FA Cup — 6th Round

We could well have a new name on the FA Cup this season.

I'm personally rooting for Villa, but that's a family thing.

I think they can beat anyone on their day, Danny.

I would also like to see Villa win the cup

No Villa for me thanks. 1977 and all that.

Also, Michael thank you for calling it the 6th round. The FA has the temerity to refer to the tradition of the FA Cup. Semis at Wembley, 3 pm kick-offs no longer a thing, and referring to the 6th Round as the Quarter-Finals. Tradition went years ago.

Danny #1,

I never really cared who won the FA Cup once Everton went out.

But I hope it's Villa's year, Danny.

Sorry, Danny etc. Have to disagree with you re Villa. I lived in Dudley for all of my secondary education and the few Villa supporters at school (mostly Wolves and Baggies) were horrible. I dreaded Everton playing Villa, as I took a hammering, win lose or draw on the Monday morning after.

On my trips to Villa Park, I was also aware of a group of supporters who would turn very quickly on their own team.

I was also at Villa Park on the day of Hillsborough, so no happy memories there.

It's powerful the way our experiences shape the teams we
love and hate.

But if Bournemouth put Man City out, it will certainly make it the most interesting competition without all the usual snore-bore ‘top' teams in there for years.

Preston, Fulham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Palace, Forest, Villa… and then City – last for me – in that order for eventual winners.

Ditto, Jeff.

Be great if we have a Preston v Bournemouth final
Or Fulham v Brighton,
people might actually watch it.

Nice to see that Modella Capital have chose the name of an Everton hero from the 50s now they cannot use WH Smith.

My dad tells me TG Jones used to nod crosses back to the goalkeeper, he was that good.

Phil 9, Branthwaite still does that now.

I'd love to see Preston pull it off.

I met Eddie Lewis when he was playing in San Jose, just a really, really nice kid. He later spent several seasons at Preston and talked about the club in glowing terms.

Phil d'you think he deserved a move to a bigger club?

Nope, Danny and Tony, I want Palace to win it. They fecking deserve it so much after the 4-3 1990 semi win over the shite and the 3-3 AET final v Salford's finest.

Spot on James mate - 3 - 1977 and all that.

To be fair, Danny and Tony were not anywhere near a womb then.

Fulham, Brighton, Villa and Bournemouth for me.

Long time ago because I've lived in Australia for 38 years+, but I always found Villa supporters very pro Everton and friendly. Good after matches between us regardless of the winner. I don't want Man City to win the cup for obvious reasons.

Main thing for us right now is a win vs the RS on 2 April.

Andy @5,

The wife was from Pesnett and the relatives all live around their, Dudley and Kingswinford. A mix of Wolves and Villa, with a single West Brom supporter, who "supported" Manchester United until he got to the age he wanted to go to the match with his mates.

I've always liked Villa, even before my connections through marriage.

I didn't attend that semi-final, but have been to Villa Park on several occasions. Those that stick out are the two semi-finals in the 80s against Luton and Sheffield Wednesday and a 1-0 win, courtesy of Kevin Sheedy, as we steered towards the title in 1987, whilst they headed to relegation.

They have been relegated since, more recently. Now they remain in the Champion's League and in the FA Cup semi-finals, with a chance of winning it as we pick ourselves up from the ashes yet again.

I've always thought of Villa as similar in size, stature and success to Everton. Both founding members of the Football League.

Paul, I remember that 1990 match. That was at Vila Park I think? 1977 is a vague memory. I would have been 5, approaching my 6th birthday later that year.

Come on, Preston.

Now that would be a legendary footballing story if the Invincibles won the Cup.

Sorry Danny, you look like 43, mate.

It was Villa Park.

As long as Man City don't win, then anyone else would be great.

1964 Steve - 16. Howard Kendal, 17, youngest ever to play in a final.

As usual, dog walked in glorious weather with blue skies and a hint of frost on the ground.

Watching the news. Aside from the FA Cup, standby for the big Geordie love-in today.

They deserve their victory parade for winning a trophy, but comments like "no-one deserves it more than the Geordies" are making me want to bring my breakfast back up.

We've gone too long without football.

I would love Fulham to get to a final.

I see football is covering itself in glory again with Haaland twatting a female mascot (Moonbeam, terrible name for a mascot nevertheless) leading to a trip to hospital — and she gets the boot. Fuckin unreal.

That was the first time I went to Wembley, Paul. I still remember a looping poor cross or shot hitting the top of the bar, but otherwise it was a dreadful game with neither side really getting out of second gear and really imposing themselves on the game.

Those were my thoughts at 7 years of age, although I couldn't have put it into words then, like I can now… but I suppose I was a proper little football geek from the day I first entered Goodison Park.

Villa had just as good a support as Everton on that day, and they are a club that remind me of Everton in so many ways. I've picked a few Villa fans up going to Anfield the last few seasons and they always speak highly of Everton whilst seemingly having a lot less respect for our neighbours.

I've wr,itten about it before but this Villa fan was obviously very drunk, actually having a piss against a lamppost walking near Anfield, with hundreds of people around him. I started smiling and he caught me laughing and started coming towards me shouting about football.

I waved my Everton badge that hangs off my mirror and he started shouting aggressively in front of hundreds of Liverpudlians… "Everton cannot go down! You are a truly historic football club!!!" — over and over again.

The kid probably wouldn't even remember his actions but I hope Villa win the cup, for him!!

Unrelated, but to Paul's last point, certain things go on in football that aren't addressed properly. Not just because of his Satanic links, but why was Carragher reinstalled in his role at Sky after the spit the dog incident?

Not too long ago, Becky Tallentire published an article about John Murray, who was Everton's first boy mascot back in the 1960s. A few of us on here know his brother, Brian. I wrote to the club, suggesting it would be a nice gesture to have him on the pitch at Goodison, leading out the teams.

The response was typical, explaining to me that there is a strict policy on ball people (as they are now) selection. That wasn't my point, I didn't ask for him to be a ball boy!!

Football has lost its soul, but we still keep going and giving.

Paul (19),

Yes, Howard Kendall was the youngest player to play in an FA Cup Final — 8 months younger than John Sissons, who played in that game and scored, becoming the youngest player ever to have scored in an FA Cup Final.

Don't know if they still hold those records!

Jeff (10)

Loads of players nod the ball back to their ‘keepers these days and I imagine plenty did in TG Jones's days but TG was the calmest player I ever saw; Ted Sagar in goal was always ready for TG to head the ball back to him in the tightest of situations. I saw him through the eyes of a 7- to 9-year-old boy but never forgot him.

Jarrad is a fine player who hopefully will get better but won't ever be as good as TG. I'm not suggesting you are but TG really was the perfect centre-half and footballer and after his failed transfer to an Italian club… Roma(?).

I think he fell out of love with football and definitely with Theo Kelly who was in charge of Everton FC at that time.

Hi Dave 26,

TG Jones wa before my time but I remember he was a favourite of my Dad.

I was referring to an incident recently against Man Utd I think where Jarrad did a back header to Pickford to save a potential corner kick… class.

Eze... absolutely fabulous strike to put Palace ahead.

Just an exquiste strike, with the perfect degree of Coriolis spin to bring it around and just inside the post. Magnificent skill.

Oh my Gawd...

Brilliant skill again by Eze, just so languid, a pinpoint cross straight onto Sarr's head. Fantastic!

Eze on fire

Fulham had been pressing hard… coming close.

But Eddie Nketiah comes on as a sub and within 5 minutes he's put Palace 3-0 up.

Bye-bye, Fulham. Tough one for Marco Silva, 500th game in management for our former boss.

3-0 down at home, in the quarter-final of the cup… what bad memories. I wish I hadn't just looked at this thread.

I did enjoy Michael's description of Eze's goal though!

You beat me to it Tony.

The Eagles are soaring (sorry!!).

What are the odds on an M23 derby final? Or the battle of the birds!!

Or maybe it's the year of the '70s clubs. I read that both Villa and Forest and Villa haven't won the FA Cup since the 1950s.

Well, Danny, as Forest beat them 7-0 recently, we'll have to wait and see if they can repeat the feat.

Dave @ 25,

I'm sure Norman Whiteside is the youngest to score in an FA Cup Final (vs Brighton, not us).

But Howard Kendall is now the 3rd youngest ever to play in one behind Curtis Weston (Who? for Millwall in 2004) and Paul Allen (West Ham 1980).

My Palace predicton is looking good. They are on a right old run right now.

Mine too, Tony (did Dave take you?), slightly off with my maths, but as with Danny, you lads looks 45.

Brighton will beat Forest.

I can't understand the logic in having a blank weekend for the
Premier League, especially after an international break. 4 of the midweek fixtures could have gone ahead.

We now have 2 games in two and a half days after only playing 2 in March. Add to that the travel disruption with the Grand National; well, it's only Everton.

Paul, you flatter!!

Geoff, I've been thinking that. I always remember only clubs scheduled to play those still involved wouldn't play that weekend.

It's an odd one for me.

Keep quiet about that, GC (37) please, it really helps when it comes to fantasy PL.

Dave A: John Sissons, sounds like a newsreader. I remember him from early '70s footy cards. Didn't he end up playing for Sheffield Wednesday?

I seem to remember him next to Don Megson and Peter Springett in my club piles.

Paul Allen took Howie's record when West Ham Utd beat Arsenal 1-0 with a Trevor Brooking header.

Have a memory he was in a 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper, late on, and someone came and clattered him from behind. No red card, no penalty.

Glad to see my dad was not the only one who thought TG Jones was fantastic. We need to get this out that the stores are being named after him!! 🤭😄😊

Phil, wasn't it a sort of diving header in a jam-packed box from a misplaced shot v Arsenal! That should have fecking been us.

I still hear it. Every fecking day without fail. Barry Davies: "Lampard! Just look at his face!!!"

If I could just pick three of those Forest lads for us.

Was that the semi-final, Paul, with the Hammers making up a song that "When the ball came over and Frank fell over he scored the winning goal!"

Willie Young it was who tripped up Paul Allen just outside the box when he pushed it round him and ran round the other side of him – one of the many things that possibly the last generation of street footballers learned away from constantly getting coached? (Or maybe it's just that defenders are now coached to be a lot better?)

It was a very cynical foul from Young, but Brooking had already fell over and directed another cross shot into the net. (Sometimes your name is on the cup)

I went to Wembley with my dad and my older brother that day against Villa, Paul, and although the new stadium is immaculate, it just doesn't have the heart or the soul, or the spirit, that the old Wembley stadium had, imo.

When we beat United on penalties, I couldn't get my head around what was so different. I was staying in London, so I went for a little walk and bought a few cans of lager. Walking back towards Wembley, I needed the toilet myself and got myself in the corner under Wembley way.

It was then whilst I was drinking a beer and having a piss, that the difference between the two stadiums suddenly hit me!

It might have been because we were younger, Tony but nothing was more special than being at Wembley for the first time in 1977 – and, you're right, it was a dull match. I hope that Dave and his boys managed to miss Old Trafford.

It was Tony, 1980 after we battered them at Villa Park.

"Immaculate" is one of my worries about the Dock, ony.

Poor from Sels, that could have gone anywhere.

Brian Kidd, what a fucking fool he was that day, along with our keeper (Jim McDonough?) going for distance when trying to kick the ball out of play because we had a player down.

My abiding memory of that semi-final at Villa Park is how many West Ham fans seemed to have been nicked (loads seemed to walked past me, because I was at the front, with their arms up their backs).

I think it was Stuart Pearson who equalized, but I can still remember Alvin Martin, both arms raised, both putting two fingers up at the Everton end, putting his arms around Pearson's neck and continuing to give us the Vs.

I've never forget that the fucking big Bootle or Kirkby c**t, but we were terrible in the replay on a night when Elland Rd, should have belonged to the team in Blue.

This takes me to Amochachi, when Elland Road, was most definitely blue, so I hope I'm alive for our next cup final victory because I genuinely think the explosion, will surpass anything we have witnessed before 💙

Alvin Martin was born in Walton and grew up in Bootle, Tony. I knew he was red shite but had forgotten the fingers. Mind you, 18 years with one club. At least the twat is far away in Chigwell or Epping.

Nice to see Wayne. Crap first half but at least I am watching on good old BBC and not ninth-rate Yank shite.

Brian Kidd was great in that cup run, but let himself and the team down at Villa Park that day.

I remember being behind the goal for our penalty, definite push, but you never got them back then, and you don't get them now. Odd penalty tbh.

3 ex blues on the panel, makes a change from RS dominated panels.

Glad we didn't sign Glenn Murray!

Didn't Kidd also get sent off in one of the earlier rounds of the cup that season, Jeff?

I think against non-league Wigan Athletic, Tony.

Larry Lloyd I think was manager, that was a feisty game too.

Ah going back to what big Rob said the other day, Brighton still doing the old 'you're shit ahhhhh.

FA CUP QF: those empties in the Brighton stands are shameful

Definitely sooner have the Scabs than the Seagulls, although I fancy Brighton to win.

I've just put it on now and it wouldn't surprise me to see Forest hit them with a fast counter attacking sucker punch. We will see…

Gotta say, FA Cup weekends are shite if you're not involved.

But it should be a watchable final this year, especially if Bournemouth beat City tomorrow.

Forest have been the better side in this tie, I hope they win and then get beat by Preston in the semi!

I've got a great concert at 2 online, Jeff, and then two elite 8/quarter finals college hoops (the only Yank sport I can watch) later on.

If only, bringing Elanga and Hudson-Odoi on as 60-minute subs.

It feels like 10 years since we had a game. What a stupid schedule.

Don't know why anyone is bothering with cups anymore, seeing as Newcastle are currently having a parade celebrating winning the universe.

This will be a soft penalty.

Nah, no penalty for me.

Banks is a fanny.

That does not look like a penalty.

Never a penalty in a million years.

Cheating bastards.

When doing the vocal review, shouldn't the ref apologise for getting it wrong?

No penalty for me. The Forest player's leg slips into the Brighton player.

VAR actually doing its job.

Never a penalty.

That Yates for Forest is a cheat and just runs around pulling, pushing and fouling.

He would fit in at Mordor if he wasn't absolutely shite!

These two had a big scrap on the pitch last time they played…

I can see that happening again.

Now, on reflection and VAR replays Mitoma's arm, although accidental, takes Anderson's leg away.

Penalty for me now, and yet Banks (the fanny) changes his mind! (cos VAR told him so). Banks should stick to his original decision — just like that other fanny, Madley, should have in our game against Man Utd.

Anderson knew what he was doing there, Danny. It was like he moved his foot towards the arm of Mitoma, trying to make contact with it.

Very difficult to do in a split second, I suppose, but it was the correct decision to overturn the original decision.

Sometimes VAR does work properly.

I don't agree, Rob, the commentators suggested that too, but Anderson's foot is taken out by Mitoma's hand.

No way he has the intelligence to play for that, he's a thick Geordie, for fuck's sake!

Going to penalties this game

Good point, Jeff.

It'll do for me.

There was contact, Jeff, but was it enough to bring Anderson down?

Mitoma had slid past Anderson, and unless he's got eyes in the back of his head, he can't have known where Anderson's foot was.

All Peter Bankes said in his explanation was no foul by Mitoma and a drop ball for the Brighton keeper. He didn't say exactly why the decision was overturned.

Being a thick Geordie is a good enough reason not to give a penalty! 😂😂

But Anderson's advantage was negated by Mitoma's hand.

He took him down, Rob…are we now into accidental fouls?

101.1 minutes and still one of the bastards can't score.

This is playing havoc with my live concert and it's going to penalties, isn't it.

Deffo penalties this,

Who's your live concert, PF?

https://www.stage-plus.com/video/live_concert_9HKNCPA3DTN66PBIEHFJGD1K

Nice PF, you’ve come a long way since Deaf School,
enjoy

Ha cheers. and the delightful Ms Wang is wearing a backless mini dress, not quite what comes to mind when thinking of classical pianists.

Extra time needs to go.

Yates needs to go.

“And Smith must score”

Ouch.

Friendly fire always hurts more.

So, if you don't mean to impede the player, it no longer matters, Jeff?

I'd agree with you if the ball was stopped from going into the net, but I definitely don't agree with your views on that decision.

I also didn't agree with the ball restarting with the goalkeeper, that didn't make sense to me?

It's been a dull match considering how these two have performed this season.

Looks like it's going to penalties, which should be more entertaining.

Was that the final when rubber Hutchinson scored for both teams ........ dozy twat Smith

Tony, “So, if you don't mean to impede the player, it no longer matters, Jeff?”

No, I'm saying, even if you don't mean to impede the player, it's still a foul.

Even if it's an accidental foul, the forward was still impeded: penalty for me on VAR replays.

Brighton v Man Utd, Gordon Smith was one one-on-one at 1-1 late in the game.

Of course, rubber man was v spuds Villa.

I get the point on unintentional still being a foul in certain circumstances, Jeff, but on this occasion, it wasn't intentional nor a foul.

The player's foot slid, or was deliberately put into the "perpetrator's" arm that was in a natural position and moving away from the Forest player. No foul. No penalty.

Danny, look again, Anderson did not put his foot in a place where he anticipated Mitoma's quickly arriving hand.

Accidental foul. Foul nonetheless. Penalty.

We could go on all night, Jeff. No foul for me.

At least both teams are having a go now.

It’s good of everyone to see it from my point of view at last and stop debating it😂
Thanks.

Won't get to watch the penalties... gotta go sing.

Luck to Davy Weir's BHA.

“It weren’t a great game”…. WR

Errrmm

Errm

WR

Not a good pundit

Forest deserved that.

Thickest pundit – Wazza, Morrison, or Pearce?

Glen Murray

At least WR won something.

What a season Forest are having. Champion's League qualification looking a real possibility,and now a trip to Wembley.

To think, it wasn't too long ago they were in the 3rd tier of English football.

Okay, they haven't quite done a Manchester City, but they have, just in a different way.

Phoenix can rise from the ashes, just as Everton can.

It's a bit ironic. How must they and local rivals Leicester feel in the reverse fortunes? Only a few years ago, the Foxes freaked out the establishment by winning the Premier League, whilst Forest were in the doldrums.

There's always room for an underdog, Danny, that's why we we love the game.

Accidental foul = Penalty, doesn't work for me Jeff. The game is already littered with cheating, mate, and one of the reasons for this is because television courts controversy, and this means that cheating is no longer scorned upon.

I never meant it… I know but it doesn't matter anymore. Whatever happened to the indirect free-kick?

A player going away from the goal, gets fouled = penalty. A player through on goal gets fouled a centimetre outside the area = free-kick.

I don't particularly like VAR, especially when something that should take 30 seconds takes 3, 4, 5 minutes, but the biggest disappointment with regards football is the way the Forest bench carried on when they never got the penalty. I'm certain they would have carried on even worse if the same thing happened against them and Brighton would have been awarded a penalty.

We all see different things, and we also perceive different outcomes. Some people love controversy whilst others prefer to see an honest game of football, maybe because it's become so rare, unfortunately.

Tony (54) ,

Was the goalie Paul Hodge?

Just googled Martin Hodge, Dave👍

Tony, where was the cheating by the players?

Mitoma's hand took away Anderson's foot, nobody cheated,
except the referee, he gave what he saw.

He was then shown a slow-mo replay of what he saw; he then changed his mind, even though he was correct with his on-field decision!

He and VAR were the only ones cheating. Not the players on this occasion, imo.

I'm glad you put 'imo' at the end, Jeff, because it's a very subjective incident, and for those of us who like an honest game, then I personally didn't think it was a penalty.

You might be correct that nobody was cheating on that particular incident, Jeff (still subjective imo), but when was the last time you watched any top level game of football and haven't shook your head at some of the players antics with regards cheating?

I agree Tony, the antics of supposedly top level, overpaid professionals, is sometimes annoying and painful to watch, but not every incident is down to cheating or subterfuge by the players is it?

Sometimes genuine incidents happen and cheating is not involved ( by the players).

And yes we all shake our heads in most games at the antics of multi millionaires, and yet here we are, debating the game we both love.

The Forest bench did act very petulantly, Tony.

Tony (113),

The sly bastard must have changed his first name!

Both Martin Hodge (goalkeeper) and Paul Hodge (midfielder) played for Everton, didn't they?

We did have Paul Lodge around 1981.

Norris Green lad, midfielder.

I will always love football, Jeff, but I hate the cheating. I've been helping coach an Under-11 team, and I despair at managers constantly shouting at the referee "Offside”.

Let the ref do his job, and instead of shouting for everything, try and concentrate on making your kids better. Sorry for going off the subject, but I hate cheating.

It wasn't Matoma's hand, Jeff, it was his elbow. What's the difference? – you will say. His hand took away his foot, makes it sound like he meant it, but you could see by the Brighton player's reaction that he knew it wasn't intentional or deliberate, and the first thing he said to the ref was "Go and have a look at it again."

Would the referee have changed his mind for every team, at every stadium? I personally don't think he would have, and that's another reason why I am getting more and more frustrated watching top-level football.

We could talk all night, agree on some things and disagree about other things, but football has become that difficult to referee because of all the cheating.

Maybe I'm wrong; maybe the game itself and the pitches have become that fast that sometimes a player isn't cheating intentionally…

I'd love to see a sin-bin introduced for any player who deliberately tries to deceive both the referee and his professional opponents.

I couldn't agree more about coaches and refs, Tony. It's the same with parents and players – if they spent as much energy on improving they'd all be world beaters.

It's off the scale. I coached for 7/8 years until this season and it's just getting worse. Don't know why refs even bother.

I’ve said all along that Mitoma doesn’t mean it, elbow, or hand.

My point is: Anderson is impeded; not his fault.

It isn’t cheating, he was fouled (accidentally); penalty.

Parents, the bain of my life when coaching. Closely followed by so-called coaches who shouldn't be near a touch line.

Some of the comments used to have me shaking my head, but for me, it was always about developing the lads. As footballers and people.

Let the kids play and enjoy the game we love.

Dave A, we had a Paul Lodge who played in midfield in the McBride/Pat Heard era

'Bane' Danny?

However you spell it. You get the meaning.

Jeff #114

Late to this but it was a penalty.

The foul wasn't deliberate but the challenge was clumsy and brought the player down. The suggestion that the Forest player somehow in that microsecond inserted his foot into the defender is ludicrous.

The Forest man was trying to skip over the challenge so the contact, however slight, was more than enough to bring him down.

Sorry for not knowing the players names but other than Everton... I don't take too much interest these days.

Forest won on penalties though... so justice done?

A mate of mine, a blue who I go the game with occasionally, coaches a local kids team. This morning his team were playing the final game of the season, under 13s. His team were battling relegation and the opposition could win the league if they won.

As the game was at the bottom of our street, I strolled down to watch. When I arrived, the home team, Tigers, facing relegation, scored to go one-nil up.

Just after half time, with the score still one-nil, the ball was kicked over the fence across the busy road. As I was nearest the pitch entrance, I went to get the ball, waiting for traffic. I got the ball and, thinking that the game had restarted with a spare ball, started walking across the road with the ball.

Next thing a screeching harpy ran towards me demanding I throw the ball back and stop wasting time. I said I'd assumed the game had continued but she screamed "They can't play without a ball! Stop wasting time!"

I have absolutely no horse in this race but this woman was apoplectic with rage.

I used to coach kids football. The kids were fine – the parents were absolute knobs.

I met a mate of mine a few days ago.

He had his arm in a sling.

"WTF, John?" I said.

Long story short: coming off the pitch after a coaching session with the kids, he slipped, fell, and broke his arm.

He turned 70 this year.

And fuck anyone who comes on with a "kiddy fiddler" line.

There was no cheating and no penalty. The term is incidental contact.

Liam #122, we refs are armed with two weapons guaranteed to shut down obnoxious parents and coaches. One is a red card. The other is telling the coach you will abandon the game if the offender doesn't leave.

I met a teenaged referee at a youth game in Crosby who was in complete command of his game. I complimented him afterwards and asked how he dealt with nasty parents?

He said he sent them to the car park -- and let them see how much he enjoyed doing it. Apparently the humiliation of being smilingly dismissed by a kid half their age helps parents mend their ways quickly.

What about the suggestion that the Forest player might have left his foot there because he knew his opponent had already slid in, so it would be impossible for him to change direction, Brendan? Does that also sound ludicrous?

The game is lightning quick and some of the players know every trick in the book. If that was given for Everton, it would only make me happy if it was given against Liverpool!

Quick — put News at Ten on and watch those Geordies celebrating winning the Mickey Mouse Cup! 😂

Yes Tony #132,

Ludicrous indeed.

If the Forest player "orchestrated" a foul in that nano second he's right up there with De Niro & Al Pacino.

And no... there is no Oscar!

What I hate Tony is the "only in Newcastle" shite, "it means so much to these fabulous supporters"

On Martin/Paul Hodge Tony, tell yer dad that he might have confused Hodge with Paul Lodge who played 25 games or so for us 1979-82ish. Tidy midfielder. Really nice lad.

MG 131, I disagree.

What is 'incidental contact'? You sound like a referee. Have you refereed a game?

Mike 131 - wish it were that simple. Been at many games were parents have refused to leave and refs have carried on in fear tbh.

Find myself increasingly jaded by it. It's same at every level. Through grass roots to semi-pro to Premier League. Refs just get vilified.

Newcastle won the World Cup, the Champions League, and WWII all at once.

Mike #131

"Apparently the humiliation of being smilingly dismissed by a kid half their age helps parents mend their ways quickly."

Don't really see it helping you much?

When we win our next trophy, this city and football won't know what's hit it.

No staged coriographed theatre fawned upon by the gullible media hype. I don't care if they don't pay attention.

Just pure raw royal blue emotion from the most dedicated, passionate and educated supporters in the land.

This club is ours. This city is ours. Believe it blues, the blue tide is turning and rising.

Sorry, I'm in derby mode.

💙 1878 the Originals

Jeff Armstrong MG 131, I disagree, what is incidental contact? You sound like a referee.

Have you refereed a game?

Yes MG has Jeff!

Incidental contact is contact that occurs during a fair challenge for the ball, but doesn't involve any deliberate or excessive force. It's essentially a natural consequence of the physical nature of the sport.

How many hot dogs can you eat in 5 minutes contest outside the skunks lair. That would be a watch.

"Shirts off on the whistle and go!"

Off topic

But has anyone watched "This City is Ours"

Good show but the Dublin versions are better.

Anyhow when I was in Liverpool last (courtesy of the younger, less polite Abraham} they were filming in the street where the older, wiser, better looking. Abraham told us to meet... I think June was her name.

Last episode...the very street and if you look very carefully you might spot a white haired Irishman.

Thanks again Dave, June, Tony & Michael.

Liam #136, no, you're right, it's definitely not simple. The leagues often don't empower the refs over the paying parents, and unfortunately that's why so many young refs give it up. But every time I meet a kid like the one in Crosby it gives me hope.

Jeff #135, yeah, I've reffed a couple....... thousand. Former pro. 48 years and still at it.

Only in 'merica though Jeff.

Not proper stuff.

Some are saying that they don't want Villa to win it because of the '76-77 League Cup Finals.

I attended all three and some semi-finals in the same week against some other team, CT's X1 I think. But then, to make matters worse, somebody says they want Palace to win it.

For heaven's sake, man, the Zephyr Paints Final! We wuz robbed by some TV pundit, four times!

Tony (113 ),

I got the Paul part of Hodges' name from Paul Lodge a midfielder from the early 1980s who was from Norris Green I think, played in aderby game at Anfield and hit a cracking shot early in the game that went just over the bar.

I thought he was going to be very good for the Blues but he never played that many games for the Blues in the next couple of years and went into lower grades of football.

Apologies to Jeff and Paul with their references Paul Lodge earlier than my one @ (142).

I just read last night's posts now after coming back from church.

I didn’t know either of those two great actors played football, Brendan, but at least I’ve had a good strong decisive answer out of you for a change, mate!

Nothing to write home about with this one so far.

I think the balloons released by the Preston supporters that wouldn't leave the pitch made more of a contribution in the 1st half.

This game's over. 3-0 to Villa.

Must be cold up in Preston though, as Rashford is wearing gloves!

Villa stepped up a gear and were too much for Preston.

Hmmmmm… 54-year old unnamed man from Kettering arrested for three murders in Rushden.

Citee have been awful.

Iraola is an impressive manager. Ex-Bilbao lad which sits well with me.

They just had a brilliant interview on BBC 5 Live, Guillem Balague talking to Andoni Irola... more here:

Bournemouth boss Iraola values FA Cup over Europe

Nice move by City for 1-1.

City on top; nice half-time sub

The Cherries not so sweet now. Seems they can't string more than 3 passes together before giving up possession.

Now where have I seen that?

Hilarious: after the last round, the BBC said "All the big teams are out."

Looks to me like another year bought and paid for by Dubai.