An inconsistent Premier League

The Premier league so far has been very strange and quite inconsistent.

Chelsea have dropped points, Liverpool have dropped points, we've dropped points, as have Arsenal. Manchester City have drawn games while Tottenham had a great run and then they lost matches. Aston Villa lost the last couple of games when they looked to be in great form.

The Premiership is certainly not a two-horse race at this stage and there are still three or four teams in touch with the top.

Apart from the top three, Manchester City and Aston Villa are still in it. Tottenham are looking good and Liverpool are more confident after beating Aston Villa.

We're midway through the race and January will be a month where teams will still be jostling for position. I think it's going to be one of those interesting leagues where things start developing around February and March. But what always happens is that towards March and April you end up with two teams battling it out for the title.

For me, this year's league is reminiscent to the one in the 1995/1996 season when we lost six matches and still won the league. It's very difficult to estimate how many points are needed to win it this season.

The top teams can go on winning 12 to 13 matches on the bounce. It's incredible that we lost five games and yet we're just two points away from the league leaders. It shows the way the league is developing this year.

We had terrible injuries which cost us games, and we have suffered a little bit of inconsistent form. If we continuously persist on finding that form, making sure our players fit, we can eliminate some of the mistakes we made in the first five months of the season.

Wayne Rooney is someone we will rely on in these crucial months. Wayne wins matches for us. His goal scoring record in the Premier League is excellent. He fights for the ball, works hard, and has fitted well into the team.

The old rivalry

We will be playing Leeds in the FA Cup third round today. It's almost a throwback to the past. The Yorkshire and Lancashire rivalry dates back to the 1960s. We haven't played them for a while. Six or seven years ago, Leeds were among our main competitors. It's incredible how they've found themselves in the third tier of the English league but they're doing well this year.

Both sets of fans are really passionate about their clubs and the rivalry is quite incredible. I believe around 8,000 Leeds fans are coming to Old Trafford to watch the match and they will fuel the atmosphere inside the stadium - I'm sure our fans will be up for it.

Mourinho's comeback?

José Mourinho recently said he would like to return to the Premier League. He was quite a character when he coached Chelsea and I suppose a lot of people would be happy to see him back.

When you're at Manchester United, you're so detached from what goes on elsewhere... you've got more than enough to concentrate on.

Has Mourinho been missed in the English game? I don't think so. The English game goes on with or without great managers and players. So many have come and gone. The English Premier League and English football are far bigger than any one individual.

There is a lot of speculation that he might join Manchester United one day. A lot of managers have been linked with United along the years but Alex Ferguson will probably go on for another five or 10 years.

Beckham's return

David Beckham returns to play for AC Milan this week. He has never really had a problem with fitness and his quality on the field hasn't waned. AC Milan wouldn't take a player who wasn't fit enough for them or lacked the necessary quality. I know he loved playing for Milan and in Serie A last season and he's looking forward to doing likewise this year.

The Milan vs Manchester United Champions league clash is going to be a great tie, and we're looking forward to it. David thought a return to Old Trafford is something that would have passed him by but now he is coming back with AC Milan. His presence adds something extra to the tie.

Over to you

What, according to you, is the core difference between Maltese training and training in traditionally successful football nations?

Emren John Vella

The Maltese coaches I've seen were actually very good. Of course, they'd have more experience if they went over to coach in foreign countries.

I think the main differences are in the infrastructure, facilities, and the competitiveness in the football leagues. Some Maltese coaches have attended courses and obtained the UEFA A and B licences, meeting international standards, the same strict criteria as the English, Dutch, German coaches.

The difference is that we have competitive leagues. We have a real competitive nature to our football - and there are rewards. The spectacle for the fans is magnificent. There is a lot of money generated and with money comes power.

It's difficult for Malta since it's such a small country, even though there is the passion for football. We have enormous amounts of money to spend on sports facilities, money is invested in football foundations, trusts and community programmes. It's a huge business here so I wouldn't be overly critical of the coaching methods or the actual standards of coaching in Malta.

The climate in Malta is so hot in the summer months that it doesn't lend itself to playing football. When I go to Malta, I want to lie on the beach, not play football!

Send your questions to Gary Neville to sunday@timesofmalta.com.