There's nothing quite like walking towards an FA Cup game, seeing the now-famous arch of Wembley Stadium and getting a shiver of excitement down your spine as you make your way to the ground. You wonder if the players at Wembley FC get the same thought as they make their way towards the distinctly less [. Click to continue reading...

So the Carling Cup played its first round last midweek and on Saturday over 100 matches were played in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup. Yep the FA Cup has started its long road to Wembley, clubs after the trophy that Portsmouth won last May. Click to continue reading...

As a proud United fan for many years, I have witnessed a great number of very talented players come through the Old Trafford doors. I have also seen a select few of these players become managers. Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce, and now Paul Ince, to name a few. To be honest, I never expected Ince to delve into football management's long corridors. Click to continue reading...

Actor shows off his fancy footwork Thespian Gary Oldman was chosen to front ITV's campaign to promote its three-pronged football coverage (Champions League, FA Cup and England internationals) this season. We managed to get our hands on an out-take from... Click to continue reading...

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QPR's Next game after the Internationals: Newly-promoted Doncaster Rovers at Loftus Road, who have made a very solid start. Doncaster won their opening game, 1-0 against Derby County. They then drew Saturday's game at home to Cardiff. In the Carling Cup, Doncaster experienced their own 'shock" defeat away to Notts County. Click to continue reading...

Seeing as how it's the start of the Premier League season and the FA Cup today, here's a little something to keep you all entertained - a complete episode of 6-0-6 with Danny Baker, from thr 3rd of November 1992. For those of you seeking some sort of guidance on when this was, it was [...] Click to continue reading...

We begin with an apology.

When we said yesterday that these were exciting times and that various football competitions were going on around the world except for one which was about to start (i.e. the Premier League), we were being slightly economical with the truth.

Not that these aren't exciting times, etc, etc - it was just the bit at the end about 'one competition remaining that hadn't exploded into life yet'. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor has urged the team to be more ruthless as he aims to win his first trophy with the club since his arrival from Monaco three years ago. The Togolese striker admits it's time to add some substance to their unquestionable style and earn their first bit of silverware since their 2005 FA Cup [. Click to continue reading...

Has it really been just ninety-one days since the 2008 FA Cup Final? Apparently it has, but the FA Cup gets back under way this weekend with the Extra Preliminary Round. On Saturday afternoon, 406 entrants will take their marks, dreaming of the twin tower, meeting the Queen... well, probably not. For clubs entering the [. Click to continue reading...

Well I first off would like to say what a joy it's been for writing these previews. But alas they must come to an end and tonight I conclude with the final four teams. If you've read up until now, you know I see the big four ending in the top four spots. So how do I see it playing out, let's take a look.

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Once again an important Liverpool game is in danger of being overshadowed by an off-field saga. This unfortunately is becoming an all too frequent trend for the Merseyside giants. The latest episode is another apparent conflict between owners and manager, this time over the funding of the proposed Gareth Barry move. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea captain John Terry believes Manchester United have reached their peak

Chelsea captain John Terry has issued fierce statement of intent to rivals Manchester United by insisting his club will raise the bar this season, arguing United have peaked.

The bullish declaration follows United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's claim a month ago that the London club are 'too old' to challenge for honours this season. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea has not finished outside the top two in five seasons, a span in which they're averaging a mind-blowing 88.5 points a season. They've won two Premiership titles, two Carling Cups, an FA Cup, and, for what it's worth, a Community Shield, during this stretch. They have an impressive, slightly overrated in my opinion [. Click to continue reading...

After a whirlwind 1st season last year at UKFF, I don't think I faired too badly in the gypsy glass ball prediction game malarkey, well it's in the blood innit. Ok, the Manc's didn't do the treble as I thought they would but they darn well came close with 100 goal-line clearances by Pompey in the FA cup semi denying me some sheckles. Click to continue reading...

So as these previews wind down, we start taking a look at those clubs that can make a push for the European places. With the way the UEFA Cup will work starting from next season, this will guarantee seven teams will start in the UEFA Cup qualification rounds and possibly eight depending on how the Fair Play Table shapes out.

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By JAMES CLARKWhen you think about what West Ham needs to do in order to stay in the Premiership -- and, let's face it, with Curbs as manager and the credit crunch putting paid to the Icelandic-owners consortium's ability to compete financially -- finishing anywhere from 17th and above MUST! Click to continue reading...

Leading up to Arsenal's Champions League clash with Steve McClaren's FC Twente side, Gooner Talk have put together ten facts on the Eredivisie giants. 1. Twente are currently rebuilding their stadium which means they will have to play the match in Vitesse Arnhem's stadium - the Gelredome (pictured). Click to continue reading...

Tomas Rosicky is wary of rushing his return to the Arsenal first team. The 27-year-old, who signed for the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in 2006, made only 15 League starts for Arsenal last year in a largely fragmented season. Due to an injury sustained in the FA Cup in January, Rosicky missed all of the second half [. Click to continue reading...

Morning all. I have a very special announcement for you all today. Arsenal have decided that Arsene Wenger has no idea what he's doing, and they're moving on. They've found a new manager, and he's just what everyone has been hoping for. He's got a much better track record than Wenger, who of course only won three league titles and four FA Cups and is Arsenal's most successful manager ever. Click to continue reading...

It could have been another Treble. After knocking out Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, a victory against Portsmouth would have seen us needing to beat West Brom in the semi-finals and Cardiff in the final to be awarded the FA Cup. But a referee, who apparently deserves our respect, denied us a stonewall penalty. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has already gone on record as saying that he wants to target the quadruple this season. The quadruple being the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and  Carling Cup. Manchester united coach Alex Ferguson has not been as brash, but with seven potential trophies this year, Fergie could well do the [. Click to continue reading...

In the race for the Premier League title, a big factor of whether a team can succeed is not so much the talent on the pitch but rather off it. In a long season of 38 Premier League matches as well as the FA Cup, Carling Cup and, for some teams, the Champions League and [...] Click to continue reading...

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Another thing to get used to: All the media coverage of QPR! Again references to the involvement of Briatore and the pressures on Dowie

The Guardian/Mark Tallentine - Dowie waving not drowning at new-look QPR

The ambition of Flavio Briatore is not in question and a close-season refit of the ageing stadium which has provided a big screen, padded seats, swish hospitality units and a bumper-sized directors' box with overspill area for the entourages of the fabulously wealthy owners only add to the view that QPR can buy their way to promotion. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United defeated Portsmouth on penalties to win the Community Shield.  For anyone that doesn't know, the Community Shield is a game putting the previous seasons Premier League winner's against the winners of the FA Cup. Manchester played without both Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, and instead relied on Nani and Tevez to lead the attack. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United took their second consecutive Community Shield trophy on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth at Wembley. The Community Shield (formerly known as the Charity Shield) pits the defending Premier League champion and FA Cup winner and Man United repeated last year's success at the spot, the previous version finishing 1-1 in their match with Chelsea. Click to continue reading...