The FA Cup 3rd Round

Well another year of Third Round football in the FA Cup was not without its fair share of drama. Of the 20 premiership sides, 6 are already out, 8 only managed a draw and 6 are through. Of the 8 that drew, 4 were playing Premiership opposition meaning another 2 will definitely go out. The other 4 are against lower opposition where anything could happen including the likes of 13 times finalists, Liverpool against League 1 Luton Town.

This surely gives hope to lower league sides with only 8 (min) to 12 (max) Premiership sides left in the 4th round. However this does including the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United who both cruised past their opponents in the 3rd round.

Chasetown FC put up a valiant performance as the lowest ranked team to ever reach the 3rd round but couldn't manage to get past a resilient Cardiff City. Non-league Havant & Waterlooville managed a well earned draw against League 1 high flying Swansea to set up a tasty replay and Southend United had the highest aggregate score of the 3rd Round with a 5-2 victory over local team Dagenham and will now be looking forward to the next round.

If Premiership sides keep getting drawn against each other, it is very likely that a non-Premiership will make the final this year. Bring on May 17th!!!

Just another England manager?

From 7th January 2008, Fabio Capello takes over as manager of the England national football team, a job that has seen many a manager torn apart by the press. So what's different about this guy?

Well nothing really apart from one thing. This guy has played with and, more importantly, managed some of the highest profile players in the world. Two innings as the AC Milan manager and two as the Real Madrid manager has seen the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, David Beckham, Francesco Totti and Fabio Cannavaro, being handled by this experienced man.

5 Italian Titles, 2 Spanish Titles and 1 Champions League are just a few of the honours won in his management career which began in 1991. No prior national side management experience but 32 appearances as a player for the Italian national side which included scoring the winning goal 3 minutes from time in a 1-0 win against England in 1973 as Italy triumph at Wembley for the 1st ever time.

Hopefully this time the FA have got the right guy. Possibly a second choice (behind José Mourinho) but in time it could be the right choice! Capello has been quoted saying "It would be the ultimate to win the World Cup and then retire". I think most England fans (and the press) would be ok with that!!!