A GOAL by Darius Vassell for Manchester City reopened the debate about the offside rule at the weekend.

For me, the rule is a lot more confusing these days. With all the talk of being active and inactive and first or second phases, it's ridiculously difficult to interpret.

It's a bit like the distinction between handball and deliberate handball for penalties. I've always thought that results in a lot of uncertainty.

Personally, I don't think Vassell's goal should have been allowed. He was stood a yard offside right in front of the 'keeper when the ball was first crossed in and the linesman was looking right along the line.

Having said that, I wouldn't want to be a linesman. I think their job is now more difficult than the referee's.

There are cameras everywhere to criticise them but not only do they have to spot whether somebody is offside now, they need to decide whether he is actually active or inactive and then put their flag up or leave it down. It all needs simplifying and I would like to go back to if you are the wrong side of the defender you are offside but, if there is any doubt, give it to the forward.

I don't think the forwards mind it at the moment, however, because a lot of them didn't understand the old rule either. A lot just run and, if they don't hear a whistle, carry on playing or, if they do hear one, they throw their arms up in the air.

The biggest news off the field over the last seven days was, of course, Kevin Keegan's return to management at Newcastle.

I talked at length in this column last week about the possibility of Alan Shearer returning to St James' Park and, for me, I think Keegan has been quite clever in calling Shearer's bluff.

Shearer keeps saying: "I'd like to manage Newcastle one day," but what does that mean? You can't just walk into that job.

I think Keegan has put the ball back in Shearer's court by saying he would like him on board as a coach and we will see what he does now.

I'm sure I'm not the first to say this but "I would love it" genuinely if both of them helped make Newcastle successful.

It would be great for football because some of the Premier League's best moments were provided by Keegan's Newcastle. He is revered up there and I remember being on the receiving end of the momentum he was building there very early in his first spell as manager.

I was playing for Port Vale then and we were enjoying a really good season. Newcastle came to play us and needed a win to help them avoid relegation to what is now League One. They beat us 1-0 and you could tell something special was starting to happen.

I also know a few players who worked with him. Brian Kilcline, my old team-mate from Coventry, loved playing for him.

Killer' was having a tough time at Oldham but he can bring people in and reinvigorate them with his enthusiasm. He also said the training was always fun.

My main concern with Keegan is he looks very brittle. He always has been in some ways but age makes it more apparent.

He's either very high or very low and it will be interesting to see what happens with the massive expectation there now.