Leeds save the FA Cup

Thank goodness for Jermaine Beckford, who gave the headline writers the chance to rekindle the magic of the cup.

It was a sports journalist’s dream, with Leeds bringing back memories of glory days lost and giving Fergie another excuse to lament the lack of injury time. The result also came just in time to save a distinctly average third round weekend.

The highlights before Sunday? Steven Gerrard rescuing Liverpool (how many times have we heard that before?) against lowly Reading, Nottingham Forest drawing with Birmingham and that’s about it.

Even crisis club Portsmouth, who most people expected to fall to lower league opposition and deepen their fans’ misery, ruined several betting slips by having the temerity to draw with Coventry.

To be fair to Everton, they did their best concede defeat to League One Carlisle, barely managing to string two passes together for 80 minutes before two late goals saw them scrape through


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Fulham my team of the year

After a busy set of festive fixtures thoughts will naturally drift towards New Year’s Eve and a look back at what 2009 did for us.

When picking a ‘team of the year’ I naturally look at the winners for highlights. In England we saw Manchester United win the Carling Cup (thanks to Ben Foster’s Ipod!) and claim their 18th League title, drawing them level with bitter rivals Liverpool in the process. Champions League glory was only denied by a magnificent Barcelona side in the final.

On a swelteringly hot day in May Chelsea and Everton contested the FA Cup Final. History was made as Louis Saha scored the fastest goal ever in a Cup final but Chelsea’s extra quality told and they fully deserved their 2-1 win.

But when looking at 2009 as a whole I can’t pick any of those teams as my team of the year. United look a poorer side without Ronaldo while Chelsea have also slipped in recent weeks. Everton meanwhile are languishing at the wrong end of the league after a poor start to the season.


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Megson pays price for fans' raised expectations

So, the Bolton fans have got their way, with chairman Phil Gartside finally putting Gary Megson out of his misery on Wednesday.

The reaction of the fans at the Hull game perhaps pointed to such an outcome; they clearly weren’t happy and such an atmosphere forces a board into action. But the reality is that the fans have been hostile to Megson since day one.

Appointed (to an underwhelming reception) to replace Sammy Lee, the legacy of Sam Allardyce still loomed large as the fans, accustomed to top six finishes, waited for more of the same.

But sadly the reality was that the wonders worked by Allardyce were never sustainable and with a limited budget Megson knew Premier League survival was his first priority.

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