Cup weeks are always fun. Not as fun as Champions League weeks, and not as fun as midweek Premier League action. But still fun.
After all, how great is it to see the hopes and dreams of clubs come crashing down around them? That being said, it is a little sad to see the thousands of empty seats at Coppa Italia games this week. Once that was a prestigious tournament, but much like the Cup tournaments in England, it’s taken a beating in recent years.
I was still intrigued by the response by Roma fans following the capital club’s 1-0 win over Juventus in the Italian cup quarter-finals this week. It was a statement match, in that Roma will confidently feel it can legitimately push Juventus in the race for the Scudetto, something that was in doubt following a 3-0 loss to the bianconeri earlier this season in Serie A.
Add in the fact that if either Juventus or Roma win another Coppa, they will be the first club to ten titles, and with that comes a nice shiny star for their shirts—all the more reason to follow the Coppa Italia.
Mata moves to Manchester
Juan Mata has left Chelsea for Manchester United in the most high-profile transfer move of the January window. There is history between these two clubs when it comes to major transfers involving silky smooth midfielders. Of course, Juan Sebastian Veron is likely a bad example, and certainly Mata to United makes a lot more sense than Veron to Chelsea.
Chelsea rid itself of a high salary and a player who was never going to factor into Jose Mourinho’s plans. Mata gets the playing time he needs in a World Cup year, and United apparently acquire that creative playmaker they’ve been lacking, so it’s a big win for both teams.
I suspect this ends all talk—for now—of Wayne Rooney assuming a “number 10 role” for United, but I have a feeling the words “Rooney,” “Manchester United,” and “future” will have plenty of print space over the next few months.
Most importantly, this is a statement by David Moyes as he tries to put his stamp on this team. With Mata in his side, the likes of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Marouane Fellaini will be looked upon to add some steel to this midfield. This should also be a team that clicks in the opposition half far more often than we’ve see now with the Spaniard in the lineup.
Manchester United’s polar-vortex of discontent might finally be coming to an end, and even if they don’t manage to procure a centre-back or full-back before the January window closes, I still feel they will close the gap and finish in the top four by season’s end.
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
No more League Cup
Last week on the Soccer Central Radio show on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, co-host John Molinaro and I had a healthy debate on the state of the FA Cup. In the end, J-Mo agreed that, in fact he was wrong, and I was completely correct in my opinion that the FA Cup still matters. (He did not actually agree).
However, this week I think we’re on the same page. As much as I enjoy watching any match between two decent teams, isn’t it about time we send the League Cup off to the museum of old tournaments?
There was a time when it meant something, back in the days when only one team qualified for one European tournament; when there were fewer FIFA mandated match days; a simpler time. The Milk Cup was amazing… the Capital One Cup is fighting for its life.
What’s going on at Southampton?
Southampton has been a model of stability for a few years now, but slowly it’s unraveling. Ownership is reportedly eying a sale, while Nicola Cortese recently resigned as chairman.
It was under the Italian’s stewardship that the Saints have become one of the big stories this season after some astute and ambitious signings this past summer. To listen to some Saints fans, Cortese’s departure is a devastating and cruel blow that will sink the club back to the depths of the Rupert Lowe era.
That might well be the case, but it was only a year ago that the renegade Cortese, a crazed and erratic chairman, cruelly fired the much respected Nigel Adkins, replacing him with Mauricio Pochettino. Amazing how over the course of a year a man’s reputation can change so.
James Sharman hosts Soccer Central, weeknights on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World at 7pm ET. Follow him on Twitter.