Football

[Peeled Apples]

But looking at the winners for the last 16 years the following clubs have won it: Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Manchester United. Of that list only Crystal Palace might be classed as not a "bigger team" - which suggests they are getting their team selections right.

There's also Wigan in 2013 and Leicester in 2021.

 

[Haywain]

But looking at the winners for the last 16 years the following clubs have won it: Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Manchester United.

As well as Leicester City, mentioned above, you omit Liverpool (2022) and Wigan Athletic (2013). I would say it isn't so much getting their selections right in the case of the big 5 of those, as having immense strength in depth.

 

[D1511]

Hereford United vs Newcastle United in 1972. If only there was footage of the goals from that particular R3 replay still available.

It made me laugh, anyway, despite the literal response you got.

Well, another nervy 1-0 win for Hearts to keep us 6 pts clear at the top. At the end of a comfortable first half, where we'd gone 1-0 up, our goalie was sent off for supposedly denying a goal scoring opportunity (despite there being a Hearts defender alongside and the linesman putting his flag up for offside.).
Step up our super-goalie Craig Gordon to come on as sub, who last played in Scotland's victory over Denmark to take us to the world cup. He's 43 years young, and proved it in the 94th minute with one of the best saves I've ever seen. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet, it is such a brilliant save.
Roll on St Mirren at Tynecastle on Wed, and hopefully we can keep ticking the wins off. If we do that, it doesn't matter what's happening at the other end of the M8......

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Manchester United now have lost in very early rounds of two cup competions this season.

 

[sannox]

It made me laugh, anyway, despite the literal response you got.

Well, another nervy 1-0 win for Hearts to keep us 6 pts clear at the top. At the end of a comfortable first half, where we'd gone 1-0 up, our goalie was sent off for supposedly denying a goal scoring opportunity (despite there being a Hearts defender alongside and the linesman putting his flag up for offside.).
Step up our super-goalie Craig Gordon to come on as sub, who last played in Scotland's victory over Denmark to take us to the world cup. He's 43 years young, and proved it in the 94th minute with one of the best saves I've ever seen. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet, it is such a brilliant save.
Roll on St Mirren at Tynecastle on Wed, and hopefully we can keep ticking the wins off. If we do that, it doesn't matter what's happening at the other end of the M8......

It was a great save at the end by Gordon. I'm virtually the same age and I'd not be getting back up after that!

Red card was a hard one to Schwolow for Hearts, but he was silly. Had he gone with his feet to challenge with the ball you could make an argument, but he dives / falls in front of the Dundee player and clatters him. If the attacker wasn't clattered, he has to put it into an empty net.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Manchester United now have lost in very early rounds of two cup competions this season.

They will play a 40 match season, which is the shortest possible for a top flight club (38 league games, first round [for them] exits in both domestic cups, no European games) and (I think I heard) unprecedented for them in living memory

 

[DarloRich]

Just catching up with the weekends football ( no game for us due to a frozen pitch and i have the lurgy)

Fantastic result for Macclesfield, fantastic thrashing for Exeter, no FA Cup VAR ( yeah!), Wolves won a game, MK Dongs knocked out.

I hope that people seeing Macc win will convince them to take a look at thier local non league club with fresh eyes and realise there is more to life than plastic premier league supporting.

 

[1D54]

Would it be fair to say that if the people of Macc had taken a look at their local club then they would still have the word Town in their name?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Manchester United now have lost in very early rounds of two cup competions this season.

They will play a 40 match season, which is the shortest possible for a top flight club (38 league games, first round [for them] exits in both domestic cups, no European games) and (I think I heard) unprecedented for them in living memory

@SuspectUsual. Think you're right. Can't imagine the MUFC bean counters are all that happy. At least season ticket holders won't have had to pay all that much extra for cup tickets this season!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

@SuspectUsual. Think you're right. Can't imagine the MUFC bean counters are all that happy. At least season ticket holders won't have had to pay all that much extra for cup tickets this season!

At least there is no term-contract newly-appointed full time manager to bear the blame for this.

 

[SuspectUsual]

@SuspectUsual. Think you're right. Can't imagine the MUFC bean counters are all that happy. At least season ticket holders won't have had to pay all that much extra for cup tickets this season!

That will depend on their budgeting methodology I suppose. If they budget for income from games that are presumed will be played but in the event are not, they’ll have a shortfall. I know that my (non-league) team starts the season with a budget based on the worst case scenario for cup competitions so any fleeting success is a bonus

 

[Haywain]

Would it be fair to say that if the people of Macc had taken a look at their local club then they would still have the word Town in their name?

No, it would have made no difference to an owner who chose not to pay the bills.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Two good semi-final matches to look forward to today in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.....

Senegal v Egypt

Nigeria v Morocco

 

[321362]

Two good semi-final matches to look forward to today in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.....

Senegal v Egypt

Nigeria v Morocco

tentative predictions: mo salah's egypt will go through vs a very well organised senegal team after extra time. morocco will prove too much for nigeria to handle and will go through comfortably

 

[swt_passenger]

They will play a 40 match season, which is the shortest possible for a top flight club (38 league games, first round [for them] exits in both domestic cups, no European games) and (I think I heard) unprecedented for them in living memory

Should save them a few quid not having to pay all sorts of performance bonuses.

 

[JamesT]

tentative predictions: mo salah's egypt will go through vs a very well organised senegal team after extra time. morocco will prove too much for nigeria to handle and will go through comfortably

A turgid first semi-final resulted in a 1-0 win for Senegal. Egypt sat back and offered nothing until Sane scored after 78 minutes.
Hopefully the second one will be more entertaining.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Should save them a few quid not having to pay all sorts of performance bonuses.

I’m sure they’d prefer to pay those and have the gate receipts and commercial revenue from some extra games

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

tentative predictions: mo salah's egypt will go through vs a very well organised senegal team after extra time. morocco will prove too much for nigeria to handle and will go through comfortably

Your first prediction fell by the wayside as a solitary goal by Mane saw Senergal win 1-0.

The match between Nigeria and Morocco was goal-less at full time and extra-time is now just commencing as I write.

 

[D1511]

Another win for the jambos tonight. Down to 10 men after 14 minutes thanks to a stupid lunge by Beni Baningime, we cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile at Falkirk, a dire Celtic stole a 1-0 away win despite being outplayed for 90 minutes. They were dominated by Falkirk......much as they were dominated by Motherwell the other week.
Still 6 clear, and Celtic at home a week on Sunday.......
15 months ago, we were rock bottom of the league........quite a transformation.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am not sure if I read the score correctly, but tonight's Scottish SWF Cup 4th round match reads....

Stirling University 0 ... Hearts 19 (Nineteen) ...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2026 ==

The match between Nigeria and Morocco was goal-less at full time and extra-time is now just commencing as I write.

The match was still goal-less at the end of extra-time, but Morocco won 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out and will play Senegal in the final.

 

[D1511]

I am not sure if I read the score correctly, but tonight's Scottish SWF Cup 4th round match reads....

Stirling University 0 ... Hearts 19 (Nineteen) ...

Unfortunately for the Stirling Uni women, the score is correct.
I wonder how the goals were shared out, and whether the Hearts centre forward got a triple hat-trick.......but I can't seem to find any details yet.

 

[Ivor]

Chelsea 2 Arsenal 3 in the Carabao semi 1st leg, Chelsea still cannot defend, the back four whatever the selection is a mess, battled well tonight going forward but Arsenal I thought if they’d gone up a gear could have gone on to get more goals but I live in hope my team go to Arsenal in the second leg & turn it around

 

[D1511]

Chelsea 2 Arsenal 3 in the Carabao semi 1st leg, Chelsea still cannot defend, the back four whatever the selection is a mess, battled well tonight going forward but Arsenal I thought if they’d gone up a gear could have gone on to get more goals but I live in hope my team go to Arsenal in the second leg & turn it around

You need a goalie......he threw 2 in last night

 

[Ivor]

You need a goalie......he threw 2 in last night

Definitely, been a question mark over him since he arrived yet every manager also thinks he’s good enough to play tippy tappy out with his fellow defenders of which they can’t get to grips with as most not good enough.

Even happens in closing minutes of a match when losing, so much of the game has gone.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Another win for the jambos tonight. Down to 10 men after 14 minutes thanks to a stupid lunge by Beni Baningime, we cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile at Falkirk, a dire Celtic stole a 1-0 away win despite being outplayed for 90 minutes. They were dominated by Falkirk......much as they were dominated by Motherwell the other week.
Still 6 clear, and Celtic at home a week on Sunday.......
15 months ago, we were rock bottom of the league........quite a transformation.

Always rated Derek McInnes and he is now showing what he can achieve when given funds for his squad, something he was denied during his 8 successive years of European qualification and one trophy at Aberdeen (his four successors to date (another to be appointed) have each been given millions to spend with no return other than a Scottish Cup win on penalties).

Good luck Jam Tarts for the rest of the season, all of Scotland (well nearly all) would be delighted if you can keep winning and become Champions - the upcoming Celtic match is key, one of many key matches to come.

 

[D1511]

Always rated Derek McInnes and he is now showing what he can achieve when given funds for his squad, something he was denied during his 8 successive years of European qualification and one trophy at Aberdeen (his four successors to date (another to be appointed) have each been given millions to spend with no return other than a Scottish Cup win on penalties).

The transformation McInnes has made to the side has been astonishing. Braga and Kyziridis and a couple of others have certainly made the squad better, but the majority of the squad is the same as last year. He's brought a real cohesion to the side, and we are superbly organised across midfield and defensively, as our last few results have shown. He knows how to set the team up properly for a range of game situations, and when to change it mid-game, which is exactly what Naismith couldn't do. The squad is still quite small compared to the old firm, but if we can avoid too many injuries and suspensions all at once, we might just be in there fighting at the end of the season.

Good luck Jam Tarts for the rest of the season, all of Scotland (well nearly all) would be delighted if you can keep winning and become Champions - the upcoming Celtic match is key, one of many key matches to come.

There's a proportion of Edinburgh and most of Glasgow hoping we don't do it, but thank you, that's much appreciated. We seem to have most of the neutrals rooting for us and the English media seem to like the idea of someone else winning it for a change..........even the odious Simon Jordan on TalkSh*te has decided he wants us to win it! (co-host Jim "Currant Bun" White obviously doesn't though!)
I was on the terracing behind the goal at Dens to see a Bobby Ball lookalike Celtic fan steal the league from us in 1986, so I'm not getting carried away.
There would be an incredible feeling of closure if we did do it to them 40 years later though........but the amazing upward progression of the club will be satisfaction enough. Bloom said he wanted to "disrupt the old firm dominance" within a few years. We're doing it in year 1, and we're only going to get better, so we'll do it eventually.
And that'll be a good night in Gorgie.......

 

[Cheshire Scot]

I was on the terracing behind the goal at Dens to see a Bobby Ball lookalike Celtic fan steal the league from us in 1986, so I'm not getting carried away.

I was at Kilbowie Park that day watching the Dons win 6 - 0 and was a shocked as anyone when the result came in from Dens - that must have been so painful, and as an aside the Bankies were relegated that season. At least Dens is looking unlikely to be a last day venue this time around!
And of course your boys, two down just after HT, were so dispirited at Hampden a week later.

Fergie was absent on Scotland duty a lot that season otherwise the six point gap might have closed to add to the two cups - two defeats and two draws in April!

Shankland at Aberdeen, overweight and underperforming (0 goals in 17 appearances) and only moved on in 2017 after several loans, in comparison unrecognisable today!

I do suspect even some Hibees and a few Bluenoses would be pleased to see a change from Celtic domination! And maybe the Cup up for grabs too although O'Neill seems to be restoring a sense of order in Glasgow's east end.

 

[Haywain]

Unremarkably, Swindon Town won 2-1 away at Luton Town on Tuesday in the Vertu Trophy. However, during the course of the game it came to light that they brought on a substitute who was not named on the original teamsheet. That came to light during the match. Since then it has emerged that Swindon also started Oliver Clarke , who was part way through a seven match suspension. Swindon are now facing multiple charges from the FA and EFL, and Luton are not necessarily out of the Vertu Trophy!

 

[Falcon1200]

Swindon are now facing multiple charges from the FA and EFL

Swindon Town in trouble (again)?

The reason for Mr Clarke's suspension is, shall we say, interesting.....

Ollie Clarke: Swindon Town captain committed 'highly violating' act on opponents

Swindon captain Ollie Clarke committed "highly violating and intentional foul play" on two opponents' "private body parts" during a game against Cardiff City, according to a disciplinary report.

www.bbc.co.uk

Swindon Town captain Ollie Clarke was banned for seven matches after committing "highly violating and intentional foul play" on two opponents' "private body parts" during a game, according to a disciplinary report.

 

[Iskra]

Leeds United 1 Fulham 0

A deserved, and very important late win for Leeds. Fulham didn’t really offer much, they looked like they’d come for a point and they nearly got it. Their keeper had a great game, but couldn’t quite keep the decisive effort out. Leeds now 8 points clear of the relegation zone.