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Nothing better reflects the drop in interest in the FA Cup final than the absence of Kenny Lynch, believes Cameron Carter, and Brian Dowling is no substitute

The Guardian’s Donald McRae concluded his preview of last month’s FA Cup final with the challenge – “Fireworks and fisticuffs, and a few sublime goals, are the very least we expect.” I expect Donald was as disappointed by the absence of all three as anybody, but, for others among us, the most unsatisfactory aspect was the continued shrinking of the pre-match build-up on terrestrial television.

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Malcolm Glazer may have won one battle, but the fight goes on. Adam Brown – now a former Old Trafford season-ticket holder – explains how fans still hope to drive the American out

The “phoney war” waged around Manchester United for the past year or so became a real one when Malcolm Glazer swooped to buy a controlling interest in the club on May 12. He is expected to complete his £800 million buyout shortly, making the club his personal property – but one with a huge debt. Dismayed fans are refocusing campaigning efforts to make his tenure a short one.

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John Williams was down and his team were out in Istanbul. What happened next hasn’t solved all Liverpool’s problems, but certainly eased the pain

Six minutes. Think about it. What, exactly, can you do in six minutes? Run a bath, perhaps. Take that welcome half-time pee break – or, if you’re watching at home, make a nice cuppa. Or else cruise eBay for that oh-so-difficult-to-find special gift? It will probably take about six minutes for you to read this article – though you might consider doing it just a little more carefully than that. Six short minutes. They can easily disappear, even while you think. Or else while you dream.

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You've got to be in it to win it, as Rob Murfin reports

On Tuesday February 1, football fans in 195 countries logged on to the internet as FIFA initiated the ticket sales procedure for next summer’s World Cup. Ten months before the finals draw, with only the hosts Germany guaranteed to be in the competition, applicants were invited to choose from a list of numbered matches, with the date, kick-off time and venue predetermined, but with no idea which of the world’s teams they would end up watching.

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Steve Menary on the new meaning of "end to end" football

“End-to-end stuff for 90 minutes” is a fixture in cliched match reports, but may not be for much longer as some clubs are replacing crumbling grounds with stadiums that do not have the four sides.

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