I'm pretty sure this topic is going to get a lot of play here on Bleacher Report, but I'm writing my 50 cents worth anyway.
Not in the last decade of FA Cup football have I witnessed such a glorious day for football fans the country over.
Oakwell is jumping tonight after eleven hard working souls, battered and bruised, out-fought and, in one particular case, out-jumped the mighty Chelsea!
Barnsley were magnificent. As a football fan, I'm immensely proud of every player who did a job for them tonight.
- B/R Ticket Guide
As for Chelsea, well, the less said the better. They never even looked like equalizing! Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea!
So Barnsley are heading for Wembley where they will surely face Manchester United.
Oh wait, no, they're out too! Erm...so who is left for Barnsley to play? Not Liverpool. They're still recovering from Barnsley's first miracle cup shock.
Well, after Portsmouth's performance at Old Trafford today, I'm pretty sure Barnsley would fancy them—especially over Championship high-flyers West Brom.
The West Brom squad travels to League 1 Bristol Rovers tomorrow, so another huge upset is not out of the question.
Portsmouth are arguably the biggest team left in the competition! This match up should suit Barnsley just fine.
Whoever they face, Barnsley won't have to worry about coming up with sufficient motivation as they walk out in front of 90,000 fans at the new Wembley.
And has a team ever deserved it more?
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8 months ago
Sorry Andrew, I was about 30 minutes ahead of you on this one... ;)
You are correct, it has been a great day for the FA Cup, and I am hoping to see Barnsley in the final!!!
from 8 months ago
We are a team Simon. I also couldn't be bothered with the nitty gritty about the game. That's not what matters....what matters is Barnsley have beaten Chelsea, on top of Liverpool!!!
8 months ago
Brilliant! Portsmouth are, indeed, the biggest team left in the cup. Holy Crap! All fans of all the teams left must be believing at this point that the Cup is possible. Even Barnsley (hell...especially them)!
from 8 months ago
Know what you mean Brad...well maybe except Bristol Rovers...one wembley appearance would be magical for them!
8 months ago
a little-known fact - Tottenham were the first and only non-league team to win the FA Cup. If such a minor team (at that time) could do it, I'm sure that any team out of bristol rovers, west brom or barnsley can win it. Their win over chelsea represents the set-in-stone fact that money doesn't always win you cups. A love for the game and desire to win does.
from 8 months ago
This is true...I just read the Barnsley players each earned a 1000 pound bonus for beating Chelsea. The whole Barnsley team could be payed out of days wages for John Terry!!!
8 months ago
portsmouth = CHEATERS!!
I cant believe the referee. I wanted to kill him so bad.
8 months ago
What a shock! I couldn't believe it. I feel gutted as a Blues fan. I thought we'd win all our March matches, but I was wrong on that...(My other rant is that, Chelsea has a better squad than last year and our results have been poorer..The only difference is the manager. I think Grant will have to win the CL to keep his job.)..Congrats Barnsley and I guess the FA cup is the winner on this day, even though I'm bummed.
8 months ago
What an amazing day of football. So Dave Kitson, still think the FA Cup doesn’t matter?!
from 8 months ago
Lol who cares what Dave Kitson thinks. He's fighting relegation while others are having the highlights of their careers, in the good old FA Cup.
8 months ago
"I also couldn't be bothered with the nitty gritty about the game"
Yeah, thanks for writing such an insightful piece. You've got maybe 12 sentences written, and you write like you're just chatting on the phone with a mate.
Bleacher Report is supposed to be a place where fan-journalists create and critique high-quality sports analysis. What you've managed to craft and post is worthy of lining a bird cage.
Please step it up, or get off the site. Quality over quantity there noob.
from 8 months ago
And you're so interested in this site that you have registered i see. Thanks mate
8 months ago
Good article, i actually think those upsets were good for football.
Can you imagine if Barnsley Manage to win it (coz they ar my favourites now) and ar relegated from the championship, they will play in the Uefa cup from division 2, and that would be incredible wouldnt it.
This could be another year of the under-dog in cup competitions just like in 2004 when Porto won the champions league and greece won the euro championships. dont be surprised if fenerbache or schalke win the champions league and croatia or switzerland win the the euro championships.
from 8 months ago
Thanks. Yes the results were perfect for football.
Barnsley in the UEFA Cup will be great for Barnsley, but in reality a bit of a waste of an English European spot, but congatulations and fair play to them.
I can't wait for the semi finals!
8 months ago
It’s definitely great for the FA Cup that’s for sure – although I’m not too sure the sponsors will be too happy!! Very refreshing and it likens it up a bit and stops it all getting stale with the same teams winning all the time. After all the game is just eleven men against eleven men and I think most times teams are beaten by fear, reputation, etc before they even step on the pitch. Hopefully this will give everybody a bit more belief.
One pessimistic note however – with three (probably four) Premiership teams in the Champions League Quarter Final, is it a case of the players or manager not really caring or not being as motivated when it comes round to the FA Cup? Most of the Chelsea and Man United players have already won the FA Cup and after coming through in Europe in mid-week were the players really that up for putting in the same effort into the FA Cup?
from 8 months ago
Well Man Utd I'm sure put everything into that game and it just wasn't their day in the end. As for Chelsea they really disappointed me and hardly ever looked like a dominating side. Even when they went behind they had no answers....The side Avram Grant put out should have beaten Barnsley so therefore the fault is with the players. Having said that...sometimes it's just not your day!
from 8 months ago
Well Man Utd I'm sure put everything into that game and it just wasn't their day in the end. As for Chelsea they really disappointed me and hardly ever looked like a dominating side. Even when they went behind they had no answers....The side Avram Grant put out should have beaten Barnsley so therefore the fault is with the players. Having said that...sometimes it's just not your day!
8 months ago
I hope this years semi finals serve as a lesson to the F.A with regard to playing them at Wembley. While I am delighted for the championship clubs and Pompey, with all due respect, the corporate seats will remain empty so the stadium will be 2/3 full. Playing the semis at Wembley slightly takes the gloss off the final. There are enough big stadiums throughout the country that couldbe used.
from 8 months ago
I agree...Wembly should be for the Final.
8 months ago
Cracking article, i hung my head in shame when Liverpool were defeated but the fact they have gone and done it again proves it wasnt a fluke and that there is some merit in the way Barnsley were set out to play. They realy are a fantastic little club and do my county Yorkshire proud, i will be cheering them on in hopefully two wembley appearances this year, up the Tykes!
from 8 months ago
Thanks Matt. Yeah they are a brilliant little side and I really hope they make the final. Either way, they have earned their trip to Wembley ten times over.
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