5 reasons why the FA and the Premier League have devalued the FA Cup

The FA Cup has been grossly devalued in recent years and I suggest the blame lies squarely with the FA and the Premier League. From the top teams using FA Cup games as little more than reserve matches with revenue, to the glory of Wembley being diluted for semi-finals, the tournament has lost most of its splendour.

Below are the five main reasons why I blame the powers that be.

1) Semi-finals at Wembley

As a rule of thumb, semi-finals ought not be held at the same venue as the final. Not only does it cheapen the grandeur of the cup’s climax, it intensifies the significance of quarter-finals.

Not a problem you may think, but when you consider that a manager like David Moyes dropped half his team for a Merseyside derby (!) in order to achieve a false sense of glory (which a Wembley semi-final inherently is – see Bolton for details) then something is not right.

2) Rescheduled fixtures

Having mentioned Moyes, and after being so critical of him this week, I’ll give him his due now. In an  interview with the Daily Mirror earlier this week, the Everton manager blamed the Premier League for rearranging the Liverpool game so close to the quarter-final.

He is completely right. The Premier League’s decision betrays an evident lack of understanding of the demands placed on clubs at this stage of the season.

As both Everton and Liverpool are involved in the FA Cup this weekend, and the dates for the semis are set for April 14/15, it obviously makes most sense to allow both teams to concentrate on the quarters then reschedule the league match for a time in between the two.

Not to mention the fact that the Premier League’s choice of date clearly gives Sunderland and Stoke (Everton and Liverpool’s respective opponents) an advantage.

3) Timing of the fixtures

I admit this is a personal one but even so, see what you think.

Everton and Sunderland’s quarter-final was played at 12:45 on a Saturday afternoon. I could go into a lengthy diatribe here about the damaging influence of television and advertising on football, but instead, I’ll keep it short.

This was both sides’ biggest game of the season and for the FA to choose for them to play it at a time that not only requires physiological adjustment and preparation, but one that also notoriously results in the worst possible atmosphere is a real disgrace.

Is it really too much to ask for the FA to arrange a marquee fixtures specifically to create the best possible conditions for a great game?

4) Standardising the final

This year’s FA Cup final (May 5) will again be played on the same day as a Premier League game (Arsenal vs Norwich). Bearing in mind that every other team plays 24 hours later, and the fact that Tottenham are away at Villa that day, I find the decision to place Arsenal’s game on the Saturday strange to say the least.

For the sake of caution, I’m tempted to say ‘there’s probably a good reason for it’, but if I’m honest, that’s not what I think at all. Given the current FA and the apparent air-plucking that goes into decision-making, there is probably no good reason for it at all.

The energetic pre-final buzz – one of the most photographically vivid aspects of my youth as a football fan – has sadly dissipated to indifference as the showpiece of the season has become just another game.

5) Incentivisation 

The winner of the FA Cup receives £2 million and a place in the Europa League.

This fee is less than Birmingham City received last season for their final league position of 18th which as we all know, saw them relegated.

That is completely absurd. Can it really be more economically viable to get relegated than win the FA Cup?

As the honour has diminished over time (and it really has if you recall that Chelsea and Manchester City account for four of the last five winners) then further incentivisation is required.

Offer a better prize and everyone will care more, simple as that.

By Chris Smith

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San Siro humiliation could save Arsenal’s season

There is no denying that Arsenal’s response to the 4-0 San Siro embarrassment has been first-rate. They swept the floor with Tottenham in similar fashion to Manchester City earlier this season, and to follow it up with the incredibly uplifting victory at Anfield is really beyond all expectations.

The Gunners now begin a vital part of their season. To all intents and purposes, the Champions League dream is dead in the water, but was it ever alive anyway? Arsenal’s folding against Milan reflects the side’s tendency to crumble under the spotlight.The bottom line is Arsenal are not brave enough to win the Champions League and if it wasn’t Milan, it would only have been Barcelona, Madrid, Munich. Perhaps if Arsenal had made it further in the competition, their probable exit from the competition would have hit them harder a-la post-Birmingham 2011.

Whether this fleeting suggestion crystallises into bold prediction remains to be seen but that wretched night in Milan may prove the saviour of Arsenal’s season. In the blistering 19 days that has flown by since, Arsenal have gone from seeming hopeless in their quest for fourth to looking good to battle Tottenham for third.

Saturday’s win over Liverpool ends the Reds’ push for Champions League football, leaving them ten points adrift of Arsenal. If the Gunners beat Newcastle in their next home game, the Magpies’ will be equally stranded, nine points behind. This month Chelsea face Manchester City and Tottenham in the same week, not to mention that they’ve just sacked their manager and have two potential sources of doom hanging over them with both Napoli and Birmingham to play.

Chelsea’s other Premier League fixtures this month are Stoke (h) and Villa (a) and of the four games mentioned, I predict they will get a minimum of two points, a maximum of seven (I predict five). Compare this to Arsenal’s next four: Newcastle (h), Everton (a), Aston Villa (h) and QPR (a) . I have them to take a minimum six points and a maximum of twelve (I predict nine). All that speculative mathematics aside for a second, the bottom line is that a successful domestic month for Arsenal, and they could give themselves a real opportunity going into both sides’ clash at the Emirates on April 21.

Which brings us to Tottenham who really do have a great run in. Chelsea are the only side in the current top eight that Redknapp’s men will face and Spurs have taken 23 points from a possible 30 against these sides this season. So they look good for third. But the evidence of uncertainty at White Hart Lane is there for all to see.

Surely, the inevitability of Redknapp’s exit will continue to effect the players negatively.  Spurs have been great this season and deserve the acclaim of finishing third, but in just one week, Arsenal have clawed back six of ten points, so it is by no means a sealed deal. To be within striking distance of a team that has been so consistently impressive is an achievement in itself given Arsenal’s disastrous start.

What is imperative is that the Gunners keep their dignity and do not allow themselves to be humiliated as has so often been the case. Exit from the Champions League is all but confirmed but the game can still be used as a positive. If Arsenal can beat Milan, they will take great momentum into a crucial set of fixtures. It is likely that Ibrahimovic will again terrorise Arsenal’s defence after a 14-minute hat-trick at the weekend against Palermo but Arsenal have to show the sort of character that has got them through the last two big games.

All too often the Gunners have been crushed as unrealistic expectations have crumbled before their eyes. If (when) Arsenal are knocked out of the Champions League, the whole club will not only be geared in the direction of finishing fourth, they will be in a great place to achieve that aim.

A good March and Arsenal could have real breathing space, something I think even the most ardent Wenger-hater would accept as positioning the club well to push on in the summer. Things have come to a head for the Frenchman this season. At times, he has looked out of touch and the end of the road really has been in sight, but for me, I feel all supporters would accept fourth place as long as that was backed up by significant transfer activity, the sort of deals that would allow Arsenal to challenge for titles once again.

By Chris Smith

FA Cup Predictions

Having been away for a bit, I haven’t posted anything for a few days. What better way to get back in than the bloody FA Cup eh? Feel free to comment on any of the predictions I make, or offer predictions of your own, and look-out for an article on my visit to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin coming soon.

Last week’s score: 6

FA Cup fifth-round

Saturday February 18, 2012

Chelsea 2 – 0 Birmingham City (12:30)
Chelsea have been absolutely atrocious this season and their fans have every reason to be worried. Birmingham however have had a great year as Chris Hughton has further enhanced his good reputation. Priority may be important in this tie. Although they are still in the Champions League, the FA Cup is Chelsea’s only realistic chance of silverware for me and so I expect a decent showing. Birmingham however find themselves just two points off third place in the Championship with a game in hand, so are unlikely to favour another cup run after their own European adventure. Poor quality game I imagine, Chelsea to do enough.

Everton 2 – 0 Blackpool (15:00)
Everton have been fantastic in recent weeks and that is mainly down to the return of Steven Pienaar and Landon Donovan. The American plays his last game before heading back to the USA and so I expect another great performance. Cup-tied Pienaar’s absence will be a loss, but I expect Everton to perform well regardless. Blackpool have been great recently, and as an admirer of their side, particularly of Matt Phillips, I am glad to see them back up there. They will give a good account of themselves but a Johnny Heitinga-spearheaded Everton defence will keep them at bay.

Millwall 2 – 1 Bolton Wanderers (15:00)
I do not rate either of these sides at the moment and I expect a particularly dull game. Two consecutive defeats has somewhat derailed Bolton’s recent revival and an awkward trip to The Den is not exactly ideal for getting back on track. Millwall have been poor of late but despite that I anticipate a typically committed performance from them. They will just about deserve the win and I fancy them to nick it with a late goal.

Norwich City 3-0 Leicester City (15:00)
This game will be a real indication of how far Norwich have come. I expect them to hammer Leicester from start to finish and they will not be  flattered by this scoreline at all. Leicester have been inconsistently impressive but more consistently abject and they look devoid of the sort of spirit which is the lifeblood of Paul Lambert’s side. Norwich play some great football, their players are tremendously committed, and the Carrow Road crowd is one of the best in the league. An easy 3-0.

Sunderland 2- 1 Arsenal (17:15)
Sunderland get an immediate chance to avenge Thierry Henry’s late winner at the Stadium of Light last week, but this time they face an Arsenal side sapped of all confidence having been crushed 4-0 on Wednesday by AC Milan. Arsenal’s performance was an embarrassment that night and given Martin O’Neill’s well-reported man-management skills, I see Sunderland taking full advantage of that. If Sunderland get an early goal, there will be only one winner for me.

Sunday February 18, 2012

Crawley 1 – 2 Stoke City (12:00)
Despite Stoke’s mid-week defeat to Valencia, I anticipate Tony Pulis’ men being up for this one – not least because it was a home tie. Crawley will naturally will have a spring in their step, not just because the quarter-finals beckon but also because they are a buoyant, confident side these days. They will challenge Stoke all over the park, but Pulis will have prepared his team for this. Stoke can match anyone for work-rate on their day and will have sufficient quality in the final third to claim the victory.

Stevenage 0 – 3 Tottenham (14:00)
Tottenham are the best team to watch in the Premier League. Most people say Manchester City, but I have watched too many boring games of theirs to agree. Harry Redknnapp’s teams have always been great viewing and with the endless stream of talent at White Hart Lane, Tottenham have done their manager’s talent justice. Aside from ability, Spurs’ attitude is first-rate, they take no game lightly. Stevenage had a great win in mid-week away at Sheffield Wednesday and will prepare for the game confidently. Unfortunately for them, Spurs are just too good, simple as that.

Liverpool 3 – 1 Brighton (16:30)
After a week in which Liverpool and its staff have rightly been ridiculed, Kenny Dalglish and star striker Luis Suarez will be glad to get away from the media furore their mutually moronic behaviour caused. All that being said, Suarez is a great player and will undoubtedly score in this game. The apologies may serve to clear the air for Liverpool which could lead to the team playing with less pressure at home. If so, expect Liverpool to dominate the game over a thoroughly decent Brighton side who defeated Newcastle in the last round.

FA Cup predictions

This is the first of what will be a regular set of predictions. I will keep score in a way that is absolutely not just taking the BBC’s format and altering the minor details to appear different…

A correct result is worth one point, a correct score two (unlike the BBC where it is worth three!).

The FA Cup

Friday 27th January

Watford 0 – 2 Tottenham 19:45
Everton 2-0 Fulham 20:00

Saturday 28th January

QPR 2 – 2 Chelsea 12:00
Liverpool 2 – 1 Manchester United 12:45
Blackpool 2- 1 Sheffield Wednesday 15:00
Bolton 0 -2 Swansea 15:00
Derby County 1 – 3 Stoke City 15:00
Hull City 2- 0 Crawley Town 15:00
Leicester City 3 – 0 Swindon Town 15:00
Millwall 1 – 0 Southampton 15:00
Sheffield Utd 1-1 Birmingham 15:00
Stevenage 2-1 Notts County 15:00
West Brom 1- 2 Norwich 15:00
Brighton 1 -1 Newcastle 17:15

Sunday 29th January

Sunderland 3 – 0 Middlesbrough 13:30
Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa 16:00