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Like regionalised draws? Enjoy weirdly uneven group stages and flawed tiebreakers? Got a thing for points deductions with unexpected ramifications? Then you’ll love the Conti Cup (or Women’s League Cup if you prefer). And it has been a slightly farcical few days for a slightly farcical competition. First, the background. Last week Aston Villa hammered Sunderland 7-0 in their final group game, securing top spot in Group A and a place in the quarter-finals. Second-placed Sunderland were out, their points-per-game record (more of which later) not quite good enough, so Manchester United and Tottenham reached the last eight as the two best runners-up in the five groups. Fine, all good, nothing to see here.
Maidstone and Ipswich are ‘separated by 98 places in the pyramid’ (yesterday’s Football Daily). Really not a pyramid is it, not having a polygonal base and flat triangular faces that have a pointy bit at the top? It much more closely resembles a ladder, or perhaps a greasy pole” – Steve Allen.
While my sympathy lies with Jaidon Anthony (yesterday’s Road to Wembley, full email edition), I do think he put the referee in an impossible position as regards the mandatory yellow card for the tribute to his late mother. Beyond the specifics of the wording on the T-shirt, Anthony was four years old when this law changed in 2004; without picking on him specifically, it’s baffling that football or footballers haven’t yet come up with a method of paying tribute to someone that doesn’t incur an automatic caution. Then again, I’ve always been completely puzzled by the logical process that leads players to connect scoring a goal with taking their shirt off at all, never mind to the point where the authorities feel compelled to punish it” – Ed Taylor.
We appointed Darren [Moore] on the strength of his credentials as a manager,’ said Huddersfield suits when pushing him through the door marked Do One (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). I’m intrigued to know on what other basis a football club would appoint a manager. Surely not simply because they were once a brilliant player? Oh … Image of Wayne Rooney here please” – John Myles.
Continue reading…Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Like regionalised draws? Enjoy weirdly uneven group stages and flawed tiebreakers? Got a thing for points deductions with unexpected ramifications? Then you’ll love the Conti Cup (or Women’s League Cup if you prefer). And it has been a slightly farcical few days for a slightly farcical competition. First, the background. Last week Aston Villa hammered Sunderland 7-0 in their final group game, securing top spot in Group A and a place in the quarter-finals. Second-placed Sunderland were out, their points-per-game record (more of which later) not quite good enough, so Manchester United and Tottenham reached the last eight as the two best runners-up in the five groups. Fine, all good, nothing to see here.Maidstone and Ipswich are ‘separated by 98 places in the pyramid’ (yesterday’s Football Daily). Really not a pyramid is it, not having a polygonal base and flat triangular faces that have a pointy bit at the top? It much more closely resembles a ladder, or perhaps a greasy pole” – Steve Allen.While my sympathy lies with Jaidon Anthony (yesterday’s Road to Wembley, full email edition), I do think he put the referee in an impossible position as regards the mandatory yellow card for the tribute to his late mother. Beyond the specifics of the wording on the T-shirt, Anthony was four years old when this law changed in 2004; without picking on him specifically, it’s baffling that football or footballers haven’t yet come up with a method of paying tribute to someone that doesn’t incur an automatic caution. Then again, I’ve always been completely puzzled by the logical process that leads players to connect scoring a goal with taking their shirt off at all, never mind to the point where the authorities feel compelled to punish it” – Ed Taylor.We appointed Darren [Moore] on the strength of his credentials as a manager,’ said Huddersfield suits when pushing him through the door marked Do One (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). I’m intrigued to know on what other basis a football club would appoint a manager. Surely not simply because they were once a brilliant player? Oh … Image of Wayne Rooney here please” – John Myles. Continue reading…
