FA Cup: Is Tottenham’s name on the trophy or can Arsenal end their trophy drought?

While the FA Cup holders Manchester City and Premier League champions Manchester United have been knocked out of the world’s most-loved cup competition, Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur have breezed through to the fifth round of the FA Cup. They saw off Cheltenham 3-0 at the Lane before just edgin...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A prosperous week for Liverpool in the cups but off the field is a different story

The days leading up to the weekend’s FA Cup Fourth Round ties were not particularly pleasant for many football fans, a week in which the unseemly and murky face of football was glaringly apparent. Many column inches were devoted to the tax-evasion trial of Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, as well as th...

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Liverpool: Can the Reds complete a Manchester Double against United?

Kenny Dalglish’s men booked their place in the final of the Carling Cup in midweek with an aggregate win over Premier League leaders Manchester City, but on Saturday they host the Premier League champions and fierce rivals Manchester United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. Can Liverpool do the d...

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Swindon: I'll Accept Di Canio's Cuffs But Mourn His Spontaneity

One of the better games over the FA Cup weekend was Swindon Town taking on Wigan. The League Two side defeated the Latics with a last-gasp goal; a goal which sent a certain enigmatic manager absolutely nuts on the touchline. And yes, Paolo Di Canio was given a one-match ban for his ‘exaggerated...

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How can the FA and League Cups regain their magic?

I am not sure who had the worst week, Manchester City or the two English cup competitions. A comparatively modest crowd of 36,017 witnessed City’s defeat in the first leg of Carling Cup semi-final. The low turn out even drew comment from BBC pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer. After a w...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Manchester disunited but the magic of the FA Cup is alive and well

The much talked about magic of the FA Cup was present in abundance this Sunday during the huge third round Manchester showdown, in fact there was more magic contained in the 90 minutes than during a Paul Daniels swingers party. Chris Foy’s card tricks, a disappearing City captain and most mystifying...

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Sunderland: Can O’Neill guide the Black Cats to FA Cup success?

Is Martin O’Neill the second coming or is he just a very good manager? The former Celtic and Aston Villa boss has had an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light and has transformed a side that couldn’t score in a brothel to one that is now scoring for fun. The Black Cats have climbed into the top ...

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Manchester City: Can They Compound The Misery For United?

It just goes to show the big boys can be dismissed; a point or even three can be taken from them. City drew with West Brom and lost to Sunderland whilst United made it two defeats in a row against Blackburn and Newcastle. The situations are reversed: usually it is United coming back after a loss,...

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The View Outside The Premier League: Southampton Lose Again While Bristol Rovers Stage Goal of the Season

Saturdays Championship results would have delighted the bookmakers as both Southampton and West Ham United went down to unexpected defeats. Middlesbrough and Leeds United were both beneficiaries as the top two lost, while Doncasters victory threw more gloom towards Coventry City. Nigel Adkins has e...

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FA Cup Second Round: How Many Non-Leaguers Will Reach Round Three?

This weekend is one with the promise of early Christmas presents for a select band of non-league clubs. Twelve are in the draw for the Second Round of the FA Cup with a chance to mix it with the elite if they can progress. It may be a cliche to say they will be dreaming of being paired with Manches...

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Bristol Rovers: 10 Handy facts on AFC Totton

Bristol Rovers could become the victim of an FA Cup giant killing this weekend when they travel to AFC Totton, but how much do you know about the hosts? The Pirates saw off the threat of Blue Square North side Corby Town in the last round, but that was at the Memorial Stadium. This time they are aw...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Spain conquered, but Fabio gets a reality check from a Spurs and England legend

I don’t know if you noticed but the greatest footballing nation of recent years popped over during the weekend. You could quite legitimately be forgiven for letting it pass you by though, as the life of an England supporter over recent times has left the vast majority of us bare husks, bereft of hop...

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Plymouth Argyle: 10 Handy Facts on FA Cup opponents Stourbridge

This weekend the Pilgrims host to Stourbridge in the First Round of the FA Cup, but how much do you know about your opponents? Stourbridge started their FA Cup campaign with a 2-1 win at Bewdley in the first qualifying round before travelling to Barwell and easing past them 2-0. Their first home ga...

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Bristol Rovers: 10 Handy facts on FA Cup opponents Corby Town

Bristol Rovers play host to Corby Town in the First Round of the FA Cup this weekend, but how much do you know about the visitors? Corby got their FA Cup campaign off with a 3-1 replay win over Histon at home in the second qualifying round after being held to a draw at the Conference strugglers. Th...

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MK Dons: 10 Handy Facts About FA Cup Opponents Nantwich Town

Nantwich Town are one of those non-league clubs going through the best period in their history. This weekend they appear in the FA Cup First Round for the first time in their 127 year history - over the pastfive years the club keep hitting new heights. In 2006 Nantwich won the FA Vase Final, play...

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FA Cup: Ashington In Sight Of Glory

Its that time of year again. No, not the Champions League group stages or mega games in the Premier League, although thosematches do have some interest, Ill admit. But for many football fans in England - the ones who follow their local sides - its the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup that reall...

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Manchester City: Tevez, Telephones and Tedium

Im not sure whats been worse over the last week or so, the phone hacking scandal or the Tevez transfer saga?Maybe if the News Of The World was still in existence it could report, with its tele-pathic powers, where Tevez will be moving to? If I were a Manchester City fan I would just like to see th...

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Would you like to write for Squarefootball?

Do you live, breathe and sleep football? Do you have a passion for writing and want your views to be read by a potential audience of millions? Then we at Squarefootball Towers would love to hear from you. Whether you follow Aberdeen or Accrington Stanley, West Ham United or Wolfsburg, we can offer ...

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Manchester City v Stoke City: City to win the cup, but which one?

Roberto Mancinis target this season was to finish in the top four and win a piece of silverware. The Italian guaranteed Champions League football on Tuesday night. Today he has the chance to end Citys barren trophy run and write his name into City history.But looking to ruin the billionaires big day...

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Coventry to Manchester, via Birmingham and Stoke: The magic of the cup

The train journey from Coventry to Manchester takes about two hours, but the footballing fortunes of four football clubs along that line are worlds apart. For Coventry City fans the days of Houchen, Bennett and Kilcline must seem a very distance memory. The team managed by John Sillett won the FA C...

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Why is the League Cup less important than the FA Cup?

In an earlier article I backed a change to a British League Cup because the League Cup is less valuable than the FA Cup - heres why its less valuable. The League Cup has less history; in England and Scotland the competition was derived to generate money to help pay for and justify the floodlights t...

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British League Cup makes sense for an undervalued competition

The latest discussion of a British League Cup has been started by an ongoing desire for Scottish teams to be able to regularly able to compete with English ones. This would improve cash flow to Scottish clubs by improved attendances and possibly TV revenue. It would also provide fresh challenges to ...

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Manchester City: FA Cup success or Champions League football? You decide

There’s bound to be a few sore heads on the blue half of Manchester this morning after Roberto Mancini’s millionaires booked their side’s place in the FA Cup Final and ended their city rival’s Treble dreams to boot. It was the perfect weekend for everyone connected with the Eastlands club, but, as t...

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Get on side and sport your colours for Shelter this World Cup

In celebration of this years FIFA World Cup, housing and homelessness charity Shelter are teaming up with Nationwide Building Society, Official England Team sponsor, to launch their fantastic footy fundraiser, Strip4Shelter. Shelter is asking people across the country to replace their regular work ...

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FA Cup Final: Can Portsmouth spring huge shock against the champions?

The Premier League champions take on the Premier League’s basement boys at Wembley in the FA Cup Final this afternoon and most pundits are predicting a walk in the park for the champions. Chelsea will still be buzzing following their empathic 8-0 win over Wigan at the weekend to clinch the title and...

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Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth: Can Pompey can weekend on a high?

West Ham’s victory over Sunderland yesterday consigned Portsmouth to football in the Championship next season, but could they go down as FA Cup finalists? Avram Grant’s side have endured the season from hell on and off the pitch, but the former Chelsea boss will do all he can to ensure the long-suff...

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Aston Villa V Chelsea: O’Neill seeks revenge on Ancelotti

Two weeks ago Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea gave Martin O’Neill’s Villains an absolute pasting at Stamford Bridge as the Blues ran out 7-1 winners. It was such a rotten performance that some fans even started to call for O’Neill’s head. However, the former Celtic and Leicester City chief has the chance ...

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Portsmouth v Birmingham: Blue day in store at Fratton Park

It’s amazing how far a club can fall in the space of two years. In 2008 Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City to lift only their second FA Cup and embarked on a European adventure. This season they are rooted to the foot of the Premier League having sold the majority of their star names, been placed in a...

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FA Cup: Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur: Will Redknapp get the better of Hodgson?

Spurs haven’t managed to defeat Fulham in the league at Craven Cottage since the Cottagers’ debut season in the Premier League back in 2002. However, their last visit across the capital in the FA Cup in 2006 resulted in a 4-0 thrashing for the home side and Harry Redknapp would love a similar scorel...

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Aston Villa: The month of March could stop Villa’s march to glory

Martin O’Neill has been at Villa Park for three-and-a-half years now and has achieved an awful lot at the club. He’s re-established them as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League, taken them back into Europe and assembled a young, exciting and good to watch side. However, there’s one thin...

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Is the FA Cup heading back to the Midlands?

I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was 1987 and the sun shone on Wembley as unfancied Coventry City, managed by John Sillett and making their first ever appearance in an FA Cup Final, beat David Pleat’s Tottenham Hotspur in one of the most exciting finals ever. Coventry’s Keith Houchen’s fa...

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Tottenham Hotspur: FA Cup glory or Champions League – What’s more important to you?

Many top flight managers have been criticised this season in the FA Cup for resting established first team stars in order to give some of their fringe players a chance to get some game time and show what they can do. Harry Redknapp insists that he will never fall into that category. The former Por...

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Is the FA Cup exit a bonus for Manchester United?

Arsene Wenger seems determined that the FA Cup is detrimental to his side; firstly he widely reported his desire to field another youthful team in the competition. And then when the kids do him proud (again) he is quick to spot a glass that is half full. Manchester United's exit is surely a great ...

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Everton adjust to new targets

The bitter experience of losing the derby game to Liverpool last weekend did not disguise the improvement in Everton's performance. And last night, despite a debilitating injury list, Everton showed the passion to record a win that saw them qualify for the knock-out stages of the Europa League. Fu...

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Two Big Cup Dates For Accrington Stanley

Returning to the Football League hasnt quite been the exciting adventure that Accrington Stanley fans might have expected when the Lancashire club topped the Conference by a distance in 2005/06. Theres been an ugly betting scandal involving some players, crowds that have rarely reached the break ev...

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Good News At Last For Northwich Fans

The FA Cup can reward struggling teams whose supporters have had to put up with a diet of gloom for many years. This year Northwich Victoria have finally found some luck and after beating Charlton Athletic they will be at home again in Round Two. Home for the Vics used to be the Drill Field where t...

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Sir Bobby Robson - A tribute to a true gentleman

The world of football lost one of its most famous sons yesterday. Sir Bobby Robson, the former Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Barcelona and England manager, passed away aged 76 following a long battle with lung cancer. Fans, players, pundits and managers have been paying their respect to Robson wit...

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Chelsea v Everton: Whose name is on the cup?

Chelsea and Everton have cancelled each other out in the league this season but will it be another cagey affair at Wembley on Saturday or are we going to see two teams going toe-to-toe with each other in a cup classic? It’s unlikely to be the latter but it should still prove to be an intriguing cl...

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Chelsea: The Blues’ road to Wembley

Chelsea take on Everton at Wembley on Saturday in the FA Cup final. It will be Chelsea’s second cup final in three years. Here we take a look at how they reached the final of the greatest cup competition in the world. Third round – Chelsea 1 Southend 1 Chelsea were handed a home tie against League...

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Everton: The Toffees' road to Wembley

Everton play Chelsea on Saturday in their first FA Cup final for 14 years. Here we take a look at how they reached the final of the greatest cup competition in the world. Third round – Macclesfield 0 Everton 1 Everton’s cup campaign started with a potential banana skin away at Macclesfield in the ...

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Arsenal's kingmakers can expect the crown soon

Arsenal is in the somewhat unexpected position of remaining in contention to win the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Especially unexpected, considering that only a few weeks ago Arsenal was struggling to stay in contention with Aston Villa for fourth place. The Premier Leagu...

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Arsenal v Chelsea- The FA Cup History

Saturdays semi-final is the thirteenth time that these two London clubs have clashed in the FA Cup. Theres a definite advantage to Arsenal as the Gunners won eight of the previous twelve. In fact, Arsenal are a team Chelsea fans just dont want to see. The Blues havent knocked the Gunners out of thi...

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Manchester United v Everton- The FA Cup History

Sundays FA Cup semi-final brings together two teams who have clashed quite often in the FA Cup. The current record is five wins each. Strangely these two sides have never fought out a draw in this competition- one match is all its taken every time. When Manchester United and Everton are drawn toge...

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Everton and Chelsea look good FA Cup value

Four teams in the top six lost last weekend, and although it could be disastrous for Aston Villa's top four hopes it probably also ended Everton's shot at the big money for another season. But with no European distractions and with sixth place and a Europa League slot already secured Everton can de...

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Villa & Everton – Serious Top Four Gatecrashers?

Not since 2004-05 has any club had the audacity to attempt to gatecrash the golden top four. Everton were the last to have any of the other elite on the periphery – that season it was their neighbours Liverpool.As we approach the three quarters mark of this season, Aston Villa and Everton are trying...

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FA Cup: 6th Round Draw Keeps Big Guns Apart

2007/08 was a remarkable year when only a single Premiership club reached the semi-finals. This year the Sixth Round draw has produced a completely different prospect. Though the draw is full of ifs and buts due to replays and fixture congestion, one clear fact stood out- in each potential tie ther...

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Not sure if Everton vs Villa will yield many goals

The tie of the FA Cup fifth round is clearly, Everton vs Aston Villa. In Premier League terms sixth plays third, and two teams hoping for a shot at the glamour and money of the Champions' League through finishing in the top four. But the immediate glamour of the FA Cup is on offer here and the win...

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West Ham look good for a run to Wembley

The FA Cup is still a prize to be treasured and the curious fifth round draw could present West Ham with a great chance of a run to Wembley. Only nine top flight teams are definitely in the last sixteen, although Arsenal could beat Cardiff to make it ten. The prospect remains that the last eight c...

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FA Cup 5th Round: Blackburn Rovers v Coventry City Preview

This tie is one of those ones where the attitude of the respective teams could be crucial to the outcome. Of the two sides, Rovers have more worries about their League status. Sam Allardyce was hired to get Blackburn out of relegation trouble and hes made an excellent start towards that end. Howeve...

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Middlesbrough: Teessiders seek capital joy in FA Cup

Middlesbrough fans have not had a lot to smile about recently. They’ve watch their team slump into the bottom three of the Premier League, fail to win in their past 13 league games and score just once in their past eight league outings. But on Saturday they will travel in force to Upton Park confide...

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