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 FA Cup Final day. The only day of the year that your mum wouldn't admonish you off for watching television by saying "It's a lovely day. Turn that thing off and get outside." And it always seemed to be sunny, so you closed the curtains to avoid glare giving your living room the feel of a funeral parlour.
In the 1970s and 1980s the main source of indulgence for the younger football fan was watching the all-day coverage of the Final - switching between BBC1 and ITV to see who had the best celebrity interviews (Stan Boardman was a perenial figure) or watching unlikely contents such as Gary Lineker thrashing Mark Lawrenson at snooker in 1986.
The TV marathon would continue with reporters interrupting card games on team coaches or reining in the awestruck players for a few more words as they inspected the pitch before kick-off. And later, the match would be recreated in the park with other bleary-eyed kids emerging from their darkened lairs shouting "I'm Keith Houchen".
But forgive these nostalgic ramblings. We want to hear your favourite Cup recollections: from street parties to respraying your car in club colours to victory parades. It's your chance to recapture the magic days of the Cup.
So Rangers fell just short in their bid for the Uefa Cup, a first European trophy since beating Dynamo Moscow in the 1972 European Cup Winner's Cup final.
Walter Smith's side gave their all, but the Russians, prompted by the excellent Andriy Arshavin, proved too good, winning 2-0 in the City of Manchester Stadium.
We would like to know what you thought of the Rangers performance against Zenit. Were they simply not good enough on the night or had they punched above their weight just to reach the final in the first place?
Were their safety-first tactics found wanting, ultimately and should Walter Smith have been bolder than just to deploy Jean-Claude Darchville ploughing a lone furrow up front?
The quadruple has gone now, but Rangers already have the CIS Insurance Cup in the bag and are still in the running for the Scottish Premier League title and the Scottish Cup. Do you think they can win the treble, or will this defeat prove too deflating an experience, will three away games in six days in the SPL take its toll, or can they keep their nerve?
 The Reading manager has been considering his position since his team were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship on the last day of the season. John Madejski, the Reading chairman, says that he will not dismiss Coppell and around 300 supporters demonstrated outside the Madejski Stadium last night demanding that he stay on. But are they right?
The likeable Scouser struggled in Reading's second season in the Premier League. Does he have the qualities to lead the team back into the top flight? Or is his time with the Royals up?
Cast your vote and leave your comments below.
 In a season in which the world’s most famous cup competition has thrown up surprise after surprise, would any of us really be shocked if Robbie Fowler popped up and scored the winner for Cardiff on Saturday?
Now in the twilight of his distinguished career, the 33-year-old might have thought his trophy-winning days had passed. But footballing fairytales have a habit of unfolding in the most mysterious ways and the Toxteth Terror has always enjoyed a ‘special’ relationship with the FA Cup.
Most of us will remember ‘that suit’ on Fowler’s first appearance in a final in 1996. That day he went home a loser, but he made up for it five years later when he helped Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-1 in Cardiff.
Continue reading "Vintage video: Fowler's greatest hits" »
 We just can't get enough of your footballing smug shots. After asking you to send in snaps of you and your footballing heroes, we have been deluged by some of the best examples of arms-around-the-shoulders camaraderie there may ever have been between fan and hero.
We admit that the idea was inspired by our Travel section and its forum for smug holiday pics, but we thought we could do better and boy have you have proved us right.
In fact, your overwhelming response has forced us to open up this new gallery for you to fill all over again. But fear not, all your old favourites are safely tucked away in our archive if you want to revisit them. This time we really want you to outdo each other - a photographic Top Trumps if you will.
So if you and Carlos Valderrama share the same hairdresser, you bumped into Ian Wright at the circus or even stood next to Sam Allardyce in the dole queue we want to see the evidence. And as always, we'll feature the best snaps right here.
E-mail your pictures to: sport@timesonline.co.uk
Click "continue reading" to see your pictures, including when Pete Hardaker took on Chris Kamara in the fashion stakes. And lost.
Continue reading "Football smug shots " »
Walter Smith is about to join an elite band of Scottish football mangers who have led their clubs into a European final. Eight other men - Sir Matt Busby, Jock Stein, Bill Shankly, Scot Symon, Willie Waddell, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jim McLean and George Graham - have enjoyed the honour before him.
Of that group, only Busby, Stein and Ferguson have won the European Cup. Shankly led Liverpool to both a European Cup Winners Cup final, which they lost, and a Uefa Cup final, which they won. Symon and George won the Cup Winners Cup, with Rangers in 1972 and Arsenal in 1994 respectively, while Waddell twice lost in the final of that competition with Rangers. McLean led Dundee United to the 1987 Uefa Cup final, which they lost.
Smith has enjoyed phenomenal success in his two tours of duty with Rangers, including winning seven SPL titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups in the 1990s. Against this, however, Smith never took Everton higher than 14th in his four seasons at Goodison Park and is recalled with mixed feelings on Merseyside.
The question is, where does Smith rank in the pantheon of good or great Scottish managers? Does he deserve to be even quoted among the elite, or is it more appropriate to merely rank him among the Rangers managers? Remember, this season Smith is successfully chasing four trophies.
GRAHAM SPIERS
Derby County, as everyone is aware, are the worst team in the history of the Premier League. A 4-0 home defeat by Reading on the final day of the season left the once-mighty Rams with the unenviable record of played 38, won 1, drawn 8, lost 29, goals for 20, goals against 89 (goal difference minus 69), points 11.
Paul Jewell may have appeared suicidal at times this season over the abject nature of some of his side’s performances, but he is not a bad manager. He knows what it takes to win promotion from the Championship and will doubtless have a wholesale clear-out in the summer.
Reading, who were a welcome addition to the Premier League when they were promoted two seasons ago, found life much tougher second time around. The Berkshire outfit hit a barren spell in front of goal when it mattered most – at the end of the season – failing to find the net in six successive games leading to a nosedive into the relegation zone from which they were unable to recover. There are, however, going to be worse teams than the Royals continuing to ply their trade in the Premier League next season.
Birmingham too big a club to go down? Absolutely not. All that messing about in mid-season with the on-off takeover talk of Carson Yeung had a destabilising effect which prompted the departure of Steve Bruce. Alex McLeish, feted for the work he had done in almost guiding Scotland to the finals of Euro 2008, came in and enjoyed instant success with a win at Tottenham Hotspur. That win on the road proved, however, to be a false dawn, as it was their inability to collect points away that proved to be their undoing. But James McFadden, their best player, has pledged to stick with the club next season, so there must be some optimism that they can take the Championship by storm.
What do you think: Which club is best equipped to win promotion back to the Premier League?
Cast your vote and please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.
After their triumph on Sunday, Manchester United have now won just one fewer top-flight league titles than arch-rivals Liverpool (18 to 17), with Sir Alex Ferguson claiming his tenth in 16 seasons in the period which history will remember as the Premier League era.
Ferguson's team played some scintillating football, scoring 80 goals in 38 games compared to the more modest 65 for Chelsea, their nearest challengers. Having had to play second fiddle for two seasons to the big-spending west London club, Ferguson, reinvigorated by a fresh challenge, rebounded in some style by winning back-to-back titles himself. Surely, therefore, he is a certainty for our manager of the season award? Surely?
Not so fast.
Some might argue that the worst Ferguson should be expected to do with his superstar squad and the money at his disposal would be a place in the top two. United are matching expectations, certainly, but are they really exceeding them?
Continue reading "Who is your manager of the season?" »
And so, finally, the Premier League is over for another season. Manchester United confirmed what most observers had felt all along: that they were the best team in the division by some margin, winning at Wigan Athletic to deliver a tenth title in 16 seasons into the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Credit to Chelsea, though, for taking their challenge down to the final day of the season, because all looked lost for the London club and their manager, Avram Grant, earlier in the campaign. Just think, had Emile Heskey not equalised for Wigan in injury time at Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago, Kevin Davies’s last-gasp goal for Bolton would have changed the destiny of the title in the last minute of the last game of the season. If only.
Most of the fun, though, came at the other end of the table. Reading looked like extricating themselves from trouble at one point as they finally remembered how to score, never the hardest feat in the world considering they were playing Derby County. Jamaica became known as the Reggae Boyz, Paul Jewell’s could be known henceforth as the Whipping Boyz if they are not careful.
Continue reading "Heroes or zeroes? Give us your opinion on your team" »
The most exciting finale in Premier League history is upon us and there is barely a fingernail left to chew.
Tears of joy and sadness will fill living rooms the world over come 5 o'clock on Sunday as the great football judge in the sky bangs down his gavel and delivers his sentence.
At the top end, it's Manchester United v Chelsea in the title race with Sir Alex Ferguson's team requiring victory at Wigan to retain their crown. Although if Chelsea beat Bolton by 18 more goals than United beat Steve Bruce's side by then Avram Grant will be grinning from ear-to-ear.
Will Wigan roll over? Or is that insulting to the integrity of Bruce's men? Are Chelsea fans really in with a shout? Or are they living in a fantasy land?
It's even more nerve-racking at the bottom with one of Fulham, Reading and Birmingham a light breeze from being blown into Championship oblivion.
Can Roy Hodgson complete the great escape with victory at Portsmouth? Do Birmingham deserve to drop after the way they treated Bruce? Is there room in the top flight for Steve Coppell's battlers or are they more suited to the second tier?
Here's your chance to tell us what is going to happen. It's open day on TheGame: let us know what fate awaits your side. Why should they win the title? Why should they avoid the drop? Or if you've got a mean streak, tell us why a team deserves pain and misery. And if you just want to send your boys a message of support, this is the place to do it.
The usual rules apply - we want passion and pathos. But if you want to get your comment seen, you'd better keep it clean.
 The England manager picks his top players in the Premier League, the greatest striker and goalkeeper of all time, plus the best Englishman to have played in Serie A.
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Click here to download the Windows Media Video version
Who wants to go to Moscow then? It seems that the Russian capital isn't the most popular destination for a Champions League final and all and sundry have been falling over themselves to put the boot in.
Alan Green, the Radio Five Live commentator, has gone out of his way to tell people what an awful place Moscow is despite the fact he will have a prime seat at the Luzhniki Stadium and a very nice hotel. And will probably moan about that.
Martin Samuel, our esteemed Chief Football Correspondent, also suggested that Uefa's choice of match venue is overshadowed by "the threat of bureaucratic gridlock and chaos" while Uefa have also pleaded with fans without tickets not to travel.
Continue reading "Does anyone want to go to Moscow?" »
Kevin Keegan says that the domination of the big four in the Premier League has made the competition a dull affair. After his team's defeat by Chelsea at the weekend the Newcastle manager suggested: "This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring, but great, leagues."
But has the increasing power and financial strength of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal made the Premier League a closed-shop yawnfest where the same old faces win again and again and fifth is the only attainable target for the chasing pack?
When Keegan said that Newcastle fans should start "dreaming again" did he mean of a 10th place finish? Is he gently priming the rabid Geordie fans for disappointment or has he just got it completely wrong?
Can supporters complain when the destination of the title goes to the wire and could be decided on goal difference, and the fight to avoid the dreaded drop into the Championship, the hapless Derby aside, is so enthralling?
Let us know your thoughts.
One game to go, then, and still all to play for in the Premier League. Chelsea’s victory at Newcastle United on Monday afternoon means that the top two teams will go into the final day of the season level on points, the first time that has happened in the top flight in England since the two Manchester clubs were fighting it out for the title in 1968.
Manchester United are the odds-on favourites of the bookmakers. They have a vastly superior goal difference and travel to Wigan Athletic who are managed by Steve Bruce, a former stalwart in defence at Old Trafford, knowing that a victory will guarantee them the title.
On the downside, though, the playing surface at the JJB is the worst in the Premier League and of a standard that most Blue Square Premier League (that’s Conference, in old money) clubs would kick up a fuss over, so it will not suit United’s silky skills.
Wigan have coped admirably with playing on a ploughed field, having won four and drawn three of their last seven games to pull away from the relegation zone. They scored a last-minute equaliser at Chelsea back on April 14, as well, remember to dent the London club’s own title aspirations, so they cannot be considered a pushover. But with their own Premier League status assured, surely they will not be trying as hard on Sunday?
Chelsea’s final game is at home to Bolton Wanderers, where the outcome should be even more predictable. Bore the pants off their fans, get an early goal through a Michael Ballack header and add a second for insurance in the second half.
TheGame’s prediction for next Sunday, therefore, is this: Wigan Athletic 1 Manchester United 2; Chelsea 2 Bolton Wanderers 0 – United retain the Premier League title on goal difference.
But that’s enough of us, what do you, our loyal readers, the people that really matter, think? Please cast your vote and leave us a comment explaining your choice in the field at the bottom of this post.
The final day of the Coca-Cola Championship produced great drama and now four teams have the chance to reach the Premier League via the play-offs. Who do you think will claim the £60 million jackpot for promotion to the top flight? Vote below and have your say.
David Beckham v Argentina, 2002 World Cup
 Was it a good penalty? No. It was almost down the middle. But in other ways, it was a great penalty, as a grudge match against the team that knocked England out of France ’98 in a shoot-out was settled by Beckham’s goal near the end of the first half. It was a kick struck with genuine venom, as if the midfield player was exorcising the demons of that red-card night in St Etienne. The wild celebrations spoke of a huge weight lifted off a man who had gone from national icon to national pariah, and back to icon again. Let’s not talk about the penalties he took two years later at Euro 2004.
Stuart Pearce v Spain, Euro ‘96
It is fair to say that the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup was a bad night at the office for Pearce. “My world collapsed,” he said later. He lost his place in the team to Graeme Le Saux, but did not retire and was rewarded with a first-team place again when Le Saux broke his leg in December, 1995. Wembley, goalless quarter-final, spot-kicks. Up steps Pearce. The nation shuffles uneasily on its seats. Wham – the defender slams the kick into the net and his celebration is an explosion of relief. “What people have to remember are the circumstances surrounding me even playing in that tournament and all of that joy, relief and passion was released in the moment the ball hit the net,” he said. And he scored in the shoot-out against Germany in the semi-finals, too.
Steven Taylor, England v Holland, European Under-21 championship, 2007
Forced to play on because England had made all their substitutions, the defender could hardly stand up because of an ankle injury but still stepped forward to convert his attempt in a shoot-out. However, England went on to lose by the incredible scoreline of 13-12. Their manager? Pearce.
Miroslav Djukic, Deportivo La Coruna v Valencia, Spanish league, 1994
Needing victory in their final game to win their first league title, Deportivo were given a spot kick in stoppage time with the score goalless. With the two favoured penalty takers absent, Djukic stepped forward but fluffed it.
Martin Palermo, Argentina v Colombia, Copa America, 1999
The striker had already missed two penalties when Argentina were awarded a third. Palermo courageously took responsibility – but missed for a third time. Oh dear.
- Tom Dart and Bill Edgar
As a match, it had just about everything: world-class forward play, penalties awarded, penalty claims turned aside, slide-rule offside decisions, drama, emotion, pressure and pulsating, end-to-end football.
Everything, in fact, that you would not expect from a Chelsea versus Liverpool clash, if recent history was to be observed.
Two players shone out in particular for Chelsea. Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast international, who scored two of his side’s goals with exemplary finishes. And Frank Lampard, who burst into floods of tears after converting the decisive penalty in extra-time which gave Avram Grant’s side the lead for good. The England midfielder, you will probably be aware, had been on compassionate leave following the death of his mother Pat last Thursday.
It is a difficult question, but one we would like you to try and answer. Who was your Chelsea hero? Cast your vote below and, as always, we welcome your comments as well.
Avram Grant has been attacked from all sides this season: by fans, by the media, by players.
The man with the impossible job of replacing Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager has been dubbed a puppet of Roman Abramovich, the owner, only having got the job because he is a personal friend of the Russian billionaire.
Mourinho, though, never reached the final of European football’s showpiece event with Chelsea, though he will rightly point out that he did so previously with Porto.
So already, Avram, to some a figure of fun, has proved himself better than the Special One in the one area that truly matters – attaining results on the football field.
OK, so he cannot have the gentlemen of the world's media eating out of his hand at a Stamford Bridge press conference, but who cares – Chelsea will march on Moscow and meet Manchester United with the chance to make their own notable piece of club history.
And do not forget, Chelsea are level on points with Manchester United in the Premier League and could yet pip Sir Alex Ferguson’s outfit to the two major prizes available to English sides in club football.
So what do you think of Grant now? Is he a footballing genius or does he have good fortune on his side?
Please cast your vote and we would welcome you leaving us a comment at the bottom of this post.
Manchester United will find out tonight who their opponents will be in the Champions League final after their impressive 1-0 victory over Barcelona.
Chelsea hold all the cards following the 1-1 draw at Anfield in the first leg but Liverpool are equally as capable of scoring in London with Fernando Torres amongst their ranks.
Most Russians will be keeping their fingers crossed that John Terry doesn't give the Spanish star a sniff, and not only because of Roman Abramovich's mighty influence at Stamford Bridge.
The prospect of thousands of Manchester United and Liverpool fans descending upon Moscow for a late-night kick-off (due to television coverage in Europe) doesn't bear thinking about. The clubs have one of the biggest rivalries in the game which often turns ugly.
With so much added drinking time during the day before the final begins, the Russian police are going to have their work cut out keeping the peace in the city centre.
Should all neutrals be getting behind Chelsea tonight if only to avert the potential danger? Or does the big stage deserve a United-Liverpool final, since both teams have such history? Should we have more faith in the fans and just hope the best team wins tonight? Or are we destined for trouble whatever the outcome?
Send your views, get passionate but, as always, keep them clean or they will not get published.
Manchester United beat Barcelona 1-0 on aggregate to guarantee the first ever all-English Champions League final.
Chelsea and Liverpool do battle at Stamford Bridge tonight for the right to join United in Moscow on May 21, but who would you like to see go through?
Avram Grant's Londoners beat United 2-1 on Saturday thanks to a controversial penalty, a result that reignited the Premier League title race. There was also the tasty altercation between the Chelsea students and several United players who were warming down after the match to add extra spice to a rematch between those two sides.
But there is no more bitter rivalry in English top-flight football than that between the two giants of the North West, Manchester United and Liverpool. Surely there would be no more mouthwatering prospect than those two old foes battling it out behind the old Iron Curtain, with Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea chairman and Muscovite, nothing more than a bemused and perhaps disinterested observer?
Who would you like to see in the final? Vote below and leave us the reason why in the comment field at the bottom of this post.
Paul Scholes fired Manchester United into the final of the Champions League for the first time since 1999, the ginger-haired midfielder producing a shot of rare quality to decide the two-legged tie with Barcelona, smashing a viciously-curling long-range shot past the helpless Barca goalkeeper, Victor Valdes.
United won the competition the last time they got past the semi-final stage, but that memorable comeback against Bayern Munich - where they trailed in the very last minute but won without the need for extra time - is not one that Scholes would care to remember too fondly.
He had to sit on the sidelines and watch, having been booked in the semi-finals which ruled him out of the main event through suspension. United had a special medal minted for him after the match, but has never accepted it as the genuine article.
How fitting, therefore, that he should be the one to score the winning goal against Barcelona. A date with destiny, you might say.
Sir Alex Ferguson has said the former England midfielder will be the first name on his teamsheet for the match in Moscow on May 21 as a reward for his years of loyal service to the club. But do you agree, should Fergie not pick his starting XI purely on merit, or is there still a place for sentiment in football at the highest level?
Please vote below and we would welcome you leaving us your comments at the bottom of this post.
Sven-Goran Eriksson looks to be on his way to the exit door at Manchester City. His boss and club owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, is thought to have run out of patience with the side's post-Christmas slump.
But City enjoyed a tremendous start to the season - at one stage sitting third in the Premier League - and have never once looked in danger of relegation. Indeed, European qualification is still an outside possibility.
The Swedish manager can expect a tidy pay-off in the region of £2.5 million, but is this the best option for the club? Has Sven been given enough time to turn the team around? Is Thaksin proving too trigger-happy?
Vote with your fingers below and let us know your thoughts on the soap opera that has become known as Manchester City Football Club.
Continue reading "Is Thaksin right to sack Sven-Goran Eriksson?" »
 Rio Ferdinand is the headline act in this month's edition of Inside United, the official Manchester United magazine. Nothing to shout about there - he works for them, so they ought to be able to get the odd big interview - but it is the unfortunate timing of this piece that makes it interesting.
The big centre-half speaks of the "privilege" of captaining club and country this season and underlines his commitment to "leading by example". Yes, this is the player who chose to release his frustration after the defeat by Chelsea on Saturday by aiming a kick at a brick wall, but ended up connecting with a female steward.
He did apologise to the unfortunately-located woman and sent her a bunch of flowers but, still, it's hardly something they will be getting the trainees to practise down at Carrington.
Here is the aforementioned article (something tells us they might have gone to press before the weekend) - it might give you a laugh...
Continue reading "Ferdinand shows bad timing - again..." »
It's simple - just read the headline.
There's so much at stake, so many finer details that need to be tuned. A missed pass here, a bad throw there. Nerves, tactics, the referee. All these permutations and combinations that could change the game.
But if you don't care who is going to win the Coca-Cola League Two match between Chester and Stockport, then perhaps you'll take a few moments pondering Manchester United's Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona.
If you don't know by now that the first game between the sides at the Nou Camp ended 0-0 then you've been hiding under a rock.
Come on, pick a result from below and let's see if the general consensus of opinion gets it right. And if you think it's going to be "something else", then let us know what in the comment box.
 We want to see your snaps of footballers. No, not in compromising positions. We want to see the happy, arms-around-the-shoulders camaraderie shown between fan and hero. Have you travelled to an away game and stumbled across a player in the hotel lobby? Maybe you have met an international star in the queue for the pedaloes at a Sandals resort? It doesn't even have to be this glamourous, we'll consider any player at any venue in any era.
We admit that the idea is inspired by our Travel section and its forum for smug holiday pics, but we think we can do better. We want you to outdo each other - a photographic Top Trumps if you will. So if you have shared a viewfinder with Diego Maradona at the top of the Eiffel Tower, hurtled down a log flume with Robbie Savage in Florida or stood next to Sam Allardyce in the dole queue we want to see the evidence. And just for fun we'll feature the best snaps each week.
E-mail your pictures to: sport@timesonline.co.uk
Click "continue reading" to see your pictures, including when Roy Beeharry had a bath with the Tottenham squad.
Continue reading "Football smug shots" »
 The only shock at the PFA awards do last night was that Cristiano Ronaldo didn't win the Young Player of the Year award as well. That honour went to Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, who, it must be said, has had a pretty tidy season as well.
But the Manchester United winger has been head and shoulders above his peers this year, amassing an incredible 38 goals in all competitions.
It is the second year in succession the 23-year-old Portuguese star has picked up the trophy and he was suitably chuffed - despite not being allowed to attend.
"I feel very happy," Ronaldo said. "When you work all season to play good, to do something for the team, to do your contribution for the team and then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure."
Well Cris (may I call you Cris?), it has been an absolute pleasure to watch you as well. Apart from when you fall over a bit too easily. Oh, and when you waggle your finger at the referee. And occasionally when you wink.
In honour of the great man, here are a few of the reasons why he picked up the award. And when you've watched them, perhaps you would care to vote on who is Manchester United's greatest ever player.
Video: Ronaldo's greatest moments of 2007-08
Video: Ronaldo hits the deck, sarcastically applauds the ref ... then does what he does best
A 2-1 defeat to Chelsea has left the Premier League title race wide open. Manchester United may still top the table, courtesy of their superior goal difference, but it appears the tide has turned.
Sir Alex Ferguson was furious at the late penalty decision given against Michael Carrick which offered Avram Grant's side the win, despite it looking like an obvious handball. Then afterwards, Fergie's players followed suit with Rio Ferdinand kicking a female steward when he was actually aiming for a wall (in frustration) and several of his team-mates got involved in an unseemly scuffle with Stamford Bridge groundstaff who wanted them off the pitch while they were warming down.
So has the pressure got to them? Do Chelsea now have the upper hand? Did Ferguson's decision to start with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench explode in his face? Have Avram Grant's subtle mind games proved his worth in the big league?
Let us know your views ... but keep 'em clean or they won't be published.
Cardiff City will be allowed to play in next season's Uefa Cup if they beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17.
The FA this week softened its earlier stance - which had been that Welsh clubs should not be permitted to represent England in Europe – and its decision was ratified by the full board on Thursday.
What do you think, should Cardiff be allowed to take the place of an English team?
Here is some essential reading from the sportswriter of the year, Martin Samuel, who believes here, here and here, why this should not be the case.
Please cast your vote below and leave us a comment in the box at the bottom of this post.
Barcelona's domination at the Nou Camp was, in part, down to Sir Alex Ferguson's tactical errors. So says Matt Dickinson who claims the Manchester United manager got away with it, just as he did in the same arena nine years ago when United went on to lift the cup at the expense of Bayern Munich.
Wayne Rooney was picked as an orthodox right-winger, says Dickinson, "but with Carlos Tévez anonymous through the middle, it seemed a misuse of Rooney’s talent". These sentiments were echoed by Oliver Kay, who said: "United’s lack of fluency could be attributed to the deployment of Rooney on the right-hand side of midfield".
Even Fergie himself appeared to concur, admitting: "Maybe asking Rooney to play in a different position — and Park Ji Sung in a different position as well — put an onus on us to defend more". Ferguson promised to analyse the system before the second leg next week.
But Tony Cascarino offers a different stance. The former Republic of Ireland striker believes the wily Scot got his game plan spot on.
"Using containing tactics he would never employ in the Barclays Premier League, Ferguson made [Rooney, Tévez and Park] the first line of defence," Cascarino said. "He stuck Park and Rooney on the wings to counter the threat of Barcelona’s attacking full backs, Gianluca Zambrotta and Eric Abidal ... In the second leg, Rooney’s main job will not be to cancel out the full back and he may play more centrally".
So who is right? Do you think Ferguson got it dreadfully wrong only for Rio Ferdinand to be his get-out-of-jail-free card? Or does the 0-0 scoreline amply reflect what United set out to do in the first place, with the Old Trafford crowd in the second leg of the semi-final likely to lift them to Moscow?
Vote now and post your comments below.
It was a costly miss, no doubt. Manchester United would have been prohibitive favourites to advance to the Champions League final had Cristiano Ronaldo been able to beat Victor Valdes from 12 yards in the semi-final first leg in Barcelona on Wednesday night.
But just in case the best player in world football was feeling a little low, we would like to bring a little perspective to proceedings - it was neither the most important and nowhere near the funniest - mishap from 12 yards.
Below are some of our favourite and most memorable penalty-kick failures: enjoy and please feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment field at the bottom of this post.
World wars are not decided by penalty kicks, but World Cups are, so Roberto Baggio's miss in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil - which gifted the trophy to the South American side - has to go down as the most crucial in history.
These were pretty vital, too, especially if you happen to be an England fan. In two parts, this fine piece of footage (part one is here, click here for part two) contains the infamous Stuart Pearce and Chirs Waddle penalty misses in the World Cup semi-final defeat by Germany at Italia '90.
What are you smiling about, David Batty? Here's your equally poor attempt which cost England against old foes Argentina at World Cup 1998.
David Beckham is renowned as a setpiece specialist, but even he had his off days. This little beauty against Portugal at Euro 2004 missed by more than any of the other efforts in our collection.
After the vitally important (where the emotional wellbeing of millions of your fellow citizens rests in your hands) there is the downright funny.
Poor Peter Devine's effort for Lancaster City, has to rank among the worst penalties ever taken. Unless, that is, you know better?
And you might not believe it, but Martin Keown knows all about the pain and humiliation of missing a penalty - because he did so at his own testimonial match.
Remember Arsene Wenger complaining earlier in the season about Nani showboating at Old Trafford and humiliating his players - what about this famous blunder between Robert Pires and Thierry Henry - if that isn't trying to wipe the opposition's nose in it, then what is? Perhaps M. Wenger had forgotten that one, or perhaps he didn't see it?
Ain't no crossbar high enough, ain't no goalmouth wide enough to keep you from looking a fool. Ronaldo is not the only world-class entertainer who's embarrassed themselves from 12 yards.
There must be loads more - please send us in your favourites - if it has an accompanying video clip link along with it, then so much the better.
So he is human after all. Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with the chance to put Manchester United in total control of their Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona on Wednesday night, but for once, he fluffed his lines.
It was not a game to remember, if we are honest, one of those nervy European nights when, though neither camp will admit it in public, both ended up being happy that they had not conceded a goal.
However, it certainly was not short of talking points.
Firstly, Martin Samuel raised a very good point yesterday about the danger of branding Manchester United a one-man team. Of course, we know they are more than that and to say this is to do a disservice to the rest of a very talented squad. But for once Ronaldo let the side down and no-one else in the United side stepped up to the plate and came to his rescue. Where was Wayne Rooney or Carlos Tevez when a goal would have all but taken United through?
Perhaps one shouldn’t mention this, but there were some cheers in the office when Ronaldo kick missed (what do you mean, we are all supposed to be unbiased?) But why was this: is there still animosity towards the Portugal international for getting Wayne Rooney sent off at Euro 2004? Does Ronaldo - who still falls over too easily at times - deserve the schadenfreude?
Or is it a jealousy of Manchester United. Shouldn’t we in this country welcome the success of other English clubs when our own are not playing or in the case of the side I follow (Leeds United) never likely to enjoy big European nights like that again in our lifetime.
And what about the significance of the goalless draw itself – who do you think has the advantage now? United will be happy not to have lost in Spain, particularly as they played well below their own normal high standards. Barcelona, while suspect at the back, possess the flair players which means they are always capable of scoring a goal – and if they succeed in doing so at Old Trafford, that means Manchester United will have to score twice.
What do you think? It's the usual drill - leave your comments below.
Richard Neale
Continue reading "Own up: did you laugh at Ronaldo last night?" »
After a turbulent few seasons that has seen the club teeter on the brink of financial ruin, a 2-0 defeat to Hereford last night saw Wrexham lose their Football League status for the first time in their 87 year existence. The relegation comes 30 years to the day after Wrexham sealed their first promotion to the old Second Division - the highest level the club has played in.
But the plucky Welsh club has often batted way above its average, launching two famous European Cup Winners Cup campaigns in the 1970s, and beating Swedish side IF Djurgardens and Poland's Stal Rzeszo before going out to eventual winners Anderlecht in the quarter-final in 1976.
However, it was 1992 that saw the club's greatest triumph, in a night long cherished by Totterham fans they knocked the then league champions Arsenal out of the third round of the FA Cup, with the talismanic Mickey Thomas firing in a fabulous freekick before Steve Watkins grabbed a late winner in a famous 2-1 victory.
Brian Little will remain as manager and plans a big shake up to revive the ailing club's fortunes. But there is one small crumb of comfort for Wrexham as their Racecourse ground is currently undergoing redevelopement to make it the only non-league stadium in the UK to host international matches.
John Arne Riise's last-gasp own goal changed everything, at least in the minds of the bookmakers, who are now quoting Chelsea at a general price of 2/1 to win the Champions League, with Liverpool out at 5/1. But is it as clear-cut as that, are the Londoners clear favourites to progress to the final in Moscow even though they were lucky to escape from Anfield with a draw?
The stats seem to say that Chelsea simply cannot fail. Since the present format of three knock-out rounds before the final was adopted for the Champions League, in the 2003-04 season, nine first-leg matches have finished 1-1. On seven of those nine occasions, the team that failed to make home advantage count have been eliminated, six times by losing the second leg, once on penalties after a second 1-1 draw. A further good omen for the Blues is that the only team to buck the trend - by drawing 1-1 at home and then winning on the road – are Chelsea themselves. They have managed the feat twice, against Valencia last season and Arsenal in 2004.
(winners in capital letters)
2008:
1st knock-out round: Lille v MANCHESTER UNITED; 1-1, 0-1.
QF: Arsenal v LIVERPOOL; 1-1, 2-4.
2007:
1KR: FC Porto v CHELSEA; 1-1, 1-2.
QF: CHELSEA v Valencia; 1-1, 2-1.
2006:
1KR: Bayern Munich v AC MILAN; 1-1, 1-4.
2005:
1KR: FC Porto v INTERNAZIONALE; 1-1, 1-3
QF: Lyon v PSV EINDHOVEN; 1-1, 1-1 (PSV won on penalties)
2004:
1KR: Bayern Munich v REAL MADRID; 1-1, 0-1.
QF: CHELSEA v Arsenal 1-1, 2-1
If you do not trust the numbers and prefer to look at the evidence of last night’s match, then you may believe that the Reds still have a shout. After all, Petr Cech did not look at all comfortable dealing with crosses and Fernando Torres failed to convert a gilt-edged opportunity for the Merseysiders.
The counter-argument, of course, is that Liverpool have blown it and that Chelsea's formidable home record means it is impossible to look beyond Avram Grant's side. The West Londoners are unbeaten at home in 100 matches - since a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal under Claudio Ranieri in February 2004 - and Liverpool have not scored on the eight occasions that Rafael Benitez has taken his team to Stamford Bridge in the past four seasons.
Of course, nit-pickers will point out that Chelsea were eliminated from the League Cup at Stamford Bridge by Charlton Athletic on October 26, 2005, although since it was on penalties after a 1-1 draw and extra time, it could be argued that it was not, technically, a defeat. Jose Mourinho, in fact, regularly argued the point. Could we be in for something similar next Tuesday?
What do you think? Cast your vote and have your say below.
As own goals go it was not half bad. Florent Malouda played in a hopeful ball from the left wing and you could see the cogs whirring round in John Arne Riise’s head.
Here it comes, at knee height, awkward that, and if I use the right foot that I employ more often for standing rather than leathering a football, I will probably end up slicing it into my own net. I know what I’ll do, go for the more sensible option and head it instead…oh dear. The rest, as the say, is history. Whether Riise goes down in Liverpool or Chelsea folklore in years to come will depend on the outcome of the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.
Tom Dart has compiled his personal Own Goal Hall of Shame, below. How do you think Riise's spectacular effort last night compares to these howlers?
Continue reading "The Own Goal Hall of Shame: where does Riise rank?" »
The Rev Clifford Reed has complained that the East Anglian derby "disturbed" his congregation. He said worshippers in Ipswich had to "contend" with the noise of a police helicopter circling above the town on Sunday, April 13. "This is quite unacceptable, if not illegal, as I believe it is an offence to disrupt a service of worship."
He explained that he had to raise his voice during the service and quiet reflection was impossible. A feeling Norwich supporters must have shared after their team's 2-1 defeat. They haven't had 'God' in their lives since Jeremy Goss left them in 1996.
It is not known if Reed, who has practised at the Unitarian Meeting House in Ipswich for 30 years, had a problem with Billy Graham preaching at Portman Road in 1984 but his no-nonsense approach makes him a clear favourite to manage our all-time holy XI to greater glory.
Here's the line-up: John Paul II, Remi Moses, Brett Angell, Danny Pugh, Ian St John, Enrico Chiesa, Eddie Pope, Ian Bishop, Gary Monk, Sean Devine, Johnny Metgod. Subs: Andrew Surman, Nathan Abbey, Owen Archdeacon.
If there is a player we have missed? Do us a good deed and add their names below.
The Shaun Wright-Phillips fan club suffered a massive blow today, when it was announced that Ian Wright has sensationally quit Match of the Day, claiming he was forced to act like a “court jester”.
Now, many of you might claim that Wright was able to achieve that feat all on his own, however the former Arsenal great, says he was made to provide the light entertainment, while messrs Shearer, Hansen and Lawrenson got to do all the in-depth analysis – which we all know you had on the tip of your tongue, Ian.
Continue reading "Ian 'Court Jester' Wright quits Match of the Day" »
Tom Hicks this morning delivered a withering attack on Rick Parry, Liverpool's chief executive, saying his leadership has been a "disaster".
"We have fallen so far behind the other leading clubs," Hicks said. "We should have the stadium built by now. We have a few major sponsors when we should have 15. We have still got the top brand in the world of football but that's no good if you don't know how to commercialise it. Rick needs to resign from Liverpool FC. He has put his heart into it but it is time for a change. You have to be able to work with the manager and Rick has proved he can't do that."
It was another broadside in the ongoing turmoil that has engulfed Liverpool since Hicks and his fellow American co-owner, George Gillett Jr, took over in February last year.
The murky affair has left a bad taste in the mouth at Anfield but what can sort the mess out?
Now is the time to speak, Liverpool fans. What exactly do you want? The owners to sell up to Dubai International Capital? Hicks and Gillett to sort out their differences? A new manager who will launch a realistic challenge on the Premier League?
Here is your chance to solve the problems. Vote below and send in your comments.
The boos rang out at half-time at Stamford Bridge and then again at the final whistle. It seems second in the Premier League and a chance, albeit slim, of winning the title is not enough. The supporters have spoken.
Or have they?
Is this the true voice of Chelsea? Does Avram Grant deserve the sack? He inherited a team that his predecessor, Jose Mourinho, built - and we all know what happened to him.
Doesn't the manager deserve at least a full season to prove his worth? Or does his bland, workmanlike style of football turn you off?
We already know what Arsenal think: the majority feel Arsene Wenger should stay despite not winning a trophy this season because of the entertainment he provides.
No flair and no silverware is obviously too much to bear in west London. So vote now: should Grant be sacked or spared?
Yesterday, I was involved in a typical Sunday morning football match. A few overage, overweight lads turned out with a dusty head from the night before and an enthusiasm that their legs could no longer match.
A couple of dodgy tackles went in from both sides, words were exchanged and then forgotten. At the end of the 90 minutes we all shook hands and headed to the pub to dissect what was a decent game played in the right spirit: competitive, yet fun for all involved. The plan was to have a beer or two and then get off to spend the rest of the day with our families.
Except we didn’t get as far as the pub because the police had cordoned off both exits from the ground. It was also a crime scene.
A footballer on an adjacent pitch had stabbed one of the opposing team’s players.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed an altercation between two players took place during the game and again afterwards, at which point the victim was stabbed once in the left abdomen. He was discharged from hospital today. Four men in their twenties were arrested and charges are expected to be brought later this afternoon.
It makes you wonder. What on earth could possess someone to potentially kill an opponent, probably because of a squabble over sport?
I play football to stay fit, to see my friends, to let off steam from the previous week at work. I enjoy a rugged tackle – some you win, some you lose. I accept I may get a whack across my nose or a kick on my knee. Sometimes there’s a scuffle but it’s |
FA Cup Final day. The only day of the year that your mum wouldn't admonish you off for watching television by saying "It's a lovely day. Turn that thing off and get outside." And it always seemed to be sunny, so you closed the curtains to avoid glare giving your living room the feel of a funeral parlour.
