Villa protected by security Kamara

FA Cup 1: Boubacar Kamara. Marcus Rashford inevitably took the lion’s share of the attention for his two well-taken goals in Aston Villa’s victory over Preston North End. But what about Kamara’s dominant performance in midfield? Again. It was only a depleted Preston but they worked so hard, trying to stifle midfield. Kamara relished the challenge. The 25-year-old France international is rarely spoken about as one of the better holding midfielders around. He’s not Rodri. But is £115m Moises Caicedo that much better? Not a lot better.

Boubacar Kamara. Photo: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images.

Kamara’s under-rated. Injuries take him off the public’s radar at times. He suffered a serious knee injury that took him out of action for much of last year. He missed the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 with knee injuries. Five caps over three years is disappointing. When fit, Kamara’s a class act. He just gets on with his job, reading the game, seeing off danger, winning the ball, and giving it to more creative types. He plays on the half-turn, moving away from danger with the ball or simply playing it first time, transferring it right or left, often to Villa’s willing full-backs. Kamara makes the role look effortless at times.

A free signing from Marseille when Steven Gerrard was head coach, Kamara excels under Unai Emery. Villa want to reward Kamara with a new contract, replacing his current deal that expires in 2027. He’ll be in demand and understandably so. More immediately, the Marseille fan has a big game coming up against Paris St-Germain. He’ll relish that. More limelight in the City of Light.

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Talking of midfielders, Bruno Guimaraes continues to impress on and off the field at Newcastle. Over the weekend the Brazilian endeared himself even more to Newcastle fans with a series of charisma-filled interviews in and around the club’s joyous trophy parade. He even sang the Sandro Tonali song and forget to leave out the salty reference to Sunderland. If Bruno’s rhetoric occasionally requires swift action from the bleep gun, his passion for Newcastle, the team, the club, and the city, should be celebrated. His football certainly is.

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FA Cup 2: This has been a challenging season for Pep Guardiola. He’s been doubted. He’s had his Manchester City team belittled. But Guardiola’s obsession with football and mastery of tactics underpin his work. He changed the Bournemouth tie at half-time. Most thought Matheus Nunes would come off. The right-back was struggling and was on a booking. Guardiola instead withdrew Abdukodir Khusanov, who was also on a booking. Josko Gvardiol shifted across from left-back, Nico O’Reilly came on and transformed the game with his energy down the left – and two assists. Guardiola said afterwards that he believes O’Reilly “is a No 10”. The England Under-20 international is clearly very versatile and quick to absorb information. He knew exactly what was required of him by Guardiola. The manager’s half-time words instilled more urgency in City’s players. And breathed more life into their season.

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When Charlton Athletic lost 2-1 at home to lowly Crawley in early December, their fans became mutinous towards Nathan Jones. One fan posted a particularly acerbic comment under the BBC match report. “I have supported Charlton my whole life and always will, but omg what was that I just watched, you can't call it football, inept, clueless, no pattern and totally bereft of quality. What do they practice at Sparrows Lane, how the hell did NJ get his coaching badges with lump ball like that. Disgraceful display, pull your damn socks up and sort it out. Its called grass, play on it.” Many of those in the Valley of despair must have nodded in agreement. Charlton were 14^th, and the football dire. But the board kept faith in Jones and have been rewarded.

Charlton have taken 35 points from a possible 45 in League One and lie fourth. Jones has organised the defence more. He’s drilled the team so well that all the players know their individual responsibilities like a muscle memory. He’s working well with the younger players, nurturing their game. The football quality is still improving but Jones certainly has Charlton on the rise again. Hope returns, the play-offs await.

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FA Cup 3: At Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner is quietly bringing more credibility to the 3-4-2-1 system that Manchester United still struggle with. Eberechi Eze plays as the left-sided No 10, and was outstanding against Fulham. He scored their first, and created the second for Palace’s right-sided No 10, Ismaila Sarr. Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell are full-backs at ease with the wing-back roles, something not always the case at United with Ruben Amorim’s system (although Patrick Dorgu signals their newly shape-based recruitment). Glasner continues to enhance his reputation as Palace head to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa. Palace’s main issue now is ensuring they hold on to their star assets.

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Matt Bloomfield looked like he was taking a large risk swapping promotion-chasing Wycombe Wanderers in League One for relegation-threatened Luton Town in the Championship. The risk was that the clubs could swap places. They still might, of course, but Bloomfield has backed himself to turn Luton’s fortunes around. They didn’t win in his first eight games. Bloomfield never lost faith and Luton now have 10 points from their last five matches and back-to-back clean sheets. They still required Alfie Jones’ surreal own goal to gift them victory at Hull at the weekend. Luton’s remaining seven games resemble a rollercoaster. Leeds’ visit on Saturday should be lively. Stoke need the points to dispel any relegation fears. Blackburn are probably out of the play-off picture. But the April 18 trip to Derby County, currently third bottom, could prove huge. Luton’s last three games don’t look easy. Bristol City, Coventry City and West Brom are all vying for the play-offs. Tough, but Bloomfield is giving Luton a chance.

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FA Cup 4: Ryan Yates rightly deserved praise for his leadership, tackling and drive, and that ruthless penalty in Nottingham Forest’s shootout success over Brighton. His tactical discipline also merits acclaim. When Nikola Milenkovic was returning from a rare forward foray, Yates tucked back in as the right-sided centre-back, keeping the shape, and keeping Brighton at bay. And keeping his home-town club heading to Wembley.

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Thanks for reading. Enjoy the week.