FA Cup replays have been scrapped in changes to the competition’s format ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. The news comes amid concerns over the congested nature of the football calendar, with all replays to be removed from the first round. Previously, there had been no replays from the fifth-round onwards. Football League sides had opposed the abolishment of FA Cup replays with the potential to miss out on high-revenue ties against clubs higher up the pyramid, though the chances come alongside an agreement between the FA and Premier League for greater support of the lower leagues.   Premie ..read more

Fantasy Premier League has a way of turning your average, workmanlike top-flight footballers into beloved cult heroes.  You see, millions are battling for the highest rank possible every single season and that’s often achieved by having the best available players in your team. But a limited budget means you can’t always have the cream of the crop on your team. FPL managers have to be smart and find hidden gems, bargain buys and unfancied players who will give them the edge over their competitors. These footballers tend to be forgotten by everyone else, but remembered and immortalised as ..read more

We are all enjoying one of the most engaging and entertaining Premier League seasons in recent memory, despite the fact it contains arguably the worst bottom three we’ve ever seen. Burnley and Sheffield United have been abysmal, and although Luton Town have been interesting to follow, they don’t possess a whole lot of quality. The Hatters have earned a lot of praise for their fighting spirit, pulling out big wins against Newcastle and Brighton as well as drawing with Liverpool – but they’ve also lost 19 matches so far. These three sides have amassed a combined total of just 59 points so far t ..read more

The new England kit has, regrettably, been front and centre of the interminable culture war this week.  Political leaders, pundits, keyboard warriors and columnists who haven’t written an original thought in years have all waded in, offering their tuppence on this confected quarrel. Nike, you see, had the temerity to alter the St. George’s cross and stick it on the collar of the new jersey. It was, in their words, a “playful update” to “unite and inspire”, but judging by the reaction on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, not in the way they hoped. A playful update to t ..read more

We are back with the best tweets of the week from Football Twitter.  Last week was a banger, can this week’s column live up to it? Let’s see. Jamie Carragher was responsible for one of the most award moments ever captured on a live football show.  Jamie Carragher's joke about Kate Abdo is now in cartoon pic.twitter.com/u60K7VfsDF — Omar Momani (@omomani) March 15, 2024 Kate Abdo responded in typically classy and brilliant fashion.  Another HIT @kate_abdo intro pic.twitter.com/SeyhgMfeGU — CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 13, 2024 Tim Sherwood ran Carragher close ..read more

The Africa Cup of Nations reached its conclusion this weekend as host nation Ivory Coast claimed an unexpected continental triumph, beating Nigeria at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. Sebastien Haller’s late goal was the difference between the teams, capping a remarkable personal and team comeback tale. The Ivorians sacked their manager mid-tournament after being humiliated by Equatorial Guinea in the group stage, before bouncing back to be crowned Africa’s best team for a third time. Following the conclusion of the tournament, we look at five players who defined AFCON 2023. Ronw ..read more

Following the FA Cup fourth-round action, we look at five things we learned from the weekend’s games. Holders edge Spurs to lift North London curse Manchester City’s record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was well documented heading into this weekend’s fourth-round tie in North London, with the holders having lost on all five of their previous visits to the venue, without scoring. Spurs had proven to be awkward opposition for Pep Guardiola’s mean, a rare kryptonite for the Premier League’s managerial Superman. City’s defence of last season’s treble remains on, however, after the FA Cup holder ..read more

Our weekly FA Cup awards honour the best – and worst – of the fourth-round action. Moment of the Week Could it be anything else? Maidstone United pulled off the upset of the competition so far to eliminate Ipswich Town. The latter started the contest 98 places above the sixth-tier side in England’s football pyramid, with Ipswich pushing for promotion to the Premier League this season. They’ve done it again Who else but Sam Corne for @maidstoneunited!? #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/3XLyIGTrbO — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 27, 2024 The opening exchanges showed the quality gap be ..read more

Here are all of the latest transfer rumours from around the Premier League this Tuesday, 23 January.  Despite being backed by Saudi oil money, Newcastle United have been linked with selling their current players more so than bringing new ones in. The club are evidently being very mindful of keeping on the right side of the Profit and Sustainability Rules in light of recent charges against Everton and Nottingham Forest. Miguel Almiron is the latest name linked with an exit as the Guardian claim Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab are interested in the Paraguayan. A Magpies player off to ..read more

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round has thrown up some cracking ties, with some huge all-Premier League affairs. Holders Manchester City make the tricky trip to face Tottenham, with the Citizens having lost five of their last six visits to North London. Chelsea will host Aston Villa in another eye-catching tie, while non-league Eastleigh could host Manchester United in a dream draw, provided they come through a replay against Newport County, and the Red Devils beat Wigan in their third-round tie on Monday night. Elsewhere, Maidstone United’s rewarded for upsetting Stevenage in the last round ..read more