For whatever reason, Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has publicly stated on Twitter he would like to play either Arsenal or Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
The Black Cats manager has claimed that he would like an away trip to one of the two north London clubs, before going onto take on ‘the really big guns’ in the semifinals. Sunderland is the only non-Premier League club to remain in the Carabao Cup’s final eight.
Sunderland is currently standing 4th in the League One table. I love confidence, even when it might be a little over the top.
Now, I’m not one to dismiss a lower side when it comes to competitions like the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup. In fact, these competitions contributed to my being drawn to English and European football in the first place. The David v Goliath aspect is something you only occasionally get to see in American professional sports, however, there is one great example thats sticks in my memory. When the New York Jets of the lowly AFL were preparing to play the Baltimore Colts of the mighty NFL in Super Bowl III in 1969, Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed a Jets victory. Most people shook it off as just Namath arrogance, however, in the end, the Jets defeated the mighty Colts 16-7, and Namath became a legend. So, for me, I think Johnson’s comments are admirable.
I would really like to see Johnson’s wish come true when the draw is held on Saturday morning. Obviously, either one of those north London clubs would relish a chance to stuff those remarks right back down his throat. I’m sure the Colts wished they would have taken the Jets more seriously in 1969.
Cheers.
Gunner1953
One of my all-time Arsenal players, Olivier Giroud, returns to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. This time as a player for the competition, Lille. Giroud scored 105 goals in 253 appearances for the Gunners.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard on Man City’s punishment. “In terms of how I feel, I potentially could be affected if you like, I wouldn’t want individual players to give stuff back, that wouldn’t be right. But the club, they have to be stripped.”
