FA Cup 10 talking points from the weekend’s third round action
7 months in The guardian
Tamworth’s heroes deserve better, Pep Guardiola tries to fire up Jack Grealish and Liverpool’s teenagers impressRuben Amorim’s 3-4-3 tactics have little place in English football, it was said. Recent Manchester United performances of the resurrected Harry Maguire in tandem with Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt suggest it can work if with sufficient energy in midfield to protect the trio. Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo offer that, and the wing play of Alejandro Garnacho in setting up Bruno Fernandes’s goal, plus Amad Diallo’s raiding runs at the Emirates Stadium, suggest the framework of a team. Penalty hero Altay Bayindir revealed he is a capable goalkeeper, a possible cult hero. There are complications. The club’s finances, chickens of the Glazer ownership now coming home to roost, may trigger selling “pure profit” youth products like Garnacho and Mainoo to fund recruitment. There are significant miles to travel, but the previous weekend’s draw at Anfield, and this 10-man heist at Arsenal are signs of a motivated team playing for their manager, closely following instructions. About time, too. John BrewinMatch report: Arsenal 1-1* Manchester UnitedMatch report: Brentford 0-1 PlymouthMatch report: Bristol City 1-2 WolvesMatch report: Tamworth 0-3 TottenhamMatch report: Leeds 1-0 HarrogateMatch report: Manchester City 8-0 Salford CityMatch report: Liverpool 4-0 Accrington Continue reading...