The 'Magic' of the FA Cup final - Dwindling

The FA cup final used to be the only game televised all year when I was a boy on my terrestrial TV back in England, and it was the season's best game (because it was the only one everyone could see!) It was the biggest of the footballing calender, something that everyone would be at least aware of if they weren't watching the game live.  Nowadays you can watch 50+ games from across the world's top leagues in just one week!  Maybe it's this or rise of the Champions League and the money of the Premiership but England's, and the worlds oldest club competition, has steadily declined in sync with the Premier and Champions Leagues' ascent.

Steven Gerrard has just realised that Stewart Downing has 3 years left on his current deal

Now the FA Cup kick off is shifted around on a day with Premiership games.  It's almost an afterthought after both semi finals have been hosted at Wembley.  I refer to it as Wembley, and not 'the new' Wembley like so many, seeing as it's not that new anymore having opened in 2007.  Two big teams fought out this seasons 2012 Budweiser sponsored FA Cup, Chelsea and Liverpool.  These two teams are no strangers having played over 30+ times against each other in the past 8 years which is quite staggering.  Maybe it was the fact that it was these two teams playing each other, again, the late kick off, the fact Liverpool aren't very good or that Chelsea have one eye firmly fixed on the Champions League final but there was no spark or excitement surrounding the build up to this game, compared to say, that of the recent Manchester derby or the Champions League semi-finals first and second legs.


The first hour of the game was incredibly dull.  After Jay Spearing gave the ball away in a bad area for the 6,000 time this season Ramires' energy and pace put him past a decaying Jose Enrique and his shot straight at Pepe Reina was straight through the Spaniard (who's suffered his worst season in his 7 at Anfield this year) and that was the only moment of note in a slow, and bland first 45.  After Didier Drogba had his customary Wembley goal Liverpool looked completely dead and buried.  The introduction of Andy Carroll did change Liverpool's attacking impetus and finally Luis Suarez had another red shirt inside the opposition half with him!  Jordan Henderson, Jay Spearing and Stewart Downing all had atrocious games and one wonders what was ever seen in them.  Spearing was a product of the Academy (which doesn't bode well as he's dire) and the other two were signed for close to 40 million quid by good old King Kenny!  Incredible to think about that waste of finances for two players who wouldn't stand out in a league 2 side.  The 'Caveman' Carroll got his second Wembley goal in a matter of weeks (adding to his semi final winner over Everton) and his decent return in big games (he also scored on his England debut at Wembley) but alas, it was too little, too poor, too late for the Reds, and Chelsea, by default rather than incredible play, were rightly Cup winners for the 4th time in the past 7 years.

Chelsea. FA CUP Winners...again

I miss the magic of the FA Cup, the giant killings, the small minnows of the non-league taking on the big dogs of the top tier, the support, Wembley way, the suits, the walking out onto the Wembley pitch, the iconic trophy being hoisted aloft after the long trudge up the Wembley steps for the valiant losers... These are all distant and past memories like the Crazy Gang beating Liverpool in '88, Charlie George in '71 and Crystal Palace taking Man U to a 3-3 draw in 1990.
Even the cup final of 1992 between Liverpool and Sunderland was more exciting.  I was up at the crack of dawn wearing my full Liverpool kit, drinking squash out of my Liverpool mug and swinging my Red scarf around my head as I went nuts in the living room 6 hours before the game even kicked off.  The anticipation was extraordinary.  I barely remember the game or the goals, but I can clearly remember the excitement of it all, the fantasy of one day maybe I'd be playing in final, what it would be like to lift the old trophy and get a medal from a member of the Royal family.  All that magic is still alive in me, but not for the current versions of the FA Cup, I wonder if  kids nowadays whip themselves into a frenzy for this game, or if they'd rather play out their own cup final on the Playstation on FIFA 2012?!  I must be getting old and bitter as I'm reminiscing about the 'good old days' of FA Cup finals and football, but I don't think I'm the only one that wants to recast the magical spell of the FA Cup back over English football once again.  

FA Cup weekend

Although I didn't get to watch many games this weekend, because I was stuck in a classroom for 20 odd hours on a Director of Coaching Course, I did get to enjoy some football on another FA Cup weekend with plenty of drama and goals, but maybe not as many shocks as people would have hoped for.
Crawley 0-2 Stoke

Crawley may be making huge strides to promotion but (the universally disliked club, for various reasons -many stemming from the jealousy surrounding their financial backing and success) got out muscled and maneuvered by a 10-man Stoke team. Although Stoke aren't admired for their style of play Tony Pulis gets results, and gets the best out of his players. It's another quarter final for them on the back of a Europa League game, and I'm sure Pulis will have an eye on another FA Cup final appearance. For Crawley it's another game and defeat against premeirship opposition in the Cup and a great experience and lesson for the club with the aspirations to play in the top flight week-in week-out.

Stevenage 0-0 Tottenham

Harry Redknapp was pleased to come out of this game still in the competition. Gary Smith on the other hand knows that the task of getting a result in the replay at White Hart Lane massively effects Borough's chances of an upset. That being said, Smith, - the former Colorado Rapids head coach, will be more than happy with his teams performance and the fact he's back involved in the English game and the great old FA cup. Smith and the Stevenage players will draw confidence from the fact they stopped the Spurs front line from getting on the scoresheet, something not many premiership teams have been able to do this season, but will know that the replay promises to be a different story.  Spurs will want to take care of Crawley before taking on Bolton in the next round, which they'll be favourites for, and probably short odds to reach Wembley.

Liverpool 6-1 Brighton

Kenny Dalglish has been saying his team would 'batter' someone for a while. Gus Poyet the Seagulls manager and outspoken Luis Suarez fan saw his team do eveything in their power to help Liverpool score and eventaully 'batter' them. 3 own goals, including a brace from Liam Bridcutt (something many thought only Jamie Carragher was capable of) saw Liverpool through easily. For the Reds seeing Carrol, Gerrard and Suarez on the pitch together and working in tandem, creating chances and goals will fill fans with hope, even the performance of Stewart Downing was bright. All that being said, this was Brighton, and their defending at times was, according to gaffa Poyet, "comical".  Liverpool fans will want to get back to Wembley again this season after their Carling Cup final this coming weekend.

Everton 2-0 Blackpool

This game was over nearly as quickly as it had started. Royston Drenthe scored after 49 seconds and then the dangerous looking Denis Stracqualursi added a second six minutes later. Ian Holloway knows that if he gets his Blackpool side promoted this season he will have to add quality and concentration to have any chance of survival. The more important game for Olly and his team's season will be Tuesday night against West Ham.



Millwall 0-2 Bolton

This result just shows that the Den is a more nerve wracking experience for fans than players. Millwall has a reputation for being a difficult and hard place to go and play, but Bolton found it relatively easy against the Championship side, and given their home form this season probably enjoyed the freedom of playing away from home. The Arsenal loanee Ryo Miyaichi got some of the headlines with his decent goal, but that is more to do with the fact he's from a struggling Arsenal camp than anything, because the other goal scorer was ex-Liverpool man David Ngog so Millwall's defence can't have been up to much if the lanky Frenchman was on the scoresheet.

Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal

This wasn't a shock to anyone.  Even though the Gunners had travelled to the Stadium of Light the previous week and beaten the Maccams in the league they were out played and deservedly beaten in this FA cup game.  The pressure is on Arsene Wenger more than ever after this result especially coming so shortly after their turgid performance against Milan in the Champions League mid-week.  Sunderland are flying under Martin O'Neill and have now won 10 of their last 15 matches, something Arsene Wenger would love to be able to produce from his side for the remainder of the season, but after their last few games looks very unlikely.  The Gooners need to turn their season around and quick, and if it was me I'd rather have O'Neill as my boss, motivator and inspiration than the tired looking Wenger, and I think, crucially, some Arsenal fans would too.

Norwich 1-2 Leicester

This was the most entertaining game of the round with both teams statistically close in shots on goal, corners and chances created.  Paul Lambert will be disappointed that his team didn't get the result at home but there is no shame in losing such a close game to the Championship side riddled with ex-Premiership players.  Lambert's and Norwich's primary concern is the league and their survival.  Norwich fans knew this coming into the game and despite the loss will be more than happy with how their season is panning out.  The traveling Leicester fans will hope Nigel Pearson can get this expensively assembled squad in to the Premiership to face Norwich, who will surely still be there, next season.