Neil Warnock: When it comes to winning penalties, Gerrard is in a league of his own

1. Stand aside Ronaldo, Liverpool man is spot on

You can forget Cristiano Ronaldo now as the best penalty-getter. I don't believe he can lace the boots of Steven Gerrard. He is so good nearly every time there is an argument for his case. The ref at Anfield the other night, for the Atlético Madrid game, no way did he want to give that penalty. He was swayed only by his linesman, which more and more is happening in today's game. Especially with the inexperienced referees. I'd like to ask you the usual question: do you think Gerrard's penalty would have been given at the other end of the pitch?

The following night we saw a different role model. I'd been invited to watch Arsenal's game but had so many young lads in the reserves playing QPR I really wanted to watch some of the kids play. They won 3-1 and it was probably the best reserve performance I have seen since I was at the club with the average age of the team not much over 20, if that.

I rushed home to see the end of Celtic v Man United. Just as it looked as if United had thrown it away up pops the player of the last decade. A role model in every sense to every youngster out there: Ryan Giggs. I could watch him every week. He's a team player throughout and I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson just loves having him around the place.

2. Referees are unable to tackle the real issues

I was in big demand this week. Three newspapers and one TV station telephoned me to see if I would go on record saying that Arsène Wenger was a whinger after his comments about Stoke City's tackling.

To the surprise of most of them I refused point blank. Why, you may ask. Well, while I agree with Tony Pulis regarding Rory Delap's challenge on Theo Walcott – I don't think there was any malicious intent – I have to agree with Arsène in his comments on Ryan Shawcross's tackle on Emmanuel Adebayor. The ball was away, the player had run off the pitch and yet the studs of Shawcross could only have meant to hurt Adebayor.

He was not even booked. Everyone knows how much I get into trouble with referees but it is because, as I've been saying for 28 years, they know the laws but don't know the game. And it was not me that said it first, Bill Shankly brought that saying to the fore. It saddens me that a referee can't even see that foul and deem it at a minimum a yellow card.

The number of times I have spoken to a ref after a game telling him I can't comprehend why an opponent has only been booked for committing what I call a professional foul, when one of my players has bounced the ball on the floor after a decision, or not retreated 10 yards at a free kick, and got the same punishment. And by a professional foul I don't mean the one that denies a goalscoring opportunity. I mean the one that usually only the professionals recognise – when a player is going to play the ball and an opponent comes in with his studs knowing the player kicking the ball will catch the tackler's boot with his leg. I don't think anyone sets out to break someone's leg, but when tackles are meant to hurt the player you have to accept the consequences when they are injured, or the worst happens and the leg is broken.

While it is understandable that Pulis has defended his corner, the Robin van Persie and Adebayor incidents, for which they were sent off and booked respectively, were what I call stupid fouls, openly seen. The worst fouls are the devious ones where intent was deliberate. I have always abhorred them.

3. Even tag-rugby is a real man's game

I took William to our academy under-eights this week and watched all the age groups training. I found myself thinking we are so lucky to have coaches who dedicate themselves to the academies all over the country. They are real unsung heroes. It is great for the club too. In the last 12 months I've given 11 debuts to lads who have come through our youth system which can only help when we talk to these lads and their parents.

William is turning out to be a sporting all-rounder. This week, playing rugby, he scored a superb try which had me jumping up like a little kid. It was in the first minute. He picked the ball up, dummied, went inside, got his head down, went through a couple of tackles, checked somebody, side-stepped the last back, and went over for the try.

That description reminds me of the way I used to describe my goals to my dad. Except I'd usually tapped it in from a yard really. This time the description is accurate. I said to Sharon I wished I brought the video. She said you can't do that now because of legislation. I thought how sad it is that you can't take pictures of your own kid playing a game.

Rugby really is a man's game. I looked away at a couple of challenges, and he's only playing tag-rugby. When you look at some of the wimps rolling over on the football field...

4. Obama's achievement comes with a high price

I was so glad on Wednesday morning the American election was finally over. The new President has got a wonderful opportunity to have a global impact, but the following morning when I opened my newspapers it took me aback to see the three-inch thick 20ft wide bullet-proof glass shield he gave his celebration speech in Chicago behind. It made you realise what peril he and his family will face every day of their lives.

I was moved when I listened to the recording of Martin Luther King saying he felt there would come a time when his "four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character". In Barack Obama's case that has happened. Dr King did not live to see the day. We can only hope for the best for the next President.

5. Music keeps me sane

People often ask me how I switch off from managing. I love closing my eyes on the settee and listening to Amy playing the piano. She's taking it up again and I can't think of anything better than lying there listening to it – until William bangs her on the nose.

I've even become a musician myself. William, who's been doing his guitar lessons, has taught me how to play "Twinkle, twinkle little star." It shows anything is possible.

No team at the bottom of the table after 11 games has had more points than Tottenham – 9 – in the history of the Premier League. Six sides have accrued eight points, including three teams in the 2003-04 campaign.