Tag: FA Cup

  • Chaos after Christmas as Amorim is abdicated

    Chaos after Christmas as Amorim is abdicated

    Just when it appeared the good ship Old Trafford was back smooth sailing, Manchester United appear destined for choppy waters once again with the sensational news that Ruben Amorim has been sacked by the power brokers at the Red Devils. His defenestration comes with United currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table, a point…

  • Eze to forget about loyalty or is it common sense?

    Eze to forget about loyalty or is it common sense?

    No matter how many straws one attempts to clutch at, sometimes you’ll never find the one you’re looking for. Or the one you’re hoping might be there somewhere, buried in a stockpile. Go back to a piece on these pages within the last week, and you will find reference to the fact that Dermot McCabe…

  • A case for belief

    A case for belief

    Manchester United… 2 Newcastle United… 0 It doesn’t happen too often, but when a gut feeling turns out to be right it adds another layer of glow to any success which may accrue from what the hunch was. The arrival and impact of Casemiro at Old Trafford fits snugly into the above bracket. It will…

  • FA Cup Fifth Round Draw

    FA Cup Fifth Round Draw

    Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhinnney could possibly be foisting their Welsh football revolution on one of the supposedly biggest clubs in England, on foot of last night’s FA Cup Fifth Round draw. Now read on… Should football’s most unlikely owners see their side advance past Sheffield United in next Wednesday’s replay at Bramall…

  • Boys of summer shortening the winter

    Boys of summer shortening the winter

    Manchester United… 3 Reading… 1 One night what is a scarily long time ago, yours truly was making his way home from the one and only house party I’ve ever been at. It was the time of the night/next morning that my main concern was trying not to bump into my brother on his way…

  • Losing the plot over Potter misses the point

    Losing the plot over Potter misses the point

    When Andy Cole took what felt like an eternity to score his first goal for Manchester United, you can be sure there were plenty wondering had Fergie lost his marbles shelling out what was a whopping £7M on the then Newcastle United striker. The wily old Scot seldom got decisions wrong. And, eventually, Cole would…

  • Some of the big guns are going to be de-commissioned at the first hurdle

    Some of the big guns are going to be de-commissioned at the first hurdle

    Holders Liverpool will begin the defence of their FA Cup title against a Wolves side currently languishing at the foot of the Premier League table. Jurgen Klopp’s side will no doubt be keen to construct a good run in the venerated old competition. Not only for the obvious reason that they are the holders thereof,…

  • Lampard a victim of his own relative success

    There are certain jobs in the sporting world that everybody would want, yet nobody would queue up for at the same time. Some roles are a poisoned chalice. Who would want to take over from some of the greatest managers in any sport – Sean Boylan, Brian Cody, Sir Alex Ferguson, Phil Jackson, the list…

  • Echoes of the past pointing to a bright future

    In an article in this space not so long ago, surprise and no little jealousy was expressed at seeing Sean Boylan attending the National League meeting of Dublin and Meath at Parnell Park. Owing to the Covid-19 restrictions and the perception – back then at least – that it was predominantly people of certain vintage…

  • Old foes paired together entering pivotal period of season

    Manchester United’s pairing with Liverpool is the pick of ties for the fourth round of the FA Cup following the draw for same which was completed a short time ago. It will be the old foes second collision in a week, the outcomes of which will be pivotal to both clubs’ seasonal aspirations. Other noteworthy…