FA Cup draw: Big teams kept apart as Sutton land Arsenal

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hCnaZLrA5A0/WI_qS2yy0TI/AAAAAAAAB2k/pvEn2nny-V03T5tdfsCttClzzKRcoe8_wCLcB/s1600/FA-Cup-trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hCnaZLrA5A0/WI_qS2yy0TI/AAAAAAAAB2k/pvEn2nny-V03T5tdfsCttClzzKRcoe8_wCLcB/s640/FA-Cup-trophy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Non-League Sutton will host Premier League Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup.<br /> <br /> The Vanarama National League side earned rich reward for their defeat of Championship Leeds on Sunday when they were handed a visit from Arsene Wenger’s side in the draw for the last 16.<br /> <br /> National League leaders Lincoln will also face top-flight opposition as they travel to Burnley.<br /> <br /> Lincoln have already beaten three league sides in Oldham, Ipswich and Championship leaders Brighton during their cup run.<br /> <br /> It is the first time in the history of the competition two non-League sides have reached the last 16.<br /> <br /> Sutton’s clash will see Arsene Wenger take his men to the 5,000-capacity Gander Green Lane to play on United’s 3G pitch.<br /> <br /> Elsewhere in the draw, Wolves’ reward for knocking out Liverpool on Saturday is a home clash with Premier League leaders Chelsea. Oxford, who also pulled off a giant-killing against Championship high-flyers Newcastle, will travel to Middlesbrough.<br /> <br /> Tottenham, after surviving a scare against Wycombe, face an all-London clash at Fulham while holders Manchester United and Manchester City will make the short journeys to Blackburn and Huddersfield respectively.<br /> <br /> The final tie of the round will see League One Millwall, conquerors of Watford, host the winners of the replay between Derby and Premier League champions Leicester.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Full draw for FA Cup fifth round<br /> <br /> Burnley v Lincoln<br /> <br /> Fulham v Tottenham<br /> <br /> Blackburn v Manchester United<br /> <br /> Sutton v Arsenal<br /> <br /> Middlesbrough v Oxford<br /> <br /> Wolves v Chelsea<br /> <br /> Huddersfield v Manchester City<br /> <br /> Millwall v Derby/Leicester<br /> <br /> Ties to be played 17-20 February

FA Cup draw: Big teams kept apart as Sutton land Arsenal

Non-League Sutton will host Premier League Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Vanarama National League side earned rich rewa...

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'Today the fans have been very good' - Zidane says Madrid must thank booing Bernabeu

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrJyb_zuu6Q/WI6S9jurp8I/AAAAAAAAB0U/l3BXs0aLOXUaXA4xugfXI7Yw7I7ViNJlQCLcB/s1600/zinedinezidane-cropped_otop0u3dmvns1plgafu70edae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrJyb_zuu6Q/WI6S9jurp8I/AAAAAAAAB0U/l3BXs0aLOXUaXA4xugfXI7Yw7I7ViNJlQCLcB/s640/zinedinezidane-cropped_otop0u3dmvns1plgafu70edae.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today the fans have been very good' - Zidane says Madrid must thank booing Bernabeu</td></tr> </tbody></table> Los Blancos fans were quick to voice dissatisfaction before their side overcame Real Sociedad 3-0 but the manager has praised their support<br /> <br /> Zinedine Zidane praised Real Madrid's supporters despite his players once again having to endure whistles from the Santiago Bernabeu stands during Sunday's 3-0 win over 10-man Real Sociedad.<br /> <br /> Ronaldo shakes off jeers to extend lead<br /> <br /> Madrid are four points clear at the top of LaLiga with a game in hand on Barcelona and Sevilla after their nearest rivals faltered against Real Betis and Espanyol respectively.<br /> <br /> Cristiano Ronaldo set up Mateo Kovacic's 37th-minute opener and added a second shortly after half-time, but the four-time Ballon d'Or winner was not spared from the barracking that occurred during an unconvincing opening spell from Zidane's men.<br /> <br /> Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey in midweek at Celta Vigo to extend a slump of one win in five matches heading into the Sociedad match, but Zidane felt his club's fanbase broadly fell into line with pre-match pleas for unity from the likes of Ronaldo and captain Sergio Ramos.<br /> <br /> "We must thank the Bernabeu," he told a news conference, having seen substitute Alvaro Morata add a third after Sociedad centre-back Inigo Martinez was sent off.<br /> <br /> Marseille complete £25m Payet signing<br /> <br /> "Sometimes we are bothered by some whistles but today the fans have been very good and altogether achieved something very important, I think.<br /> <br /> "It is a very important victory for us after a few difficult days. It was a very complete match against a complicated opponent.<br /> <br /> "It was very important to keep a clean sheet and, in addition, the other results have favoured us."

'Today the fans have been very good' - Zidane says Madrid must thank booing Bernabeu

Today the fans have been very good' - Zidane says Madrid must thank booing Bernabeu Los Blancos fans were quick to voice dissatisfac...

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Liverpool exile Mamadou Sakho lifts the lid on falling out with Jurgen Klopp as he admits he breached club rules... but rules out a move to Marseille

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ryj9CacwpVY/WI6SU7b4ULI/AAAAAAAAB0M/MdnZu7M1YF4DnBbuzTqEhXwhiLgCaZjiwCLcB/s1600/1215824300000514-0-image-a-42_1485736909503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ryj9CacwpVY/WI6SU7b4ULI/AAAAAAAAB0M/MdnZu7M1YF4DnBbuzTqEhXwhiLgCaZjiwCLcB/s640/1215824300000514-0-image-a-42_1485736909503.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamadou Sakho has not played a first team game for Liverpool since April 2016</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> Mamadou Sakho admitted he broke club rules during a pre-season trip to the United States as he lifted the lid on his falling out with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.<br /> The French international is expected to leave Anfield before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, with the likes of Swansea, Southampton and Crystal Palace said to be interested, having not played for Klopp since April 2016.<br /> Sakho missed the end of last season due to a controversial ban for using a fat-burner, which was later overturned, and admitted turning up late for a team meeting and missing a recovery session during a pre-season trip to the United States.<br /> He was sent home from the tour as a result and, during an interview in France, admitted his mistakes. <br /> Sakho told Canal Football Club: 'It is true that I turned up late. There was a rule that I should have observed. I do not at all see myself as above the rules, I respect everyone.<br /> 'I paid my fine, I was sanctioned, I apologised to my team-mates and my manager. Aside from that… I do not want to go into the controversies.<br /> 'I work a lot, I have the chance to train with the reserve team , which allows me to keep up. And beside that I have my trainer. So I work a lot to stay on top of my game.'<br /> <br /> Sakho also revealed his desire to return to former club Paris Saint-Germain at some point during his career, but insisted his links to the club would mean he would not be interested in a move to Marseille.<br /> He said: 'Since I started this incredible adventure abroad, in terms of football but also in terms of my family, because when I see my children speaking English I think it is a glorious thing that I have been able to give them. I think I have a few more wonderful years to experience abroad first. And PSG, why not, but afterwards.<br /> 'I think Marseille have a very good team. Bafé (Gomis) and Pat (Evra) are friends of mine. But my answer to this might remind certain people about a song. When there is PSG, Sakho is with them.'<br /> <br />

Liverpool exile Mamadou Sakho lifts the lid on falling out with Jurgen Klopp as he admits he breached club rules... but rules out a move to Marseille

Mamadou Sakho has not played a first team game for Liverpool since April 2016 Mamadou Sakho admitted he broke club rules during a pre-s...

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Beckham ‘humiliated’ at Man United, but no abuse

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NNZMUypAbU/WI3iopcNNmI/AAAAAAAABzU/6xaO9zTAFyss6ReShmkBghYxIGHC4dYWgCLcB/s1600/David-Beckham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NNZMUypAbU/WI3iopcNNmI/AAAAAAAABzU/6xaO9zTAFyss6ReShmkBghYxIGHC4dYWgCLcB/s640/David-Beckham.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> David Beckham has revealed young players were forced to perform “a funny dance” in front of senior professionals at Manchester United as a punishment for stepping out of line.<br /> <br /> The former England captain was asked about the current child sex abuse scandal in football during his appearance on BBC Radio Four’s Desert Island Discs.<br /> <br /> “There was never anything at Manchester United and it is disgraceful what has gone on and there has to be something done about it,” he told presenter Kirsty Young.<br /> <br /> “The closest part would have been certain professionals that if we had gone out of line they would have made us do a funny dance in the middle of the changing room in front of the professionals, in front of our heroes at the time.”<br /> Beckham said it was humiliating, adding: “That was all it was, but that was just to teach us a lesson – there was never any wrong-doing.”<br /> <br /> The 41-year-old signed for the Premier League club aged 16 and was part of the Class of ’92 which included Ryan Giggs, Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.<br /> <br /> In a wide-ranging interview on the 75th anniversary edition of Desert Island Discs, which is being broadcast on Sunday at 11.15am, Beckham did not pick a single record from his wife Victoria’s Spice Girls discography.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Beckham, who is an ambassador for Unicef, said he keeps all his England caps at his house and his “precious” medals in a safe in a bank.<br /> <br /> “I have so many pairs of boots, over a thousand pairs of boots. I keep them in storage. They are in boxes.”<br /> Asked by Young if it competes with Victoria’s shoe collection he replied: “It does actually.”<br /> <br /> Beckham said his mother and father had made many sacrifices over the years in order to achieve his dream of being a footballer. However getting praise from his father was rare.<br /> <br /> “I knew that my dad would always be proud of my achievements. The only time my dad turned round to me and said ‘you know what son, you have done really well’ was when I got my 100th cap for England.<br /> <br /> “It makes me emotional. Everybody wants to make their parents proud.”<br /> Beckham admitted it was difficult when he started dating the then Victoria Adams, given their celebrity status. He said her manager Simon Fuller wanted to keep the relationship quiet so the footballer used to drive to see his new girlfriend in his “amazing bright blue” BMW.<br /> <br /> “We used to sit in a Harvester car park and we just used to kiss, of course, and spend time together,” he said.<br /> The father-of-four stressed how important his family was to him and they have worked together “as a unit” through difficult periods and “mistakes over the years”.<br /> <br /> “Do we stay together because it’s a brand? Of course not, we stay together because we love each other. We stay together because we have four amazing children.”<br /> Beckham revealed he was “shocked and devastated” when he found out United were selling him to Real Madrid in 2003.<br /> <br /> “I honestly did not watch Manchester United play for three years,” he said.

Beckham ‘humiliated’ at Man United, but no abuse

David Beckham has revealed young players were forced to perform “a funny dance” in front of senior professionals at Manchester United as...

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Mails: Running out of words for how bad Liverpool are

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0USlNOSv7Iw/WI3iQP0QlMI/AAAAAAAABzM/SPskcj9hGWcNYiWf_ja1lsi__xNdoT_lgCLcB/s1600/Liverpool1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0USlNOSv7Iw/WI3iQP0QlMI/AAAAAAAABzM/SPskcj9hGWcNYiWf_ja1lsi__xNdoT_lgCLcB/s400/Liverpool1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Long live the FA Cup<br /> You’ll no doubt get a lot of these, but it’s 5pm on Saturday, I’ve been listening to the radio for the last four hours, and I can’t remember a weekend of Premier League action this exciting for a long time. And it’s not over yet.<br /> <br /> Looks like the FA Cup still has its place after all.<br /> Dan<br /> <br /> …‎No glamour ties huh.<br /> <br /> There have been at least five great stories from Wolves stunning liverpool to non-league Lincoln making the fifth round from a goal down to Arsenal’s new signings Welbeck and Walcott humiliating southampton to Wycombe’s valiant effort and Leicester’s dramatic equaliser.<br /> <br /> The FA Cup is alive and well friends and long may it continue.<br /> Timi, MUFC<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Almost out of words at how bad Liverpool are<br /> I don’t think there are enough words in the English vocabulary to describe just how utterly awful Liverpool have been for this entire month. A loss to the 18th-placed championship team with their fourth-choice goalkeeper, I’m not even surprised anymore.<br /> <br /> From second place with a chance at a title and two cups, to limping out in pathetic fashion from two competitions and now being in real danger of dropping to 6th place.<br /> <br /> It feels like an eternity now when Liverpool looked like they were going to score on every attack. Now it feels like I’ve been watching the same game on repeat, sideways passing and then losing the ball and getting cut to ribbons on every counter attack. The players are listless, passionless, and just jaded, it reminds me of the Hodgson era or the lowest ebbs during Rodgers’ time.<br /> <br /> I love Klopp, I adore the man, I still think he’s brilliant. The kneejerk reactions from pundits and fans, who are very much enjoying this Liverpool meltdown, now say he’s a fraud and has been found out. I don’t think that’s the case, I just think the team is knackered, low in confidence, and with the barrage of fixutres, he has simply not figured out a way to stop the rot. But the buck has to stop with him.<br /> <br /> Why are there no backup wingers when the formation relies on pace? Why is TAA the backup RB? Why is Lucas still in the ****ing team? Why does every corner fail to beat the first man? And why is the team still so jittery on defense?<br /> <br /> A win is needed against Chelsea, nothing less. Do that, and perhaps some confidence will return and the team can hold on to a top 4 spot. Lose, and I fully expect the Liverpool train to continue its complete derailment.<br /> <br /> I love Klopp, and I don’t think the club can do better, but he needs to right this ship. There are no more cup fixtures, no more distractions, league or bust, otherwise serious questions need to be start being asked of everyone at the club.<br /> CB (Not angry anymore, just fed up), Washington DC<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Didn’t fancy the FA Cup anyway<br /> Exiting the two cups this week could work out in our favour. With just the league to concentrate on, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs to visit Anfield, it is set up for a cracking final four months.<br /> <br /> If you look at the our last eight games vs Chelsea’s last eight, the title race is far from over. If we beat Chelsea on Tuesday, everyone will be talking up our chances again, and I’m certain they will come to Anfield looking to avoid defeat.<br /> <br /> If we are five points off top with eight games to go we will definitely be in with a shout.<br /> KP SA<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Arsenal midfielders showing Ramsey how to play<br /> What a joy watching The JEFF and The Ox doing the simple things well, with pace, control, an ability to tackle and pass.<br /> <br /> Wonder what Sanchez is thinking as he watches, knowing that he’ll be playing with Ramsey and his pointless 180 turns, playground failed flicks, passes that are ten yards off target and selfish shooting on Tuesday. Be prepared for some “WTF” looks and flailing arms from the great man.<br /> Anti-Ramsey Gooner<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> …Did I just witness The Ox putting Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal career out of its misery?<br /> <br /> If so, my sincerest thanks, Alex.<br /> Johnno<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Amazing work from Stewie G<br /> It must be a complete coincidence that Arsene Wenger is away from the team’s spotlight, control relinquished to Steve Bould…and the following happens:<br /> <br /> * Clean sheet<br /> * Tactical organisation<br /> * Players with clearly defined roles<br /> * Motivation from the kickoff<br /> * Team cohesion<br /> * Zero defensive stupidity<br /> * Ruthless, incisive football as opposed to boring, sideways rubbish<br /> * Proactive subs before the standard 70th minute<br /> * A team that improved after HT<br /> <br /> Like I said, must a total coincidence. Just like in 2006, the one season Keown was allowed to coach the defence for European games, they set a new CL record. I suspect the performance at Chelski will also be far better than you’d usually expect.<br /> Stewie Griffin<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Miaow to Klopp<br /> Maybe Klopp might consider mixing his tactics up as a lot of teams appear to have worked this Liverpool side out?<br /> <br /> I hear some forward-thinking teams on the continent are playing a direct style of football that consists of quickly moving the ball from defence or midfield to an awaiting forward player from distances of over half the pitch away. Just a thought.<br /> The Flan, North London<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The weirdness of selling Snodgrass<br /> I’m really struggling to come to terms with the decision by Hull to sell Robert Snodgrass. His attacking contributions are well documented and Hull’s playing style is improving under Marco Silva’s tutelage to the point that escaping relegation seems more likely today than it has for a month. Why then, have Hull sold their main attacking outlet, as opposed to using him?<br /> <br /> The only rationale is the price. I don’t think you’ll get 10 million for a paceless winger at any time other than right now. This also makes sense when coupled with Jake Livermore’s transfer: never before and never again will you see Jake Livermore demand a price of 10 million. These two would also be amongst Hull’s higher earners and so freeing up space on the wage bill and 20 million isn’t a bad return (for Hull) for two players who, at their peak, won’t be more than mid-table players.<br /> <br /> Whatever the reason, this is definitely the most balls-out, ‘go big or go home’ approach Marco Silva could’ve taken. As a neutral to the relegation fight, I hope it works. And if it doesn’t, I hope he is persevered with in the Champo because he looks like a man with a plan and he knows the way he wants that plan executed.<br /> <br /> Also, how the f*** is Sam Clucas a Premier League football player? Fair play to him for grabbing his chance but how the f***?<br /> Emad MUFC Boston<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Some simple rules changes<br /> There’s been some interesting debate on rules changes since Marco Van Basten (ex-striker) suggested getting rid of offside, amongst other things (who’d have thought !!).<br /> <br /> Despite some interesting technology becoming available, surely we hit the low hanging fruit first – implementing some (pretty minor) changes that have been massively successful in other sports.<br /> <br /> Firstly, timekeeping. There’s a world of difference between “approx. 1 min of injury time”….and “there are 26 seconds left and you’re 1-0 down”. Pretty much every other sport has this – basically a link from the ref’s watch to a stadium clock. It’s not rocket science, it adds to the excitement (I’ve never understood the appeal of Fergie time) and if you stop the clock for major injuries and substitutions, you also remove a couple of major sources of time-wasting and irritation to fans.<br /> <br /> Secondly, 10 min sin-bin (orange card). Firstly, two yellows would get 10 mins off the field, but also, surely any current red card bar deliberate violent conduct (trying deliberately to hurt someone) could just be an orange. Every week, some idiot accidentally goes over the top with a miss timed tackle, and gets sent off thus ruining the contest – just give him 10 mins to have a good think about his behaviour. Also with a lesser penalty, more sh#thousery can be punished with a more appropriate offence – dive…10 mins, clear time wasting…10 mins, screaming at the ref…10 mins.<br /> <br /> Lastly, and straight out of field hockey and rugby’s book, for a foul, the ball doesn’t have to be stopped or even kicked to anyone else…you can just dribble away with it (as long as you pass through the place where the offence happened) – no messing around. And if a defender deliberately tries to stop the quick free kick happening…10 mins for you, sir…The impact on both hockey and rugby have been massive, speeding up the games and making them much more exciting.<br /> <br /> All pretty easy stuff, and simple to implemen

Mails: Running out of words for how bad Liverpool are

Long live the FA Cup You’ll no doubt get a lot of these, but it’s 5pm on Saturday, I’ve been listening to the radio for the last four h...

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Mails: What is Man United’s Carrick plan?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaLOf-ju33Y/WIf6f1UT2BI/AAAAAAAAByQ/NSnp20neHCwie7n2zyDZs7v8AMaSgqY6QCLcB/s1600/GettyImages.630148090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaLOf-ju33Y/WIf6f1UT2BI/AAAAAAAAByQ/NSnp20neHCwie7n2zyDZs7v8AMaSgqY6QCLcB/s400/GettyImages.630148090.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> It was interesting reading the article praising Barkley. I’m delighted to see that at last he is living up to his years of promise, that up until now he’s failed to do.<br /> <br /> Then I looked again at his age. He’s 23.<br /> <br /> Are people mental? I don’t mean to denigrate serious mental illnesses, but come on. What is it about the media and fans in some quarters that they place ridiculous expectations on young players, that people demand maturity from young heads whilst also expecting them to retain their youthful exuberance?<br /> <br /> Maybe the standards of the league are higher now, so much so that precocious talents can’t prosper because clubs and fans don’t tolerate their mistakes. I don’t know, but it reminds me of a rather wonderful selection of players: Gazza, Owen, Rooney, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Sterling and Rashford. There are plenty of others. All of these broke though young, got everyone excited and then people forgot that they were kids; instead, they heaped pressure and expectation on them and then started to kick them when they didn’t match up to ill-conceived standards. What was your mental state when you were 17-23?<br /> <br /> Barkley has done well to survive to 23 without having been ruined. However, he has now reached probably the earliest age of maturity, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s finally delivering. Sure, having a decent manager will help no end. But let’s try and not forget that these players who break through are young, they’re basically kids. Their age isn’t just a number, it’s a reminder of what is reasonable to expect. Unless you’re Mark Zuckerberg, keep your stones in your pocket.<br /> <br /> Of all of those listed above, only one has (so far) successfully carried the weight of that burden to achieve something special, and has been kicked all the way. And we wonder why our best players underachieve…<br /> Guy S<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> On Palace’s bizarre transfer policy<br /> Last night it became clear that Crystal Palace have made a bid Patrick van Aanholt that appears to be an initial £9m but could rise to £12m. Leaving aside that this means it will cost the Eagles between six and eight times what Sunderland paid Chelsea for him, it does mean they could eventually end up spending £24m on two players competing for the same position.<br /> <br /> Anyway, Palace’s interest in van Aanholt follows previous rumours of interest in Robert Snodgrass, which hints at an interesting transfer strategy, whereby money is spent taking important players away from your relegation rivals and forcing them to take a gamble on unproven players, rather than taking that risk yourselves. I can’t think of any other sides who have attempted to beat the drop this way. It’s also a bit of ar$ehole behaviour, a bold strategy when the club is already struggling under a manager opposed by the weight of public opinion.<br /> <br /> In some ways, it’s like the old joke about the most effective piece of equipment to avoid a bear attack being a pair of running shoes, because you don’t have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun your friends, except that in this case, our new favourite Cheryl Cole impersonator is buying his friends’ shoelaces in the hope that they trip up in some way.<br /> Ed Quoththeraven<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Love for Nando Llorente<br /> Fernando Llorente should be a Swansea legend after that performance at Anfield. I dont say this because he scored two goals and had an excellent link-up play all game against rivals and one of the chasing pack, nooo I do not care about their results as long as we keep getting three points every week.<br /> <br /> It was his goal celebration that got me, he celebrated like he just scored the winning goal in a UCL final, running down to the away end with arms spread screaming. Who doesn’t want such passion from their player?<br /> Uche (Goal Celebrations are the best part of football IMHO} Abuja<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ipswich: Boring and reliable<br /> Interesting read about Ipswich from The Swiss Ramble, got me thinking about the club. It’s only when you realise what they are in competition with you realise that Marcus Evans and Mick McCarthy are doing a solid job with very little comparative funds. I often have to remind myself of this when looking at the parachute payment that the clubs that go up and come back down get. I also have to remind myself the current owner is not prepared to bankrupt the club again in order to gain promotion. Last year was more of a one off with the play-offs, but that was due to a Derby brainfart really, and once we got Norwich? Well, that’s inevitable. But I have to remind myself that the current set-up at Ipswich is, for want of a better word, reliable. Like a spatula. Or a saucepan. Or mild cheese. It isn’t going to do anything reckless.<br /> <br /> The thing about reliability is that it’s boring. It’s so sodding boring that it honestly gets to the stage where you would want to get relegated to see something different. It’s sickeningly boring after 15 years now. Whilst reading the piece it said that Ipswich were about 12th in the list of attendance, somewhere in the middle. About 14th in revenue, somewhere in the middle. Almost every stat they had, and they had many, almost always in the sodding middle. I’m sick to death of the bloody middle to be honest, and sick to death of reliable, but you just know that when matchday comes you’ll wake up to ‘I’ve Got You Babe’ and Ipswich will do whatever they need to do to keep themselves middling, it’s like the club motto is ‘equilibrium’. Don’t chant ‘Come On You Blues!’ give it a blast of ‘Steady Now’ and ‘Whooa There’.<br /> <br /> Even the last line of the article ‘It would indeed be a major surprise if Ipswich were to go up, especially given their current lowly position. Stranger things have happened, but not too often’. Screams don’t get excited, which is handy, because I’m not.<br /> <br /> As for the recent FA Cup debacle, which was gloriously televised, I actually got asked whilst watching ‘Do you really support Ipswich?’ And when I replied ‘Yeah, really’ I got a pat on the back with a sympathetic ‘Ahhh, mate’. And I was like ‘Yeah, I know’, which as a conversation was as interesting as the bloody match, which was awful, really really awful, and boring (Unless you were Lincoln, congratulations to them). So yeah, got distracted a bit there, but credit where credit is due to Mick and Marcus, what they are doing is admirable, especially in the current financial climate. Reliable. Boring, so so sodding boring, but reliable.<br /> Chris ITFC, (Middle) Liverpool<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Somebody owes me a quiz point…<br /> Whoever put the Premier League Top Scorers quiz together; firstly, thanks to them for giving me something to do on my lunch break, other than pretending to read finance magazines whilst actually reading Mediawatch and the Mailbox. Secondly however, they spelt Paolo Di Canio’s name incorrectly and cost me a mark. Yes, I am that petty.<br /> Sean, CFC, South East<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The red-tops never, ever change<br /> I do love a bit of Mediawatch, always a great read picking out holes in red top arguments, and combines humour into its pedantic-ness.<br /> <br /> And even more so since Sunday’s incident with Ryan Mason and how they’ve gone a step too far in its reporting. It’s good that there’s someone out there who will actually call out the red tops, but unfortunately it does very little and it’s been like this for as long as I can remember.<br /> <br /> There was a similar incident back in 1993, Gary Mabbutt was smashed in the face by John Fashanu’s flying elbow (and got away with it because he was Mr Crazy Gang…awooooga). Mabbs was carried off the pitch on a stretcher still unconscious. Before any operation, the doc told him that he wasn’t sure if his sight could be saved. The extent of his injuries were an eye socket and cheekbone smashed in several places. A few weeks after this incident, Gary Mabbutt was included in the new years honours list and was named and MBE by her Maj for services to sport.<br /> <br /> This was a great achievement for Gary and I know everyone around the club were thrilled for him because he had been through a hell of a lot in his career.<br /> <br /> And how did one red top announce the news…back and centre…this photo…<br /> <br /> <br /> Accompanied with the headline…<br /> <br /> My Black Eye.<br /> <br /> It’s a tragic state when the press can get away with it, what can be done? They’ve never stopped and sadly, never will.<br /> <br /> On a slightly related note, has Mediawatch ever received a honest and sensible reply from any journo?

Mails: What is Man United’s Carrick plan?

It was interesting reading the article praising Barkley. I’m delighted to see that at last he is living up to his years of promise, that ...

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Xhaka accused of ‘f***ing white b****’ racial abuse – reports

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItgMLkvBnNM/WIf57wUMphI/AAAAAAAAByI/_OdubChuzlM1bqP4dvTNRftkR6zrz7x1ACLcB/s1600/Granit-Xhaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItgMLkvBnNM/WIf57wUMphI/AAAAAAAAByI/_OdubChuzlM1bqP4dvTNRftkR6zrz7x1ACLcB/s400/Granit-Xhaka.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Granit Xhaka has reportedly been accused of racial abuse after an incident at Heathrow Airport.<br /> <br /> The Telegraph alleges that the Swiss midfielder – who was sent off for Arsenal on Sunday after the latest of several moments of ill-discipline – ‘racially abused a member of staff in German’ after his friend was refused entry onto a flight to Germany because he was late for boarding.<br /> <br /> The Independent have added more details, claiming that Xhaka was seeing off Leonard Lekaj,who plays for German sixth division team FC Mönchengladbach. They claim that he called a member of staff a “f***ing white bitch”.<br /> <br /> A Met spokesperson said: “Police were called at 19:29hrs on Monday, 23 January following an allegation that a member of staff had been racially abused at Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five.<br /> <br /> “The allegation was made by a third party.<br /> <br /> “Officers attended and spoke with a man in his 20s. He was not arrested. He voluntarily attended a west London police station where he was interviewed under caution. Enquires continue.”

Xhaka accused of ‘f***ing white b****’ racial abuse – reports

Granit Xhaka has reportedly been accused of racial abuse after an incident at Heathrow Airport. The Telegraph alleges that the Swiss m...

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Fergie: Jose ‘unlucky’ not to challenge Chelsea

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcPZ5hVgtss/WIf5sknqTSI/AAAAAAAAByE/2dHaOqvmX-YxMey3cYO1w-woM2b11b5LwCLcB/s1600/Mourinho.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcPZ5hVgtss/WIf5sknqTSI/AAAAAAAAByE/2dHaOqvmX-YxMey3cYO1w-woM2b11b5LwCLcB/s400/Mourinho.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Jose Mourinho should be inspired by the progress his Manchester United team have made – and they are “unlucky” not to be challenging Premier League leaders Chelsea, according to former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.<br /> <br /> The Red Devils extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Stoke, the equaliser coming courtesy of a Wayne Rooney free-kick which saw the England captain pass Sir Bobby Charlton’s mark to become the club’s all-time record scorer with 250.<br /> <br /> United sit in sixth in the standings – two points behind Manchester City and four adrift of Liverpool although 14 shy of Chelsea – and Ferguson is in no doubt Mourinho and his squad are moving in the right direction following the summer exit of Louis van Gaal.<br /> <br /> “I think he has done really well. It is like a player coming to Manchester United. It is not easy coming and transforming the club’s fortunes from my time, it is not easy,” Ferguson said in an interview with BBC Sport.<br /> <br /> “I thought Louis van Gaal did a good job and I think Jose is doing a great job.<br /> <br /> “He has got to grips with the club – you can see that. The team is playing really well and he has been very unlucky. He has had six draws I think, 1-1 – and every game he has battered that team.<br /> <br /> “I think without all of those draws, they would be challenging Chelsea.<br /> <br /> “That is the unfortunate part, but he has got to live with that but I think he will be inspired by the progress of the team.”<br /> <br /> Ferguson, who retired in May 2013 following 26 years at the helm, feels former Chelsea boss Mourinho has slowly grown into his role at Old Trafford.<br /> <br /> “I think Jose is finding solutions now,” the 75-year-old added. “There was a period earlier in the season when he wasn’t getting the decisions and his emotions boiled over. You see him now – he is calm and in control.<br /> <br /> “That is the obvious observation I am making of the team now. The team is mirroring its manager.<br /> <br /> “It is playing with great energy, determination and will to win, which I think is really important.”<br /> <br /> Ferguson made Rooney the most expensive teenager of all-time when signing the player aged 18 from Everton for around £30million in 2004.<br /> <br /> The Scot recalled how the mother of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright had come on the phone during negotiations urging him not to sign “her boy”.<br /> <br /> Ferguson was impressed by Rooney’s “courage” as a striker, but “never imagined what he would go on to achieve”.<br /> <br /> Charlton’s 249-goal club-record tally, achieved over 758 appearances, had stood for 44 years. Rooney, 31, has featured in 546 games.<br /> <br /> It is a landmark Ferguson believes may never be surpassed.<br /> <br /> “In the present-day game, it is difficult to see any club having players who can stay with them for 10 years, so I think that is the issue,” Ferguson said.<br /> <br /> “Jose has mentioned Marcus Rashford and there is an opportunity for that young lad, if he stays at United, and develops his potential the way that Wayne has, but it is a very big target to hit.<br /> <br /> “Bobby Charlton’s record was quite substantial. I couldn’t think anybody would beat that. It (Rooney’s record) is an achievement par excellence.”

Fergie: Jose ‘unlucky’ not to challenge Chelsea

Jose Mourinho should be inspired by the progress his Manchester United team have made – and they are “unlucky” not to be challenging Prem...

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Man City 2-2 Tottenham: Even Jesus can’t save City

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sH5QjyBDyH8/WIQoCYhwU8I/AAAAAAAABvs/RWOh0vpwxXEZiZmepm1Y-CBTabPfjJHpgCLcB/s1600/GettyImages.632304502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sH5QjyBDyH8/WIQoCYhwU8I/AAAAAAAABvs/RWOh0vpwxXEZiZmepm1Y-CBTabPfjJHpgCLcB/s400/GettyImages.632304502.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Tottenham staged a dramatic second-half comeback to snatch a controversial 2-2 draw at Premier League title rivals Manchester City.<br /> <br /> Spurs were run ragged for an hour by a resurgent City at the Etihad Stadium and conceded twice in quick succession to Leroy Sane and Kevin De Bruyne after blunders by Hugo Lloris.<br /> <br /> But second-placed Spurs hit back through Dele Alli and then grabbed an equaliser through substitute Son Heung-min after Raheem Sterling was denied what seemed an obvious penalty.<br /> <br /> The result ended Tottenham’s run of six consecutive wins and may prove costly in their attempts to make up ground on leaders Chelsea.<br /> <br /> The draw also meant City missed the chance to return to the top four, despite a performance much improved on last week’s capitulation at Everton.<br /> <br /> Pep Guardiola’s men started as if determined to make a statement after their Goodison Park nightmare and completely dominated a one-sided first half. Playing with the usual high energy associated with Guardiola, but also a noticeable desire to knock the ball forward earlier, City created numerous clear-cut chances.<br /> <br /> With Tottenham ragged in defence and forced to change from a back three to a back four midway through the half, it was remarkable the visitors’ goal remained intact at the break.<br /> <br /> City pounded the Spurs rearguard from the outset with Pablo Zabaleta denied early on by a timely challenge from Toby Alderweireld. Sergio Aguero fired a shot narrowly over and had another run on goal cut off by a cynical tug by Eric Dier.<br /> <br /> David Silva brought a good save from Lloris from distance and Zabaleta shot wide before Aguero robbed Dier and also tested the goalkeeper.<br /> <br /> Sane missed the target from a free header and Lloris plucked an Aguero header from the air before beating away another effort from the Argentinian. Raheem Sterling was also thwarted by Lloris and had a penalty appeal turned down after tangling with Victor Wanyama.<br /> <br /> Spurs offered little in the first half aside from a long-range attempt from Wanyama, which flew well over.<br /> <br /> If Guardiola wondered how his team were not leading at the interval, they soon put it right with a quickfire double – albeit with a helping hand from Lloris.<br /> <br /> De Bruyne picked out a Sane run with a long pass and the German kept his composure, calmly rolling the ball into the net after Lloris rushed out of goal in a failed attempt to head clear.<br /> <br /> Minutes later Lloris blundered again, this time fumbling a low cross from Sterling and presenting De Bruyne with a simple tap-in.<br /> <br /> Both goals were avoidable from Spurs’ point of view but the scoreline looked more realistic, and that finally jolted the visitors into action.<br /> <br /> Kyle Walker seized on a loose ball and whipped in a dangerous cross which the in-form Alli headed home to give Spurs a lifeline.<br /> <br /> It was one they took advantage of, but only in highly controversial circumstances. Sterling was furious when another penalty appeal fell on deaf ears after a challenge by Danny Rose, but he and manager Guardiola were outraged after another more blatant foul in the box went unpunished.<br /> <br /> Sterling was put clean through on goal but was pushed in the back by Walker as he shaped to shoot. He opted to carry on his run but was off balance and Lloris saved. Guardiola was livid the shove had gone unnoticed by referee Andre Marriner.<br /> <br /> Just moments later City were caught out at the other end, with Spurs substitute Son pouncing for a 77th-minute equaliser from Harry Kane’s clever pass.<br /> <br /> Guardiola sent on new signing Gabriel Jesus for his debut in a late attempt to salvage the win. Within moments the Brazilian headed wide and had a close-range effort disallowed for offside, but City ended frustrated.

Man City 2-2 Tottenham: Even Jesus can’t save City

Tottenham staged a dramatic second-half comeback to snatch a controversial 2-2 draw at Premier League title rivals Manchester City. Spu...

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Manchester City 2-2 Tottenham: 16 conclusions

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv2GLOamXa8/WIQnr_G04BI/AAAAAAAABvk/XWcun9ZxGpgJpcWecO0LnzsOzc4oD4SfgCLcB/s1600/Manchester-City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv2GLOamXa8/WIQnr_G04BI/AAAAAAAABvk/XWcun9ZxGpgJpcWecO0LnzsOzc4oD4SfgCLcB/s640/Manchester-City.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> It is football’s propensity to surprise even its most experienced followers that best explains its appeal. As supporters and journalists headed to the Etihad on Saturday, all the talk was of how Tottenham could pick off Manchester City and pile more misery on Pep Guardiola.<br /> <br /> We were wrong. Football made us look stupid, and there is nothing more glorious than something you think about every other minute of every day catching you off guard so spectacularly.<br /> <br /> Guardiola’s City were not weakened by the thought of Tottenham, but emboldened by them. They surged over their opponents like a tide, every player desperate to show that they believed in their manager and his methods. They relied on mishap to score their goals, but more than merited the lead after a succession of chances had been fashioned. Victory was won, disaster averted.<br /> <br /> But we were wrong, and football made us look stupid again. Just as Tottenham looked to have faltered, back Mauricio Pochettino’s team came. They may have relied on refereeing incompetence (more on that later), but at least summoned up belief when they would have been forgiven for possessing none. In a title and top-four race allowing little margin for error, disaster was averted for them too.<br /> <br /> A point does little to harm or assist either Manchester City or Tottenham, particularly not on a day when Manchester United and Liverpool also dropped points. Yet the watching neutral did not need to judge the match in its wider meaning, merely enjoy it for itself: A pulsating, enthralling 90 minutes after which both teams could feel frustrated and sated in almost equal measure.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * Against Everton last week, Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure were overrun in central midfield by Ross Barkley and Tom Davies. So was Guardiola’s solution to bolster the midfield? Would he call on Fabian Delph? Or would it be Fernando? Or would he change shape to give that area of the pitch more support?<br /> <br /> Erm, no. Rather than beefing up the midfield, giving his team more security in that area, Guardiola opted for less. Out went Zabaleta, from the midfield at least, and in came… Leroy Sane. City effectively set up with four attacking midfielders and Toure, presumably left holding a little white flag in his hand and hoping for the best.<br /> <br /> You kind of understood Guardiola’s reasoning, however. City’s attacking prowess is their best weapon, so why not try and swarm over Tottenham and get a lead in the game – attack is the best form of defence? You can’t deny that the tactic would have surprised Pochettino. And as it happened…<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * Another setback for John Stones though, dropped again after a dreadful performance against former club Everton. He has now not started more than two games in a row since November 5.<br /> <br /> Of most concern to a £47.5m signing are the players he’s being left out for. If Vincent Kompany had been fully fit you could just about stomach being on the bench, but the last four times Stones has been left out of Guardiola’s starting XI, it has been to accommodate Aleksandar Kolarov and Nicolas Otamendi in central defence. There could be no more bitter pill to swallow.<br /> <br /> At 22 and in his first season at the Etihad Stadium, Stones is far from a lost cause. Yet it’s impossible not to wonder whether Manchester City’s central defender curse has claimed another victim.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * For Tottenham, Ben Davies might be having similar feelings to Stones. With Pochettino in need of a left-sided central defender, the manager plumped for Kevin Wimmer. Given that the gap in Tottenham’s team coincided with Davies’ best position – and where he plays for Wales – you’d have to think that his time at White Hart Lane is up. Even when Toby Alderweireld went off injured, it was Victor Wanyama sent to centre-back and Harry Winks brought on.<br /> <br /> The difficulty for Davies is that he still may not be sold. Pochettino is not in the business of allowing squad players to leave while engineering a title challenge, and Davies remains useful. There’s just not a lot of fun to be found in being second reserve for two different positions.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * “They can’t keep playing like this. They’re just too open. They’re giving up chance after chance.”<br /> <br /> Those were the words of Glenn Hoddle shortly before half-time. Had you been asked which team he was talking about at any point this week, the answer would have been quickly forthcoming. We’d all have been wrong.<br /> <br /> During the first half, Manchester City trampled all over Tottenham. They had 28 touches in the opposition box compared to Spurs’ one, and had 11 shots to two. Most emphatic was the number of overlaps City created, several times having two on two, three on three or even three on two in the final third. Harry Kane had seven touches before the break; Dele Alli had eight.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * The only negative for City was the lack of opening goal. Zabaleta and Raheem Sterling were guilty of dwelling on the ball when presented with opportunities to shoot, while Sane sent a header wide from ten yards. When Sergio Aguero and David Silva did get their shots off, Hugo Lloris was able to get both high and low respectively to thwart them.<br /> <br /> This is not a new problem for City, who were guilty of failing to take full advantage against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United earlier this season, and were made to pay against two of the three. For all of the positives provided by the performance against Tottenham, the overwhelming mood is still one of unfulfilled potential in attacking areas. Or, as our football coach used to say to us, if you don’t finish your dinner don’t be surprised when you aren’t allowed to eat sweets.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> * One pleasing thing for Guardiola in the first half was just how high his team pressed, mimicking Tottenham’s own style under Pochettino. Aguero in particular played with a higher intensity off the ball than I’m used to seeing, sprinting to put pressure on Lloris on numerous occasions.<br /> <br /> Joining him were Sane and Sterling, who both have flaws in their attacking games in clutch moments, but who possess bags of pace and energy. The two wingers were vital in cutting off Lloris’ options and pinning back Tottenham’s dangerous full-backs as City established themselves as the dominant force in the match.

Manchester City 2-2 Tottenham: 16 conclusions

It is football’s propensity to surprise even its most experienced followers that best explains its appeal. As supporters and journalists...

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Matip free to play for Liverpool as FIFA dismiss row

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-7OfsN0IRU/WILVezafdZI/AAAAAAAABuU/hC0EHvmm70Q3v2dgJ162saThcP8LDOAxwCLcB/s1600/Joel-Matip-Jurgen-Klopp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-7OfsN0IRU/WILVezafdZI/AAAAAAAABuU/hC0EHvmm70Q3v2dgJ162saThcP8LDOAxwCLcB/s640/Joel-Matip-Jurgen-Klopp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Liverpool defender Joel Matip has been cleared to play by FIFA after it dismissed the club-versus-country case which had been rumbling on for several weeks.<br /> <br /> The Reds confirmed the world governing body has said there is no case against the centre-back, who has maintained he has retired from international football and did not want to play for Cameroon despite their attempts to call him up for the African Nations Cup.<br /> <br /> It means Matip, who was withdrawn from the last two matchday squads because of confusion over his availability, is immediately eligible to play.<br /> <br /> However, as the decision came so late, it is doubtful whether the player will be involved in the squad for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at home to Swansea.

Matip free to play for Liverpool as FIFA dismiss row

Liverpool defender Joel Matip has been cleared to play by FIFA after it dismissed the club-versus-country case which had been rumbling on...

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Mails: Sell Rooney and Young, not bloody Memphis

Already regretting the Memphis sale<br /> I feel a bit for Memphis and Schneiderlin. They are both good, potentially very good players who have just found themselves marginalised by Jose and his particular ways.<br /> <br /> Loved the below statement from Jose but cant help thinking we may have been better off keeping Memphis and getting rid of Young and EVEN Rooney!<br /> <br /> “It is a position where we never have problems, we have Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Martial, Lingard, Ashley Young even Rooney”<br /> Plato, MUFC (Memphis could of filled in for Valencia at RB)<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_iDYztctGs/WILUl4qfolI/AAAAAAAABuM/N5-84x_Sgs0SfRQ2l8OTKVNPTY1owiAqACLcB/s1600/Wayne-Rooney-Memphis-Depay-Football365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_iDYztctGs/WILUl4qfolI/AAAAAAAABuM/N5-84x_Sgs0SfRQ2l8OTKVNPTY1owiAqACLcB/s400/Wayne-Rooney-Memphis-Depay-Football365.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Aguero-Sanchez swap, yeah?<br /> City prepared to listen to offers for Aguero? Sanchez seemingly unsettled at Arsenal?<br /> <br /> Can we not do a swap?<br /> <br /> City get the sort of not really striker but bloody good player that Guardiola loves and Arsenal finally get the striker we’ve been after for ages to bang in all the chances Ozil creates?<br /> <br /> What’s not to like? or am I missing something here?<br /> Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bloody hell, Theo<br /> Theo Walcott signed for Arsenal 10 years ago today.<br /> <br /> Arsenal signings Pires, Vieira and Henry didn’t manage a decade in an Arsenal shirt – how the f*ck has Walcott managed it?<br /> <br /> Anyone got any other examples of players who have managed 10 years at a big club that sure as hell should not have hung around so long?<br /> Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Fancy bringing the cinema into your home this month? Add Sky Cinema for just £8.50 extra a month, if you have Sky Sports.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> More stats on Bravo<br /> I will admit to being a fan of Joe Hart. I also am unconvinced about Bravo. (Can I say those two sentences without being xenophobic?) Hart had a bad Euros but he has been terrific on balance for City. He’s had a lot of stick, but I believe the best barometer of how highly a player is rated come from the club’s own fanbase. Whilst Rooney, Mignolet, Ox-Chamberlain for example get mixed reviews from their own fans, I have not yet met a fellow City fan happy to see the back of Hart. Another example is Milner. Derided constantly by rival (including Liverpool fans) during his time at City but loved by our fans. A lot of Liverpool fans see him differently now.<br /> <br /> Anyway, the reason I wrote in was to highlight the OPTA stats on the BBC website regarding Bravo. To summarise, OPTA rates the quality of each chance the opposition has based upon a massive historical database of shots based on placement, angle and distance, giving an expected goals stat. Then the actual number of goals conceded is compared. The data supports what many have seen with their eyes. Bravo is simply not saving the shots he should be, ranking 20th out of 23 keepers in the PL. Joe Hart, whilst not matching the epic figures of Tom Heaton this season (Next England No.1 maybe?) is performing well.<br /> <br /> If I wanted to abuse the stats(after all isn’t that what the spirit of the mailbox is all about?), I could argue that we would be 8 goals better off had we stuck with Hart, giving us perhaps 6-9 more points on the board. A point behind Chelsea maybe? Still, there is Bravo’s passing game…but is it worth 6-9 points? I don’t know.<br /> <br /> I do hope Bravo turns it around and shows his true worth, but I’d rather see Hart come back, for the same reason I would love to see Kompany back leading the team out onto the pitch. We need these players that really seem to care about the club beyond the handsome wages doled out, especially at City. They are rarer than ever these days.<br /> Nic, Lancaster<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Palace defenders<br /> I enjoyed Peter G’s latest article.  It’s a great series, and from a personal point of view it’s always good when he uses Crystal Palace players/statistics.  I can only presume that, like me, he’s intrigued by players who should be quite good performing atrociously, in general.  Peter asked for my thoughts, and the short answer is, I don’t know but allow me to speculate for a bit.<br /> <br /> Earlier this season, there was a notable change in the tactical culture at Palace, as Alan Pardew wanted the team to play out from the back.  This was a message he reinforced in interviews, even if the team’s statistics sat at odds with Pardew’s preferred style, and left us feeling robbed because we didn’t get a Chunky version of Owen Coyle’s “Zonal Marking whatever” comment.  Who did Michael Cox play for?<br /> <br /> The point is, when things didn’t work with short passing, largely because our players weren’t able to make it work properly, the team defaulted to playing it long to the target man.   While this sounds like the actions of desperate fools, Palace’s best group of players are their attackers, so it makes sense to get them the ball as often as possible.<br /> <br /> I haven’t got a concrete theory as to why Delaney plays more passes per 90 minutes than Scott Dann, or more long balls (less accurately), but the alternative to reading my conjecture is working on a Friday afternoon.  The best I can suggest is that it has something to do with the players around them.  Dann plays on the right side of defence and Delaney on the left.  Dann has largely played with the better full-back (Joel Ward or James Tomkins), and has Yohan Cabaye immediately in front of him; they give him viable outlets for a short pass out wide and in front, a variety that makes his passing less predictable.  Since Pape Souare got injured, Delaney has usually had Martin Kelly or Zeki Fryers outside him (and Ward occasionally), and has had either James McArthur or Joe Ledley in front of him.  He’s got options, but whereas Cabaye looks to advance play, his midfield partner is often one to invite the opposition press, meaning Delaney’s long passing is an outlet looking to exploit the space left by the opposition.<br /> <br /> Perhaps we could also look at the recipients of the long passes.  Christian Benteke, like all lone strikers up against a flat back four, can often come up against two central defenders, who are also clued up as to the intended recipient because that’s how everyone with Benteke in their team tends to play.  The alternative to this is to look to play the ball wide, to Wilfried Zaha or Andros Townsend.  I like one of these players a lot more than the other.  In light of the situation with his midfielder and full-back, it would make sense for Delaney to pass directly to the winger; this would allow the full-back to push up and receive a pass from the attacker, in a more advanced position, typically just inside the opposition half – a sort of two steps forward, one back arrangement.  This is less necessary on Dann’s side, because of Cabaye’s superior passing ability compared to McArthur or Ledley.<br /> <br /> This is largely speculation, but the important thing is I had fun writing it.  That said, I’d be interested to see how it stands up to Peter’s scrutiny in the game this weekend.<br /> Ed Quoththeraven<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Marco van Genius<br /> Loving MvB’s suggestions for the game, although it won’t suit the games Luddite’s such as Steve, but then who really cares about opinions from La-La-Land.<br /> <br /> Scrapping offside – Offside condenses the game into the middle, but the game is now played by superb athletes leaving no space. Scrapping it would create a more expansive game altogether and reduce the midfield tedium evident in so many games today. To avoid long ball hoofing, you could keep offside where the ball is kicked from your own half. All worth an experiment.<br /> <br /> Scrapping extra time. Not sure, extra time is generally good as there is more space to play in.<br /> <br /> Run-ups instead of penalties – Great idea, adds more skill and tension to the whole affair.<br /> <br /> Limiting games – Difficult to see how that would be enforced.<br /> <br /> Time to recognise the game has changed and move it forward.<br /> Dave, RFC<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Forever(Liver)more<br /> Sorry to see Jake Livermore leave Hull City, who I’ve been urging on for survival this year. He was just coming into his own as an all-round midfielder, particularly effective as a deep-lying playmaker, playing better football than he had in years. He also seems completely over his personal troubles, and had rightly earned the respect and affection of the fans. With Tom Huddlestone back in form, and 10 million on offer, I guess it was hard to say no to West Brom.<br /> <br /> He should fit Tony Pulis’ system perfectly; I’m guessing he’ll eventually replace Darren Fletcher. In any case, I hope Hull City get a good player for the money and push on.<br /> Peter G, Pennsylvania, USA<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Love for Peter<br /> ​On the subject of Peter Drury, I absolutely love the guy.<br /> <br /> It could be Man United vs Liverpool, or Wigan vs Rotherham, Peter would set it up from the first word to the last with some languid alliteration or carefully prepared introductions, like this in the Chelsea vs Leicester game: ‘The reigning monarchs at the castle of those they dethroned’ as ‘the glories of yesterday fade into the ambitions of today.’<br /> <br /> Most people I speak with, hate Drury for exactly this reason, that he takes football commentary and turns it into a theatrical monologue, but that is why I like it. Its different. It shows some effort, and you get to hear a guy say ‘A smoked salmon sandwich of a football match if ever there has been one’ or ‘The crowd…a cacophony of colour’<br /> <br /> And the only reason Peter works for me, is that he is usually partnered with Jim Beglin. His ahem…different approach to commentary offsets Drury well. All in all a good combination.<br /> Nathan (Drury is football’s commentary poet), Cape Town.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Leeds, Leeds, Leeds<br /> I’ve always had a big soft spot for Leeds thanks largely to one man. As an Australian I watched the emergence of one Harry Kewell for the national team in a famous 2-2 draw with Iran that saw us fail to qualify for France ’98 on the away goals rule. Despite that, Kewell became my idol. Only more so when, having been introduced to the Premier League highlights show, I watched him do this against Sheffield Wednesdayhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhdRR1hj2e4 (cut to 2:30.)<br /> <br /> It was then that I fell in love with Premier League and in particular Kewell and his Leeds Utd. Basically every shirt I owned was a Packard Bell Leeds knockoff with 19 on the back and I’d run around the backyard banging in match winners against Utd on the garage wall. Things only got better when another Australian legend Mark Viduka signed and I laughed hysterically at his sharp “they should call us Leedseroos” wit. I loved that team and I don’t think I’ve loved the Premier League more than when they were playing. Then of course Kewell went to Liverpool, Leeds got relegated and I was left to pick up the shattered pieces of my heart.<br /> <br /> I still follow English football quite closely, though have no real affiliation with any team. But I’m always aware of how Leeds are doing and would think it was ace if they finally found their way back to the Premier League. Especially if they worked out how to clone Harry Kewell…<br /> <br /> Any other good stories of how you fell in love with football?<br /> Owen Davidson<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Phoenix<br /> Evening. Actually, probably morning. Always hard to tell with the time difference (it switches between 11, 12 and 13 hours during the year).<br /> <br /> Anyway, long time reader and occasional correspondent a few years ago checking in from my now home in New Zealand.<br /> <br /> I’ve noticed a few references to my ‘local’ side the Phoenix on the weekly watch but was disappointed not to see us this week. Sure, we’ve been terrible at times but a change of manager and dropping our fancy-dan Brazilian marquee signing has revitalised the team to back to back wins and a shout at a play-off spot.<br /> <br /> Phoenix are unique as a team – the only team to play in a different confederation to the country they reside in, as well as the club with the longest league trip ( the Distance Derby with Perth Glory is a 10 hour flight). We struggle with a ambivalent populace (All Blacks or you can fuck off, mate) and a 35,000 seater stadium for our regular 6k fans. But we have the best chants, best beer and best hot dogs (I was on national news for eating one at the last game I kid you not) that I’ve experienced.<br /> <br /> I love Spurs, my team for life, but pay attention to the Phoenix. We’re what football should be about. Expect to lose, revel in a win, have a laugh either way.<br /> <br /> Mucho respect for all your work 🙂<br /> <br /> Gareth Poulter (was Juan King on the forum a long time ago)<br /> P.S. If you ever want articles on the weirdness on NZ football then let me know. Two confederations leagues in onw country!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Monkey tennis<br /> I feel that Mr Stead was being unduly harsh on Guardiola in the Big Weekend feature. If Guardiola had said “into the net” then fair enough. However, it seems to me  that the phrase “inside the net” was more likely a reference to landing the ball in your opponent’s side of the Court within the width of the net. English is not his first language remember.<br /> <br /> Yours pedantically<br /> Chris, MUFC (Great to see R-Fed back in form today)<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Watch the NFL Play-offs and Premier League this month. Only £18 a month extra if you have Sky Cinema<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Stereotype-busting footballers<br /> Surely the most stereotype busting player in history must be Matthew LeTissier. He has none of the attributes normally associated with an English footballer.<br /> Paul (Carroll got whiplash??) B’mth Hammer<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ross McCormack gets his eyebrows done and he’s from Scotland.<br /> <br /> For me, that beats Kuyt.<br /> Dave, (He’s from, Glasgow as well) Ireland<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I’ve always thought Wes Morgan was the least English English player I’ve ever encountered.<br /> Will<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Back off of Dirk<br /> I will not have Kuyt besmirched on my watch. No siree.<br /> <br /> Contrary to what was said in the earlier mailbox Kuyt has typical Dutch technique. Controlled the ball well and had a crisp shot on him. Good vision and passing range too.<br /> <br /> He scored plenty of goals for the reds and important goals. The hat trick against the old enemy and knocking them out of the fa cup immediately spring to mind. I think he also scored to knock Chelsea out of the Champs League. Good times.<br /> <br /> I admire him for the lung busting effort and commitment to the team he put in to every match.<br /> <br /> He may not have been the best player on the pitch but he certainly worked his damnedest to make up any gap in talent with hard graft. That wins you lots of credit with the fans.<br /> <br /> A (significantly) less handsome Lalalalanananana if you will.<br /> <br /> Maybe the Dutch should be a bit more Kuyt. They might win something. Or at least qualify…<br /> H, (he was tarred with the ugly stick though)<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Restraining orders<br /> Chris ITFC – you’ll be pleased to know that if Storey ever does a book signing for Portrait of an Icon I’ll be whipping out the F365 outfit again. It’ll be tighter than before.<br /> Barney<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Nutters XI<br /> Whoa whoa whoa, all these apparent Premier League nutters and there’s still no mention of Stig Tofting? Look at his face. I bet his cornflakes try to crawl out of the bowl! I wouldn’t even enter the same room as him let alone face up against on the pitch!<br /> <br /> If you’re scared of publishing this in fear of retribution from Mr Tofting himself I completely understand.<br /> Al (with thanks to Bernard Black) Williams

Mails: Sell Rooney and Young, not bloody Memphis

Already regretting the Memphis sale I feel a bit for Memphis and Schneiderlin. They are both good, potentially very good players who have j...

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Lucas strikes early as lacklustre Liverpool win replay

A first half goal from Lucas Leiva handed Liverpool a 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round replay.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WH9XGApWc3M/WIAM5gppOCI/AAAAAAAABrM/7ks-eh2Vfac-AVxtAVDvz5VoBjNJbRgtgCLcB/s1600/GettyImages-631992650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WH9XGApWc3M/WIAM5gppOCI/AAAAAAAABrM/7ks-eh2Vfac-AVxtAVDvz5VoBjNJbRgtgCLcB/s400/GettyImages-631992650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Brazilian had not scored since finding the net in a Europa League tie against Steaua Bucharest in October 2010, but he provided the decisive touch of this third-round replay with an 18th-minute header.<br /> <br /> League Two Plymouth came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Jake Jervis volleyed against the post 15 minutes from time and, although Divock Origi saw his late penalty saved by Luke McCormick, Liverpool move on to a home tie with Wolves in the next round.<br /> <br /> The Premier League side chose to omit Joel Matip as the row over the defender’s eligibility rumbles on.<br /> <br /> Boss Jurgen Klopp felt he could not risk playing Matip with FIFA unable to say whether he is free to play after Cameroon tried to call him up for the African Nations Cup.<br /> <br /> But Origi, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho all started in a formidable looking frontline as Klopp named a stronger line-up than the one held by their Devon opponents on Merseyside 10 days earlier.<br /> <br /> Plymouth only had 23 per cent possession at Anfield and the tie quickly developed a similar pattern as Liverpool set up camp in the Pilgrims’ half.<br /> <br /> Sturridge’s shot lacked accuracy and Coutinho scuffed an inviting effort when well placed at the far post.<br /> <br /> Liverpool also saw penalty appeals waved away after Sturridge fell under Oscar Threlkeld’s clumsy challenge, but the visitors were ahead after 18 minutes.<br /> <br /> Plymouth would have been bitterly disappointed by the nature of Liverpool’s goal, while few – if any – could have predicted the identity of the scorer.<br /> <br /> Lucas had scored only six goals in nearly a decade at Liverpool – and none for over six years – but it was the Brazilian who stole in unmarked at the near post to head home Coutinho’s corner.<br /> <br /> Moments later Lucas, the Liverpool captain for the night, stopped Ryan Donaldson from claiming an instant equaliser after Loris Karius had pushed out Graham Carey’s well-struck drive.<br /> <br /> It was a sign Plymouth were determined not to slip quietly from the FA Cup and the hosts played their best football of the entire tie as the Liverpool defence had to scramble on more than one occasion.<br /> <br /> Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a timely tackle on Arnold Garita following good work by the lively Threlkeld, and Joe Gomez was booked for felling Jordan Slew as the pacey Argyle striker threatened to bear down on goal.<br /> <br /> Liverpool needed the security of another goal but it was the hosts who started the second half as they had finished the first.<br /> <br /> Carey was at the heart of an incisive one-touch move which ended with David Fox firing from distance and Karius gathering on his line.<br /> <br /> The majority in a sell-out crowd of 17,048 were clearly sensing a way back for Plymouth.<br /> <br /> But Liverpool slowly re-established control with Sturridge finding the side netting and Origi forcing a save from McCormick.<br /> <br /> Klopp was relaxed enough to withdraw Coutinho and send on Harry Wilson for a Liverpool debut over three years after he eclipsed Gareth Bale to become Wales’ youngest player.<br /> <br /> But Liverpool had an almighty scare when Jervis was left unattended from Sonny Bradley’s knock down to volley against the post with Karius beaten.<br /> <br /> Origi failed to double Liverpool’s lead after Yann Songo’o had fouled Alberto Moreno in the penalty area, sending his shot straight at McCormick.<br /> <br /> But Plymouth can take pride from a committed performance safe in the knowledge that their FA Cup exploits this season have earned the club an estimated £1million.

Lucas strikes early as lacklustre Liverpool win replay

A first half goal from Lucas Leiva handed Liverpool a 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round replay. The Brazilian had...

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Burnley 2-0 Sunderland: Clarets tame Cats

Burnley secured their progression into the last 32 of the FA Cup thanks to goals either side of the break against Sunderland.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X_kKVaWQy6Q/WH7K6oP9pOI/AAAAAAAABqw/oSzhH2gMoyMPWY8dqhcb4HrpQKT-9jEowCLcB/s1600/Sam-Vokes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X_kKVaWQy6Q/WH7K6oP9pOI/AAAAAAAABqw/oSzhH2gMoyMPWY8dqhcb4HrpQKT-9jEowCLcB/s400/Sam-Vokes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Sam Vokes broke the deadlock right on the stroke of half time as he headed past Vito Mannone from Tendayi Darinkwa’s cross.<br /> <br /> Andre Gray made sure of Burnley’s progression in the 83rd minute when he latched on to George Boyd’s knock down and slotted past Vito Mannone.<br /> <br /> The third meeting in 18 days between these two sides saw a combined 10 changes made from the weekend Premier League XIs.<br /> <br /> David Moyes had warned he would not risk the Black Cats’ Premier League status at the expense of a cup run yet he made just three changes, though top scorer Jermain Defoe was only on the bench, while his counterpart Sean Dyche made seven.<br /> <br /> With the Clarets 10 points clear of the bottom three, the prospect of further FA Cup ties would surely be more attractive for Dyche’s men, who last made the fifth round in 2011.<br /> <br /> And for all his alterations, this was a Clarets side brimming with confidence at a venue where Swansea, Arsenal and Manchester City are the only visitors to have won since December 2015.<br /> <br /> There was a more possession-based focus about Burnley’s play, epitomised by the classy Steven Defour and the recently re-recruited Joey Barton, and Vito Mannone was kept busy, saving from Jeff Hendrick and George Boyd early on.<br /> <br /> Barton, who scored the winner against Southampton on Saturday, nearly found the net again with a deflected effort from range that Mannone pushed away while the Sunderland stopper also had to push another Boyd attempt over the bar.<br /> <br /> However, despite popping around passes in midfield, it was through a Vokes header on the stroke of half-time that they led as the Welshman got in front of Jason Denayer to guide a Tendayi Darikwa cross beyond Mannone and into the far corner.<br /> <br /> Moyes’ side had not threatened Nick Pope’s goal, an issue they at least addressed shortly after the resumption with Sebastian Larsson curling a shot just over.<br /> <br /> But it was still the hosts who looked more lively as Vokes was denied by a last-gasp Papy Djilobodji challenge and Boyd’s volley into the ground was claimed by Mannone.<br /> <br /> Defoe’s introduction just after the hour suggested Moyes was not content with a meek exit, not that the 12-goal striker was able to ignite them.<br /> <br /> Hendrick could have put the tie to bed with just over 15 minutes remaining but waited too long to slip in Jon Flanagan, who had strayed offside by the time the Irishman released the ball.<br /> <br /> Burnley need not worry given Sunderland’s toothless attack and it was fittingly Gray who wrapped it up.<br /> <br /> Eighteen days after scoring his first Premier League hat-trick, he finished off Boyd’s pass to beat Mannone once more with seven minutes remaining.<br /> <br /> There was still time for Sunderland to finally trouble Pope, through Honeyman’s weak header, which brought ironic cheers, and Larsson’s free-kick, which had to be pushed around the post, but they were unable to provide a consolation, or stop the Black Cats fans directing their anger at Moyes and his team as they walked past.

Burnley 2-0 Sunderland: Clarets tame Cats

Burnley secured their progression into the last 32 of the FA Cup thanks to goals either side of the break against Sunderland. Sam Vokes...

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FA Cup Review: Lincoln stun Ipswich; Sutton set up big tie

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZUuUxiDb_g/WH7KNOMbxJI/AAAAAAAABqo/ZVgNk71mSPsVM9Krr3rWlhk0i5J6fx5jACLcB/s1600/Nathan-Arnold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZUuUxiDb_g/WH7KNOMbxJI/AAAAAAAABqo/ZVgNk71mSPsVM9Krr3rWlhk0i5J6fx5jACLcB/s400/Nathan-Arnold.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Lincoln stunned Ipswich with a stoppage-time goal from Nathan Arnold to secure a 1-0 win at Sincil Bank in their FA Cup third-round replay.<br /> <br /> There were emotional tributes before the match to former Imps manager Graham Taylor, who died last week.<br /> <br /> Lincoln, who had battled to a 2-2 draw at Portman Road, went close in the first half when a header from midfielder Alex Woodyard dropped just wide.<br /> <br /> Stand-in Town goalkeeper Dean Gerken then produced a fine save to deny Luke Waterfall at point-blank range.<br /> <br /> Just when it looked like the tie was set for extra-time, Lincoln broke from a corner.<br /> <br /> Substitute Adam Marriott’s pass sent Arnold sprinting clear of a high Ipswich back line and he rounded the goalkeeper before knocking the ball into an empty net – sparking wild celebrations around Sincil Bank, full to the brim with 9,069 spectators.<br /> <br /> Championship promotion hopefuls Brighton will be hoping to avoid becoming another scalp when they head to face Lincoln in the fourth round on January 28.<br /> <br /> National League side Sutton are also in the fourth round after they knocked out 10-man AFC Wimbledon with a 3-1 victory at The Cherry Red Record Stadium to set up a televised tie against Leeds.<br /> <br /> Tom Elliott headed the Sky Bet League One side into the lead on 10 minutes, but the Dons defender Paul Robinson was shown a straight red card for pulling back Sutton striker Matt Tubbs.<br /> <br /> Sutton were level with 15 minutes left when Roarie Deacon weaved into the area before drilling the ball into the top corner.<br /> <br /> Maxime Biamou’s last-minute tap-in from close range sparked wild celebrations from the away fans, with Dan Fitchett adding a third from a long goal kick in stoppage time as Sutton secured a televised home tie against the Championship side, winners of the 1972 FA Cup under Don Revie.<br /> <br /> Christian Benteke scored twice as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Bolton 2-1 at Selhurst Park, which secured a date against Manchester City.<br /> <br /> League One Bolton took the lead early in the second half when James Henry lashed the ball into the top corner.<br /> <br /> Palace got themselves back into the tie after 68 minutes when Benteke headed home, before the Belgian frontman completed the turnaround with 13 minutes left.<br /> <br /> Burnley heaped more misery on Premier League strugglers Sunderland with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor.<br /> <br /> The Clarets took the lead just before half-time through a header from Wales forward Sam Vokes.<br /> <br /> Substitute Andre Gray put the tie beyond Sunderland when he netted a second with seven minutes to go.<br /> <br /> Bristol City secured a fourth-round trip to Turf Moor when they knocked out Fleetwood after a 1-0 win at Highbury Stadium.<br /> <br /> Jamie Paterson’s goal on 17 minutes proved enough to give the Championship side a first victory in nine games and also ended The Cod Army’s long unbeaten run at 13 matches.

FA Cup Review: Lincoln stun Ipswich; Sutton set up big tie

Lincoln stunned Ipswich with a stoppage-time goal from Nathan Arnold to secure a 1-0 win at Sincil Bank in their FA Cup third-round repla...

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Olivier Giroud jokes that his scorpion kick goal was better than Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort

Olivier Giroud has joked that his stunning scorpion kick finish against Crystal Palace was better than the one scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.<br /> <br /> The Arsenal striker netted in emphatic fashion on New Year's Day, less than a week after Mkhitaryan's similar effort for Manchester United against Sunderland on Boxing Day.<br /> <br /> Speaking on a Soccer AM Facebook Live Q&A on Monday, Giroud also revealed how his team-mates reacted to his wonder goal at half-time during the game against Palace.<br /> "Actually, they were teasing me, saying that the Mkhitaryan one was better!" he said. "It's crazy that two similar goals were scored in one week. I don't know if I got inspired, it's destiny.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32wy0fLwzJU/WH1uUjm3N8I/AAAAAAAABoY/1373Q58NogYGdgc64tulSeZZsSG3hk7YgCLcB/s1600/skysports-henrikh-mkhitaryan-manchester-united-premier-league-back-heel-flick_3859610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32wy0fLwzJU/WH1uUjm3N8I/AAAAAAAABoY/1373Q58NogYGdgc64tulSeZZsSG3hk7YgCLcB/s400/skysports-henrikh-mkhitaryan-manchester-united-premier-league-back-heel-flick_3859610.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c23XTwnO3Vc/WH1uUi2-w2I/AAAAAAAABoc/fThsfni3mcwNaDS0uTRaFmNYOMWQc_a7QCLcB/s1600/skysports-olivier-giroud-arsenal-crystal-palace-premier-league_3862442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c23XTwnO3Vc/WH1uUi2-w2I/AAAAAAAABoc/fThsfni3mcwNaDS0uTRaFmNYOMWQc_a7QCLcB/s400/skysports-olivier-giroud-arsenal-crystal-palace-premier-league_3862442.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> "He did very well as well, but I think mine is better! But to be serious it was funny in the dressing room, we were all surprised by what happened."<br /> It took awhile for Giroud to break back into the first team this season for Arsenal, but he has been in impressive form lately, scoring once in each of their last five games to take his tally for the season to 10.<br /> <br /> And despite playing more than 200 games for the club since joining in 2012, Giroud says he always feels the need to keep proving and improving himself as a player.<br /> <br /> "When I first arrived at the club I'd won the league with Montpellier but I came in a discreet way, and I had to prove myself," he said.<br /> <br /> "I always try to improve myself, I've won trophies with this club and we want to carry on this adventure, hopefully winning more trophies and the Premier League."<br /> <br /> When asked which trophy he'd love to win most with Arsenal, Giroud said that he'd value a Premier League title above anything else.<br /> <br /> "Definitely the Premier League," he said. "Before, to be honest, it was the Champions League, but when I understood what the Premier League means for the English fans, I'd definitely say I need to win the Premier League."

Olivier Giroud jokes that his scorpion kick goal was better than Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort

Olivier Giroud has joked that his stunning scorpion kick finish against Crystal Palace was better than the one scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan....

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Guardiola rocked as Everton crush Manchester City

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2faYHPx6F8w/WHwf6Fm1m5I/AAAAAAAABnk/5G-PVAMZ_ccQgGQvMsGx9Zt4fWNAc_mmgCLcB/s1600/Everton-Players-celebrate-goal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2faYHPx6F8w/WHwf6Fm1m5I/AAAAAAAABnk/5G-PVAMZ_ccQgGQvMsGx9Zt4fWNAc_mmgCLcB/s400/Everton-Players-celebrate-goal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> LIVERPOOL: Pep Guardiola suffered the largest league defeat of his managerial career as Manchester City slumped to a 4-0 loss against Everton on Sunday.<br /> Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas put Everton in control at Goodison Park before teenager Tom Davies scored his first goal for the club and debutant Ademola Lookman completed the rout after coming on as an 89th minute substitute.<br /> It was another chastening experience for City boss Guardiola, who wasn't used to such humiliation in his trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.<br /> The defeat was City's fourth in their last eight league games and left them 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.<br /> Lukaku's 12th goal of the season continued his rich vein of form and the Belgian striker was too hot for City's error-prone defence to handle through a torrid afternoon for Guardiola and company.<br /> As has been the case so often this season, Lukaku's opener in the 34th minute showed up frailties in City's defence and goalkeeping as Davies intercepted a Gael Clichy pass just inside the visitors' half and found Mirallas sprinting into the City area.<br /> With Yaya Toure slow to respond to the runner, and Nicolas Otamendi playing Everton on side from a deep position, Mirallas was able to pick out Lukaku, who finished with a clinical left-foot strike.<br /> The opening goal had drawn an instant response from Guardiola's team as Sergio Aguero came within a whisker of connecting with Kevin De Bruyne's low cross just six yards from goal.<br /> And Raheem Sterling, from a cleared City corner, just missed the home goal with a powerful half-volley from outside the area.<br /> Although the game had been finally balanced, City had enjoyed the better chances, even before the opening goal.<br /> After 11 minutes, Sterling failed with a strong penalty appeal after he went down under slight contact from goalkeeper Joel Robles as he appeared poised to score from another perfect cross from the excellent De Bruyne.<br /> And the Everton keeper was again forced into action, with a strong block to thwart David Silva as the Spaniard looked set to convert yet another decisive pass from De Bruyne.<br /> In first half stoppage-time, City almost snatched what would have been a deserved equaliser after Clichy's left-wing cross found Bacary Sagna whose athletic leap allows him to power a goal bound header which was nodded off the line by Davies.<br /> Better was to come for Everton a minute into the second half when Lukaku sparked the move that led to the second goal, his through ball being touched by City defender John Stones into the path of Ross Barkley.<br /> The England midfielder produced a superb pass for Mirallas whose equally excellent shot from 15 yards flew beyond the dive of Bravo.<br /> As City struggled to gain a foothold, Silva's free-kick found ex-Everton defender Stones, booed by his former supporters with every touch, who headed directly at Robles.<br /> But for all their possession, City struggled to place Robles under pressure.<br /> <br /> On a rare occasion that the home defence allowed Aguero too much space on the edge of their area, the Argentinian's low shot was turned behind expertly by Robles.<br /> Any lingering hope of a comeback evaporated in the 78th minute when Davies capped a brilliant midfield display with a deserved goal, his first for the club - the move having been started when he collected the ball in his own half.<br /> <br /> Davies carried the ball half the length of the field, exchanged passes with Barkley and then lifted the ball over Bravo, with Lukaku ensuring the ball crept over the line.<br /> Lookman, signed from Charlton this month, added a fourth goal in stoppage-time after Seamus Coleman had charged down a poor attempted clearance by Stones.

Guardiola rocked as Everton crush Manchester City

LIVERPOOL: Pep Guardiola suffered the largest league defeat of his managerial career as Manchester City slumped to a 4-0 loss against Ev...

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Jose Mourinho rallies Manchester United’s fans ahead of Liverpool clash

<h3> Jose Mourinho has called on their fans to give his in-form team something extra when Liverpool visit Old Trafford in the Premier League.</h3> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCEyYaPIWJI/WHmDaHM-mSI/AAAAAAAABiw/zysgNgsNpvE7WfT6tdeZH6ixBqPNrGDYgCLcB/s1600/jose-mourinho_reuters-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCEyYaPIWJI/WHmDaHM-mSI/AAAAAAAABiw/zysgNgsNpvE7WfT6tdeZH6ixBqPNrGDYgCLcB/s400/jose-mourinho_reuters-m.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jose Mourinho was quick to deny any lingering discord between himself and the supporters. (Source: Reuters)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has called on their fans to give his in-form team something extra when bitter rivals Liverpool visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mourinho ticked off United’s supporters for being too quiet during their League Cup semi-final first leg win over Hull City in midweek, but was quick to deny any lingering discord between himself and the supporters.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He did, however, cite the passion of the Liverpool fans in the reverse fixture at Anfield in October as providing a benchmark that the Old Trafford supporters must match.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“It’s for them that the match means something more,” the Portuguese told a news conference on Friday.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“They have to make us feel that feeling we felt at Anfield — we felt clearly for the Liverpool fans it was more than a match.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“We play at home, so it’s a huge percentage of our fans compared with Liverpool fans, so they can give us that little bit extra to make the game a bit more special for us.”</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">United secured a 0-0 draw at Anfield with a disciplined defensive display, but Mourinho said his team, who are currently on a nine-game winning streak, were now reaping the benefits of spending more time together.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“At that time, I had less time to work together with my players, now I have a little bit more and we know each other better,” he said.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Earlier on Friday, Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp told reporters that he and Mourinho shared an “angry” streak.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the question was put to Mourinho, however, the Manchester United boss said he was the calmer of the two managers.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I just think we like to win,” Mourinho added. “Probably we have some similarities and other characteristics that make us different. He wants to play the game as much as I want, I am not sure if he is so calm as I am.”</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sixth-placed United can cut the gap on second-placed Liverpool to two points with victory, and Mourinho said his team were focused on the task ahead.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“No one is nervous. Everybody wants the game. I am sure Juergen is the same,” he said.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“It’s three points, plus the emotional side of it… It’s a good rivalry. I always feel it is very good for the football clubs.”</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Marcos Rojo are likely to be fit for the match, with Mourinho also confirming the club had rejected a bid for midfielder Memphis Depay.</span></div> </div>

Jose Mourinho rallies Manchester United’s fans ahead of Liverpool clash

Jose Mourinho has called on their fans to give his in-form team something extra when Liverpool visit Old Trafford in the Premier League. ...

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Burnley will spend wisely despite profits, insists Sean Dyche

<h3> Burnley's net profit figure of 40 million euros was the fifth highest in Europe, more than Bayern Munich, Porto and Ajax Amsterdam.</h3> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQaccOtZRWk/WHmB64RDFvI/AAAAAAAABic/jyJhV6d9g1gWSF5Gi1zVRbdc8La0gGIfgCLcB/s1600/sean-dyche759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQaccOtZRWk/WHmB64RDFvI/AAAAAAAABic/jyJhV6d9g1gWSF5Gi1zVRbdc8La0gGIfgCLcB/s400/sean-dyche759.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Supporters hoping to see profits invested in marquee signings, however, are likely to be disappointed as Dyche said they would continue to be prudent in the transfer market. (Source: AP)<br /> <br /> <div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Burnley manager Sean Dyche said they would not be changing their business plan when it comes to new signings after UEFA reported they were among the 10 most profitable clubs in Europe for 2015.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Clarets, who have spent only three seasons in the top flight since 1976, had an operating profit of 54 million euros ($57.52 million), the 10th highest on the continent, according to a report published by European soccer’s governing body on Thursday.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Burnley’s net profit figure of 40 million euros was the fifth highest in Europe, more than Bayern Munich, Porto and Ajax Amsterdam.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Supporters hoping to see profits invested in marquee signings, however, are likely to be disappointed as Dyche said they would continue to be prudent in the transfer market.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“If you look at the expense needed to keep a successful team going and look at the way this club is run, it can deal with year two, three and four (out of the Premier League),” Dyche told the British media on Friday.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“There’s a number in the Premier League, only in there for a couple of seasons, who have massive debts. We haven’t got that.”</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dyche, who joined the Lancashire club in 2012, has led Burnley to two Premier League promotions and one relegation over in the last four seasons.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Burnley will host 10th-placed Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday before shifting focus to their FA Cup third-round replay against Sunderland on Tuesday.</span></div> </div>

Burnley will spend wisely despite profits, insists Sean Dyche

Burnley's net profit figure of 40 million euros was the fifth highest in Europe, more than Bayern Munich, Porto and Ajax Amsterdam. ...

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MANCHESTER UNITED ICON LINKED WITH JANUARY RETURN TO JOSE MOURINHO TEAM

<h2 class="h2 h3-article--title main-summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Patrice Evra served United with distinction under Sir Alex Ferguson.</span></h2> <div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCz-ZzTURUk/WG7dS3IQ6TI/AAAAAAAABYY/FiON_k-6YUkK1BHWVdtdvazZOFiSKp4ygCLcB/s1600/qr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCz-ZzTURUk/WG7dS3IQ6TI/AAAAAAAABYY/FiON_k-6YUkK1BHWVdtdvazZOFiSKp4ygCLcB/s400/qr.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19.2px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 692.609px;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jose Mourinho has recently made efforts to imbue Manchester United with the spirit of the club under Sir Alex Ferguson, by bringing the legendary manager back to the training ground.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19.2px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 692.609px;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now it appears those efforts to reconnect with United’s more glorious past could extend to the club’s playing staff. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Times</em> reports Patrice Evra wants to leave Juventus and return to Old Trafford in the January transfer window.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19.2px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 692.609px;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evra, 35, made more than 250 appearances for United during eight years at the club, leaving in the summer of 2014 for Serie A.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19.2px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 692.609px;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mourinho’s United has the third best defense in the English Premier League through 20 games, but left-back has been a problematic area for Mourinho. Aside from Luke Shaw, who has struggled with injury, Mourinho does not possess a senior specialist left-back and a range of different players have played the position this season.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 19.2px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 692.609px;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evra has lost his place in the Juventus first team and would apparently be receptive to a move back to Manchester. While he would not be a long-term solution, there are few moves Mourinho could make in January that would prove more popular.</span></div>

MANCHESTER UNITED ICON LINKED WITH JANUARY RETURN TO JOSE MOURINHO TEAM

Patrice Evra served United with distinction under Sir Alex Ferguson. Jose Mourinho has recently made efforts to imbue Manchester Un...

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