Love him or loathe him, it looks like we are stuck with him for a while longer.

Sir Alex has confirmed that he intends to stay in the Old Trafford hot seat for another two seasons after this one, taking him up to the ripe old age of 67.

The man himself has said he has never loved his football more than he is doing at the moment, which is not surprising considering Manchester United are rushing headlong towards one of their patented trebles.

There have been times, I admit, when I have been almightily fed up with the red-nosed Scot. He has irritated me and millions of others with his whining, moaning and overall complaining.

However, it is equally impossible to deny that he is the most successful manager in the history of modern English football - if not all time. His achievements are magnificent even given the size of the club he has been at. And I fully expect him to add a few more trophies to his personal cabinet over the next two years.

For sure football will be a quieter place without Sir Alex around to scream, point at his watch, get angry with the press and kick boots in the face of his players. But it will also be emptier.

Personally I have my doubts he will leave the business even in two years time. Where do you go from being Manchester United's manager - gardening and walks by the sea?

No. I honestly believe only ill-health will ever pull him away from the game he loves. And, even then, it would need to be something pretty darned serious…

New Wembley keys

I appreciate that the FA were probably overjoyed at getting the keys to New Wembley last weekend after so many long months of waiting for the project to be finished.

However, in view of the problems that have beset the project from the word go, I have one major question which I feel must be asked: Has anyone bothered to see if the keys actually fit?

Just a thought…

Chelsea's determination

I may not like them very much, well, actually not at all, but I have to admire Chelsea's drive and determination.

At half time on Sunday it looked very much as though it was game over for Jose's boys. Not only were they 3-1 down, their defence was in shreds and they hadn't looked much like scoring, especially with Drogba not 100 per cent fit.

But they came back like true champions earning a replay against all the odds and breaking a few Spurs hearts on the way.

As I said, even if you don't like Chelsea it would be wrong not to admire them.

West Ham crisis update

During the January transfer window West Ham made a whole bunch of signings aimed at helping them escape relegation. Some of them were shrewd, some of them plain luxuries - Boa Morte springs to mind in the latter category.

However, without a doubt the two best were Matthew Upson and Lucas Neil. Here were two tough boys with experience and passion who would show the slackers at Upton Park how a relegation battle is fought and won.

Although they were both injured before they could have any sort of influence over the team, they were still, in my mind, sensible purchases.

However, I have, as is frequently the case, been proven wrong. These two players didn't sign for West Ham out of belief - it was purely out of greed. Not only are they on outrageous weekly salaries they both have escape clauses in their contracts allowing them to jump ship if (when) the Hammers go down.

What sort of confidence and morale boost does it give to the dressing room when two wide boys join on triple your wages safe in the knowledge they can be off the second things go truly pear shaped?

It is the sort of move that makes the atmosphere amongst the squad all the more unsettled. And it is hard to see how that can help in this hopeless battle the club is fighting.

Bizarre development

Funny how times change isn't it?

The last time Watford met Plymouth in the FA Cup was in 1984 when club chairman Elton John was married to a woman. Since then he has got divorced and remarried – this time to a man.

Obviously that's not all that has changed at the two clubs in the intervening 23 years. But I bet you it is one of the most bizarre developments…

Stuart Pearce

When times are hard there are some things you don't want to have to do like, for example, take your losing, under-fire, under-performing team to the champions for a midweek match.

But, sadly for Stuart Pearce, that is exactly what he has to do with his Manchester City team today. And he really can't be relishing the prospect.

The man himself has insisted he is going nowhere despite the pressure of four league defeats in a row followed by being dumped out of the FA Cup last weekend.

More worrying for Pearce is the fact that City have been playing with major levels of indifference of late. With one or two exceptions, the players simply look like they don't care about the team, something which led to chants of "your not fit to wear the shirt" from the traveling fans at the Blackburn match.

And, to be honest, from what I saw of that game they weren't fit to wear any shirt.

Pearce is a big man, both mentally and emotionally. I am positive he will come through this current patch stronger and as a better manager. But the last thing he will need is tonight's match against Chelsea.

Things like that always seem to come along when you need them least. On a positive note, however, at least if Chelsea give City a mauling tonight they may feel less like doing it again against Sheffield United on Saturday…

Contact James on: [email protected]