Photo: Charlotte Tattersall/MUFC/Manchester United/Getty
UNITED ARE THEY FALLING?
Like regionalized draws? Enjoy strangely uneven group stages and flawed tiebreaks? Are you concerned about point deductions with unexpected consequences? Then you'll love the Conti Cup (or the Women's League Cup if you prefer). And it was a somewhat farcical few days for a somewhat farcical competition. First, the background. Last week, Aston Villa defeated Sunderland 7-0 in their final group match to secure top spot in Group A and a place in the quarter-finals. Second-placed Sunderland were out, their points-per-match record (more of that later) not quite good enough, so Manchester United and Tottenham reached the last eight as the top two runners-up in the five groups. Fine, all good, nothing to see here.
On Monday, Villa were awarded three points for using an ineligible player - Swiss defender Noelle Maritz, who had already played in the league for Arsenal - in that Sunderland match. An independent tribunal ordered that the points be awarded to the Black Cats and that the 7-0 score be removed from the record. So far so easy. But the Conti Cup's peculiar format meant that Sunderland progressed to the quarter-finals as group winners, but Villa, who dropped to second place, stayed in the competition... at the expense of United, who had just edged past and left with minded his own business. . United's record as runners-up, which was better than Sunderland's, was inferior to Villa's on goal difference.
Still with us? "We are very disappointed with this outcome and do not understand its rationale," United grumbled in a statement, not unreasonably. "We believe this undermines the integrity of the competition and the women's game." Although, to be fair, the integrity of the competition was already on pretty thin ice. Points per match make sense as a dividing line between roughly equal pools, but with groups selected on a regional basis the competition is ridiculously lopsided. For example, United's four group mates are all in the current top nine of the WSL, while Villa only competed against teams from the Championship, and were therefore able to amass a +16 goal differential despite that 7-0 win from the record was wiped out. United, without playing, are kicked out of the competition at the same time as Chelsea, who find themselves in the competition thanks to their involvement in the Women's Big Cup.
The story continues
Even Villa's offense has something strange and unsettling about it. The words "ineligible player" generally suggest some sort of minor administrative oversight. But Maritz, who joined from Arsenal in early January, had not simply picked up a few forgotten substitute minutes for the Gunners in the league: she had been on the pitch for every available minute. And Villa brought her on at half-time in the final match of a group they had already eliminated. When they were 3-0 up. There are two ways to read all of this: that Maritz's performance had no material impact, so Villa are in the last eight on merit; or that their oversight was so stupid that they actually deserve to be kicked out of the league. What's clear is that the entire episode exposed the fundamental flaws of what should be, if not a true blue ribbon tournament, then at least something better than the bizarre concept it currently is. Either way, it seems desperately unfair to poor old Manchester United. The final kicker? Had Villa been kicked out and their record expunged, it still might not have saved Marc Skinner's side. Durham would have been second in Group A... and their points per game record would have been superior.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
A big evening full of red-hot MBM action. Join John Ashdown for Mali 3-1 Burkina Faso in an Afcon last-16 clash from 5pm GMT, as Sarah Rendell takes charge of Paris FC 1-2 Chelsea in the Women's Big Cup at 5.45pm GMT. Oh, and there are five Premier League matches on offer: Scott Murray will play Nottingham Forest 1-1 Arsenal, while Rob Smyth will include the rest in our clock.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"These events have no connection with the authentic Iraqi media known for their honorable positions. We denounce the egregious and abhorrent behavior that occurred against the coach, and we confirm that we have decided not to do business with these media personnel who intend to cause chaos in the future. We will follow legal methods to restore the coach's reputation and approach the relevant authorities to explain what happened." - the Iraqi Football Association is railing against hackers who disrupted coach Jesús Casas' post-match press conference following their dramatic Asian Cup last-16 defeat to Jordan. At the post-match press conference, irate hackers were seen shouting at Casas and more than a dozen stormed out pointing fingers at the Spanish coach. The AFC also handed them a lifetime ban for their conduct.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Maidstone and Ipswich are 'separated by 98 places in the pyramid' (yesterday's Football Daily). Isn't it really a pyramid, without a polygonal base and flat triangular faces with a pointed bit at the top? It looks a lot more like a ladder, or maybe a greasy pole" - Steve Allen.
While my sympathies go out to Jaidon Anthony (yesterday's Road to Wembley, full email edition), I think he put the referee in an impossible position regarding the mandatory yellow card for the tribute to his late mother. Apart from the details of the text on the T-shirt, Anthony was four years old when this law changed in 2004; without singling him out specifically, it's baffling that football or footballers haven't yet come up with a method to pay tribute to someone who doesn't automatically get a warning. On the other hand, I have always been completely amazed at the logical process that leads to players connecting scoring a goal with taking off their shirt, let alone to the point where the authorities feel compelled to punish it" -Ed Taylor.
We appointed Darren [Moore] on his credentials as a manager," said Huddersfield Suits as he pushed him through the door marked "Do One" (Yesterday's News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). I'm curious on what other basis a football club would appoint a manager. Certainly not simply because they were once a brilliant player? Oh...Image of Wayne Rooney here please" - John Myles.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today's winner of our Prizeless Letter of the Day is...Steve Allen.
RECOMMENDED WATCH
It's David Squires at... the beginning of the end for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
The latest edition of Women's Football Weekly features the latest WSL action and That Conti Cup farce.
MOVING THE GOAL POSTS
Megan Swanick on Gotham FC's "big vision" in building a super team - and brand - for the ages. You can sign up here for our now bi-weekly sister email.
WHEN DAVID BECOMES GOLIATH
Just three days after sending shockwaves through the FA Cup by tumbling Ipswich at Portman Road, Maidstone find themselves in the curious position of being the giant in the crosshairs of a footballing minnow. Punjab United of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division will roll their stones and slings at the Gallagher Stadium in the hope of taking down the Stones (ironic nickname) in a Kent Senior Cup quarter-final that has Maidstone a little concerned. "We now have a target on our back," warned assistant boss Craig Fagan. "We have already noticed that other teams are stepping up their game against us. "Punjab have something to prove and that will make it an interesting match, but there will be changes from Saturday." Maybe that should happen after a few members of the team had fun at the Tin this weekend. "It would have been foolish to keep them inside," Fagan added. "I hear they didn't just drink water."
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Senegal boss Aliou Cissé believes his players can leave Afcon with their heads held high despite a heartbreaking shootout defeat to Ivory Coast. "It was a bizarre match," he sighed. "If you lose, you have to maintain your dignity. I think we deserved to go to the quarter-finals. But that's how football is."
Crystal Palace have signed Genk right-back Daniel Muñoz for an undisclosed fee. "It's a pleasure for me to be here at such a historic club, such a big club," the Colombian honked. "I'm very excited, very happy and I can't wait to get on the field."
Miguel Almirón looks set to stay in Newcastle after Al-Shabab failed to secure the £30million needed for Paraguayan Duracell Bunny.
But Ivan Rakitic, 78, left Seville for Al-Shabab, baby! "Thanks for everything - see you soon," the midfielder said on TwiXer, not sounding too optimistic about hanging on in the Saudi Pro League.
Plymouth Argyle have rejected a bid from Lazio for Morgan Whittaker - and you'll like this. "After discussing this internally and with player representatives, the offer was immediately rejected," director of football Neil Dewsnip said. "Morgan is very happy at Argyle and we maintain our position that he is not for sale."
After a 10-1 thrashing of Bury on his return from a three-match touchline ban, Skelmersdale United boss Pascal Chimbonda, 44, will make his debut as a player for the club against Charnock Richard on Tuesday.
And even though no one asked for it, here comes another rebranding of a club that is almost 130 years old! Yeovil Town, the mavericks, have thrown their traditional badge in the bin, paid a graphic designer some money and come up with a new one with - wait for it - a football, a pair of gloves (Glovers, get it) and a new font, which is inevitable was popular with the supporters ...
DO YOU WANT MORE?
Ivory Coast's progress to the quarter-finals has added to the chaos at Afcon, reports Osasu Obayiuwana.
Marcus Rashford is failing this season: where is the cool focus, muses Jamie Jackson.
And meet Lily Yohannes: the 16-year-old who is breaking records in the Women's Big Cup.
MEMORY LONG
2004: An aerial view of Sunday football in Hackney Marshes in east London, showing the difficulties of groundsstaff in painting an accurate center circle.