The FA Cup has been dominated by the supposed ‘big four’ for over ten years. However, last year, audiences revelled in having three lower league teams – Barnsley, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City – and ‘lesser’ Premiership team Portsmouth in the semi-finals.
[Read the rest of this entry »]

David Beckham is one for springing surprises on people. His 1997/98 opener lob from the halfway line. His garish sarong. His infamous 1998 World Cup exit. His move to LA Galaxy.

He surprised many by maintaining his ambition to play for England by maneuvering a loan deal to Milan. He also sprang a further surprise by playing considerably well for the Rossoneri.

Now the cherry on the cake has well and truly arrived. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Sepp Blatter is FIFA’s President. He is the World Football’s voice. Yet, that voices always seems to be throwing damnation in the direction of the English.

In June 2006, he accused England of spoiling the World Cup in Germany:

I’m delighted that teams are playing offensively, one exception is the English.

During January 2008, he blasted the FA for choosing Italian Fabio Capello over an English manager to lead the England team: [Read the rest of this entry »]

Liverpol boss Rafa Benetiz last night told the media that if superstar Spaniard Fernando Torres was not injured as much as he has been this season, then Liverpool would not have slipped so far behind Premiership leaders Manchester United:

The worst thing has been the injuries to Torres. Maybe if Torres had not been injured so much things would be different.

He has been our main striker and scored a lot of goals for us last season. And this season could have been totally different with him.

With the former Valencia manager pointing out this very obvious fact, is he admitted that he has made mistakes this season, mainly in the shape of not getting the best out of Robbie Keane and his teams inability to convert chances? [Read the rest of this entry »]

As Rio Ferdinand lifted the League Cup into the Wembley air on Sunday afternoon, most thoughts turned to the idea of a United clean sweep, an unprecedented 5 trophies; World Club Cup, League Cup, FA Cup, Premiership and Champions League. Even if United did managed to blow away all in their path and secure a further three trophies, will everyone forget the other two trophies that were contested this season, and the fact that United have already completed a Treble this season? [Read the rest of this entry »]

After weeks and weeks of speculation it appears that Newcastle United ‘manager’ Joe Kinnear has finally admitted defeat.

The media have both been speculating about the future of both of Newcastle’s long-term goalkeepers Shay Given and Steve Harper. With Harper signing a new three-year deal this week, it seems that Given is ready to make a move, with Manchester City sniffing around the Republic of Ireland stopper. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Last night, while strolling to a 5-0 win over relegation favourites West Bromwich Albion, European Cup holders Manchester United set a new English record for the 1,032 minutes without conceding a goal. The previous record was held by Premiership rivals Chelsea, when goalkeeper Petr Cech did not concede a top-flight goal for 1,025 minutes in the 2004-2005 season.

However, some have said that United are getting more praise for their achievement than Chelsea ever did, which prompts the debate: Is one achievement more of a feat than the other? [Read the rest of this entry »]

As we approach January and the start of the transfer window, the rumours start flying around and with the new found wealth at Eastlands Stadium, most of them revolve around Manchester City, world-record breaking fees and Europe’s biggest stars.

We had the £130+ million raid for European Footballer of the Year Christiano Ronaldo in the summer and we heard hints of a £100+ million move for Real Madrid keeper iker Casillas this week. Now we move on to the next one, and also yet another rebuff for City.

Reports have done the rounds that The Citizens were going to make a move for Valencia’s Euro 2008 starlet for an astonishing £60 million, but his agent has swiftly denied any such possiblity. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Since Roy Keane left the Stadium of Light last week, several names have been thrown into the ring to replace him.

Several names, who are normally connected with most jobs, have been bounded about; Peter Ried, Alan Curbishley and Davod O’Leary have been mentioned. But one person has put themselves forward for the job. An ex-Magpie. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Liverpool’s manager Rafa Benitez is renowned for tinkering with his starting lineup. He famously went 99 games a few years back before naming the same side twice in a row.

This led to many players, such as Peter Crouch, becoming disgruntled and leaving. Now Benitez’s lack of team-picking consistency has led to one of his current stars expressing a desire to find first-team football. The Dutch star has only started two games in the Premiership this season and his agent has revealed a loan deal, including his old club, could have been on only for the Anfield club to reject the idea. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Juande Ramos has been named the new Real Mardid boss in place of the outgoing Bernd Schuster. Ramos has returned to Spain in in the nice comfy, if not pressurised, Los Blancos hotseat. His first game will be at home against Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday.
[Read the rest of this entry »]

Ex-England captain and LA Galaxy crowd-puller David Beckham has made a shocking return to European football, as the MLS winds down until the spring. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger will join European giants AC Milan on loan until January, in an effort to keep fit and in the mind of England manager Fabio Capello. [Read the rest of this entry »]

After winning the Champions League last season, Fergie claimed he would withdraw from the Theatre of Dreams within three years, leaving United with a manager-shaped hole to fill. Today, a certain high-profile football manager with plenty of experience at the height of the game, has said that he would be returning to the Premier League in the next few years.

After Inter I will return to England, but I want to win here first.

I have a contract with Inter, but when that finishes I will definitely return to the Premier League, I like it a lot.

The length of Mourinho’s contract? Three years. Just in time for United to look for a new boss.

This could be seen as pure coincidence, but it is backed up by Rio Ferdinand’s recent comments about who could replace Fergie:

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says only one man could replace current manager Sir Alex Ferguson: ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (Mail on Sunday)

Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was never a true nemesis of Ferguson’s, and United fans may take a shine to the Portuguese manager, especially due to his frosty relationship with Arsene Wenger.

He was also a hit with the media due to his outgoing and controverisal comments. It would be great for the Premiership if he were to return, and it would be unlikely he would go to a team that was not competing in the Champions League. Chelsea are extremely unlikely to go back to Jose, especially after starting so well with Big Phil Scolari. Arsenal would not take him on after his feud with Wenger. Liverpool may consider removing Rafa Benitez, but Liverpool fans do not seem keen after his comments about them being a small club and bitterness about the ‘goal that never was’ in the 2005 Champions League semi-final.

And that leaves Manchester United…

Whether this is all highly coincidental remains to be seen, but I’m sure some United fans would love for it to be true.

Think back a few years. The Premiership champions have just made a £30 million signing of an eastern European striker. He starts slowly. “Things will get better” everyone says. “He just needs one, then he’ll explode” they carry on. He starts to look sad, unhappy. He tries things that used to be successful at his old club. They don’t come off. He looks a lonely man on the field. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Sir Alex Ferguson knows what it takes to win. Just look at his record in management. A first division title with St Mirren, 10 trophies with Aberdeen, two of those European Cups and an astonishing 30 pieces of silverware in 22 years at Manchester United.

However, over those years, he has had his share of blundering European defeats with Manchester United as well. Losing on away goals to SC Rotor Volgograd in the 1995 UEFA Cup. In the 2002 Champions League, the Red Devils lost 3-0 to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa. 2 years ago, they crashed a 1-0 defeat to FC Copenhagen.

It is that last example that has made Fergie claim that this time his strongest side will be on show as they face Danish champions Aalborg BK in the Champions League? [Read the rest of this entry »]

Ex-England manager Terry Venables is expected to decide on Thursday whether to take over as interim Newcastle boss … so the BBC tells me.

But is this such a good idea? Does Terry Venables really have what it takes to turn Newcastle around? What has he achieved since Euro 96? Will the Newcastle fans accept him as he is a close friend of Dennis Wise? [Read the rest of this entry »]

Arsenal 6-0 Sheffield United.

Quite a scoreline even for a normal match. Yet this wasn’t a normal match. This was a Carling Cup match. And a Carling Cup match with Arsenal involved usually equates to youngsters, and lots of them. Against a strong Sheffield United side.
[Read the rest of this entry »]

Manchester City and Robinho have shown world football: money talks. With the Citizens now under the leadership of Abu Dhabi United Group, they are embarking on a quest to become the world’s greatest club. And that means buy tempting global superstars to Eastlands. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Although this living legend was not as consistently great as previous entrants like Alfredo di Stefano, Sir Bobby Charlton or Paolo Maldini, it was his ability to resurrect his career after several setbacks, like Ronaldo, that warrants his inclusion.

This man basically won the 1982 World Cup on his own. He inspired Italy to victory. And all that after being banned from world football for two years beforehand… [Read the rest of this entry »]

Real Madrid’s Brazilian ace has joined the ranks of players claiming they have a “dream” in moving to a certain, oddly wealthy, club. However, after weeks and weeks of speculation, it looks as though another transfer saga is coming to an end.

Chelsea will not succeed with a £25m bid for Real’s attacking forward and his dreams are “broken” as the Spaniards refuse to sell. [Read the rest of this entry »]