The Death of the New Romantics: FA Cup Under Fire

Every English football fan has a special place in their heart for the F.A. Cup. 

Some will deny it, particularly if their side have lost in the early rounds. 

But it is there; every fan wants to be able to tell their grandchildren that they were at Wembley when their team lifted the famous silverware. 

The tournament has always had its shocks, upsets, and, sometimes, downright giant-killings. 

But the way that Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United conducted themselves on Saturday for their Fifth Round clashes is the clearest evidence yet that the romance of the F.A. Cup is under serious threat. 

It really is a shame that Arsenal were not playing a lower league team.  The embarrassment of going out of the competition to Cardiff, Huddersfield or Bristol Rovers would have been fitting punishment for fielding the team that they did against Manchester United. 

While a few players were carrying knocks, Arsene Wenger’s theory of resting key players ahead of this week’s upcoming Champion’s League fixtures is degrading the oldest cup competition in the world.  His team of bench-warmers and youngsters were played off the park by a United team who themselves left out important players for the same reason. 

Justin Hoyte, supposedly one of the players Fabio Capello was eyeing as an England prospect, was run ragged by Nani, a boy who is neither strong enough or fit enough for the Premiership at this stage of his career.  And as for Armand Traore, Wenger must have been on the phone to Newcastle United before the final whistle had even blown; “Hello, Kevin?  It’s Arsene here, how would you like to buy another useless defender?”

Supporters of the competition must have been delighted when Brian Howard banged in his injury time winner for Bansley to send Liverpool crashing out.  While they were not as self-depleted as United, Arsenal or Chelsea, they still rested players like Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano with one eye on mid-week. 

Hopefully they will have learned their lesson come next season, but I’m afraid that won’t be the case.  Chelsea had similar problems with League One side Huddersfield Town, but managed to let the class shine through at the end.

One can’t help but notice that all four have foreign managers.  Fair play to Alex Ferguson, his side got the job done with the minimum of fuss, but is it not inconceivable that the likes of Benitez, Wenger and Grant don’t really appreciate the true romance of the cup, or how much it means to fans?  

One solution, suggested by Michel Plattini, is to remove the Champions League place given to the team who finish fourth and re-distribute it to the winners of the F.A. Cup.  Particularly in a tight title race such as this one, teams would have to give the F.A. Cup their best shot on the off chance they have a couple of bad games and finish fourth in the league.

The League Cup has already become a joke, a Mickey Mouse cup, a place to blood in the youngsters.  Please, let’s not do the same to what is comfortably the best cup competition on the planet.