Football Diary
by Patrick O’Connor
THE FA Cup is a competition that never fails to grab the public’s imagination.
It stands out as the most exciting club cup event in the world because it pits the big boys against the minnows and never fails to serve up major upsets.
THE most dreadful aspect about the controversial goal scored by Nani for Manchester United in their 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday was not that it was allowed, because there are arguments both ways on that issue, but the pathetically weak behaviour of referee Mark Clattenburg.
THERE is a well known footballing phrase – ‘it’s a game of two halves.’
Well, my footballing experiences recently fell into the category of ‘it’s a game of second halves.’
FORGET about tactically constipated football matches in the top leagues or the never-ending stream of European fixtures where substitutes have to study a spread-sheet with the coach before coming on. No, if it’s good, old-fashioned entertainment you’re after, you can’t beat the lower leagues in the Football League.
FOOTBALL managers, bless ‘em, they don’t half come out with some twaddle. Take Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini for example. Speaking before Saturday’s home game against Chelsea he said: “They will probably win the Premier League easily”.