FOOTY FAIR

Throwback Thursdays: Beckham Announces Himself to the World (1996)

2016-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

On the 17th of August 1996, Manchester United kicked off the defense of their English Premier League title with a 3-0 away win over Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

A fairly routine sounding win over a side that would be uprooted to Milton Keynes within a few years may seem to the average reader like a pretty nondescript article for a Throwback Thursday piece, but the third goal in this contest changed the life of one of United's players and catapulted him to stardom few footballers have experienced before or since.

Before that 90th minute strike though, Eric Cantona the mercurial Frenchman who had led United to the league and cup double in 1995-1996 opened the scoring with a well struck effort in the 25th minute.

The always reliable Irish left-back Denis Irwin then doubled the Reds advantage on 58 minutes.

With the points already in the bag, and the match almost at it's conclusion, David Beckham received the ball just inside his own half and spotted Neil Sullivan off his line.

Beckham, at that point had made 42 league appearances for the club and was recognized as a key piece of the young side that had taken the club to such unexpected heights the previous season. He was about to become a superstar though.

Moving up towards the halfway line, Beckham hammered a hard, looping shot towards Sullivan's goal.

Racing back to try and keep it out, the helpless Sullivan could only look on as the ball sailed past him and into the net.

Beckham would then find himself on the cover of all the major British sports pages the next day and the boy from Leytonstone would quickly become a household name.

The United winger would later say of that goal: "It changed my life. The ball seemed to be in the air for hours and it all went quiet. Then the ball went in and it just erupted. I was on cloud nine. I just wanted to shake everybody's hand and be out on the pitch for an hour."

Beckham would go from strength to strength as he helped United defend their league title that season.

Success on the pitch also led to much attention off of it, and when he started dating Spice Girl singer Victoria Adams in 1997 the famous couple came to be dubbed "Posh and Becks" by the British Press.

David Beckham the footballer, almost overnight, became Brand Beckham.

Pokemon GO? Not on Mourinho's Watch

2016-07-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Pokemon Go, the augmented reality game for smart phones that sweeping the planet and causing some chuckleheads to walk onto train tracks has been one of the biggest stories of the summer.

People from all walks of life have bought into the game, even professional footballers and it's easy to see the attraction.

According to sources within Manchester United though, new manager Jose Mourinho isn't a big fan of the game and has warned his players that it's an unnecessary distraction in the build-up to matches.

Therefore the Portuguese boss has told the players that they have to abstain from any Pokemon Go hi-jinks for at least 48 hours before a match. He would prefer that they concentrate on the tactics the squad has been working on.

Mourinho isn't a complete technophobe though, as he regularly updates his own Instagram with updates about his job and life away from the training pitch, but he'd better not find out that Phil Jones has walked straight into a brick wall while trying to catch a Pikachu.

5 Celebrities That Could Have Become Professional Footballers

2016-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

All Professional footballers, even the ones that you consider to be crap, have a high level of technical and physical ability that elevate them beyond most of us mere mortals.

When a young player doesn't make it into the professional game it's usually a result of them not quite having these essential attributes or perhaps a case of them sustaining a serious injury.

If a former trialist or youth team player doesn't make it into the big time, most of them often go back to school in search of another career or perhaps go into coaching. Their dreams of playing under bright lights and driving home to their big houses in exotic cars are seemingly out the window.

The crushing disappointment of not making into the professional game hasn't meant the end of a life in the spotlight for these five former football trialists and youth team stars though:

1.) Gordan Ramsay - Glasgow Rangers

As a boy, the hot tempered celebrity chef Gordan Ramsay had trials in 1984 with his beloved local club Rangers before a serious knee injury cut his football career short. He would later say that the pain of not making professionally at Ibrox is what spurred him on to become a Michelin Star winning chef.

2.) Gavin Rossdale - Chelsea

Lead singer of mid-90s grunge wannabes Bush, Gavin Rossdale had trials at Chelsea but didn't quite make the grade. He would later star as England international Stanley Mortensen in the film The Game of Their Lives which recounted the tale of the United States 1-0 upset of the Three Lions at the 1950 World Cup.

3.) Antonio Banderas - Malaga

The Spanish actor Antonio Banderas was a gifted striker in Malaga's youth side in the mid-1970's before a foot injury ended his dreams of making it as a professional footballer.

4.) David Frost - Nottingham Forest

Best known for his incendiary interview with disgraced former United States President Richard Nixon in 1977, the late journalist David Frost was both a talented cricket player and footballer in his youth. He turned down an offer to sign for Nottingham Forest at age 17 to instead enroll at Cambridge University.

5.) Sean Connery - Manchester United

Already 23 years old, Sean Connery was on tour with the production South Pacific in 1953 and playing football part-time when he caught the eye of Manchester United's legendary boss Matt Busby. Connery was offered a £25 a week contract at Old Trafford, but chose to turn it down as he preferred to continue on in the path that would later lead him to becoming one of the most famous actors in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Looking Beyond the Surface

2016-07-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

There is a lot to dislike about Cristiano Ronaldo.

From his mugging for the cameras, to his ripping his shirt off after scoring the sixth goal in a 7-1 rout of some minnow like Getafe, or his sulking when things don't go his way it's easy to see why he rubs some people the wrong way.

In fairness, even if his detractors are loath to admit it, some of the disdain for which he's held in by some surely comes down to jealousy.

The Portuguese captain is a supremely gifted footballer, who is also good looking and as a result is one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. He owns cars that most of us will only see on Top Gear, let alone drive, is incredibly wealthy and has dated some of the most beautiful women in the world.

So it isn't hard to hate him, particularly when he's gesticulating at teammates for not passing him the ball when he thinks he's in a good position or if he's making faces at the cameras.

When he's invariably compared to his great rival, the supposedly humble choirboy Lionel Messi, he doesn't come off looking good on the surface. But beyond the posturing is a man who had nothing handed to him and who worked his ass off to become one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Growing up in poverty in Santo António, a neighborhood of Funchal, Madeira, the future Manchester United and Real Madrid star shared a small bedroom with his brother and sister. His father, a municipal gardener, and his mother who worked as a cook, did their best to provide for Cristiano and his three older siblings while encouraging him as he made first steps into youth football.

After going on a trial with Sporting CP at age 12, Ronaldo did enough to convince the club's coaches to sign him to a semi-professional contract while he continued on at school.

Despite quickly becoming a star with the Sporting youth side, Ronaldo at first struggled in Lisbon as he was teased and bullied in school because of his thick Madeira accent.

He would more than have the last laugh on his former peers who claimed that he didn't speak real Portuguese, when he broke into Sporting's first team at age 16.

After impressing during his debut season, he caught the eye of Manchester United after tearing them apart in a pre-season friendly and was quickly signed by the Reds legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Given the number seven jersey, a sacred number at Old Trafford that had previously been worn by the likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, Ronaldo did not feel the weight of the shirt as some have done since and gradually improved his game over his first three seasons in England.

When he initially landed in the red half of Manchester, the knock on Ronaldo was that although he was a talented dribbler he was often knocked off the ball quite easily and he didn't consistently deliver the end result befitting his obvious ability.

Besides his work on the training pitch, where he took in Ferguson's advice on how to improve his shooting and heading, Ronaldo spent an obsessive amount of time in the weight room and the pool, packing on the lean muscle that he's re known for now.

His final three seasons at Manchester United were nothing short of miraculous, as he fired in 91 goals across all competitions on his way to leading the club to three consecutive league titles, a League Cup win, a UEFA Champions League crown, and the club's first FIFA Club World Cup.

He departed to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 as a hero to United fans everywhere, and yet has arguably gone on to become even better in the Spanish capital.

While scooping up one La Liga crown and two UEFA Champions League titles, Ronaldo has consistently been Real's top scorer and on pitch talisman.

Although his exploits on the pitch have marked him down as a player for the ages, perceptions of his arrogance continue to abound. Teammates though are quick to shoot down accusations of him being a prima donna though, and it came as a no surprise to some when a video of him encouraging a nervous João Moutinho to take a penalty during Portugal's shoot-out victory over Poland in their Euro 2016 Quarter-Final came to light.

Away from the bright lights of football, Ronaldo's quiet philanthropy has done much to help people throughout the years. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami he went to Indonesia to raise funds for the areas effected.

He has also donated hundreds of thousands of Euros to hospital's in Madeira, as well as helping to raise funds to support victims of the 2010 flood on his native island.

In addition to this, he donated €1.5 million to help build school's in Gaza in 2011 and has done much to raise awareness for steering children around the world away from drug addiction and obesity.

After helping Real Madrid to the 2016 UEFA Champions League crown, he donated his €600,000 bonus to children's charities.

So while I understand why people dislike him and question his attitude, I have a lot of respect for a man who has strove to become not just a better player, but a better person.

How Brexit Might Affect the Premier League

2016-06-24T11:25:00.001-04:00

The world woke up today to a very different political landscape in Europe as the citizens of the United Kingdom voted in favour yesterday of leaving the European Union by a 51.9 to 48.1 percent margin.

This in turn led to UK Prime Minister David Cameron announcing that he will resign by October.

While the pound and the markets predictably took a hit, Premier League chiefs were scrambling to assure followers of the English game that either the league wouldn't suffer any ill effects or that it was simply too early to tell.

But what are the possible ramifications of a Premier League outside of the EU?

Last season saw 432 European players registered in the top tier of English football and although those players will not necessarily have to leave their status of being able to live and work in the UK may be in question over the next two years.

Under the EU's free movement of labour laws, players can move between countries that are part of the Union, including the United Kingdom, without a work permit but with "Brexit" these players will now essentially have the same status as players from non-EU countries.

Currently, non-EU players hoping to sign for Premier League clubs have to have played in at least 30 percent of their countries international matches in the two years prior to applying for a work permit. The FIFA rankings of the countries these players are coming from can also determine whether or not their permit will be approved.

The other impact will be felt in the recruitment of young players from abroad. FIFA currently has a restriction in place that forbids players under the age of 18 from being transferred across borders.

The exception to that is that within the EU, where the age is reduced to 16. This has been beneficial to clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal who have stocked up their youth and reserve sides with 16 to 18 year olds from across Europe for often cut-rate fees.

This may very much be at an end.

8 Clubs With the Most Footballers Participating in the 2016 Euros

2016-06-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

With all of the Euro 2016 squads having been confirmed on the 31st of May, it's time to take a look at the clubs that will feature the most footballers in the international tournament; all of which are unsurprisingly from the European continent. The likes of Real Madrid, AS Roma and Arsenal have just missed the cut, coming just short of the minimum 9 players it takes to get on this list. So which clubs will be represented by the most players in this summer's Euros?

Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) - 9 Players

Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will have 9 of their footballers featured in this summer's tournament. Eight of the nine Shakhtar players at the Euros are Ukrainian, with first-choice goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov and the majority of the defensive line playing for the club, while the other is Croatian and club captain Darijo Srna.

Bayern Munich (Germany) - 9 Players

5 of Bayern's 9 players in the Euros will play for the German squad, most notably goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, forward Thomas Müller, defender Jérôme Boateng and midfielder Mario Götze. Otherwise, the German club will be represented in the Polish squad by Robert Lewandowski, Spain's side with Thiago, David Alaba for Austria and 19 year old Kingsley Coman for France.

Barcelona (Spain) - 9 Players

Usually, the Spanish national team is split with the majority of players coming in either from Barcelona or Real Madrid. But unlike Madrid's total of two, Barca will have five of their footballer's in Spain's squad this summer. Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Marc Bartra, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets will all play for La Furia Roja, while Arda Turan will captain the Turkish side, Ivan Rakitić will dress for Croatia, Thomas Vermaelen for Belgium and Marc-André ter Stegen will play back-up in the German goalkeeper position.

Fenerbahçe (Turkey) - 9 Players

Six of Fenerbahçe's nine players at the 2016 Euros will play for the home nation Turkey, with 3 of Turkey's most capped defenders coming in from the Istanbul club and a 21 year old midfielder Ozan Tufan who had been capped over 20 times in his still very young age. Other than their own national side the Turkish club will be represented by Michal Kadlec for the Czech Republic and Portuguese duo Bruno Alves and Nani.

Manchester United (England) - 10 Players

The Red Devils are sending a total of 10 players to the Euros. United have three featuring for the English national team in Chris Smalling, captain Wayne Rooney and 18 year-old sensation Marcus Rashford. Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin were both called up for France, while Bastian Schweinsteiger will play for the Germans, Paddy McNair for Northern Ireland, David de Gea in goal for Spain and Belgium and Italy will benefit from United's Marouane Fellaini and Matteo Darmian respectively.

Tottenham Hotspur (England) - 11 Players

With Tottenham's young and successful squad, it is not surprising at all that the English team will be featuring 5 footballers from the Spurs. In the English defense we will see Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, Dele Alli and Eric Dier will represent the club in the English midfield, while Harry Kane will feature for The Three Lions upfront. Otherwise, the Spurs will see their own footballers represent four other nations with France, Austria, Wales and three Spurs footballers playing for Belgium. Tottenham's keeper Hugo Lloris will captain hosts France, while Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembélé will all be crucial to the success of the Belgian squad.

Juventus (Italy) - 12 Players

Italian champions Juventus will have 12 of their players representing their national sides this summer, half of which will be dressing for the home nation, Italy. Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Simone Zaza, Stefano Sturaro, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci are all a part of the contingency of Juve players to be called up by the Azzurri. The other 6 footballers travelling from Turin to the 2016 Euro are France's Patrice Evra and Paul Pogba, Swiss Captain Stephan Lichtsteiner, Germany's Sami Khedira, Spain's Álvaro Morata and Crotia's prolific striker Mario Mandžukić.

Liverpool (England) - 12 Players

With the same total of players going to the 2016 Euros as Juventus, Liverpool's contribution to their own national team is just a tad smaller than that of The Old Lady to the Italian squad, with 5 LFC footballers set to feature for The Three Lions.James Milner, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge are all hoping to contribute to England's cause this summer. Still within the United Kingdom Joe Allen and keeper Danny Ward will dress for Wales. The Belgian squad will feature a total of 3 Liverpool players with keeper Simon Mignolet, striker Christian Benteke and youngster Divock Origi. The other two making up a total of twelve Liverpool players at the 2016 UEFA Euros in France this summer are of course Germany's Emre Can and Slovakian captain Martin Škrtel.

Three Managers That Jose Mourinho is About to Renew Hostilities With

2016-05-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

With Sky Sports reporting on Thursday that Jose Mourinho had signed a contract to become the next manager of Manchester United, Reds and fans of their rivals alike were lighting up social media with differing views on the man himself.

Love him or hate him, Mourinho has certainly collected his share of trophies over his career and he has the type of personality that won't be overwhelmed by the size of the job he's taking on at Old Trafford.

While rebuilding United, Mourinho will also renew hostilities with a few of his old sparring partners, including the following:

Arsene Wenger

When Mourinho first came into English football with Chelsea in 2004, Arsenal were the reigning champions and the self-styled 'Special One' didn't waste much time in getting under the skin of their manager Arsene Wenger. With the Frenchman constantly complaining about Mourinho's conduct incessently in the press, Mourinho famously said: "I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea. He should be worried about [Arsenal]. He's worried about us, he's always talking about us. It's Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea."

On his return to Chelsea in 2013-2014 he labelled Wenger "a specialist in failure" after gleefully making note of Arsenal going eight years without a trophy. The lead up to first meeting between the Gunners and United in the coming season should be interesting.

Pep Guardiola

After masterminding Inter's unlikely victory over Pep Guardiola's all conquering Barcelona side in the 2010 Champions League Semi-Final, Mourinho made the move to the Catalan club's greatest rivals, Real Madrid, to face off against the former Spanish international on a more regular basis.

During Mourinho's three seasons in Madrid, the rivalry between the two sides was arguably cranked up another notch as Mourinho tried, largely, in vain to get under the skin of the Barca boss.

Despite Barcelona being largely in the ascendance, Mourinho's Madrid did manage to win the 2011-2012 La Liga title, the only league crown Madrid has captured in the past eight years.

Guardiola left Barcelona following that season, and yet despite the two men no longer facing off against one another Mourinho couldn't help but take another dig at him in September 2014 when he cracked:

"When you enjoy what you do, you don't lose your hair, and Guardiola is bald. He doesn't enjoy football."

The two will resume their rivalry in Manchester next season, with Guardiola heading over to City.

Claudio Ranieri

Even kindly current Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri fell afoul of Mourinho, with the two having run-ins during the Portuguese bosses time at Inter.

Ranieri dared to suggest that Mourinho was showing Italian football a lack of respect by not showing up for news conferences early on in his time in Milan. Not being the type of person who enjoys being talked about in other than glowing terms, the new United boss retorted:

"I studied Italian five hours a day for many months to ensure I could communicate with the players, media and fans. Ranieri had been in England for five years and still struggled to say 'Good morning' and 'Good afternoon.' Who is he to tell me what to do?"

As the manager of the current English champions, I think it's safe to assume that Ranieri will be hearing more from Jose in the coming season.

Throwback Thursdays: The Last Time Manchester United Struggled to Replace a Successful Manager

2016-05-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Spanish philosopher George Santayana famously once said that "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it". It's a salient point, but one that Manchester United seem to have not heeded.

With Louis van Gaal being relieved of his managerial duties this week, his two years in charge will largely be characterized by some of the worst football seen at Old Trafford in decades despite a £250 million transfer outlay. Regardless of the FA Cup win this past Saturday, the club's first since 2004, there are few Reds that are sorry to see him go.

Van Gaal joins David Moyes as the second manager to fail to carry on the success of Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired after 26 trophy laden seasons in 2013.

For United there is an eerie parallel to the aftermath of Sir Matt Busby calling time on his brilliant managerial career in 1969.

The previous year, Busby's side had become the first English club to capture the European Cup by virtue of a stirring 4-1 extra time win over Benfica at Wembley.

Although Shay Brennan (31), Bobby Charlton (30) and Bill Foulkes (36) were perhaps entering the latter stages of their careers, the majority of the side that defeated the Portuguese champions was in their mid to late 20's. With the mercurial George Best aged only 22, and about to be awarded the Ballon d'Or, there was no reason to believe that United were on the verge of relinquishing their position as one of the best sides in not only England, but Europe.

At the end of the 1968-1969 season though, the recently knighted Busby decided to retire and in his place he led the club towards appointing youth team coach Wilf McGuinness.

The affable McGuinness was a United man through and through, having been with the club since he was a kid before breaking through as a wing half with the famous Busby Babes. He missed the fateful trip to Red Star Belgrade in February 1958 and the subsequent tragedy of the Munich Air Disaster due to being out with an injury.

It was an injury that brought a premature end to his playing career at age 22 in 1959, coming only months after making his England debut.

A successful stint coaching the reserves at the club, following the sad end of his playing career, led to his shock appointment as first team boss following Busby's retirement.

The baffled media had marked down Celtic's Jock Stein or Leeds United's Don Revie as the most likely successors to Busby, so it was a great surprise to all when the 31-year-old was elevated to the Old Trafford hotseat.

In a scenario that would almost be played out again involving Ferguson's anointment of David Moyes in 2013, Busby hadn't even bothered to ask McGuinness if he really wanted the role. He simply told him to show up to work the next day wearing a tie.

Immediately there were problems as the young boss struggled to control a squad with several players his own age and many big personalities who had won everything there is to win in football.

Busby, who was still in charge of recruitment, gave McGuinness further problems with his differing ideas in the transfer market. McGuinness also felt that he wasn't being given adequate support from his predecessor and others within the club hierarchy.

George Best also caused the manager headaches as his off field affairs and long descent into alcoholism began to affect his play. This in turn caused rifts in the dressing room when McGuinness was seen as not dealing firmly enough with the wayward star.

After a season and a half in charge, United cut their losses and relieved McGuinness of his duties. So shocked was he by his dismissal, the former Busby Babe lost his hair overnight.

After Busby briefly returned to the dugout to finish out the 1970-1971 season, Frank O'Farrell, the club's next appointee, also failed to lift United out of the doldrums as several of his signings didn't work out and he struggled to deal with expectations.

Like McGuinness, his reign would last only 18 months.

It would take the appointment of Tommy Docherty, the third man to follow Busby, to eventually get the club back on track, something present day Reds are hoping Jose Mourinho is able to do with the current squad.

Manchester United and the X-Men

2016-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

While many Manchester United fans who have endured two years of football under Louis van Gaal would have welcomed the apocalypse at times, it arrived in a different sense on Tuesday evening.

Prior to what was essentially a meaningless match against Bournemouth, which was a rearranged fixture after a slapstick fake bomb mix-up on Sunday, United's mascots came out dressed in kits featuring the names of characters from the upcoming film X-Men: Apocalypse.

Several of the kids were also dressed as characters from the film, including Beast and Mystique.

This follows on the heels of a promotion the club did for Deadpool earlier this year.

Now, I'm a fan of both comic book films and football, but the over the top marketing campaigns and commercial tie-ins that United have been involved in under Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward in the last few years are getting out of hand.

While the club is selling tickets to films or tying up official noodle partnership deals in Thailand, the club is stumbling to a fifth placed finish with no apparent decision made yet as to the future of manager Louis van Gaal.

These deals may help fill up the Old Trafford coffers, funds which are in turn siphoned off by the Glazer family, but they do little to dispel the frustrations of supporters that expect a bit better from the actual on-pitch performances.

Van Gaal did little to help himself after the match yesterday when he said, "Of course [I understand the boos], because I have also said that the expectation is very high, especially the fans.

They are expecting a lot. But I think these expectations are much too high, and we are a team in transition, and that I have said when I started here."

After two seasons, £250 million spent, and marketing campaigns that proclaim United to be among the best sides in the world, I think Van Gaal's finger isn't so much on the pulse, but rather firmly lodged where the sun doesn't shine.

Missed Connections: Sides That Surprisingly Haven't Played Each Other More Often

2016-04-06T09:23:00.000-04:00

Some club and international sides just seem to be made to play one another as they dominate competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA World Cup or other "inter-nations" title. Nonetheless, as unlikely as it may seem, this list is about sides that you would swear have played one another a lot more often than they actually have.

Liverpool v Manchester United (European Competition)

Until their recent Europa League meeting, Liverpool and Manchester United have never met in Europe before. The two English football rivals have made it to the same UEFA competitions on numerous ocassions, but 2016 would mark their first ever showdown, with Liverpool knocking The Red Devils out of the tournament over a two-leg battle.

Brazil v Germany (World Cup)

With 9 FIFA World Cup titles between them and at least one of them qualifying to the semi-finals of the tournament in each of the World Cup editions since 1934 (2nd World Cup), it's hard to believe that the two have not played each other even once until 2002 when Brazil beat the Germans in that year's World Cup final match. Brazil did play an East German side in 1974, but West Germany is considered as modern Germany when football statistics are tallied.

Benfica v Real Madrid

Despite both clubs being extremely successful in their domestic leagues, Spanish side Real Madrid and Portuguese club Benfica haven't played a competitive match against one another since 1965. A bit hard to believe as it seems we see the two compete in the Champions League every single season. The last time the two met, Benfica knocked Real Madrid out of the 1964-65 European Cup competition with a 6-3 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.

England v Scotland

In 1870, the first international football match in history was one played between Scotland and England. The two rivals have played each other many times since, but in recent years the two have not been able to "lock horns" in any competitive match. Aside from a couple friendlies, England and Sctoland haven't played against each other in a competitive match since 1999; that's 17 years for those that lost track of time. That is all about to change however, as the two were drawn into the same group in the qualifying stages for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Barcelona v Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (Champions League Final)

Real Madrid's first European Cup title came in 1952, FC Bayern's in 1974 and Barcelona's first Champions League trophy in 1992. But despite the incredible 20 titles and 11 runner-up achievements between the three clubs, they have never faced each other in the final. A little hard to believe, considering they seem like the only 3 sides we ever watch in the latter stages of the competition (at least in the last decade or so).

If you have more impressive missed connections you'd like to tell us about, comment below!

The Pros and Cons of the Three Men Who Could Be in Charge of Manchester United Next Season

2016-03-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Needless to say, it's been a rough three seasons for Manchester United after the retirement of their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

After the failure of Ferguson's hand picked successor David Moyes, who oversaw the club's tumble from Premier League champions to a seventh place finish in his lone season in charge, the Old Trafford hierarchy went for top level experience in the form of Louis van Gaal as his replacement.

The Dutch boss though hasn't exactly lived up to expectations, as a huge transfer outlay has only seen the club finish fourth last term and struggle to match even that this season.

Despite rumours of his impending demise doing the rounds since Christmas, Van Gaal has somehow survived and, to the chagrin of many United supporters, may still be roaming the training ground at Carrington next season.

If Van Gaal were to be given the boot though, the two other names that have been mooted as taking over the first team duties are Jose Mourinho and Ryan Giggs.

Including the current boss, here are the merits and drawbacks of each of the three men who could be in charge of the club next season:

Louis van Gaal

Pros: Van Gaal's continued stewardship would bring a stability to the club that has been absent since Ferguson's departure. His willingness to bring through youngsters has also been welcomed by even some of the most vocal critics of his reign.

Cons: The current United boss hasn't only failed to get the results the club's supporters expect, but the football his side has served up has been turgid. Either the players haven't bought into his much bandied about philosophy or modern tactics have passed him by. His record in the transfer for record hasn't been great, with the notable exception of the electric Anthony Martial, and the vast majority of supporters are counting the days until his exit. If he does return next season, expect a dip in season ticket renewals.

Ryan Giggs

Pros: Like Van Gaal, Ryan Giggs would bring a sense of stability and has seemingly been groomed for the role over the past few seasons. The former winger is a club legend and some supporters will welcome "one of their own" taking up the reigns and hopefully getting back to playing "the United way" with attacking wing play.

Cons: The biggest knock on Giggs is a lack of experience and United can not afford to give him an on the job learning experience after these three largely disastrous seasons. He also has the knock on him now of being involved with two failed regimes.

Jose Mourinho

Pros: Jose Mourinho is a serial winner who has scooped up league titles in four different countries, along with capturing two Champions League titles. He would almost certainly want to overhaul the playing squad and return the swagger to a jaded club. The fact that he has come out on top in the past with rivals Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola and seems to actually despise Liverpool will stand him in good stead with United supporters.

Cons: Historically, Mourinho has a shelf life of about three years before things go horribly wrong and he leaves a club under a storm cloud. He has had numerous run-ins over the years with officials, other mangers and players that has reportedly left some in the Old Trafford hierarchy uncomfortable about the prospect of his appointment. That said, it's not as if Sir Alex Ferguson was exactly a saint.

5 Insults That Came Back to Bite the Person Who Said Them

2016-03-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Football might be nothing without fans, but it would be even duller if it wasn't for hilariously scathing insults.

But occasionally those insults come back to bite the person who said them. The following are five classic examples of when the insulted parties bit back:

The Clown

Prior to England's do or die World Cup qualifier with Poland at Wembley in the fall of 1973, the famously outspoken Brian Clough, who was doing some work for ITV, called Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski a "clown". The so-called clown went on to have the game of his life in a 1-1 draw as he denied England a place at the 1974 World Cup, making save after save to keep Sir Alf Ramsay's men at bay. Cheers for that, Brian.

Mary Poppins

Loud mouth former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, put the boots into record signing Alan Shearer when he labelled him "Boring" and stated that, "We call him Mary Poppins." Shearer went on to plunder a club record 206 goals in all competitions and although you could argue that he's a boring pundit, he's undoubtedly a Toon legend as well.

Stick It Up Your Bollocks!

The combustible Roy Keane, who was unhappy with Ireland's preparations for the 2002 World Cup tore into manager Mick McCarthy with one of the most memorable recorded outbursts in recent years. In a blazing row, Keano ranted, "You were a crap player and you're a crap manager. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country - and you're not even Irish, you English c**t. You can stick it up your bollocks!" Keane was banished from the squad and would never again play in a major tournament. McCarthy led Ireland through to the Round of 16 where they would agonizingly fall to Spain on penalties. McCarthy would later go on to have a good stints with both Sunderland and Wolves, where he led both into the Premier League. He is now trying to chase down a spot into the Championship promotion playoffs with Ipswich. The less said about Keane's managerial career though the better.

Hijo de Puta

Early on in his stint at Real Madrid, David Beckham was sent off for yelling “Hijo de puta" at a linesman. Claiming that he had no idea that it's a very offensive Spanish insult that loosely translates into "Son of a prostitute", Beckham was shocked to receive a red card. He said that it was something his teammates said all the time in training (hopefully not to him!) and he was clueless as to its meaning. Sure Becks, we believe you.

The Water Carrier

Old Trafford icon and French philosopher Eric Cantona said this of compatriot Didier Deschamps in 1996: "Deschamps gets by because he always gives 100 per cent, but he will never be anything more than a water carrier. You can find players like him on every street corner. " Apart from his Juventus side defeating Cantona's Manchester United twice in the fall of 1996, Deschamps went on to cap a brilliant club career where he won two European Cups, with winner's medals for France at World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000. Not bad for a water carrier.

What the European Super League Could Mean to Club Football

2016-03-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every summer the International Champions Cup (ICC) kicks off in North America which features clubs from the Premier League and other major European leagues, with sides from the MLS and Liga MX making up the numbers.

I've been attending ICC matches for several years, taking in matches in Toronto, Chicago, Washington DC and New York, and have seen the large enthusiastic crowds that these visiting giants draw.

Last week, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis, Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano, Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre met in London on the pretence of discussing this summer's ICC, it's been leaked that the possibility of a European Super League was on the agenda.

Charlie Stillitano, the chairman of Relevant Sports the group that runs the ICC, confirmed that discussions have taken place regarding a major restructuring of the Champions League.

Essentially this restructuring would include invites to only the largest club sides in the world and entrance into the Super League wouldn't have anything to do with domestic league placement in the preceding season.

Stillitano, who one could argue is showing a rather stunning misunderstanding of the traditions of club football, had this to say to goal.com:

“What would Manchester United argue: did we create soccer or did Leicester create [it]?” Stillitano told SiriusXM. “Let’s call it the money pot created by soccer and the fandom around the world. Who has had more of an integral role, Manchester United or Leicester?

“I guess they don’t have a birthright to be in it every year but it’s the age-old argument: U.S. sports franchises versus what they have in Europe. There are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful elements to relegation and promotion and there are good arguments for a closed system.

“This is going to sound arrogant and it’s the furthest thing from it … but suddenly when you see the teams we have this summer in the ICC you are going to shake your head and say, ‘Isn’t that the Champions League?’ No, the Champions League is PSV and Gent.”

The last time a proposal like this was mooted back in the 1990's, UEFA scrambled to expand the number of club's in the Champions League. The expanded tournament, which allowed in more of the giants of European football as opposed to just the domestic champions, has gone on to be a massive money spinner for all involved. But apparently it isn't enough and one has to fear the outcome of all of this.

If there is no connection between domestic league standings and entrance into the top European competition, then football as we know it will never be the same. Clubs like Leicester City, who could well win the Premier League title this season, would not be rewarded for their terrific season with any glamorous European ties. Which hardly seems fair, or in the spirit of sporting competition.

Where does the greed stop?

5 Horrible Examples of Football Club Merchandise

2016-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Looking for a gift for that special football loving someone in your life?
Of course you are!

Well, you've come to the right place if you're looking for ideas on what not to buy.

Presenting five horrible examples of football club merchandise:

Bayern Munich - Snuff Box

Hoovering tobacco up your nose seems like a fad from a long ago period like the '80s. The 1880's that is. I can honestly say that I've never met anyone who is into snuff, yet apparently a marketing genius at Bayern Munich figured there are enough fans of the club out there that partake in this activity for the club to create a branded case for them. So for about €2.30 Euros you can have a Bayern box that's up to snuff.

Wolfsburg - Ketchup

Staying with German sides, Wolfsburg released their own brand of Ketchup a few years back which retailed for €2.49. They also sold a curry flavoured version as well, so you could create a poor man's plate of curry wurst at home presumably.

Real Madrid - Dog Tent

If you get in trouble with your significant other and find yourself sleeping in the dog house, for the cost of $32US, at least it'll be a Real Madrid branded one.

Aston Villa - Curtains

If Aston Villa were playing on my front lawn this season I'd want to draw the curtains, so perhaps with that in mind the club sell their own branded curtains for £30. Classy.

Manchester United - Fake Sleeve Tattoo

Ever looked enviously at someone with a sleeve tattoo but knew that due to a lack of cash and/or a low pain tolerance you were never going to get one? Well for only £2.50 you can stand out in the crowd with Manchester United fake sleeve tattoos!

Marcus Rashford and 5 Other Manchester United Teenagers Who Scored on Their Debuts

2016-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

It might have been an injury crisis that forced beleaguered Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal to throw several youngsters into the side these past few weeks, but the promotion of 18-year old Marcus Rashford in particular might just have provided the spark the club has been seeking.

While you'll find few Reds that will argue that this season has been anything other than a disappointment, and it still looks as if Van Gaal will be out this summer, the Old Trafford faithful were given a bit of a lift this week with Rashford's eye catching performances.

In his debut against Midtjylland in the Europa League his two goal salvo helped United overcome a 2-1 first leg deficit to steamroller the Danes 5-1 in the return leg.

Although it can be easily argued that Midtjylland are a poor outfit and that scoring against them isn't that great an accomplishment, the young striker from Wythenshawe in South Manchester proved his debut was no fluke when he buried two chances against title chasing Arsenal on Sunday.

Rashford becomes the latest United teenager to score on his debut and supporters are now wondering if his career will follow the course of any of the players below:

Paul Scholes

Debut vs Port Vale, League Cup, September 21, 1994

The ginger midfield maestro Paul Scholes had a knack of popping up with big goals from midfield throughout his career. He wasted little time in showing United supporters what was to come when he debuted as a 19-year old in a League Cup tie against Port Vale and scored both goals for the visiting side that day in a 2-1 win. Scholes would go on to become a club legend, making 718 appearances for United and playing a big part in 11 Premier League titles among other trophies.

Wayne Rooney

Debut vs Fenerbahce, UEFA Champions League, September 18, 2004

Signed from Everton for £25.6 million in the summer of 2004, Wayne Rooney debuted for United a few weeks shy of his 19th birthday and immediately showed the world why the club had paid so much him. In his debut against Turkey's Fenerbahce he scored a sensational hat trick and laid on another goal in a thumping 6-2 win. Rooney would go on to win five Premier League titles with the club and is now on the verge of breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record.

Kieran Lee

Debut vs Crewe Alexandra, League Cup, October 25, 2006

A product of United's youth academy, Kieran Lee made his senior appearance for the club against Crewe Alexandra in a League Cup third round tie in 2006 as an 18-year old and ended up scoring an extra time winner. The midfielder would find it next to impossible to land a permanent spot in the first team squad though and would leave for Oldham in 2008. He's currently plying his trade for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

Federico Macheda

Debuted vs Aston Villa, Premier League, April 5, 2009

With United battling bitter rivals Liverpool for the title heading into the final months of the 2008-2009 Premier League campaign, the last thing they could afford was to drop points at home. But with Aston Villa leading 2-1 at Old Trafford last on in this April tussle things looked desperate. Coming on as a substitute, 17-year old Italian striker Macheda first saw Cristiano Ronaldo equalize before he announced himself with an epic drive late into stoppage time to win the match. Unfortunately a combination of dips in form and I just saw to it that this was as good as it was going to get for Macheda as he spent much of the next few years out on loan before being released to Cardiff in 2014.

James Wilson

Debut vs Hull City, Premier League, May 6, 2014

Handed a debut against Hull City by temporary boss Ryan Giggs (coincidentally on the same night we launched this site), 18-year old James Wilson fired in two goals to sink Hull City towards the end of a disappointing campaign. Struggling to win a place in the side under current manager Louis van Gaal, Wilson was sent out on loan to Brighton at the beginning of this season.

Football's Biggest Ever Scandals (Part 1 of 5): Manchester City's Under the Table Payments

2016-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Thankfully for those of us who enjoy a good old bit of integrity in football, there hasn't been a major match fixing or drug scandal for a few years.

But if football history has taught us anything, there's usually some sort of shady business bubbling under the surface, ready to erupt when we least expect it.

This series recounts some of the biggest scandals in the history of football.

Manchester City's Loss is Manchester United's Gain

In the first decade of the 20th Century, Manchester City were one of the best sides in England. Winning the FA Cup in 1904 and twice coming close to winning the league. After narrowly losing out to Newcastle United in the title race in 1904-1905 following a season ending loss to Aston Villa, the Birmingham club's captain Alec Leake accused City's Welsh star Billy Meredith of offering him £10 to throw the game. Meredith was found guilty of this impropriety by the Football Association and as a result was fined and suspended from playing football for a year.

City, for their part, did not offer Meredith any support during his suspension and the enraged winger responded by lifting the lid on the club's own misdeeds.

An FA investigation was immediately opened after he went public with the following statement:

"What was the secret of the success of the Manchester City team? In my opinion, the fact that the club put aside the rule that no player should receive more than four pounds a week ... The team delivered the goods, the club paid for the goods delivered and both sides were satisfied."

In an era of strict maximum wages, City were found guilty of making illegal under the table payments to players and as a result their entire squad were barred from playing for the club again.

At an auction to distribute the players, four of City's finest including Meredith and Sandy Turnbull ended up at Manchester United. In one of football's enduring legends it's been said that United boss Ernest Mangnall had somehow rigged the auction in his side's favour.

United were to immediately benefit at City's expense as they won their first League Championship in 1907-1908, which they followed up with their first FA Cup in 1909 at the Crystal Palace. The lone goal in that final against Bristol City was fired in by former City forward Turnbull and the man of the match was, naturally, Billy Meredith.

Meredith would go on to make over 300 appearances for United, helping the club to another league title in 1910-1911 and in the process become their first true superstar. Thanks to the illegal payments scandal, and it's aftermath, the rivalry between Manchester's two clubs was firmly established.

___________________________________
Football's Biggest Ever Scandals:
(Part 1 of 5): Manchester City's Under the Table Payments
(Part 2 of 5): Totonero 1980
(Part 3 of 5): Maradona Gets Kicked Out of USA '94
(Part 4 of 5): Olympique de Marseille's Epic Run of Corruption and Lies
(Part 5 of 5): Bad Santa - The Unbelievable Story of Chuck Blazer

The Busby Babes: A Dream That Will Never Die

2016-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

"You can't win anything with kids," was a famous phrase used on BBC's Match of the Day by Alan Hansen to describe a youth filled Manchester United side's stumbling start to the 1995-1996 season. The notion that it was a great folly to trust in youth came back to bite the former Liverpool defender when the club would go on to win a domestic double that season.

This wasn't the first time that United had put faith in a group of youngsters to take on the rigorous challenges of English football's top flight.

Bringing young, often local, players into the first team squad at a tender age is a United tradition that started under the tenureship of former manager Sir Matt Busby in the 1950's.

At a time when club's relied almost exclusively on experience, Busby dismissed concerns about his youthful side with an average age of 21 by famously saying, "If they're good enough, they're old enough."

This first side of fresh faced youngsters, christened by the press as "The Busby Babes", did not disappoint as they stormed to league titles in 1955-1956 and 1956-1957, while just missing out on a league and cup double in that latter season after finishing as runners-up in the FA Cup Final.

Playing a joyous form of free spirited attacking football, Busby's young squad featured exciting young players like Liam Whelan, Eddie Coleman, Tommy Taylor, Bobby Charlton and, their greatest star of all, Duncan Edwards.

Hailing from Dudley in the Black Country, Edwards always stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. With a solid build, a deft touch and a footballing brain that belied his years he always appeared to be a man among boys.

Debuting for United at 16, the only player Sir Bobby Charlton says he ever felt inferior to, Edwards earned his first cap for England at age 18.

Former teammate Wilf McGuinness had this to say of the Busby Babes star:

"Off the field he was a shy, modest guy, a gentle giant with a strong Midlands accent. But on the field he could do anything. He was a powerhouse and wanted the ball all the time. He stood out like a beacon."

Besides their league success, United also became English football's pioneers in Europe as they stormed to the European Cup semi-final in 1957.

A narrow loss over two legs to the great Real Madrid side of Alfredo Di Stéfano was disappointing, but appeared at the time as only a preview of an epic rivalry that would surely grip European football over the next few years.

It was the pursuit of the European Cup that took United to Yugoslavia on 5 February 1958 for the second leg of a Quarter-Final tie with Red Star Belgrade.

Having won the first leg 2-1 at Old Trafford, a 3-3 draw in Belgrade with two goals from Charlton and a goal from Dennis Voillet saw the Babes through 5-4 on aggregate.

At the Majestic Hotel following the match, Red Star hosted a banquet for United and spirits were high as captain Roger Byrne led the players in a rendition of Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again."

The next day following a refuelling stop in Munich, West Germany the Airspeed Ambassador 2 carrying the squad back to England crashed on takeoff resulting in 23 of the 44 passengers losing their lives.

Among the United players that perished were:

Geoff Bent (25)
Roger Byrne (28)
Eddie Coleman (21)
Mark Jones (24)
David Pegg (22)
Tommy Taylor (26)
Liam Whelan (22)
Duncan Edwards (21)

The heart of Busby's brilliant young side may have perished in the snow at Munich, but the memory of this squad and what they stood for is ingrained in the spirit of Manchester United and they will never be forgotten.

5 Completely Random Football Facts by the Numbers

2016-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

It has been said that the only stat in football that matters is what's on the scoreboard at fulltime and although that's probably true there are a few stats, or numbers rather, that resonate with fans of the beautiful game.

Here are five numbers that hold a bit of meaning in the football world:

5 - The Number of Consecutive European Cups Won by Real Madrid

With the formation of the European Cup in the 1955-1956 season, a knockout competition pitting the champions of the continent against each other, Real Madrid went on a run of five straight titles culminating in a famous 7-3 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in Scotland in 1960. Every Scottish person over the age of 60 claims to have been at this famous match.

44 - The Number of Days Brian Clough Was in Charge of Leeds United

The famously outspoken Brian Clough turned English football on it's head in the early 1970's when he took the once lowly Derby County into the top flight and within three seasons had managed them to their first league title. His bitter rival during this period, and a team he had no hesitation in criticizing the methods of, was Don Revie's Leeds United. So it came as a great shock in the summer of 1974 when Clough replaced Revie, who had taken on the England manager's job, as the manager of Leeds. Clough immediately found himself at odds with the club's notoriously prickly dressing room, with suggestions that he tried to change too much too fast and the early results going against him, Clough was sacked after only 44 days in charge.

1283 - The Number of Goals Scored By Pele

Although the legitimacy of this total has been brought into question, with some claiming the Brazilian great was counting goals scored in kickabouts with his kids on the beach as part of this number, Pele is in the Guinness World Record books for driving 1283 bulges into the old onion bag over the course of his brilliant career.

20 - The Number of League Titles Won By Manchester United

When Sir Alex Ferguson strode into Old Trafford in 1986, Manchester United had only seven league titles in their trophy cabinet and had not been the kings of English football since 1967. To make matters worse, their bitter rivals Liverpool dominated the 1970's and 1980's on their way to what looked like a unbeatable record haul of 18 league titles. It's been said that records are meant to be broken though, and rather incredibly between 1992-1993 and 2012-2013 Ferguson's side would romp to 13 league titles and leave the Anfield club trailing in their wake.

91 - The Staggering Number of Goals Scored by Lionel Messi in 2012

Combining goals scored across all competitions for his club side Barcelona and the goals he hammered home for Argentina, Lionel Messi shattered West German and Bayern Munich ace Gerd Muller's 1972 record haul of 85 when he found the net 91 times in 2015. No matter what side you stand on the debate over whether or not Messi is the greatest player ever, this was a stunning achievement.

5 Brazilians Who Flopped in England

2016-01-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Chelsea confounded some fans and pundits alike this week with their signing of Alexandre Pato on loan from Corinthians.

Although an it's an odd looking signing, if the Brazilian striker can recapture the form he displayed some years back for AC Milan, before injuries seemed to ruin what was once a promising career, he could prove to be a shrewd signing, but that's a big "if".

The fact is that there have been few Brazilians that have truly shone in England, for a variety of reasons, and for every Gilberto Silva there's an Andre Santos and an Afonso Alves.

The following are five of the biggest Brazilian flops that have played in the English top flight:

Mirandinha (Newcastle United 1987-89)

With an impressive scoring record in his home land, much was expected of Mirandinaha when he became the first Brazilian footballer to ply his trade in England upon signing for Newcastle United. Struggling to adapt to the hurly burly of English football in the late 1980's though, he managed only 19 goals in 54 matches before being sent packing.

Jo (Manchester City, 2008-11)

An early signing of Manchester City's recent emergence as a major player in the transfer market, Jo turned out to be a complete disaster for the Blues. After bagging 44 goals in 77 games for CSKA Moscow, much was expected of the Brazilian striker but very little was delivered. Joining the club in August 2008, by Feburary 2009 he had already been loaned out to Everton. Jo managed only one league goal in 21 appearances for City before being sent packing to Internacional of Brazil in 2011.

Roque Junior (Leeds United, 2003-04)

Joining Leeds United on loan from Milan in the Yorkshire club's ultimately doomed final season in the Premier League before relegation and ruin, Roque Junior came to the club as a recent World Cup and Champions League winner. He left after being a part of a desperate backline that conceded 25 goals in 7 matches, while also seeing red in one of his miserable appearances.

Kleberson (Manchester United, 2003-05)

Despite all of the success Sir Alex Ferguson brought to Manchester United and some of the brilliant signings he made, he also brought a few duds to Old Trafford as well. One of which was Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson. With Ferguson claiming that signing Kleberson was part of the reason he sold Juan Sebastian Veron and Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari stating that he was the driving force behind the country's victorious 2002 campaign, expectations were high for the player. But he failed to deliver, getting injured in his second match for the club and when he regained his fitness he never really fit in at United. Kleberson made 20 appearances across two seasons while scoring only two goals before being sold on.

Anderson (Manchester United, 2007-15)

Signed from Porto for an incredible £26m in the summer of 2007, Anderson never achieved his potential despite sporadic half decent performances for the club. A fondness for food, as evidenced by his ever expanding waistline, seemed to be the players undoing before his free transfer to Internacional in January 2015.

Throwback Thursdays: Nemanja Vidić Debuts for Manchester United

2016-01-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

How Manchester United could use a player like Nemanja Vidić these days.

With a lack of assurance at the back, they've been forced to often play with two holding midfielders, one of which serving essentially as a fifth defender, which has stunted the team's ability to attack.

Ten years ago this week, Serbian international Vidić made his debut for the club, coming on as a late substitute in a 2-1 win over Blackburn in the Carling Cup.

Joining the club from Spartak Moscow for £7 million, Vidić would provide the steel next to Rio Ferdinand's stylish play in the United back line as the two would go on to form arguably the best central defensive partnership in Europe for the next few seasons.

The uncompromising Serb helped the club to the League Cup Final in his first season, where they would hammer Wigan 4-0.

Vidić went on to make 300 appearances for Manchester United, on his way to collecting five league titles, three League Cups, and the 2008 UEFA Champions League.

A firm favourite with United fans, Vidić left the club for Inter in 2014.

5 Greatest FA Cup Third Round Shocks of All Time

2016-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Does it qualify as a shocking FA Cup upset anymore when a Premier League side fields their reserves in the Third Round against a lower division side that subsequently turns them over?

On Friday, plucky Exeter City held Liverpool to a terrific 2-2 draw which forced a replay at Anfield, but the Supporter's Trust owned club was facing a Merseyside outfit bereft of most of their regular starting eleven.

So while it was a great achievement for the League Two club, you can't help but feel that it's tempered by the fact that they didn't come up against a full strength Liverpool side.

Before the emergence of the Champions League, and the all consuming need of the big clubs to finish in the top four, to go along with the obscene TV deals that make Premier League survival critical for smaller sides, the FA Cup really meant something. Club's would never have considered fielding a weakened side in years gone by.

It is the oldest club competition in world football and a big day at Wembley in May is still the dream of many supporters, so old misty eyed romantics like me wish that club's took it as seriously as they once did.

With the big club's entering the competition at the Third Round stage this weekend, and hopefully more than a few of them fielding full strength sides, I thought we'd have a look at five of the greatest all time shocks at that stage of the competition:

5.) Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Everton, Third Round, 2003

David Moyes went on to have a great reign in the hotseat at Goodison Park, as he transformed Everton into a tough to beat outfit that was often threatening the top five of the Premier League. Moyes didn't get off to the best of starts though as his first season at the club saw his side dumped out of the FA Cup by League One Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow thanks to two goals from journeyman striker Nigel Jemson.

4.) Bournemouth 2 Manchester United 0, Third Round, 1984

The 1980's were an up and down decade for Manchester United. Sandwiched between their FA Cup winning triumphs of 1983 and 1985 was this shocking defeat to Third Division Bournemouth. Not only did Harry Redknapp's side knock Ron Atkinson's cup holders out of the competition at the first hurdle, but they thoroughly outplayed them and deserved to go through.

3.) Wrexham 2 Arsenal 1, Third Round, 1992

Going into this tie, George Graham's Arsenal side were the reigning First Division champions, with their famous backline anchored by Tony Adams at its pomp and Wrexham were a struggling club in the Fourth Division. After taking the lead through Alan Smith, The Gunners seemed to be comfortably heading into Round Four but then 37 year old Micky Thomas thundered in a brilliant freekick to level the score with only eight minutes to go and then Steve Watkin grabbed the winner two minutes later.

2.) Walsall 2 Arsenal 0, Third Round, 1933

Arsenal, under legendary manager Herbert Chapman, were the best team in England during the 1930's. So their humiliating defeat by Walsall, then plying their trade in the Third Division North, was by some distance the greatest pre-war FA Cup upset. That day at Fellows Park 24,032 witnessed a near miracle as second-half goals from Gilbert Alsop in the 60th minute and Bill Sheppard ten minutes later sent the eventual league champions crashing out. Chapman was so enraged by the defeat that he immediately sold Tom Black, the defender responsible for the goals.

1.) Hereford 2 Newcastle 1, Third Round, 1972

Newcastle were a solid top flight side in the early 1970's, with goalscoring superstar Malcolm "Supermac" Macdonald terrorizing defences around the country. Hereford were a non-league club with a ramshackle ground and seemingly no hope against their illustrious opposition. Unbowed, Hereford took 5,000 away fans to St. James Park to witness their side snatch a terrific 2-2 draw in the Third Round, but the best was yet to come in the replay back at Edgar Street. On a bog of a pitch, 14,000 supporters witnessed Newcastle grab an 82nd goal through Macdonald before Hereford's Ronnie Radford scored one of the most famous goals in the competition's history with a stunning 30 yard blast into the top corner to level the score on 85 minutes. In extra time, second half substitute Ricky George lashed home the winner in the 103rd minute to send Hereford's fans into dreamland.

How About a Stint in the German Fourth Tier for Adnan Januzaj?

2016-01-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

After impressing in the early month's of David Moyes' ultimately doomed season at the helm of Manchester United, Adnan Januzaj was expected to kick on under new manager Louis van Gaal and become the club's next big thing.

The Belgian winger was even handed the recently retired Ryan Giggs' number 11 shirt at the beginning of last season as almost a show of how highly the club rated him.

What could go wrong I ask you?

With expectations running high, he never really took off as rumours abounded that his attitude and commitment weren't what they should be. After he struggled to fit into the side last season and was subsequently loaned out on a season long loan to Borussia Dortmund this term.

With Dortmund though he failed to make a single start, featuring only from the bench, and therefore struggling to make an impact.

His attitude was again called into question when he declined Enzo Scifo's call up this season to Belgium's under 21 side.

Scifo had this to say of the player:

'He did not exactly refuse but we were not under the impression he wanted to come,' said Scifo. 'If that's the case it's better not to come.

'A phone call like that is a present, not a punishment. Adnan Januzaj has a bad mentality.'

Januzaj is now on his way back to Manchester United, but not because Van Gaal requested his return necessarily, but because he was frustrated with his lack of chances at Dortmund and requested a return to Old Trafford himself.

Whether or not this once highly rated player can find form back at United or he's another that believed his own hype and doesn't have the substance remains to be seen, but in a surprising twist a semi-professional fourth tier German side called Rot Weiss Ahlen took the opportunity on Thursday to make a cheeky punt for for the player.

They piped up on social media asking United if they could have Januzaj for the rest of the season on loan.

The ambitious club also mentioned that both Marco Reus and Kevin Grosskreutz started their careers playing at Rot Weiss.

If there is any truth at all to the rumblings of his attitude problems, perhaps a spell in the German fourth division will do the young lad some good.

Another 5 Crazy but True Football Facts

2016-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

We all love interesting facts about various topics and when it comes to the beautiful game it is no different. In the world of football there are many bits of information that just seem unrealistic, but despite their unique appearance are 100% true.

The Highest Attendance at Old Trafford

Believe it or not, but the highest attendance ever for a football match recorded in the infamous Manchester United stadium did not include The Red Devils on the pitch. As a matter of fact, the record breaking 76,962 in attendance were there to watch an FA Cup semi-final match between Wolverhampton and Grimsby Town. It may seem odd that two clubs many top division fans in England have long forgotten about would break the record for attendance in United's home, but on 25 March 1939, this meeting was the talk of the town.

The David Connection

The 12 year gap in age and the fact that the older of the two has been a manager for 17 years to date may be a bit decieving, but former England international David Beckham and former Everton manager David Moyes were at one point teammates. When Beckham was loaned to Preston North End at the age of 19, Moyes was a veteran aged 32. It was Moyes' second season with Preston, but although David Beckham would leave back for Manchester United, Moyes would stay with the club for a total of six years before fully retiring into management.

Norwich in the Minus

The 1992-93 Premier League season was Norwich City's best top tier finish in the history of the club. But despite finishing 3rd in the standings behind Aston Villa and league winners Manchseter United, The Cannaries finished the 42 match schedule with a bizarre -4 goal differential. Fourth place club Blackburn enjoyed a +22 differential even though they finished the year 1 point behind Norwich. The bad goal difference for Norwich came as a result of conceding 65 goals in their 42 matches, a tally that was only worst for 3 other clubs that season.

Laurent Blanc's UEFA Champions League Debut

Current Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc was a very highly regarded footballer during his playing days. But despite his stints with clubs such as Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille and Inter Milan, Blanc would not taste Champions League action until the age of 36. Almost as if he was always in the wrong place at the wrong time, Blanc's clubs were not involved in the competition specifically during his time with the teams, even though most of these were "regulars" in Europe's biggest club tournament. Only after the Frenchman was signed by Manchester United in 2001 at the age of 35 would Blanc play in the Champions League for the very first time in his career.

£400k and Another Man In Exchange for my Husband

If you think the title of this particular bit is missleading, think again. During her role as a Managing Director at Birmingham City FC, Karren Brady would sell a Canadian international player by the name of Paul Peschisolido to Stoke City for £400,000 with Stoke's striker David Regis coming back the other way. Oh yeah we forgot to mention...Paul and Karren are married with 2 children.

5 Things I Want to See in Football in 2016

2016-01-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Struggling to shake off the effects of a festive final evening of 2015 and collect my thoughts enough to deliver a New Year's Day article for our loyal readers, I thought about what I'd like to see in the wild world of football this year and here are my top five:

1.) FIFA Get's a Real Cleanup

The past twelve months has seen a number of developments involving FIFA, with several high profile arrests of the beleaguered organization's officials and the spectacular banning of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, but I'd like this sham of a football governing body to be completely overhauled. FIFA has been a joke for decades, with corruption running rife, and only with transparency and proper oversight will it ever be taken seriously.

2.) English Club's Improve in Europe

The Premier League has long trumpeted itself as the best league in the world, but results in the Champions League in recent years suggest that it's anything but. With the wealth of television money pouring into English clubs there's no reason why sides can't properly improve their squads and compete with the world's best again.

3.) A Fantastic Euro 2016

The European Championship, with it's previous 16 team structure, was a terrific tournament with football of a higher quality than what you see in the World Cup often on display. Next summer's competition will feature 24 sides for the first time and with that comes the danger of a weaker tournament. Hopefully though sides like Iceland and Wales, along with the other unlikely qualifiers, will bring something new to the party and be part of a great competition.

4.) Canada Qualifies for the Final Round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

Grouped with Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras in Round 4 of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, with only the top two sides going through, Canada has a mountain to climb if they want to qualify for the final qualifying round and a tantalizing chance to get to Russia 2018. But the national side at least making it into this final round would provide a huge boost for soccer in this country and would give us a few massive home fixtures to look forward to. Let's hope they can do it.

5.) Leicester Win the Premier League

As my club, Manchester United, are a disaster at present, for myself and many neutrals it would be simply amazing to see Leicester City win the title. The story of the season so far, the Foxes battled their way to the top of the table at Christmas and have won over a lot of admirers with their exciting play. It would be one of the greatest stories in the twenty plus year history of the Premier League if Leicester were to go on and win the championship.

Debating Football on Social Media is Bad For Your Health

2015-12-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Football discussions used to centre around a few guys or girls getting together down the pub after a match to down a pint or two while arguing the merits of their club's new left back.

Sure things could sometimes get heated, because every group has an idiot usually named Kevin or Sandra, and most gatherings of friends at a drinking establishment will include a belligerent drunk named Peter or Allison, but on the whole things were pretty civil and informed discussions were had.

While these sorts of discussions still occur, the majority of football talk between fans now is on social media and online message boards, and the tone of things has changed drastically.

Without the benefit of looking across the table at a real person there's no longer any accountability for one's words. People can sound off against a person with a different opinion, and not only disagree with them but be outright insulting.

Over the last few years I've seen some outrageous attacks on folks by so-called fellow supporters and this kills the spirit of why we are interested in football in the first place, and that's fun. Football is supposed to be about enjoyment, and what's so enjoyable about slating your team after a bad result on Facebook and then ripping another supporter to shreds for daring to have an alternate view?

When a big team like Manchester United or Chelsea are struggling through difficult seasons it becomes even more venomous between supporters, as people take out their frustrations on each other.

Contentious issues like whether or not a struggling manager should be sacked, and the inevitable section of fans who consider themselves to be better fans because of their loyalty and longevity can even lead to the destruction of supporters groups.

I saw this even with my local team Toronto FC as well, with fans really tearing into each other on message boards over the club's struggles. Interestingly enough, when people met up in person everything was fine and dandy. Funny how that happens.

A good rule of thumb before you rip into a fellow supporter is to ask yourself, "would I say this to them in person?" If the answer is no, keep it to yourself.