Tom Jordan, son of Joe, helped Havant & Waterlooville to a glamour FA Cup match-up with Liverpool. I wonder if he has his father’s teeth - possibly in a jar.
John Inverdale on the controversy over how to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster. Perhaps some Manchester City supporters don’t realize that the crash also took the life of a once great City player as well. After a spectacular career for both Manchester City and England Frank Swift retired at the end of the 1950 season. He became a journalist working for the News of the World and covered the fateful game in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Seven times a non-league club has knocked off a top flight opponent.
The wit of Gordon Strachan........ and he could play at bit - this from early in his career. The game was at Arbroath's ground called ####field. It is perched on what is really the North Sea and the ball is always only a Titus Bramble sliced clearance and a gust of wind away from heading to Norway. One of the coldest places you could ever watch a game - but because it is so close to the water games are rarely postponed.
With Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all facing Premiership opposition this weekend what chance that we will lose one of the current top three in the league?
Both Arsenal and Newcastle have enjoyed FA Cup success in the past especially when they have played each other along the way. With the exception of their very first FA Cup meeting in the 1901/02 season Newcastle and Arsenal have either met in the final or the winner of an earlier round match-up has gone onto the final.
Here is the rundown. 1901/02 Newcastle put Arsenal out in first round but were knocked out in the last 8 to the eventual winners Sheffield United.
1905/06 Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 in the semi final but lost 1-0 to Everton in the final.
1931/32 Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-1 in the final.
1935/36 Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-0 on the way to the final and won the Cup beating beat Sheffield United 1-0.
1951/52 Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final (one of three Newcastle wins in the early 50s).
1997/98 Arsenal beat Newcastle in the final and completed their second domestic double.
2001/02 Arsenal knocked Newcastle out after a replay and went on to win the Cup and Premiership for their third domestic double.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are another two Cup giants. United have been to the final eighteen times and have won the trophy eleven times while Spurs can look to eight wins out of nine trips with a 1987 loss to Coventry City the only blemish.
You would think that with twenty-seven final appearance between them that at some point they would have contested a final. But that has never happened and it certainly won’t this season. The nearest they ever came was in 1962 when Spurs beat United in the semi-final. Other than that their meetings have been limited to the early rounds.
Robbie Keane last week notched his 100th goal in all competitions for Spurs but there is one team he has yet to score against in English football. Will this be the weekend that he breaks his duck against Manchester United?
There is a gulf between Wigan and Chelsea in the Premiership and there is a similar gulf in the FA Cup. While Chelsea have not been eliminated before the 5th round since 1998 this is only the second time in the last two decades that Wigan have made it this far.
Did you ever see any of the Busby Babes play (the ones who didn't survive Munich I mean)? How many titles and European Cups might they have won . . . (an unanswerable question I know).
Personally, I think this whole worry about inconsiderate City fans at the moment of silence is calculated just to make sure everyone is respectful on the day. The City Supporters made the request, warning about idiots, not because they really ever thought Man U would change their minds about silence, but it was just a way to get this out in the media in time to educate the idiots to behave themselves. I know I will have a moment of reflection myself.
I was fortunate enough to visit the museum at Old Trafford this December, and the exhibit about the air disaster is quite moving. The heroism shown by some of the survivors was inspirational, and the sheer randomness of fate (the plane slicing in half right at one player's feet: he survives, his neighbour perishes) can't help but make you see how much we all live on a knife edge.
Bobby: What should Tottenham Hotspur's manager, Juande Ramos, be looking for from Alex Ferguson after Spurs big win on Sunday?
A left hook or a right cross?
Can't see Ferguson tempting fate and going in Ar5ena1 style to nut him.
And given the hot-tempered comments from Bendtner's agent - his old man, volcanic, Teutonic and demanding satisfaction - plus Bendtner's previous squabbles, can you see him sticking around?
GSfromWinnipeg - I was around in 1958 but still a little too young to remember anything. It just seemed to be something that you learned about very early as you took an interest in the game. I would say the first thing that stuck with me about Manchester United was when they signed Denis Law and went on to win the FA Cup in 1963. Right after that George Best came along and it seemed as if each year the talk was whether or not United could win the league and get another crack at the European Cup.
One of the boys I grew up with in the neighbourhood was a bit older and had spent sometime in England. He was a massive United fan and so they were always part of the conversation. In terms of the other English teams there were others that stood out because of other connections. Bill Shankly's brother Bob was manager of Dundeee and Bill had bought Ron Yeats from Dundee United in the early 60s. Ian Ure went from Dundee to Arsenal and Alan Gilzean was sold to Spurs and joined another ex-Dundee player Bill Brown. Jimmy Gabriel (ex-Dundee) was at Everton and in the mid-60s Charlie Cooke went to Chelsea. I think that is how we formed our interests in English football and teams.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on January 25th at 4:26 AM.
As much as I would love to see the greatest cupset in history ,Waterlooville Havant got a chance.
The only question about this game is can Liverpool come close to matching their score against Stromsgodset in '74.
Best chance of a cupset ,Plymouth at Portsmouth.
Public Service Announcement.
Mansfield vs Middlesbrough on FSC at 9am ct is NOT live ,kick-off is 6:30am ,if you don't want to know the score beforehand you know what to do.
It looks like Wembley will get it's first big test on May 30th ,was it built strong enough to withstand the Tartan Army? ,or will parts of it disappear back over the wall into Scotland like in '77?
SERIE A
A milan loss midweek (2-1 @ Bergamo) puts increased pressure on Ancelotti and perhaps Pato. The visit of Genoa to the Stadio Meazza is a stern test for the Rossoneri.
That is certainly NOT the game of the week in Italy.
That one is up for grabs but Internaz ionale have their best chance of a first loss (in OMG - an unfeasibly long time!) in Udine.
More shorts and game previews for the Serie A on my blog later today - work first play second!
FA CUP
Is your tie of the round a PL clash or a david and goliath or two middling clubs battling it out.
What ties, if any will you watch?
I'd like to see Pompey and Plymouth battle it out.
Spurs are after Woodgate apparently for 7m.... I know hes been on good form and at the price its not very high but come on? King and Woodgate in the same squad. I guess between the two of them they make one consistent defender if they can plan their injuries. Not sure how that will work considering injuries are not planned like vacation days.
One of my earliest memories of crowd sounds are the long, loud chants of Char-r-r-r-r-lie Co-o-o-o-ke! Char-r-r-r-r-lie Co-o-o-o-ke!
RINGO: Wembley NEEDS regular visits from Scotland to give it some personality, create talking points like the old stadium had.
JayAlves: Regarding a so-called Ar5ena1 bar in Toronto, Scallywags is an official pub for Spurs and Liverpool fans. Memorabilia from both clubs decorates the walls and each club's fans dominate the main viewing areas and bar stools when their games are on. I've never counted, but there must be a couple of dozen televesions in there, some showing other games on at the same time.
Naturally, it's a fantastic place to watch games and attracts fans from other clubs. On a snowy Tuesday afternoon this week, about 60 Spurs fans were more than happy to tolerate the hal####ozen Ar5ena1ists, half of whom copied their brethren who cleared out of the away section at White Hart Lane after Aaron Lennon made it 4-0.
The bar operates on three levels and when I was in to watch Chelsea-Spurs on the third floor - Liverpool had the ground floor - Ar5ena1-B'ham were on in an area that is normally an outdoor patio, but closed in for winter. It's still chilly and maybe eight fans were in there, at least two of whom cheered when B'ham scored.
As I mentioned before, many clubs in this city have their own official pubs and do quite well on game days. Just not Ar5ena1.
Whilst I thought he wasn't a bad player with Forest and Scotland ,I didn't think he was that good to have Scotsmen celebrating his birthday the world over.
Atleti: 3-0 will do as I hope H&W have a really great day at Anfield.
As for Titus? well he just needs to learn to punt the ball into the 12th row instead of the back pass which so gets him in a panic. Eye on the ball is his trouble. He is too worried about getting clattered and is watching for the player instead of what he is doing with the ball at his feet.
If you see Bruce wearing new shoes you will know where he buried one of the old pair.
Bobby, the Brit Cafe (Raging Brit) are doing a Burns night in their new place by Dylan O'connors on Portage.
Craigy, I think Spurs could just be the handful Utd need and it could be a very good contest. I shall though be listening to LFC.
GS, I never realised Old Trafford was a museum. Thanks for heads up on that one. SAF must be the old curator.
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 25th at 10:57 AM.
Bobby, I noticed the censors bleeped out G.A.Y.field in Arbroath. Or, was that just a comment on how bleeping miserable it is to stand there watching a game. My young nephew is there almost every home game though, and I would give anything to be beside him.
Also, what do you think the chances are of Dundee and Dundee United ever merging so that they can pool their resources and compete a little more with the big boys. I think half orange/half blue shirts could be pretty cool. The team will of course be called Dundee United (since they are united after all) and they could play in Tannadice, knocking down that other stadium to get some much needed parking spaces.
GS, backing up a thread or two, did you find the Brit Cafe (2615 Portage), the "Haggis and Tatties" and are you going to Burns night?
Athleti, Rafa is worried about slip ups and says Havant are not be taken lightly having beaten Swansea. I suspect he will tactically deploy as he did for the Luton game. I just want the Havant team to have a nice day and 10-0 will hardly be a nice day for them. At least Rafa says that the reds will have a drink with Havant boys afterwards, which is sporting.
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 25th at 12:54 PM.
verbal - Two and three seasons ago Man Utd where held to scoreless draws by Burton Albion and Exeter City.
Both where Conference teams ,one division higher than Havant ,and where pushing for a play-off place into the League at the time. Havant are a mid table team.
Exeter where not your normal non-league team ,until two years earlier they had been a league team for over eighty years.
The Burton game was away ,and in both games Utd fielded reserve/youth teams ,unlike the Arsenal league cup team.
If Liverpool do play a full strength team and play for ninety minutes they might come close to their record score.
And there's no such thing as running up the score in football.
Liverpools best results in domestic competition are as follows:
29th Sept 1986 LFC 10-0 Fulham (League Cup)
18th Feb 1896 LFC 10-1 Rotheram (League)
29th Oct 1892 LFC 9-0 Newtown (FA Cup)
12th Sept 1989 LFC 9-0 C. Palace (League)
Otherwise, the next score of note to the Havant game, not counting Euro cup games, is the match against Swansea in 1990, which we won 8-0 in the FA Cup.
The Stromsgodset match was 17th September 1974 and we won 11-0 in a European Cup Winners Cup game.
Be nice for a few of the strikers who need goals to get some this game. Veronin is out for 6 weeks so it leaves room for Babel to play alongside Torres and two wingers. If Rafa plays this sort of team, we should equal the Beziktas score at least.
When I was born, the doc told my parents I would be the next Maradona!
di Santo, from what I've heard, is still VERY inexperienced. He'll need some time before he's ready for top team action-- not in the same league as, say, Leo Messi when he was 18. Best bet would be send him on loan to gain experience next season or the following.
Send him when he's showing signs of brilliance! Otherwise, he'd be better off at Deportivo, Osasuna, or somesuch club where they'll give him more playing time!
I know where the Brit Cafe is now. What time do the festivities start? Do you have to reserve a place? I'm checking to see if my kilt still fits tonight.
GS: you need to call and book a seat according to the sign out front. They had 16 spare yesterday. Tel 663 3907 kick off is 7.30. Have a good one mate!
Ringo: enjoy the period of grace mate! At the time of that particular match your lot were in the first division, but it was the year that we won Div 2 and Shankly took us up.
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 25th at 6:30 PM.
OMG...AND FINALLY!
WHew! Work was...
...Long today.
Finally got the Serie A preview on the blog. Only one thousand words for those hard of hearing.
TIAGO
Turned down a move to Spurs because whatever he is he isn't stupid.
BLUESTUFF
What about that first 3-0 defeat?
A couple of 5-0 each and a 5-1 to you.
An 11 goal thriller in 33, a 6-0 hammering in 36
The anfield 64 result was nice!
And who can forget the referee inspired 2-1 at Goodison this season.
Oddly enough we've played Villa more times than we've played you.
REDFAN
I kind of think the Mancs will play Spurs very hard and crush them, Ferguson is dreaming of a treble or double this season.
BURNS NIGHT
Great PISH up in the British Military. The only time I've seen a RSM incoherent. The poetry reading is just so smegging dull though.
RUNNING UP THE SCORE
I think there are limits to how much you take the urine. A recent game in Brazil ended violently with a player riot when a member of the team that was easily winning started playing keepy uppy,this was not seen as sporting by an opposition player who decided to let his fists do the talking. A general melee ensued.
LIFE ON MARS
TV DONE PROPER! SMEGGING MARVELOUS!
LOANSTUFF
We let Kissock go to Gretna and you let Hobbs go to Scunthorpe who are embroiled in a relegation?
COMEDY HEADLINES (BUT IT WILL GIVE FLASHMAN A LAUGH!)
Defiant boss Arsene Wenger insists the match stats prove Arsenal were the better side in Tuesday's humiliating 5-1 Carling Cup semi-final thrashing by arch-rivals Tottenham. (Daily Mirror)
RAMS REVITALIZATION
"The group will not take on the club's £25m debt, but there will be a "reassuring" amount available for boss Paul Jewell to spend on players in the summer."
So if they can't write off or pay for the debt they are hardly a group with huge financial firepower or brains or any kind of knowledge of what situation Derby are in right now!
Maybe they just want the parachute payment?
PANTOMIME DAME NEE FOOTBALLER NEE SMEG WITH TASH
"Portsmouth have got too much for Plymouth in this one, I think.
Their win over Derby last week has got them scoring again at home and that will be the difference - especially as Argyle have lost some players lately
Prediction: 2-0"
Mark you fatuous smeg! Hang your head in shame for not mentioning that this game is a VERY HOTLY CONTESTED SOUTH COAST DERBY where a Premier League Loss isn't too far away. Generally though, Mark, apart from having stupid facial hair you are a red sympathizer with red blinkers! That's fine if you are a fan, but hardly becoming of one who represents Aunty and an unbiased look at the other 91 teams (plus all thiose in non-league)out there.
Both you and Hansen should play some Roulette.
Mark - we do all realize that even a broken clock is right twice a day!
Last edited by craigy_f on January 26th at 4:18 AM.
FA CUP
Plenty of action today. If you are a premier league fan there are a few games to tickle your fancy but a lot of games you won't know much or care about.
A football fan has a smorgasboard of delights!
Trouble being is that the TV moguls are PLohpiles so the games shown barely reflect the FA Cup.
I mean c'mon, who the smegging smeg is interested in Hereford V Cardiff? We'd much rather see Chelsea beat Wigan (Yawn! boring! smeg!)
Not at all sour grapes as this weekend off is well needed, The FA Cup is much much more than the Premier League but that is hardly reflected in the mainstream media at all.
Capello takes LMA post
England boss Fabio Capello has been appointed chief of the League Managers’ Association. The national side’s Coach is expected to take the position, but the LMA lobbied against Capello’s appointment by the FA, prompting doubt that he would take the post. “We are delighted that Fabio has agreed to maintain the tradition of the England manager taking the role as LMA President and we look forward to working with him and helping to develop a strong relationship with the game and the other managers in England,” LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson bellowed.
THANK SMEG FOR SERIE A
Four mouth-watering games to tickle the fancy this weekend. Game preview on my blog.
When you stop playing and start doing tricks that's taking the #### ,if you play for the full 90 minutes and keep on scoring that's fine ,not running up the score or #### taking at all.
Chelsea 21-0 Jeunesse Hautcharage(Lux) on agg. '71 CWC.
Arsenal/King Kev and the Liverpool/H&W cricket on LiveFooty.
Should be some better match-ups in the last sixteen with a max of eight PL teams left.
Villa/Blackburn PL game on Setanta ,can't see a big audience for that one.
Didn't get the ending to Life On Mars ,way too clever for me.
Rafa does need a reality check. Play your best from the start and sub the skipper and who ever else when the work is done. Tactics are the issue, or are they, there goes Lucas Leiva after 27 minutes! Game on!
Oh and we have no left winger.......minor issue!
Last edited by redfan2000 on January 26th at 7:31 AM.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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