An absolute classic of an FA Cup weekend, even if Lawrenson who is often prone to the hyperbole, admitted as much. Shocks galore, although actual ‘Giant Killing’ was left to Leyton Orient and to a lesser extent Colchester. I think that in terms of progressing the ‘diddy’ teams will have shot their boat, especially Nuneaton Borough who should have beaten Middlesbrough and Burton who could have beaten Manchester United. Tamworth must be in with a shout of progressing on their own patch against Stoke.
As for the BBC’s Live games, they chose absolute doozies in Luton v Liverpool and Leicester v Spurs, their adage of great drama from a few seasons ago never seemed more apt. Despite being 3-1 down, Liverpool still seemed to be exerting a level of control and looked like scoring. As the Hatters tired, Alonso and Steven Gerrard saw more and more of the ball, and Alonso scored two of the greatest FA Cup goals ever. His half volley was sumptuous, and the goal at the end within 10 yards of his own half showed great skill, on his weaker foot. Alonso, the quiet man was once again overshadowed by his English Midfield accomplish, whose first goal was one few could score, passing a ball into the net at the speed of most other peoples drives and with the accuracy of a snooker player. By not celebrating (Which he later put down to the fact he didn’t think it would be the winning goal), it made this unique goal somewhat dour. Mr Gerrard, even managed to spoil the final minute goal by Alonso with his screaming for a pass before realising the ball was making its way into the net from a country mile away.
Tuning into the Leicester-Tottenham match on Sunday evening had potential for ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ feel to it. Indeed, on paper it was a miss-match, Spurs flying high in the Premiership, defeated only 3 times all season, Leicester having a torrid time and run of results in the Championship. I was interested in seeing how the Scottish contingent (Hughes, Douglas) in the Foxes side and former Ess-Pee-Ell players (Maybury, De Vries) would perform against world class opposition. The first half showed Tottenham’s mettle, with two well taken goals, and they were seemingly coasting. Good management by Craig Levein who wasn’t afraid to switch things around before half-time paid dividends with the substitute, Elvis Hammond pulled one back seconds before the break. The second half was a thrilling end-to-end spectacle, Stephen Hughes equalised, Stephen Kelly missed a sitter for the Londoners, before in injury time with a replay at the Lane beckoning, De Vries the best player on the park latched onto a through ball and remaining just onside settled the tie.
The thrills and spills of the cup showed what a great game football is, and how the Premiership is really not good for the game with it’s predictability. As we enter the second half of the season, we really are just asking, who will get the final Champions League spot (Spurs, Wigan or Arsenal) and who will head to the Championship with Sunderland. The Championship too seems destined to be won by Reading with the Blades moving up with them. Oh for the opportunity of not knowing who could win the title.
Early 2006 Predictions
Premiership: Chelsea
Relegated: Sunderland, West Brom, Pompey
FA Cup: Arsenal
League Cup: Manchester United
Champions League: Barcelona
Championship: Reading (C), Sheff Utd, Leeds.
