It’s no revelation that it’s become increasingly difficult for youth players to make the grade at clubs of a certain stature. From Barcelona’s La Masia to Bayern’s Junior Team, potential first team prospects struggle to make the breakthrough while the world’s richest clubs continue to look outward rather than promote from within.
Although we still have a few replays to settle, the FA Cup Third Round is pretty much done and dusted, giving us time to look at the darlings of the competition with 32 clubs remaining.
The usual favorites are all there — Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs — but we also have three clubs that standout at the opposite end of the spectrum. Barnet, playing in the fifth tier, is the lowest ranked remaining club and the only non-League side left.
More than 15 years after Arsene Wenger brought Cesc Fàbregas to London at the tender age of 16, the Spanish midfielder played what was likely his final match for an English club. It was a little emotional.
After eight seasons with Arsenal and 4.5 more with Chelsea (with a brief stint at Barcelona in between), Fàbregas said farewell to the London fans, who gave him a heartfelt sendoff late in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
In early 2018 ESPN announced its new streaming service, ESPN+, which would supplement ESPN networks and begin taking over much of the ESPN3 content. Many people dismissed the idea of buying access to content not deemed worthy of the main cable channels. However, from day one, ESPN+ seemed like a great option for U.S. soccer fans. Since then, it's only increased its value.
In what can only be described as fantastic news, the English Football Association (FA) has decided to increase the FA Cup prize money.
The news really did fly under the radar for many fans, but it is our duty to provide you with this important piece of information.
The 2018-19 FA Cup prize money is almost double what it was from the previous editions of English football’s most prestigious trophy. From the point of winning a First Round Qualifying match, the prize money doubled for every stage.
Thanks to the always brilliant Twitter account @forgottengoals, we’ve been introduced to what’s surely one of the greatest goals of yesteryear.
After Antonio Conte’s sacking as Chelsea manager, owner Roman Abramovich summoned the Dark Lord himself to choose the next victim. With careful consideration, or possibly none, former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has been chosen as the next sacrifice, I mean manager.
The 58-year-old started his managerial career in 2005 with Pescara and continued managing another six minor Italian clubs before his move to S.S.C. Napoli in 2015. With “the Little Donkeys,” Sarri revived the almost forgotten club by reforming the playing methods that Rafael Benitez established before.
Chelsea and Manchester United battled in the FA Cup final in the second-most pompous event in England on Saturday. For both clubs, it was the culmination of a season fans of neither club will remember fondly.
While Chelsea won 1-0, it’s tough to determine which club had the worse season.
Manchester United and Chelsea are historical rivals; we all know that. We also know it’s a mild one compared to Man United’s rivalry with Liverpool or Chelsea’s rivalry with Arsenal. Though with a bitter and old conflict between mammoth managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, Manchester United and Chelsea face a more complicated battle for the FA Cup final come May 19.