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FA Cup Semi Finalists face Euro exclusion

FA Cup Semi Finalists Cardiff City face exclusion from European Competitions should they lift the trophy in May.

The Bluebirds have been handed the “easiest” draw on paper, facing Barnsley at Wembley during the first weekend in April. Yet after knocking both Liverpool and Chelsea out of this season’s competition, boss Dave Jones will not be taking any chances and underestimating their League One rivals.

Yet should the Welshmen lift the coveted trophy for the first time since 1927, the success will be tinged with slight disappointment following the news that they will be excluded from the following season’s UEFA Cup competition.

UEFA competition regulations stipulate that Welsh sides cannot participate in European competitions as England’s representatives irrespective of their performance in the FA Cup.

From UEFA’s point of view, the situation is simple – non-English sides cannot represent England in their competitions – end of story. They will point to the fact that if sides such as Cardiff, Wrexham and Swansea wish to enter European competitions then the door is open to them through the Welsh League and Cups. Yet trips to TNS and Merthyr Tydfil are not as glamorous as going to Old Trafford or semi finals at Wembley and therefore the Welsh teams focus their attentions on the English equivalents.

I can see both sides to this argument as the Welsh teams are invited by the FA to compete in the FA Cup and thus are representing them in this regard anyway. Cardiff would be representing the English FA and not England – therefore I see no fundamental problem with them should they lift the FA Cup in May.

However, I can also see the point of view which suggests that the English FA should be represented by English teams and to include Welsh teams in this would be incoherent with the English FA’s sense of identity. If this is the case then the issue could then be extended to whether Welsh teams should be allowed to compete in the FA Cup at all – especially given the fact that the full benefit of winning the competition are not open to them.

Should Cardiff reign victorious in May there is sure to be some sleepless nights for UEFA officials as there no doubt will be some form of appeal – possibly along the lines of Liverpool’s successful crusade in 2005. If this appeal is unsuccessful the the UEFA Cup spot would be awarded to the runners up - Millwall were the last team to benefit from this following defeat by Manchester United in 2003. Their run didnt last long like but at leat they got into Europe!

It is sure to be an interesting few weeks for the Bluebirds but don’t be surprised to see Sepp Blatter in a Barnsley shirt come the first week of April.

FA Cup Semi Final Draw

After one of the most exciting Quarter Finals in history the draw for the Semi Finals took place this dinner time, Barnsley face Cardiff and West Brom face Portsmouth. We knew that we were going to see a non-Premiership team in the final but the draw means that one of the smaller teams will be in the final considering WBA are miles better than Barnsley or Cardiff.

The games will take place at Wembley on 5 and 6 April.

Barnsley v Cardiff
West Brom v Portsmouth

Giant-killers await Cup fate

What a weekend it has been in the FA Cup with three of the four quarter finals resulting in upsets.

The unbelievable trend started on Saturday lunch time when Portsmouth ended Manchester United’s hopes of a repeat of their 1999 treble winning season, Muntari’s penalty twelve minute from time proving to be crucial.

Next to exit the competition were holders Chelsea who become Barnsley’s latest victims. Kayode Odejayi’s second half header was the difference between the sides and has elicited some calls for Avram Grant to resign his post at Stamford Bridge.

Then, this afternoon, Middlesborough were comprehensively beaten by Championship side Cardiff City at the Riverside. Peter Whittingham and Roger Johnson bagged the goals which the Ninian Park outfit thoroughly deserved to leave Boro boss Gareth Southgate livid with his side.

Finally West Brom became the only “favourite” to progress to the semi-finals with a comfortable five one win against League One Bristol Rovers. Ishmael Miller grabbed a hat trick whilst James Morrison and Kevin Phillips grabbed a goal a piece to put the Baggies into tomorrow’s draw.

There is sure to be a team from outside the Premier League in the F A Cup final this year and who knows there is a good chance the elite league will not even be represented.

The semi-final draw will be conducted at 13:25 tomorrow lunch time with the numbers being as follows

1 Cardiff City
2 Portsmouth
3 West Brom
4 Barnsley

Soccer Saturday - Liverpool 1 - 2 Barnsley - Phil Thompson reaction

Last Saturday we witnessed a great cup shock when Barnsley of the Championship beat the stuttering Liverpool. Brian Howard smashed in a 90th minute from 20 yards. As the goal went in at Anfield the lads at the Soccer Saturday studio went wild as Phil Thompson couldn’t believe what was happening.

FA Cup

So now we have the quarter-finalists, or at least we would were it not for the 0-0 at Sheffield United Middlesbrough, as if you couldn’t see that one coming a mile off.

Todays other game was between Preston and Pompey, with Pompey very fortunate 1-0 winners, a controversial own goal in the 93rd minute getting the win for the south-coast team. Preston had earlier missed a penalty and dominated the second-half, David James providing some excellent keeping to earn his side the result. In the dying moments a later than late Pompey corner, an unseen handball and a cock-up of a clearance by the PNE defence and it was game over.

Yesterday saw some surprises and some not. Chelsea plowed a way through to the QF despite a spirited resistance by Huddersfield. The score ended 3-1 to the home side. Goals from a returning Frank Lampard (2) and Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea the win. Huddersfield did equalise at going in to half-time through Michael Collins but could not hold on.

Cardiff reached the QF for the first time since 1927 via a 2-0 win at home to Wolves. Goals by Jimmy Floyd and Peter Whittingham gave the Bluebirds the victory.

A couple of shocks, in vogue this season, as Barnsley beat Liverpool at Anfield 2-1, in fact coming from behind for the victory which leaves Rafa in a whole load of trouble. Despite Kuyt’s goal in the first half, Barnsley showed grit and determination and through Stephen Foster and a late dramatic winner by Brian Howard. Also up there, though not as high, in the shock stakes were Bristol Rovers as they beat Southampton thanks to a deflected Richard Lambert free-kick.

Last but not least some drubbings. A shock in score line if not in result, Manchester United beat a pathetic Arsenal 4-0. United played with more heart and hunger than their southern opponents and the score was perhaps light on the Gooners. An opening header by Rooney, impressive all night, was followed by another (deflected) Fletcher header before Nani neatly brought done a wonderful Carrick pass and slotted in the third before half-time. Arsenal came out after the break with some ill-conceived aggression and it cost them through a lunge by Eboue on Evra resulting in a red for the former. Fletcher rapped up the scoring and a victory became a rout.

Not to be outdone West Brom defeated Coventry at their place to secure a QF berth. Goals from Roman Bednar (2), Chris Brunt, Ishmael Miller and Zoltan Gera completed the rout. Coventry were unlucky to have Michael Doyle sent off for a foul on Gera and that all but ended the game, West Brom picking off the Sky Blues.

So there are your quarter finalists. The draw is tomorrow at 13.25pm GMT.

DRAW NUMBERS:

1 Bristol Rovers
2 Cardiff City
3 Sheffield United or Middlesbrough
4 Barnsley
5 Manchester United
6 Portsmouth
7 West Bromwich Albion
8 Chelsea

Good luck to all teams remaining, except Chelsea of course.

Liverpool V Havant & Waterlooville as the goals went in - Soccer Saturday

I wasn’t watching the goals fly in on Saturday via Soccer Saturday but have the pleasure of updates via Talk Sport aka Cockney AM. As we know Soccer Saturday is fast becoming one of those programs which people watch for comedy value rather than the purpose they were commissioned for e.g. Top Gear.

As the goal went flying in in the Liverpool V Havant & Waterlooville match Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier and company gave plenty of stick to Liverpool’s own Phil ‘big nose’ Thompson.

Ballons Balls Up City’s Cup Hopes

As we know it was an eventful weekend in the F.A. Cup Havant & Waterlooville taking the lead twice at Anfield and a couple of upsets seeing Premierships sides dumped out by lower league opposition. On Sunday there was one of the upsets when Manchester City went out of the Cup to Championship Sheffield United. Bryan Robson’s side were helped to a 2-1 victory in the first half by Manchester City’s own fans when their balloons which had made their way onto the pitch caused Micheal Ball to miss a clearance.

As the ball skipped across the pitch it hit two ballons causing the ball to bobble on an already poor pitch, City left back Ball took an air shot missing the the ball, waiting behind Ball was United striker Luton Shelton who dispatched the ball past Joe Hart in City’s goal.

Jon Stead doubled the lead and United held on in the second half after sub Danny Sturridge grabbed a goal back for the away side.

winningiseverything FA Cup report: United vs Spurs = Entertainment

The Red Devils saw off a spirited Tottenham side in a 4th round FA Cup encounter which saw 4 goals and a sending off.

In a memorable tie, Tottenham stiffled United attacks early doors and even managed to take the lead in a well worked move, with good play from Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon, culminating in a tap-in for captain Robbie Keane.

Despite territorial and possessional advantage United could not find a way through a sturdy Spurs defense marshaled well by Tom Huddlestone and the previously mentioned Dawson.

However, towards the end of the first half the pressure told on Tottenham’s defense, not known for their consistency this season, and a poor header by Dawson, good strength by Giggs and a neat finish by Tevez leveled the scores.

The first half was an open affair with a lot of United pressure and some good counter-attacking play by Tottenham. In fact Spurs may even have gone in to half-time ahead had the impressive Jenas netted when clear through on goal, but thanks to a good stop by Van Der Sar the scores stayed at 1-1.

After half-time the same pattern of play emerged until a long ball by Van Der Sar led to Dawson (who seemingly had a very eventful afternoon) forgetting that he was a centre-back and not a goalkeeper, clearly pushing the ball away from Rooney when in a he had a clear-cut opportunity. Penalty awarded and Dawson saw red. Ronaldo duly dispatched to give United the lead.

Funnily enough this lead to Tottenham’s best spell of possession and play, which almost saw them draw level, hitting the post from a deflected cross.

In the end, piling men forward in search of an equalizer, Spurs left themselves vulnerable at the back with Ronaldo capping a neat break-away by United, the ball slipping under the keeper Cerny, who should not be best pleased with his efforts it has to be said.

A deserved win for the team from Manchester, continuing their who-do over Tottenham at Old Trafford having not lost to the London team there since 1989.

Manchester United now join Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the final 16 of the FA Cup and bid to reach their 4th final in 5 years.

Liverpool 0 - 1 Havant & Waterlooville - Richard Pacquette (8)

Yes, thats right, Havant & Waterlooville have gone 1-0 up at Anfield a goal from Richard Pacquette has given the non-league side the lead. The goal game from a corner with Richard Pacquette heading in at the far post.

Can they hold on ??

Edit: No the can’t Liverpool 1 - 1 Havant & Waterlooville Lucas with the goal.

Edit: WTF?? Liverpool 1 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville making his debut Martin Skrtel has deflected a shot from Alfie Potter!!

Edit: Liverpool 2 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville - They can’t hold on till half time, Benayoun with the equalizer.

Edit: Into the second half and its Liverpool 3 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville, Benayoun with his second of tha match.

Edit: The flood gates have opened? Liverpool 4 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville, Benayoun completing his hattrick

Edit: Liverpool 5 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville, Peter Crouch rounds the game of nicely for the home side, but full credit to Havant & Waterlooville

Edit: Full time,  Liverpool 5 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville what an effort by the non-league side.

FA Cup - Lookalike

This morning Middlesbrough manged to scrape past Mansfield in the F.A. Cup winning 2-0 at Field Mill. While watching the match I noticed a lookalike, Stags boss Billy Dearden and Statler the old man muppet.

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