The FA Cup

When was the last time you watched a great FA Cup final? If you reply with anything other than 2006, Liverpool v West Ham, then with all due respect, you're lying. As great a final as that was, this one was just as bad. The new Wembley and the finalists that have played there have failed to create that special cup final atmosphere in my opinion. Why is this? Well 40,000 tickets (roughly) going to neutrals and corporate personalities really can't help can it? Sure Wembley, give 5,000 tickets to the richer than rich folk, but let's try and make it an event for the true fans, hey? The Champions League final later this month will also be suffering from such corporate nonsense.

Back in the day my FA Cup routine was to get up early and watch Tim and Helen on Soccer AM; there was something special about Soccer AM on cup final day. Soccer AM was not viewed on this cup final morning for reasons far too mundane to write down, so my build-up involved watching Man Utd win their 19th Premier League title. The only reason for you not to know it is their 19th is if you have been living in outer Mongolia this past week, and even then i'm sure a United fan would have sent a message to you via pigeon explaining how they have overtaken Liverpool. There is a point behind this mini rant. Why were there Premiership fixtures on FA Cup final weekend? Many people like to talk about the FA Cup being the world's best cup competition? Do England arrange an international fixture on World Cup final day? They might as well do as it's the nearest we'll ever get to seeing England play on World Cup final day, but no. It stands alone. And so should the FA Cup.

So the final itself. Yaya Toure had a great shot the first half that narrowly missed. Joe Hart made a great save from Kenwyne Jones, and then Yaya belted one from 8 yards. Don't watch the highlights, 'cause that is all that actually happened. On the screen next to the tv showing the FA Cup coverage, Valencia were beating Real Madrid 6-1 on FIFA 11. The fact FIFA was being played tells you all you need to know about the excitement of the FA Cup match. The highlight of the whole game was seeing Liam Gallagher do the Poznan. Only football could make such a hardened rock n roll star do such a silly, but impressive looking dance. So Man City won their first trophy for over 30 years, and this could well be the start of a highly successful period for them, but 14th May 2011 for me will be remembered more by the FIFA 11 escapades, greatly enjoying chicken fajitas for tea, and taking all efforts to avoid Eurovision.