The Romance of the FA Cup

[johntheclaret]

Maybe, just maybe, this could be the year that someone other than a premiership club can win the final. It's not happened since the inception of the EPL as the big 4 have persistently dominated the final stages.

So who is there.

Bristol Rovers, from League 1, turned over Southampton today and will need a friendly home draw to keep it going

WBA. CCC, destroyed managerless Covenrty and will relish a plumb EPL draw to test their progress.

Barnsley. CCC, their fairytale continued at Liverpool today although they are vulnerable. A draw against Man U or Chelski will see the end of the dream, as will a draw against another CCC side. Even Bristol R would be a tricky tie for them.

Cardiff. CCC, another Championship side through to the last eight. Looked good today against Wolves and a draw against a fellow CCC side could just see them into the semi's

Man U. ,EPL, Well who can stop them. They took the Gunners apart tonight and looked hungrier than they have for some weeks. Must be favourites to go all the way and quite rightly so.

Chelski. EPL, Workman like and professional, and will play like that until the end. They are the other big danger and only clubs looking for an awayday payout will be hoping for a Stamford Bridge tie.

So what of the other two ties.

Sheff U CCC against Middlesbro' EPL. This could go the way of the CC side, especially is Boro don't give the respect Sheffield U deserves. Relegated from the EPL last year and not yet recovered from that, they will be fired up for this game, whilst Boro may have an eye on the FA Cup as a route to Europe this year. The question is will Boro be looking forward to a possible UEFA Cup slot or looking back at the relegation dogfight only a few steps behind.

Preton CCC against Portsmouth EPL. PNE have a relegation battle and while they might pretend that the FA Cup offers some relief and a chance to build some confidence, but Irving will only have one thing on his mind. Pompey on the other hand are still in with a shout for an automatic UEFA place, have good away form and all their African Nations stars back. Whilst Redknapp might decide to rest a few of those returning from the AN Cup, Portsmouth should be too strong for the Lillywhites.

So what do we have.

One L1 side
Three CC sides
Two EPL sides
confirmed with 2 CCC and 2 EPL to play.

If (it's that word again) Man U draw Chelski in the next round things could get interesting, especially if the winners then draw either Boro or Pompey in the semi's. WBA and Cardiff seem to be the strongest of the CCC sides and either could turnover Boro or Pompey, but throw in say Sheff U and or PNE and all of a sudden there is a real chance of a CCC side getting there.
We just need to draw to be kind, EPL v EPL, CCC v CCC. This year has seen it's fair share of Prem v Prem games and it's fair share of underdogs winning, so let's hope that the trend doesn't change.

[mighty_tiger_79]

how BRILLIANT was it to see LIVERPOOL go down!!!!!!!!!!!

absolutely sensational

apparently the keeper for barnsley was making his debut for the club.............what a match in which to do it

[RoosterMarty]

Brilliant night!!

Cardiff won easily and I just hope we get an easy draw next round to give ourselves a shot at the semis! First time we have been this far since we won the thing back in 1927!!

Man Utd flog Arsenal 4-0. Their cup performances haven't been great recently.

The big story is Barnsley's wonderful win. If it is true that the keeper made his debut then it's even more amazing, he was immense and I would have had him best on the pitch. The cross for the equaliser and the winning strike were both superb pieces of play.

[JK]

LMAO ... You all know where you can shove that Romance!!

Only caught the last 40 mins of the Liverpool game, and they should have scored at least 5 in that time ... Brilliant performance by the keeper and Barnsley looked quite sharp on the counter, full credit to them.

Such is the game that if you don't take your chances you're bound to get hurt, and I commented to my mate at the time (about the 87 min mark) that we'll lose that game.

Reckon we'll get knocked out by Inter in the CL and Everton will take the final CL spot too and to be honest the way we're playing, it would be exactly what we deserve ... Thank **** footy's nearly back (although come July I'm usually over that too ).

[MightyEagles]

how BRILLIANT was it to see LIVERPOOL go down!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dirko]

LMAO ... You all know where you can shove that Romance!!

Only caught the last 40 mins of the Liverpool game, and they should have scored at least 5 in that time ... Brilliant performance by the keeper and Barnsley looked quite sharp on the counter, full credit to them.

Such is the game that if you don't take your chances you're bound to get hurt, and I commented to my mate at the time (about the 87 min mark) that we'll lose that game.

Reckon we'll get knocked out by Inter in the CL and Everton will take the final CL spot too and to be honest the way we're playing, it would be exactly what we deserve ... Thank **** footy's nearly back (although come July I'm usually over that too ).

Could be worse CP, you could follow Derby

[smithy]

I'm all for the underdog, just not at the expense of my team.
Well done Barnsley though, I hope a lower div team/s make the final and take it out.
In this day and age it would be nice to see.
Does anyone know when a team not from the top flight won the FA Cup ?

[johntheclaret]

Post War - 1946 to present
2005-06 Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United (after extra time, Liverpool won 3:1 on penalties)
2004-05 Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (after extra time, Arsenal won 5:4 on penalties)
2003-04 Manchester United 3-0 Millwall
2002-03 Arsenal 1-0 Southampton
2001-02 Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
2000-01 Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
1999-2000 Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
1998-99 Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
1997-98 Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United
1996-97 Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
1995-96 Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
1994-95 Everton 1-0 Manchester United
1993-94 Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea
1992-93 Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
1991-92 Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland
1990-91 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Nottingham Forest
1989-90 Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
1988-89 Liverpool 3-2 Everton
1987-88 Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool
1986-87 Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
1985-86 Liverpool 3-1 Everton
1984-85 Manchester United 1-0 Everton
1983-84 Everton 2-0 Watford
1982-83 Manchester United 4-0 Brighton
1981-82 Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Queen's Park Rangers
1980-81 Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City
1979-80 West Ham 1-0 Arsenal
1978-79 Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
1977-78 Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal
1976-77 Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
1975-76 Southampton 1-0 Manchester United

Think this would be it smithy. not sure about WHU in 79.

[smithy]

Thanks JTC.
Did a google and it seems West Ham were indeed the last team in 1980 to do that.
http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/05/48711.htm
I hope it happens this year too.

[johntheclaret]

I reckon it depends on how the draw pans out. If Man U and Chelski manage to viod each other then I can't see anyof the others get a sniff.

[mighty_tiger_79]

how BRILLIANT was it to see LIVERPOOL go down!!!!!!!!!!!

quote]

[Royal City]

Post War - 1946 to present
2005-06 Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United (after extra time, Liverpool won 3:1 on penalties)
2004-05 Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (after extra time, Arsenal won 5:4 on penalties)
2003-04 Manchester United 3-0 Millwall
2002-03 Arsenal 1-0 Southampton
2001-02 Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
2000-01 Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
1999-2000 Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
1998-99 Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
1997-98 Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United
1996-97 Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
1995-96 Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
1994-95 Everton 1-0 Manchester United
1993-94 Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea
1992-93 Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
1991-92 Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland
1990-91 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Nottingham Forest
1989-90 Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
1988-89 Liverpool 3-2 Everton
1987-88 Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool
1986-87 Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
1985-86 Liverpool 3-1 Everton
1984-85 Manchester United 1-0 Everton
1983-84 Everton 2-0 Watford
1982-83 Manchester United 4-0 Brighton
1981-82 Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Queen's Park Rangers
1980-81 Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City
1979-80 West Ham 1-0 Arsenal
1978-79 Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
1977-78 Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal
1976-77 Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
1975-76 Southampton 1-0 Manchester United

Think this would be it smithy. not sure about WHU in 79.

WHU in 1980 were a 2nd Div team, as were Sunderland in 1973.

[johntheclaret]

Well we nearly got the dream draw.

Man U have yet another home tie, this time against Pompey so that's one EPL out of it.
Sheff U and Boro must do it again, with the winner getting a kick against Cardiff
Barnsley get the 2nd best tie they could hope for, a home game against Chelski.
Bristol Rovers get home advantage against WBA

My prediction for the final 4

Man U
Cardiff
Chelski
WBA

[RoosterMarty]

Cardiff!! I hope your tip comes true but it will be a hard task at the Riverside (assuming Boro get over the Blades). I've read some articles from the UK which have all but written off the mighty Bluebirds though.. but I rate our chances. If JFH can score another blinder like his effort against Wolves we are a fair short.

Even a draw would be nice as that means they have to front up at Fortress Ninian!

A Man Utd vs Cardiff Final would be a dream result for me.

[devilsadvocate]

Massive, massive, massive result in the FA Cup.

Man U 0 - Portsmouth 1

Man U are OUT of the FA Cup and Pompey progress and book a place at Wembley in the last 4.

Man U dominated the entire game by all accounts, but failed to find the back of the net. Edwin Van Der Sar was forced off the pitch at half time with a groin complaint and was replaced by backup keeper Kuszscak.

In the 78th minute, Posrtsmouth had their only forward push for the half and with Milan Baros through on goal, Kuszcak brought him down, earning a straight red. Rio Ferdinand was forced to take on the gloves for the Red Devils, but Muntari stepped up and calmly slotted home from the spot. Amazing.

FA Cup = Awesome!

[devilsadvocate]

And so it continues....

Chavski are OUT of the FA Cup!!!!!

Barnsley have done it again. 2 weeks ago, it was Liverpool, tonight they've defeated Chelsea thanks to a great header by Odejayi, who looks more like a heavyweight boxer than a centre forward - the bloke is HUUUUUUGE. It was a terrible attempt to take the ball by Cudicini. The cross was brilliant and Odejayi made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

At the final whistle, thousands of fans flooded onto the pitch to celebrate with the players. You gotta love seeing that, as long as nobody does anything silly.

Barnsley totally outplayed Chelsea. This was no lucky result. Brilliant defending, particularly in the last few minutes as they were right under the pump. Barnsley had the better chances particularly in the first half and made the most of it in the second.

The Cup is anyones. I really hope a club from outside the premiership can make the final and at the moment, that is looking increasingly more likely.

[johntheclaret]

Your on the ball tonight DA.

[Dirko]

LMFAO...Well done to Pompey & the Tykes !!

C'mon the Birds & who cares in the other came....

[MightyEagles]

Isn't it great to see Man U and Chelsea out of the FA Cup.

[devilsadvocate]

Your on the ball tonight DA.

At this time of night, one could substitute "pints" for "ball" in your argument JTC!!!!

I just wish the Clarents could put 3 or 4 solid results together to challenge for a promotion spot (as long as they don't beat Spurs next year!!!!)