Craigy_f – 1. Ian Bell - did he see the Spitting Image Mourinho interview on Setanta this weekend? Brilliant! As only Spitting Image can be. Has that show ever made it across the Atlantic?

2. What are your opinions on Mourinho for England? Whom would you hire or England? How's the search going in Scotland?

3. Best and worst refereeing decisions for you this weekend.

4. Any games or results stand out for you?

5. How important is a club's history, particularly with the explosion of global fan support?

6. Arsenal - a wobble or something more?

7. My Carling Cup game will be hotly contested but what about the other three? 8. Has Goughie got his badges? 9. The ACoN - little more than a storm in a teacup for everybody but Pompey? Will you be covering the competition in any depth?

Bobby – 1. Spitting Image was broadcast in Canada for a while – I don’t know about the USA. 

2. The question now has an answer …..but from Mourinho not me. I said on the show that I felt Mourinho was not serious about the position and was only using it to stir up interest and a media frenzy. It now looks to be down to Capello.

And although I said last night that I was still not sure who I would pick, the more I think about it, the more I cannot come up with a reason why not Capello. If he isn’t the most successful manager in the world he is dam close (I think his record carries more weight than Fergie’s). But I still have a nagging feeling that it won’t happen.

The campaign to hire Mark McGhee as Scotland’s new boss seems to have generated a lot of momentum. Meanwhile “my choice” Jim Jeffries is no place. McGhee is experienced although I would suggest that he is as likely to bolt to a better club opportunity should an offer come as was McLeish. John Collins of Hibs has also been mentioned but I think he is short on experience.

3. Worst referring decision – allowing Pascal Chimbonda’s goal. Best decision – either of Sonko’s two tackles on Torres.

4. Tayport beat Carnoustie Panmure 5-2 in a Scottish Junior Cup 3rd round replay. Dundee are now tied with Hamilton at the top of the Scottish First Division.

5. A club’s history has always been massively important and it is probably even more important as the game goes global. The marketing people would probably talk about it in terms of branding but that makes it sound far too corporate.

Personally I don’t think you can be considered a fan unless you are intimately aware of your club’s history. History and former heroes help you through the bad times; it gives perspective and reminds you that good times will return. History and past triumphs (even though others may not see some results as triumphs!) keep pulling us back for more.

A Liverpool fan who doesn’t know about Shanks, Yeats, St. John, Keegan or Albert Stubbins isn’t, in my opinion, a fan - they are someone with a passing interest. Dixie Dean and the midfield of the late 60s/early 70s for Everton. Arsenal and Herbert Chapman, Charlie George even Sir Henry Norris. Sir Matt, the Babes, the holy trinity of United. Bell, Lee and Summerbee for City.  Chelsea’s first FA Cup win, Hudson, Osgood and Cooke, the 1955 League winning team.

Every team has their own version – just some are more famous than others, but they all have the same hold on fans, no matter the team.

6. Arsenal is 11 points up on their position after 16 games last year so in the larger context a few drop points still puts them way ahead of last season and they still finished in the top four with relative ease. It is tough stretch of games but I expect them to still be up in the top three come the first week of the New Year.

7. All four games are potential crackers. Everton has a pretty solid record playing West Ham 12 wins and 6 draws in the last 23 matches – Everton could win this one.

Blackburn knocked Arsenal out of the Cup last season and normally plays well against them at Ewood. Wenger will play the youngsters and although Blackburn has only one win in their last six Premiership games I think Blackburn will go through.

Manchester City at home to Spurs? City with an unbelievable home record playing against a side that has only lost once at City in their last 13 visits – 9 wins and 3 draws.

I fancy Spurs to pull off what might be considered an upset. Then we are left with Chelsea vs. Liverpool. In the past I have regularly called for a Liverpool win in cup games between these two but I am going to flip and pick Chelsea.

8. Richard Gough was in charge of Livingstone a while back so I am confident that he has passed his exams.

9. I think the African Cup of Nations impact extends beyond Portsmouth. Chelsea (Essien. Drogba, Kalou), Newcastle (Martins, Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye and Geremi), and Arsenal (Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue) for starters.

I read somewhere that United, Manchester City and Aston Villa are the only teams that do not have players who might be picked to play.

I don’t know at this time what sort of level of coverage I will be able to provide.

Neophyte - How would you rate Steve Coppell's performance as manager? Do you see him getting offers to a bigger club maybe a national team staff spot?(I thought playing Hunt more in the middle with Convey back on the left really opened up the pitch for Reading...your thoughts on the Royal's performance).

Bobby - He certainly is not a man that gets overly excited which can be refreshing some weeks. I can’t see him being offered the top job with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea or even for that matter whether he would even want a job like that.

Once you eliminate these four there is not much left that could be considered to be a significant step up from Reading. I have thought for a while that Coppell would make a good international manager but in the present climate he doesn’t stand a chance with England.

In terms of Reading’s performance against Liverpool it was well overdue and much more like the stuff we saw last season. Doyle and Kitson have to get goals and they have to get them earlier. I would be surprised if Reading gets sucked into the relegation zone come New Year. Twelve or thirteenth seems like a reasonable position for them.

CIAO - It appears the two front runners O'Neill and the "Special One" have both opted out of running to be the next England Manager. From what I know, Klinsmann, Lippi and Capello are all still available. However, as the article you provided for one reason or another indicated that they are not the ideal candidates.

I agree with you on that Ranieri would be an interesting choice but he still is at Juve probably at least until next summer. Martin Jol is also available, but I have not heard his name mentioned for the position. What do you think of him as the next England manager?

Does the FA have to rush to assign a manager? Considering the current limited selection would probably drastically expand in options after the EURO 08, would it not be better for both Scotland and England to wait to select their next managers until after the tournament? Who knows by then Hiddink might be looking for a job. If the England manager were going to be assigned to either Lippi or Capello, who would you prefer to take the position?

Bobby - I’m beginning to think that Martin Jol the martyr is getting a lot more credit for his time at Spurs than his record indicates that he deserves. Yes, the signing of players appears to have been more than a bit dysfunctional but the bottom line is that the Spurs team he left was pretty much in the same position as the Spurs he inherited from Santini.

Spurs were exceptionally entertaining last season and at their best they played some outstanding football. However, they finished in the same position (5th) as the previous season and with fewer points. They had good FA Cup and UEFA Cup runs but there was nothing to show that Jol was up to the England position.

The FA is rushing because of media pressure – no other reason. Without a manger the speculation will grow exponentially until the organization grinds to a standstill.

As for Scotland there is nothing to indicate that waiting for Euro 2008 would make any impact on their choice. Scotland is not short of suitable homegrown candidates. 

Given a choice I would go for Capello because he seems to me to be tougher and would not put up with the tabloids’ shenanigans.

Henry14 - q1 Do you think it devalues Scottish football when every time they play a game of any significance they postpone league matches you look at Rangers postpone their match in the weekend when Arsenal has played 4 games in a space of 12days and still need to win their group and their euro qualifying matches.
q2 Your prediction Chelsea vs. Arsenal, Man Utd. Vs. Reds
q3 One word next England coach
q4 Best goalie Casillas, Cech, Buffon, on league stats and form
q5 Top midfielder Pirlo, Gerrard, Xavi

Bobby - 1. Henry14, “every time they play a game of any significance they postpone league matches”. I’ve told you a million times – don’t exaggerate! No it doesn’t devalue the league, absolute nonsense. League games are rescheduled continually in other countries to fit in with European games. A postponement is only another form of rescheduling. Why do Arsenal need to win their group – is qualification not good enough?

2. Why would I predict  games five days before they take place? Lots can happen in five days. Even then you know I don’t spend a lot of time on predictions. I pick and choose normally based on what I think might be a surprise or a bit counter-intuitive.

3. Poor####.

4. Cech but it has nothing to do with form (he’s injured) or league stats (not a valid form of comparison).

5. Three very different players – are you looking for a continuity type player, a bustling and rampaging midfielder or a deep lying playmaker? 

DuncanEdwards -  1) Assuming he loses some of his pace on the wing later in his career, I was wondering what you thought of Cristiano Ronaldo moving to center forward...he's big, strong, has quick feet, passes and lays the ball off well, has an eye for goal and is a good header of the ball...seems like it would work

and 2)Keeping with the Portuguese theme, why is Carlos Queiroz's name not mentioned in connection with the England National team job?...He knows the league, the culture, the language, the players and would surely have the support and assistance of his present boss, Sir Alex...he has also coached at the National level before...don't you think he should at least be considered?

Bobby - If he loses his pace he will likely lose his sharpness at the same time which would certainly affect his effectiveness as a centre forward. Behind the striker – a position he has played – is a position he could excel in .

Queiroz’s record as a number one is poor and is the reason that I think that the only way he will get a sniff at Old Trafford once Fergie goes is as a sacrificial lamb.  Some people are just better 2ICs – yes Mr. McClaren. 

Flashman - As for greatest soccer books of all time, Bobby you particularly will know that one book will never be matched in this day and age when media access to players and managers is heavily restricted. That's Hunter Davies' The Glory Game. Re-read it this past summer. Remarkable. No team nowadays would ever grant an independent journalist the sort of access Davies was given by Spurs.  And the players today are just too media savvy, or even cynical, to honestly provide the sort of information he gathered back then.

And Bobby, do you think that the ref overlooked the fact that Pascal Chimbonda was offside and handled the ball as he scored the first goal against Manchester City was a way of making up for some of the brutal calls that have gone against Spurs this season?

Bobby -  I read the book again a couple of years ago and you are right there is no way that book could be written today. Another book that focused on the same era was Eamon Dunphy’s “Only a Game?” – also excellent.

If your Chimbonda explanation helps you sleep better then we will go with it!

Tuoc - Should Arsenal start Jens in goal again? I thought Manuel is an average goalie.

Bobby - On the upside I have to admit that Almunia has surprised me this season. However, I am still not convinced that he is up to the job. Arsenal’s defensive stats are not just down to the goalkeeper but the defense is giving up too many goals compared to Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. If Lehmann can dump the prima donna (not as I saw written in another blog pre-madonna) then he can still help Arsenal.

Vidic15 - I would put Yugoslavia/Serbia just under Spain as chronic underachievers on the national level (I leave out Croatia because they have been better recently). Yugoslavia has always produced great players but they could never come together when it counted.

They had the talent but seemed to lack the mental quality and mental toughness to win, and I think that same reason is why Serbia didn't qualify for Euro 2008. They got too many draws from teams they should've beaten.

Bobby - I think if you look at the numbers Serbia and England are neck and neck for the biggest fall from grace from pre-World Cup 2006 to Euro 2008.

Gers4Lyfe - Rangers will miss the pace of Beasley and Darcheville for tomorrow's clash with Lyon. It appears your considerations of Celtic and Rangers might be spot on. Who do you see most likely to replace Beasley's spot in the European matches? I'm certain WS will go with the 4-1-4-1 although for this game at Ibrox I would love to see a departure to a 4-4-2 with Boyd and Cousin up front. What are your thoughts?

Bobby - I hate to say it but I am not sure that Rangers have any players left who can provide the pace that Beasley and Darcheville give the team. Beasley, especially, is a player who excels on the counter attack and is very valuable in Europe.

Novo would have been an important player as well but I understand that he is injured. Naismith got good reports from the Stuttgart game so he will probably come into the reckoning. I cannot see Walter Smith starting two up front. Cousin to start most likely with Boyd held in reserve in case a goal is needed perhaps?

Truebluecfc – I have enjoyed the blog for quite awhile and the fantastic articles you put up each week. What are your favorite football books?

Bobby - If you click on this link it will take you to a blog from this time last year that includes some books that I enjoyed in 2006.

To that list I would the following that have either been read or will be in the next few weeks.

“If you’re second you are nothing” by Oliver Holt. A contrast of Bill Shankly and Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Legends of United” by David Meek. A look at United players from the Busby era.

“Arsene Wenger – The Biography” by Xavier Rivoire.

“Jose Mourinho” by Luis Lourenco.

“England Managers – The Toughest Job in Football” by Brian Glanville.

“Love and Blood at the World Cup” by Jamie Trecker.

My favourite book in the past year is an updated reissue. “A Strange Kind of Glory – Sir Matt Busby and Manchester United” by Eamon Dunphy. I read the book about a dozen years ago when it was lent to me. I noticed the reissue and I thought it was even better than I remembered.

I have so far been unable to get my hands on "The Damned United" but I hope to soon.

After knocking out Premiership side Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup, Nottingham Forest now faces an even bigger task when they face Chelsea this Sunday. Forest currently sits third in League One, but only on goal difference. Scunthorpe leads the division with 52 points but second place Bristol City and Forest both have a game in hand.  Since overcoming Charlton 2-0 in the third round Forest has beaten Yeovil (1-0) and played to a scoreless draw with Swansea.

Given the current gulf that exists between the two sides the BBC had Sports Psychologist James Hamilton assesses how Forest should approach the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Despite their current “poor” form in the Premiership, Chelsea is the bookies favourite to take the FA Cup for the first time under manager Josie Mourinho. Chelsea is running around 3/1, with Manchester United at 4/1 and Arsenal at 5/1.

 Under Mourinho Chelsea has lost to Newcastle in the 5th round (a 1-0 loss from an early Patrick Kluivert header) two seasons ago, and then went out to Liverpool in last year's semi final 2-1 at Old Trafford.

If you fancy a flutter on Nottingham Forest then the current odds of 300/1 make Forest one of the rank outsiders – 28th of 32 teams. (Bristol Rovers who have to travel to championship leaders Derby County are currently 1000/1).

Chelsea Football Club was formed 1905 and they didn't have to wait long until their first appearance in FA Cup final.  However, it took significantly longer before they lifted the trophy.  Here is a rundown of Chelsea's seven appearances in the final of football’s oldest competition.   

Chelsea's appearance in the final of 1915 was a major surprise for although they were to finish second bottom of the league Chelsea beat Everton in the semi-final.  Everton went on to become league champions that year. The First World War had been under way for eight months and a new venue for the final had to be found.

Crystal Palace in London had been home to the final for nearly 20 years but had been appropriated on account of the war effort.

The final was moved to Old Trafford in Manchester, a relatively new stadium at that time and Chelsea provided London with only its second finalist in the history of the tournament.  As coincidence would have it their 1915 opponents was Sheffield United who had lost to Tottenham after a replay in 1901.

This time Sheffield United took the trophy with a 3-0 win in a game that became known as “the Khaki final” due to the number of serviceman making up the crowd. It would be five years before another FA Cup would be held, but it would be a lot longer before Chelsea made another appearance in the final.

In 1967 London provided both finalists for the first time in the form of Chelsea and Tottenham. By this time Chelsea had developed a reputation as a strong cup team having made it to their third straight semi final. However, on the two previous occasions they had lost in the last four with both games being played at Villa Park in Birmingham. This time they made it to the final beating Leeds United 1-0.  The only goal of the game came from the head of Tony Hateley a recent signing from Liverpool. 

But there was no Wembley joy for the Chelsea fans again. Goals from former St Mirren winger Jimmy Robertson and utility player Frank Saul gave Spurs a two goal lead before Terry Venables pulled one back with only a few minutes left. However, three years Chelsea would be back at Wembley.  

The final of 1970 is regarded as an epic encounter for a number of reasons. The replay was needed for the first time since 1912, the Wembley pitch for the first game was dire leading to the replay being moved to Old Trafford, and both sides kicked lumps out of each other for over 200 minutes.

Wembley had bizarrely hosted the Horse of the Year Show only a few days before the final and the pitch was in disgraceful state by the time the two teams took to the "field". Leeds United twice led through goals from Jack Charlton and Mick Jones only to be pegged back by goals from Peter Housman and Ian Hutchison for Chelsea. Sadly both Chelsea scorers were to die relatively young – Houseman in a car crash seven years later and Hutchinson to a condition brought on by alcoholism in 2002.

The replay did not take place until eighteen days later and is clearly remembered by everyone who watched the televised midweek game. Mick Jones scored again for Leeds and the lead held up until 10 minutes left in normal time. Then a Peter Osgood flying header from a Charlie Cooke cross took the game to extra time. But as extra time ticked away another replay was looking to be the most likely outcome.

There was though to be a trick in the tail of this one. With only minutes left in extra time David Webb moved up from his centre back position to deflect home a Hutchinson long throw. During 210 minutes of action Chelsea led for only five minutes but still took their first FA Cup. Osgood had scored in every round of the cup (from the third on) and he remains the last player to accomplish such a feat.

AstonishinglyIn the replay not one player was booked. A couple of decades later David Elleray was asked to review the video tape of the replay and to apply contemporary standards of officiating. According the Elleray only eight players would have remained on the field at the end if modern standards had applied!! 

The 1970 competition also provided a bit of an oddity in that the FA decided that there would be a third place play off between the losing semi finalists Watford and Manchester United. The third place play off continued for another four seasons before being quietly buried before anyone took any real interest in it.

It would be another 24 years before Chelsea appeared again in a final.  However, their appearance in 1994 against Manchester United was to be the first in a run of four appearances in nine seasons - two of them successful. Chelsea squandered a number of chances in the first half, and four goals including two penalties from Eric Cantona in the final half hour of the match finally did Chelsea in. The win marked United’s first domestic league and cup double.

Anyone arriving late for the final three years later in 1997 would have missed the quickest goal ever recorded in FA Cup final history.  Roberto Di Matteo scored after only 43 seconds as Chelsea, led by Coach Ruud Gullit, beat Middlesbrough 2-0 who had been relegated from the Premiership only six days earlier.

Another three years on, and another FA Cup win for Chelsea in 2000.  Again the hero was Roberto Di Matteo who scored the only goal in the last final played at the old Wembley - and of course we have yet to see the new Wembley.

Although it had taken until 1967 for two London clubs to face each other in a FA Cup final a number of similar encounters followed soon after. West Ham vs. Fulham (1975), West Ham vs. Arsenal (1980), Tottenham vs. Queens Park Rangers (1982) ensued so when Arsenal and Chelsea faced each other in the 2002 final it was no longer considered a rarity.

The 2002 final at Millenium Stadium was evenly balanced until two goals in the last 20 minutes by Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljunberg gave Arsenal the trophy and their third domestic double.

The full fourth round draw can be found here and this is a link to the latest news from the official FA Cup website. The fourth round winners pocket around $120,000 in prize money and a place in the 5th round draw.

Past Featured Games
Extra Preliminary Round      Jarrow Roofing Boldon C.A.    5-2     Billingham Synthonia.
Preliminary Round               Jarrow Roofing Boldon C.A     5-4    Thackley F.C
First Qualifying Round         Fleetwood Town                      3-0     Jarrow Roofing Boldon C.A.
Second Qualifying Round    Fleetwood Town                     4-2     Goole AFC 
Third Qualifying Round       Fleetwood Town                      2-0     Warrington Town
Fourth Qualifying Round     Fleetwood Town                      2-0     Wisbech Town
First Round                          Salisbury City                          3-0     Fleetwood Town
Second Round                    Salisbury City                           1-1     Nottingham Forest
Second Round Replay        Nottingham Forest                    2-0     Salisbury City
Third Round                        Nottingham Forest                    2-0     Charlton   

 The Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest game can be seen live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports World Canada at 9:00 EST. on Sunday and you can check here for other FA Cup games that can be seen this weekend on FSC and FSWC.