It was announced earlier this week that Manchester United was drawn to play second place Arsenal in the fifth Round of the FA Cup.
As I wrote about earlier, Manchester United is drawn against top-flight opposition more often than not, with 77 percent of our FA Cup draws over the past 10 years coming against Premiership sides.
Sir Alex Ferguson addressed this news today, responding to the rumors of a fix.
“I just can’t believe it!” he said. “Everyone thinks the draw is fixed so BBC can get the best game—I’m beginning to wonder! I think there were four ties that came out before ours without us, Arsenal or Chelsea and I was thinking 'Oh come on, surely it can’t happen.' Nevertheless, I always say you can’t ask for any more than a home draw. The buildup will be enormous and I’m sure there will be interest from everyone all over the world. Sometimes these games can disappoint, but I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic Cup tie.”
I can’t help but notice that whenever the top teams aren’t drawn against each other until the final, like United and Chelsea last season, people can't help but see it as a fix.
However, when they are drawn against each other in early rounds, the same comments still arise.
Do you think the FA fix the draws?
5 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Simon Williams about 1 year ago
I can't see it myself, the FA/BBC can be stupid, but not that stupid.
It is just bad luck, pure and simple. If they did fix it for example, why would they have Man United playing Aston Villa year after year? It's not like games between them are ever any good, being as one sided as they usually are.
Im sure Sir Alex was speaking slightly tongue in cheek, afterall, this is the man who doesn't even give the BBC interviews, so he is hardly their biggest fan.
Edit Comment Cancel
Sheikh Zakaria about 1 year ago
i dont think so...u dont see the big 4 playing so early often in this early stage do u?
Edit Comment Cancel
Nick Duckworth about 1 year ago
I dont think I can even remember a single season when United have had an easy run to the final??? however I think it's just one of those things, there couldn't be a fix, certainly with all the TV and Radio competition fix scandals flying round the BBC at the moment!!
At least it shows that we can still win trophies no matter how hard we have it....it's the United way
"They always make things hard for themselves, and tonight is no exception!" - Clive Tyldsley, Champions League Semi final 99, Juventus vs Man United in Turin when Juventus got 2 early goals but United came back to win 3-2 and go on to win the cup.
Edit Comment Cancel
Matt S about 1 year ago
I don't believe it's fixed, or at least I really hope it's not. There's got to be some honesty left somewhere!
It's just bad luck on United's part, having quite often played big teams early on in the Cup of late (remember Chelsea in the third round in 97/98 when United went 5 up at the Bridge and won 5-3?!). I'm sure it'll even out one day. And remember that United did have the easiest final in living memory against Millwall in 2004. No-one was saying the draw was fixed then when it was United-Arsenal in the semis and not the final.
You're going to have to play the big boys sometime so might as well play them early when you can have home advantage.
Edit Comment Cancel
David Jacobs about 1 year ago
well i was thinking to myself- out of all 31 teams that could have been drawn with tottenham hotspur, why manchester united!? speculation about possible fixed draws hit me immediately; just like it hits everyone.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.