Wigan Athletic manager, Roberto Martinez, says that the Premier League is spoiled by idiotic and laughable refereeing decisions on a weekly basis.

Martinez is speaking after his Wigan side have not had the run of the green in many Premier League games over recent weeks.

He does make a good point that every single week there seems to be something major happening in a game that everyone but the referee can focus on and see while the match is still unfolding.

This stops many teams from reaching their full potential as many rely on the referee for added protection and help when they come to face the bigger sides in the league.

He said: “We all know how difficult it is to be a referee and to get the decisions right. When you get a close call I am the first one to understand that.”

“But for me it is hard to explain how you can get that decision wrong. I think it was a big call. Until then it was nothing of a game, nobody had any real chances. I think it devalues the Premier League when you get actions like that. It is not even a close call and it makes you wonder. You have got a player that is two yards offside.”

“I cannot explain how the best league in the world has got people that can get those decisions wrong. When you are looking at it from abroad, I think it is laughable stock. It is the best league in the world, you cannot get decisions like that wrong.”

“There is nothing we can do, we just hope we can change and have a little more luck. You hope you are going to get these sort of bad decisions going your way throughout the campaign, but at the moment I can’t remember having these sort of decisions.”

Martinez’s comments will add weight to many people in the game who have said that it is way past the point where technology should be introduced into the game in order to get more decisions right.

However, referee blunders are and always have been a talking point of the game. Humans are prone to making mistakes and if a referee or linesman takes his eye away from an area for a second then he will miss what has gone on and potentially make the wrong call.

It is easy for managers to criticise the authority structure in football when things are not going in favour of their club. The point is that everyone comes out now and then to make comments that echo the sort of things that Martinez stresses.

If you tallied up the number of times that Sir Alex Ferguson blasted referees for making poor decisions then you would quickly run out of space on the page because it just happens so often and will not change any time soon. Referees are trusted and most of the time they do get it right.

Manchester United striker, Michael Owen, has admitted that he will be happy to sit on the bench for as long as Wayne Rooney keeps up his good performances.

Rooney has been arguably in the best form of his left so far in the Premier League. He has a healthy return of goals and has taken up the role of being the most important player at the club since the departure of some Portuguese bloke to Real Madrid in the summer.

Owen insists that he is not getting cold feet at his prospects of making a last bid to get into the England World Cup squad for the summer. He says that for as long as Rooney keeps playing well then he cannot complain about not getting into the team.

Owen said: “Unfortunately for me, yes, because it means I get less time, but he’s fantastic. He is as he comes across — a local scally really that’s come good. He’s a cracking lad and a cracking player. A lot of people relate to him, the way he plays. That’s why he’s so popular — the England fans sing his name, the United fans sing his name.”

“He’s been absolutely fantastic, his finishing is unbelievable, and his general play — if he continues this, he will be one of the world’s best.”

“It’s been a long time since I was in the England squad. You never give up but it’s probably a long shot in racing terms. It’s been great, whenever I’m called upon, I’m fit and ready. Of course you want to play a bit more but I’ve had some cracking times already at United.”

Many criticised Owen when he decided to make the move to United, saying that he was taking the easy way out as opposed to trying to break into the starting line up of a smaller team and nail down his place.

However, you cannot really blame him for snapping the hand off of Sir Alex Ferguson when the Scot enquired about his services. One thing Owen does have is plenty of experience, which at times is something United have not had.

Owen is still a very good goal scorer as well and warrants a place in the team. United team members have said that the former Liverpool man looks deadly when they play in training and that when he is asked to do a job he is straining to get off of the leash.

How long Rooney can keep his current run of form going is unknown. Owen will be ready to step in and take his chance when it is given to him. His reaction when he scored the winner against Manchester City at Old Trafford proves he is still playing with the energy and enthusiasm of a little boy.

Rooney and Owen have not played that much together so far at United but there could be a point in the near future when they do. Owen will have to learn to adapt to Rooney’s game if he wants to play football more regularly.

Manchester United are slowly starting to show that there is life in them long after Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club. United cantered to a 3-1 at Spurs over the weekend and played much of the game with ten men after Paul Scholes was booked twice and subsequently sent off.

The point is that even with ten men United completely dominated the game, leading many to perhaps be a little surprised or shocked at the way they are coping in the post-Ronaldo era. Many have already said that Sir Alex Ferguson is already being proved correct as his side are breathing down the neck of Chelsea at the top of the table.

Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, said: “They always have three or four options when they get the ball, there’s always movement. Every time they get the ball there is movement around them, someone’s popping off. \ Berbatov is coming short, \ Rooney’s pulling into a position, the wide man is coming off the line into holes. It’s fantastic.”

“Rooney has taken it on. He was the big star until Ronaldo came along and took over from him really, but now he’s back. Fletcher has made himself into a top player, wherever he plays. He has improved by working hard at his game. Look at his workrate, he never stops.”

“And when Rio \ plays, it makes such a massive difference. Without him they’re not the same. When he’s with \ Vidic it gives them so much at the back. I went in at half-time thinking, ‘Maybe that’s as good as they can play.’”

Some people are even saying that Manchester United look a more complete side now that Ronaldo has left. Wayne Rooney has now been released to play in the position that suits him the best and the talent of attacking players the club still has is tremendous.

United are now prearing for a Manchester derby against Manchester City that looks set to be the most intense of recent years. City will take with them to Old Trafford a betetr squad than ever before but what spices up the conforntation is the recent actions of many City players as well as the fact that any thing they now achieve is tainted by the virtue that were it not for an oil businessman, they would be lingering at the bottom of the table.

If United carry on playing how they did against Spurs then there will be no stopping them this season.