Ok, i'll admit it. I was one of those cynics who frankly didn't give much of a shit about the FA Cup. This is probably largely because i support West Ham and we do things like getting knocked out by Wrexham rather than galavanting on glorious runs. I don't think i was alone either. With the pressures and financial importance of avoiding relegation, or getting into Europe etc. the prospect of travelling to Shithouse United in the middle of the Welsh Valleys for a part-time plumber on a frozen pitch to kick lumps out of your ageing right back at a stage of the season when a teams lack of depth can be blatantly exposed by a couple of injuries, is hardy romantic. And yet today i felt the romance of the cup.
Watching Burton hang on for a nil-nil draw against united, seeing Leyton Orient and Leicester claim the first two premiership scalps (Fulham and Spurs respectively), and Nuneaton hold Middlesborough was truly thrilling stuff. I actually watched the Burton game at my local in Manchester and was bloody nervous for the last 10 minutes as Rooney and co pummelled their goal. At the end i felt exhilirated, alsmost post-coital, the romance of the cup indeed.
It makes you realise just how Greece can win the European Championships, or Porto win the Champions League, as football is simply 11 versus 11, and anything can happen. Oh crap i think i just finished my blog with a glaring cliche. The Leicester game really was a game of two halves though. Shit.
1 comment:
There is something special about the cup. Having gone to highbury for the Cardiff game, and although the game was only realy exciting for the first 15 and last 15 minutes., its still a very great experience to see a lower divisions fans travel with so much hope and support for their team that it put the librarians at Highbury to shame. I am also extremely sad that i could have seen my last ever cup game at (fortress) Highbury. Well done to the Cardiff fans they knew how to support their club maybe arsenal fans can learn a thing or two about atmosphere in time for the new stadium.
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