FA Cup

Round 1 [proper] begins tomorrow with the inclusion for the first time of league clubs. We won't be involved until the 3rd round and, unless we finally have the cup run I've been begging for this year, we'll be out before the 5th.

Last year's pairing of Pompey and CCC side Cardiff is rare, but not unheard of. With about half the Prem managers leaving domestic cup competitions to reserves and youth [better to concentrate on Europe or avoiding relegation], CCC sides and non-top 4 sides have a better chance each year. With all the strength in the top 6 or 8 of the CCC this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see something like last year happening again.

So, here's a little poll for you.

Guess who I'm voting for?

 

They have a bit better chance than Havant and Waterlooville! :banana:

 

And the third round draw is not yet complete, but ...

FA Cup third round draw [so far]:

Portsmouth v Bristol City
Sheffield Wed v Fulham
Preston v Liverpool
Birmingham v Wolves
West Ham v Barnsley
Middlesbrough v Barrow
Hull City v Newcastle
Hartlepool v Stoke
Chelsea v Southend
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Cardiff v Reading
Ipswich v Chesterfield or Droylesden
Charlton v Norwich
West Brom v Peterborough or Tranmere
Torquay v Blackpool
Leyton Orient v Sheffield United
Southampton v Manchester United
Millwall v Carlisle or Crewe
Histon v Swansea
Forest Green Rovers v Derby
QPR v Burnley
Leicester v Crystal Palace
Tottenham v Wigan
Morecambe or Cheltenham v Doncaster
Arsenal v Plymouth
Notts County or Kettering v Eastwood Town
Bournemouth or Blyth v Blackburn
Macclesfield v Everton
Watford v Scunthorpe
Sunderland v Bolton
Coventry v Kidderminster



Ties will be played on the weekend of 3-4 January

 

Histon is hosting the Swans because they beat mighty Leeds United 1-0 in round 2. The only goal was scored by a postman.

Ladies and Germs, THIS is what the FA Cup is all about. :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Five bananas for Histon, wherever they are!

 

Frankie has been on the bench for Wednesday's last two matches. He may well feature against us. It's a good thing we don't have a left winger for him to frustrate!

 

and here's the draw for round 4:

Ties will be played weekend of January 24

Liverpool v Everton
Southampton/ Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Hull City/ Newcastle United v Millwall/ Crewe Alexandra
Sunderland v Blyth Spartans/ Blackburn Rovers
Hartlepool United v West Ham United
Leyton Orient/ Sheffield United v Charlton Athletic/ Norwich City
Cardiff City v Arsenal
Portsmouth/ Bristol City v Histon/ Swansea City
Chelsea/ Southend United v Ipswich Town
Cheltenham Town/ Doncaster Rovers v Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion/ Peterborough v QPR/ Burnley
Torquay United v Coventry City
Kettering Town v Fulham
Watford v Leicester City/ Crystal Palace
Derby County v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham City/ Wolverhampton Wanderers v Middlesbrough

On paper, we have the best draw of the bunch. But, as someone once [or twice] pointed out, we don't play on paper.

 

Kettering is a nice town in the middle of a nice region of Northamptonshire -- at least it was when I used to frequent the area in the mid-70's. It should be a comfortable jaunt for the 1200 folk from SW6 who can make the trip.

And Ag, I'm not sure how the money was split either, but I was hoping that Luton would survive to round 3 to go to Liverpool or ManU. The cash might have saved them. There was a time when all league gate receipts were split. That meant that away matchtes to Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, and Arsenal/Spurs kept the "little clubs" like Burnley and Fulham and Luton afloat. This gate pooling was something else that went away with the Prem and contributed to the super-rich Big Four sides.