by THE CUP WILL RUN OUT
After Newcastle’s FA Cup win over Blackburn on Tuesday, Eddie Howe claimed his side’s victory could be a “sliding doors moment”, one of those seemingly unpredictable events that dramatically change course. future events. The following night, the metaphorical doors in question seemed to be violently closed against him as his team traveled away to Manchester City in the quarter-finals. While this brutal draw doesn’t completely rule out Newcastle’s chances of reaching the semi-finals and getting a day off at Wembley, it greatly reduces the chances of Geordies having their own sliding doors moment on the Metropolitan line in April .
On the same night that Newcastle went to Ewood Park, Luton were subjected to the kind of enslavement by City that always earns the best one of those shrill tributes that Pep Guardiola gives to teams that offered little resistance. “I think Luton’s central defenders defended very well,” he said, having just seen them prove how difficult the visitors can play at Kenilworth Road, unless it’s a preposterously talented Norwegian giant. you run on to inch perfect passes from. An almost supernaturally accurate Belgian. “Sometimes when you come up against that kind of opposition you get a bit carried away,” Luton’s almost preternaturally handsome manager Rob Edwards revealed after the game, having previously admitted – tongue in cheek on the cheek – that his other side was “good enough” in victory.
With Kasey Palmer and Ellis Simms replicating the back pains of Haaland-De Bruyne 24 hours before it became fashionable, Coventry became the lowest left side in this year’s competition after previous lowest, Maidstone United, to achieve. This earned them a trip to Wolves, whose supporters were delighted by the sight of Gary O’Neil giving him the Full Klopp in fist-pumping action after a narrow victory at Brighton. The quarter-final is already being talked about as a possible powder-keg derby, even if West Brom-supporting fans of Football Daily’s acquaintance insist that none of the Baggies, Aston Villa, Birmingham City or Wolves have any stronger feelings than almost completely . indifference to Coventry, which must be pouring.
On balance, Leicester are the closest thing Mark Robins’ side have to their bitter rivals but victory at Bournemouth has earned them a trip to Stamford Bridge, where the billionaire blue bottles of Chelsea progressed to the quarter-finals lead by wiping out Leeds’ reserves. . Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Manchester United will host Liverpool, whose under-9s stayed up well past their bedtime to see Southampton, and a rising Erik ten Hag was left out worse coming off his team’s latest labor defeat raging against a cracked gag at the expense of Bruno Fernandes with [Football Daily checks notes] … the famously controversial administrators of Fulham’s TikTok account. And to think of some continuing to maintain the FA Cup has lost its magic.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY
“I always say the park is freedom for someone who can’t see. Those who know how to appreciate it can enjoy it as much as possible. Even if you lose, you pull, and even when things don’t go well, that’s where you’ll be free” – Gracia Sosa, star of Argentina’s blind women’s football team, talking to Júlia Belas Trindade in the latest issue of Moving the Goalposts.
DAILY FOOTBALL LETTERS
“Regarding yesterday’s Football Daily on the interim appointment of John O’Shea as Ireland’s captain. Since you regularly treat your reader to a smorgasbord of managers being led through the door marked ‘Do One’ in various languages, is it too much to ask Stephen Kenny’s big green ‘door’ to be marked ‘Remove’, or even ‘Go whistle’?” – Harry Wall.
Regarding Neil Rose on clapping or not clapping opposition players (Football Daily letters yesterday). My dad gets around this point if he doesn’t hit anyone, unless they get knocked out (they get two hits). If it was the opposition, it was because they were better than us so they should have been doing that or we had done badly. If it was ours, it was because the opposition performed poorly or were ‘just doing what they were paid to do’ (I don’t know if he extends this logic to other areas where it’s traditional to clap to show respect, like in the theatre), although his support seems pretty normal in all other respects, so maybe he doesn’t like clapping” – Andy Gill.
Neil, I’m inclined to agree, a show of appreciation for the opposition after a great display is rarely accepted. I was lucky (?) enough to witness and be part of the enduring love that Stretford End gave to Proper Ronaldo, after his epic hat-trick sent us through the exit door of the Super Cup 20 years ago. Sometimes you just have to stand there and applaud your greatness. Neil clearly doesn’t have a fantasy team, though. If it was, I’d imagine seeing Erling Haaland strutting in five days just after half the planet caught him three times in a doubleheader week – in which he scored a solo goal – would provoke a completely different reaction” – Mark Read .
No matter the team, style, panache, thrilling heroes, and a stomp on a match is always worth applauding. Neil is right” – Bill Preston.
As a man of a certain age originally from the north of England, I had to laugh at John Leach’s description of his father and grandfather as ‘essentially functional mutes of the northern type of the day’ (full email edition yesterday) . But then I started thinking about the verbiage being spewed by speakers and broadcasters and social media shaming about any and all topics, and I became rather unhappy with simpler times” – Colin Reed .
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. The winner of our letter today is … Andy Gill, who offers a copy of Pat Nevin: Football and how to survive it, published by Octopus Books.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Football Weekly Extra is here for you.
WRITE MORE
There was some tasty action in the Edinburgh Derby on Wednesday, after Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland equalized from the penalty spot. Shankland saw a pie hurled in his direction by the Hibernian fans, caught it with one hand, took a bite and rubbed it back. Objects were repeatedly thrown at players during the game. “They’re just idiots who are going to ruin the party for everyone. It’s not good enough, in the end,” Hearts boss Steven Naismith said after the 1-1 draw.
NEWS, YEAST AND BOBS
Paul Pogba says he is “shocked and heartbroken” after being banned for four years for a doping offence. The France and Juventus midfielder will appeal the ban, which could end his playing career, to the court of arbitration for sport.
Spain are proud of their first Women’s Nations League title after beating France 2-0 in Seville, with Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey on target for La Roja.
Liverpool are on course to make a pre-tax loss of £9m in 2022-23, according to the club’s latest accounts. The Premier League leaders’ wage bill rose to £373m and turnover remained steady at £594m, although commercial income reached an all-time high of £272m.
Premier League clubs are coming together to discuss current profit and sustainability rules and adopt a UEFA-style financial regulation framework.
Rochdale are in talks with a US investor over a takeover that would save them from liquidation. The National League needs a cash injection of £2m to stay afloat.
Dea Bhoys: Celtic are back on track at the Scottish Prison after a 7-1 shellacking of Dundee, but Rangers remain top after coming from behind to beat Kilmarnock. As for Neil Warnock’s Aberdeen, St Johnstone beat them 2-0 at home to extend their winless start.
Bad boys: Sassuolo are stuck in the bottom three of Serie A after a 6-1 win at Napoli.
Good news for Arsenal.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned by the Saudi FA for one match after making an offensive gesture towards an opposition fan. Ronaldo claimed he was “expressing strength and victory” with his pelvic thrusts after Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab. “It’s not shameful. We are used to it in Europe,” he said.
And Chelsea fan Paul Archer has been reunited with Prince Tandukar, the St John Ambulance youth volunteer whose life was saved by CPR after he went into cardiac arrest at November’s game against Manchester City. Doctors said it was a “miracle” that Archer survived as he had been clinically dead for 20 minutes. “Prince – a fitting name,” said the 66-year-old. “I am so grateful to be able to thank this impressive person. You may have broken all my ribs – but I love you for it.”
STILL ABOUT MORE?
Set pieces have gone from ugly duckling to game changer, writes Karen Carney.
Lionel Messi’s trip to face LA Galaxy with Inter Miami showed the Florida franchise is now the glamor club of MLS, reports Joseph D’Hippolito.
And from Stuart Pearce to Jude Bellingham, the art of “raising” a football crowd is a complex one, writes Douglas Carter.
MEMORY LANE
Leap Day will always be extra special for Middlesbrough fans; it was on 29 February 2004 – 20 years ago – that the club won the Milk Cup, beating Bolton 2-1 in the final in Cardiff. Here’s Gareth Southgate, the team’s captain that day, proving he knows how to get his hands on silverware.
