1) It’s FA Cup third-round weekend, one of the most nostalgic in the football calendar. It makes sense to start with a ludicrous Liverpool comeback, at Kenilworth Road in 2006, when Rafael Benítez’s side dug deep to turn round a 3-1 scoreline to triumph. Featuring none other than Steve Howard, Stevie Gerrard and Djibril Cissé. Turn back the clock to 1992, and recall Wrexham’s famous win over Arsenal, courtesy of goals from their captain, Mickey Thomas, and Steve Watkin. Then there’s Shrewsbury Town’s toppling of Everton, in 2003, featuring a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney. Plus, when two heavyweights met in 1998 at Stamford Bridge, feat. David Beckham and Gianluca Vialli. To this weekend’s ties, one of which will trigger memories for AFC Wimbledon, who travel to Gander Green Lane, Sutton United’s home, where they were reborn 14 and a half years ago. Here’s a nice short film on their resurrection. There’s also Jaap Stam’s return to Manchester United, a little more than 15 years after he left for Lazio. His only goal came at Leicester City, much to the delight of Sir Alex Ferguson.
2) Get their attention, as David Brent would say. To get a referee’s attention? High-pitched screaming. Mike Mitchell of the Pittsburgh Steelers, fuming over a foul given in a match against the Cleveland Browns, pulls out a shriek Homer Simpson would be proud of. What a racket: the decibel level soars at Goodwood.
3) New year, same feeling for Notts County, who are fed up to the back teeth of Cambridge United, coached by their former manager Shaun Derry. In their last four meetings over the past two seasons, they have conceded three truly wretched, identical goals. Part one, part two and part three, from Monday.
4) Joel Embiid, a rookie centre for the Philadelphia 76ers, has hit quite the purple patch in his breakout season. His form has only kept improving, and with his ascent, speculation that the Cameroonian could be named an NBA All Star has abounded. As if that weren’t enough, Embiid has extra motivation to force his way into contention. More NBA brilliance right here, courtesy of Larry Nance Jr.
5) With temperatures plummeting once more in western Europe, it’s the perfect time of year for golf on the local frozen lake.
6) And the A-League’s Tim Cahill sees his trademark celebration muted by a Central Coast Mariners ball boy. Olivier Giroud’s recent scorpion celebration against Bournemouth was anything but.
Highlights from the previous blog
1) Magic Johnson’s ultimate showreel.
2) Chris Gayle knocking it out of the park: 50 off 12 balls.
3) A 33-yard fake punt run ends in tears. Wife tweets her thanks for well wishes.
4) Hugh Jackman meets Shane Warne.
Spotters’ badges: GrahamClayton, TheCorporal, Kapitza, BostonLager, The CedarRoom, BlackCaesar
