LONG LIVE SPIRIT OF THE FA CUP

Well, well, well, the FA cup is back. And how!!! The oldest tournament in football has long been known for its illustrious history of upsets and is dream come true for the perennial underdog supporter. But what’s been happening this year has left everyone dumbfounded and the BIG ONES ducking for cover. Though some people may say that this is down to the managers of top teams not fielding their best 11 in the tournament considering rest for their star players so that they can focus on the “more important” matches, this statement certainly was thrown into oblivion with the Man U – Portsmouth match yesterday.

Sir Alex certainly surprised everyone by including his crème de la crème, namely Ronaldo and Rooney among other big wigs. But this was not to be the last in the series of many that followed. The second was again courtesy to the flamboyant manager. He substituted Van Der Sar by Tomasz Kuszczak between posts, a switch seldom seen in any league. And this when Van Der Sar was hardly having any trouble patrolling his goal. Or maybe this was precisely the reason that instigated him to make the change in the first place, maybe he wanted to give his reserve keeper the chance for some match action. But the question that begs itself to be asked is, that if it was so why did he not start with Kuszczak in the first place? Why risk a substitution and be left with no reserve goalkeeper? Was he initially circumspect of having his reserve keeper face a tem that they had humbled just weeks ago? Whatever the reason, the fact is that this decision of his backfired, SPECTACULARLY at that. Kuszczak brought down Milan Baros in the box from what was a potential goal scoring opportunity, and I feel the referee got it right when he gave the keeper his marching orders. This left Man U without a goalkeeper, not a mention a man down. With all due respect to Rio Ferdinand, frankly he never stood a chance of denying the goal.

But this certainly did not prevent Ferguson from whining as usual, which he does after every defeat, no matter how bad his team played. And nowadays he is joined in this façade by his favourite player, Ronaldo. Their post match comments just went on to show how frustrated and blind to facts they get after being defeated. Yes, I certainly agree that Man U was on top in most of the match, and had they won, they would have certainly deserved it. But having said that, just making moves and creating chances isn’t enough. At the end of the day you’ve got to put them away for them to matter. Sir Alex has this innate belief that he can bully anyone, referees (and Beckham, pun intended) included, which sadly isn’t true (see what happened in the Beckham fiasco). And as to Ronaldo saying that he is afraid of tackles and thinks this will force him to change the way he plays, then he better start to look for another job. I mean you got to live with defenders pouring on you if you are the real danger. That I think is something to be proud of and not afraid and blame the officials for. I for one didn’t see even a single tackle that was dangerous or even close to what happened with Eduardo couple of weeks ago.

Well at least Chelsea took the defeat in their stride, accepting that yesterday, they were just not that good. In fact John Terry walked up to congratulate the rival manager and captain, praising them and wishing them to win the cup. That is how you deal honourably after being defeated by a smaller team. But then they really were very poor yesterday. Barnsley were in the match always and never got totally dominated. Maybe a lot had to do with the self belief that Barnsley had after dumping Liverpool (at Anfield at that) in the previous round. And also maybe they wanted the cup that much more. Chelsea on their part tried, but there was a touch of that urge, that hunger, amiss. John Terry missing from 5 yards out at the death is not what we see of Chelsea.

One has to look back to as far back as 1987 when it was last that none of the “big four” made it to the semi finals of the FA cup. And will we have to look ever further back to 1980 (which was the last when a team not from the Premiership won the title) well this only time will tell. But what’s for sure, is that Portsmouth cannot be complacent that they possibly are the strongest team left in the draw now. Because from what we’ve seen till now, its anybody’s cup (I for one would like to back Barnsley, not because they have beaten two Goliaths, but because this David has shown the most juvenile hunger to achieve something that no one considered they should even be allowed to dream). Oh, also one more thing for sure, the FA Cup its back to its glory and may it stay that way.