LAD V DAD?
Three days into December and Football Daily has already polished off the advent calendar. The lack of self-discipline and short-sightedness is as astounding as it is predictable and part of the reason we are writing tea-timely emails rather than hoovering up any of the FSA awards, dished out on Monday night to our so-called counterparts. Enjoy the gongs, journalists. I hope they make you happy. Dear Lord, what sad little lives. Christmas should be a time for joy but for those of us floundering, it can also be a difficult time to negotiate. Just ask Everton fans: fresh from having their tails handed to them at Old Trafford, the club now face a crucial relegation clash at home to Wolves on Wednesday, before a set of festive fixtures trickier than Football Daily’s Christmas lights: the Merseyside derby at home to Liverpool on Saturday, before games against Arsenal, Chelsea and on Boxing Day, Manchester City. That Christmas Day hangover is going to hit different.
At least the FA Cup third-round draw was relatively kind to the Toffees, who were handed a home tie against Peterborough United to bring in the new year. The mid-table League One side shouldn’t pose any problems to Sean Dyche – assuming he hasn’t already been booted through the large Goodison door marked Do One by that stage, but the game does also throw up the prospect of Ashley Young, 39, playing against his son, Posh forward Tyler, 18. Not only does this mean that there is a cosy, family narrative to this otherwise forgettable game of association football, but also the possibility that Everton fans could suffer further ignominy as their right-back, nearly in his 40s, is given another runaround by his offspring. “WOW………. Dreams Might Come True #FaCup #GoosebumpsMoment #YoungVsYoung,” tweeted Young Snr at the news of the draw, seemingly unaware that it could be his son that puts him into retirement.
Everton aren’t the only top-flight team at risk of an upset. In a repeat of this Wednesday’s Premier League clash, Manchester United face the unenviable trip to Arsenal. Could there be anything more Spursy than getting turned over at Tamworth? Will City’s dismal run extend to January, when Salford City cross Manchester to visit the Etihad? Gary Neville, co-owner of the League Two club, will certainly hope so. And Leeds will play neighbours Harrogate Town for the first time in their history. Absolutely mouthwatering, those little advent chocolates. And the FA Cup draw wasn’t bad either. Roll on January.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join John Brewin at 7.45pm for minute-by-minute updates from the Lionesses 2-1 Switzerland in their international friendly, while Scott Murray will be on deck at 8.15pm for live Premier League coverage of Leicester 2-1 West Ham.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Maybe Mo [Salah] knows more about the 115 accusations that are done so he expects [Manchester City] not to be in the Premier League next season. Maybe I’ve said already too much about the joke I’ve just made. So that will probably get the headlines. But it was a joke, I repeat, a joke” – it’s the way Arne Slot tells ‘em, as he reverses quick-style after claiming Salah may have played his last match against Manchester City. Let’s see how that is reported in certain places over the next 24 hours.
THE TOP 100
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Part one of our list revealing the 100 best female players in the world is live; peruse numbers 100-71, here.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
As a resident of Tamworth and knowing how tight The Lamb ground is, I’d just like to give the Spurs fans some advice and maybe a word of warning: yes, there is more parking just to the west by the Snowdome indoor ski slope, but it’s all downhill from there. Yeah, that sounded better in my head” – Anthony T.
Re: yesterday’s Football Daily letters. I’m crushed by your treatment of Mark McFadden. I thought it’d win a prize, but just didn’t happen. I thought his rhyme scheme had a nice patter. In the end, though, it just doesn’t matter. Chris Jersan’s fine note got him the swag. Perhaps the result was always in the bag. But the biggest question from both letters will be a surprise to no one. Will Pep, in fact, head for the door marked Do One?” – Mike Wilner.
Football Daily visitors to the fair city of Dublin should make a pilgrimage to the area around Abbey Street, Amiens Street, Capel Street, Dorset Street, Henry Street, Mountjoy Square, Marlboro Street, North Wall, O’Connell Street, Parnell Square, Summerhill and Talbot Street. It’s centrally located and all the doors therein include the post code DO1” – Simon Mazier.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is …. Simon Mazier, who lands their very own piece of Football Weekly merch. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
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