Romance rekindled

As I sat on a train from Edinburgh to Newcastle last Sunday morning whilst on my way to watch Everton take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, I found myself discussing what a missed opportunity this season could be for the Blues. David Moyes’ team have had a quite simply splendid season, as they keep pace with Liverpool in their search for Champions League football, reached the semi finals of the Carling Cup and only lost out in the UEFA Cup last 16 after penalty heartbreak against Fiorentina.

But, while through my blue tinted spectacles Everton could be the story of the season, I have simply had to marvel at the real story of this season in England- the FA Cup. The punters tournament, the knockout competition which has fans of clubs up and down the land dreaming of going all the way. Quite simply, the traditional holy grail of the English game.

But it had lost its spark in recent years. As the Premiership cash bonanza took hold, the bigger clubs grew bigger, while the smaller clubs seemed to stand still. Not since, ironically, Everton in 1995 have a club outside of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea won the famous trophy. But this year, that is one statistic that is guaranteed to change.

It has been a season of shocks, going all the way back to January and round 3. Everton lost at home to League One Oldham Athletic, while fellow League One side defeated Birmingham City. Blackburn Rovers and Fulham were other top flight clubs to fall victim of lower league opposition, which set the tone for the most remarkable tournament in my living memory.

Of course, the FA, and the Scottish, cups are well known for producing shock results- every year, the media can focus on one wee team and marvel at the magic of the cup. Though when it enters the business end of the competition, one of the big guns comes through and takes the glory.

But this year, there isn’t one story- there are many. There are Bristol Rovers of League One, who excelled in disposing of Fulham and Southampton en route to a Quarter Final with West Bromwich Albion, five times FA Cup winners.

Then there is Havant and Waterlooville, who became the English cup’s equivelant of Spartans, the tiny East of Scotland league side who made the Scottish Cup last sixteen twice in recent years.

From the Blue Square South division, they defeated runaway League One leaders Swansea City after a replay before taking on the might of Liverpool at Anfield. For any smaller club, to go in front is a dream. To do it twice was unbelievable and Havant earned the acclaim of a nation in producing such a gallant effort- part time footballers and full time teachers going up against £20 million Fernando Torres. You sensed at that point the magic was back.

Then there was Barnsley, given the trip to Anfield. Not content with Havant hogging all the Mersey FA Cup headlines, they had the audacity to equalise and, allied by a heroic performance from Luke Steele, a goalkeeper signed 2 days previously on an emergency loan, scored a last minute winner in front of the Kop through Brian Howard. This was yet another love story for the romantics.

And so it was on to the weekend’s quarter finals. On Saturday, Manchester United were strongly fancied at home to Portsmouth, while holders Chelsea travelled to a packed Oakwell to play Simon Davey’s Barnsley. Most, including myself, predicted the two favourites would reach the semi final and end the dreams of those clubs.

But football is a funny old game. United, despite dominating the match, failed to find the net and when Tomasz Kuszczak was dismissed for a foul on Pompey’s Milan Baros, Sulley Muntari stroked home the resulting penalty and Portsmouth disposed of the Premier League Champions. Their manager, Harry Redknapp, has now beaten Sir Alex Ferguson three times in the competition- with Bournemouth and then West Ham United in 2001.

Manchester United then were out- nothing it seemed would stand in Chelsea’s way. Avram Grant was criticised after their Carling Cup final defeat to Tottenham, but surely his team packed with superstars would finally end the romance of Davey’s Tykes? Well, frankly, no was the answer.

Barnsley went from the jugular from the start and indeed smacked the post in the first half through Istvan Ferenczi. But Oakwell erupted midway through the second half as Kayode Odejayi’s header fired the Championship club ahead and they held on for another famous scalp and erased memories of the 6-0 drubbling the Blues had given them on their last return to this section of Yorkshire back in the 1997/98 season. Hundreds scampered onto the pitch to acclaim their heroes- they thought it was all over- it was for Chelsea as Davey’s side live on.

And so to Sunday’s matches, taking place as I witnessed Everton defeat Sunderland 1-0 thanks to Andy Johnson. Just 30 odd miles down the road, Middlesbrough were favourites to be one of 2 Premier League teams in the hat for the semi’s, taking on Championship Cardiff City at home. The Bluebirds have had a tough time in recent years, with the threat of administration hovering over them amid fears of lack of finance for their new stadium. They are the only non-English team to win the tournament, way back in 1927 when they famously defeated Arsenal at Wembley.

And they are clearly in the mood to take the trophy back to the Welsh capital, as they produced a stunning performance to oust Gareth Southgate’s side. A superb curling shot from Peter Whittingham on 9 minutes then a Roger Johnson header on 23 , cueing a Taff invasion of North London. Peter Ridsdale, the City chairman, will be delighted with the income but for Cardiff fans they too can dream of cup glory.

The later quarter final saw a West Country rival of Cardiff, Bristol Rovers, take on ex Hibs boss Tony Mowbray’s high flying West Bromwich Albion, who are involved in a fight to win Premier League promotion. Mogga, as he proved at Easter Road, favours fast, passing attacking football, which has seen the Baggies top the Championship scoring charts by quite a distance.

The Memorial Ground pitch, with its bobbly nature, was cited as a good reason why Albion may come a cropper but they sailed through in the only non-shock of the round, winning by 5 goals to one. A send end to the run of Paul Trollope’s Priates, with the scoreline flattering West Brom, but they can hold their heads high. For West Brom, a promotion and FA Cup double is on.

So there we have it, an FA Cup semi final weekend with only one top flight club since 1908. As well as Albion and Cardiff’s triumphs, Portsmouth and Barnsley each have one cup win in their roll of honour- Pompey in 1939, the Tykes in 1912.

But someone will add 2008 to their honours list. The draw threw up Portsmouth against West Brown, with Cardiff taking on Barnsley. Portsmouth are the bookies favourites to win the cup, but this year’s tournament has shown that favourites can be beaten, dreams can be achieved.

I’ve read people bemoaning this year’s semi final line up, citing it “boring”. For me, it is anything but boring. Watching the same sides do battle for trophies all the time is boring- here we have four teams who have almost achieved the impossible, and who each would have a strong case to be given the cup were it handed out now. As a follower of a smaller side in Dunfermline Athletic, I know all too well the joy in overcoming all the odds and progressing to cup finals, as I saw my team do in the Scottish Cup in 2004 and 2007.

So to the fans of Portsmouth, Barnsley, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion- ignore the snipers. You have earned the right to be there. You have provided so many stories to look back on and treasure, particularly the dumping out of so many big names. Semi finals are great occasions and both ties will be great games. Enjoy them and cheer your heroes into the final.

As I left the Stadium of Light savouring Everton’s victory, the only thing for me to bemoan about the most spectacular of FA Cup years is that the Toffees were one of those shocked. It would be easy to be envious of the teams involved, but I will be pleased for whoever wins the cup. The magic of the FA Cup is back. It really has been the punters tournament. And its impssoible to pick a winner.