Already in this competition we've seen more giant killings than in recent years combined, hushing the synics and reigniting the "magic" of the most prestigeous cup competition in the world. However, surely even the most ardent fan of the competition could not predict what was to come, even in it's latter stages, could they?
Perhaps part-timers Chasetown beating Port Vale in a replay of the 2nd round should have been recognised as an omen. Yes it recieved great coverage from all angles of the media, but did anyone truely expect this season's contest to unravel in the dramatic fashion it has done since? I doubt it.
Look at Barnsley's passage through to the semi final. A struggling side in the second tier, fighting to stave off the threat of relegation each week. The F.A Cup acted as a distraction for them. It gave their season and, more importantly their fans, something to look forward to. Every team of Barnsley's ilk hopes for the "dream draw", one of the "untouchables". That's what Barnsley were given, Liverpool.....at Anfield. Most fans would enjoy the day out no matter what. Let me remind you what happened on this particular day, as Barnsley made history.
With football becoming a business rather than a form of entertainment through the billions of pounds pumped into top clubs, it rarely leaves room for upsets. Even within the Premier League now, divisions are forming. The top four clubs are seemingly untouchable. Then the battle for 5th and 6th place is scrapped out by a handful of clubs, leaving a couple in midtable mediocrity and the rest in the relegation mire. Yet, this season in the Cup, all football fans have been reminded constantly throughout the competition that it is 11 versus 11......anything can happen.
West Brom's route to the semi-final wasn't exactly hard, yet they were more than a match for their Premiership opposition, Portsmouth. A desputed goal from former Baggie Kanu was the only difference as Pompey reached the final. Cardiff however, travelled to the north-east in the quarter-finals as underdogs. Live coverage from the BBC on a Sunday afternoon provided the perfect setting as thousands of "arm-chair" fans cheered as the Blue Birds disposed of Middlesbrough, with I might add, ease.
So onto the final; Cardiff beat Barsnley to face Portsmouth at the Wembley arena, and I'm sure the majority of neutrals will be once again cheering for the underdogs. I'll leave you with one of the best memories of FA Cup history.
2 comments:
Why couldn't you have just mentioned Barnsley beating Chelsea instead of bringing the Liverpool match up ey?
hahaha....Sunny, as a Liverpool fan you should see that winning at Anfield was much bigger than Barnsley's victory over Chelsea. How many times have Liverpool won the cup? i rest my case
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