge's defence. Unless they get an early goal to force the opposition to open up, United's new possession game doesn't take advantage of the individual quality of their best players.

SCHURRLE SALE GREAT CHELSEA BUSINESSIf they do sell Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg this week, Chelsea can be delighted with the business done. An excellent player, but can you see a Premier League club paying near £30 million for Schurrle? It's an amazing figure considering Wolfsburg are not Real Madrid or PSG. The money helps Chelsea with FFP and gives Jose Mourinho more freedom to work the transfer market this year. Potentially, a brilliant piece of business from the Blues front office.

PRESSURE MUST BE GROWING ON PELLEGRINIBradford City's heroics have taken the spotlight, but there must be pressure within Manchester City growing on Manuel Pellegrini. Bundled out of the FA Cup by Middlesbrough - at home - just a week after defeat - again at home - to Arsenal. That's two poor, poor results for City. The move for Wilfried Bony has been celebrated, but he's not due to take the field for City until next month. And there's no guarantee of an instant impact. Carrying a £30 million price-tag on his back, having to handle a type of pressure very different to what he experienced with Swansea City and with his new team again stumbling? It's a big ask for Bony to come to the rescue. Oh, and there's one Roberto Mancini just turning the screw over the weekend, confirming he'd welcome Yaya Toure to Inter Milan. Not exactly the ideal preparation going into Saturday's huge game at Chelsea.

AFCON LOOMING LARGE ON SHOCK RESULTSIt's being played on the other side of the world , but the Africa Cup of Nations has had a massive influence on results in England this past week. Jeffrey Schlupp, who avoided a call to Ghana's squad due to injury, struck for Leicester City in their FA Cup win at Tottenham. Diafra Sakho, who did the same with Senegal, matched Schlupp's effort by grabbing the winner for West Ham United against Bristol City. And of course, there's Wilfried Bony and Manchester City. The two games City have played since Bony's signing they've been beaten - with the former Swansea City striker away with Ivory Coast.

REDS FANS... ARE YOU AWARE OF ARMIN HODZIC?Big Sam is wrong on the work permit system. The West Ham United manager's claim there's no need to change is out of line. Only the most devoted of Kop fans will be aware of Armin Hodzic. He left Liverpool for Dinamo Zagreb in the summer, though injury has prevented him from making his debut until this month. The 20 year-old Bosnian spent FOUR YEARS with Liverpool, but never was allowed to play because of work permit laws, spending each season on-loan with former club Zeljeznicar. Dinamo's charismatic manager Zoran Mamic is convinced they've pulled off a coup, with Bosnian experts claiming Hodzic as talented as Edin Dzeko. The young striker has no regrets about his four years at Melwood "I'm a better player for the experience", but his example is just another of the failures of the UK work permit system. In all seriousness, do you really have any confidence in the ex-players who sit on these panels, passing judgement, knowing anything about a 16 year-old from Bosnia?

BIG KEEPER CHANGES AT UNITEDVictor Valdes' arrival is stage one of a major clearout of goalkeeping stocks at Manchester United. Anders Lindegaard has already been informed he can move on - and came close to joining FC Midtjylland last week. England youth internationals Sam Johnstone and Ben Amos will also be allowed to leave by United manager Louis van Gaal. It's expected the Dutchman will promote from within, with room being made for Swiss youngster Joel Castro Pereira, who was convinced to move to United by former keeper coach Eric Steele. There is also Vanja Milinkovic, who signed for United last summer and is currently playing first team football on-loan with FK Vojvodina. The deal was struck on the understanding Milinkovic will join United for season 2015/16.