This is a freak Cup year, so enjoy it as that and no more

The English love an underdog, apparently. Just how much, we are about to find out.

What are your plans next weekend? Do you still have the frisson of excitement that was felt around the country as favourites tumbled in the quarter-finals? Have you continued to declare it the greatest FA Cup competition in history? And will you be in front of the television or heading to the pub, eagerly wondering whether West Bromwich Albion can overcome Portsmouth and set up the first Wembley Cup final to be played out between teams from beyond the top division?

Or has reality bitten? Is it now apparent that, on Sunday, Barnsley will be playing Cardiff City, an inferior match between inferior teams? Is giant-killing amusing only in the early rounds? By this stage, do we not want to see the best teams, the greatest players, in the country going at it hammer and tongs? Shouldn’t this be about Cristiano Ronaldo versus Cesc Fàbregas, not Brian Howard versus Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink?

Perhaps it is what it is. All the grandiose claims, all the hand-wringing disappointment miss the essence of it. This is a freak year, so enjoy it as that and no more. I will watch both games. The question is, will you?

Is this the best FA Cup ever, or has it been devalued by the absence of any of the so-called “Big Four” clubs?

Comments

[james]

Its fantastic that there will be a new name on the cup this year. 14 years or so since someone outside the 'top four' won it. The games will be exciting because both semis will be played with passion rather than a chessmatch. The supporters will be having the time of there lives and the atmosphere will be electric. I'm not a fan of any of the clubs but i hope Pompey win for one of the great characters of the game Harry Redknapp

[Andy Robinson]

It feels like the big four play each other all the time anyway, especially when paired in the Champions Leaue too.

I think it is heart warming that one of these four teams can win the F.A. cup and that for almost every player, manager and fan it will probably be the pinnacle of their career to win it.

Oh, and to one of the previous posters, Aston Villa do go "full tilt" at the cup. It's just we continually draw Manchester Utd every year. Grumble... conspiracy...grumble...

[James Welham]

This has been a fantastic FA Cup year. It's not about seeing the 'big' teams at the business end either. Think back to recent finals between said sides: Chelsea vs Man Utd in 2007, Arsenal vs Man Utd in 2005, even going back to Liverpool vs Man Utd in 1996. Terrible games, all of them.
And those worried about not seeing the 'top' players, there's always the Champions League. In fact, the CL is the very reason the big teams have dominated the FA Cup in recent years.
This year has provided us all with a blessed relief from their domination.

[James]

"What a ridiculous debate. In cup competitions if you win you go forward if you lose you go out. And that gentleman is that.

Anyone still struggling with the concept give me a ring and I'll draw you a picture.
Posted by: Bill"

Speaking of struggling with concepts Bill, I think you seem to be struggling with the concept of the telephone....If I gave you a ring, how would you draw me a picture?
Silly Billy

[James Roberts]

This year has been great, but I agree that 1990 was the best year: two amazing David v Goliath semis, goals everywhere and an absurdly romantic Wrightie and Brighty final. Shame about the replay though...

There's been an awful lot of talk about the attitude of the 'big four' towards the Cup but in truth, the fact they've had a near monopoly in recent years suggests that they've taken it seriously enough. Indeed, one of the delights of this season has been that they were all put out playing full, or nearly full, strength teams.

No, the problem isn't the big four, it's those teams that SHOULD go full tilt at the Cup (Man City, Spurs, Villa, Newcastle, Reading, West Ham, Sunderland etc) - but don’t – forsaking potential glory (and Europe) for mid table mediocrity. So well done Pompey (and 'arry), for taking the competition seriously.

Me? Cardiff born and bred and gutted to be sat in front of the telly come Sunday. Anyone got a spare ticket? Real money for a real ticket!

[Graham Parker]

The games will be worth watching because the 70,000+ supporters will make a fantastic atmosphere & that will inspire the players to have a right go. And if you still miss the big 4, cast your mind back to the stunning mediocrity of last years final, or Man Utd v Arsenal a couple of years back when Arsenal played for penalties from the 1st minute onwards.

[John Best]

Whey-Hey - as a kid I cried all the way home from Highbury after we lost to Leicester in the semi's. 1992 we were underdogs and lost to Liverpool on penalties.
This year maybe, just maybe we shall make the final!
If you are involved its magic and I and my two sons will relish every moment at Wembley (even if, Heaven forbid, West Brom win)
The so called big four have had their turn and the fact that a Championship side will make the final is great for the FA Cup. Everyone started level so there should be no gripes
Hope they are both exciting games. The crowds - not used to such occasions - will make a hell of a noise unlike the regulars who get there every other year and behave with so much decorum.

[Adam Michie]

The only negative to non "big four" semi finals is that the FA Cup is without the better individual talents and we see them week in week out in the Premiership anyway. Time for lesser clubs to showcase themselves. The big four do not guarantee good games. The simple fact that all four of the teams remaining could win the Cup, should mean that they are all full of confidence and will play their best. Portsmouth have an attractive style, West Brom are the League's top goal scorers. Cardiff's display against Middlesborough proved they can play, and Barnsley are the giant killers. For me, all the ingredients are still there and the simple fact that the same old names aren't appearing again is a refreshing experience. Roll on Saturday.

[Bill]

What a ridiculous debate. In cup competitions if you win you go forward if you lose you go out. And that gentleman is that.

Anyone still struggling with the concept give me a ring and I'll draw you a picture.

[Timothy Tanner]

I'll be doing what I always do when it isn't an Arsenal match or a final, I will listen on the radio. I look forward to it though, four teams that don't often get the chance for glory and three of them play good football.

This may be a freak year and so we get something different from the normal fare, we should enjoy it while it lasts. Best Fa Cup ever? No but one of the better of recent times.

[Chris Thurston]

...looks like you've found a few people to watch the games, then, Martin! I won't be, and I bet I'm not alone. I would much rather watch teams that can play football. Can you seriously think Barnsley's style of football is entertaining?

[David]

Its been a great year for the cup in fairytale terms for sure, and i watch it with the same interest as ever, and as has been pointed out here it will be great to see teams really interested in winning the cup not just putting one over their top 4 rival.

but my fav cup year was 90, liverpool - palace semi 4-3 extra time, stunning game, man u - oldham 3-3 replayed, man u palace final 3-3, ian wright magic, granted replay was rough, but what a few games, and the drama off the pitch, wright had hardly played all season with leg injury to come back and play like that, leighton dropped for utd. drama, excitment, goals, lets hope for that this year, or is that like asking for world peace these days,lol

[Tom]

The unpredictability of the FA Cup is what makes it unique,if only other competitions adopted the same format,how boring and predictable have two-leg fixtures and group stages become.this years FA Cup has been fantastic and i'm not even a supporter of either sides in the semi-final

[J. Davis]

As a Chelsea fan I can say that when Man U, Livepool AND Chelsea lost their games , the game of football won them.

[Martin Litchfield]

Who can remember anything about last year's final apart from Drogba's late winner? Matches involving 'the best' have sometimes been of mind-numbing tedium; e.g. Arsenal v Man Utd. 2005 and the last final at the old Wembley between Chelsea and Aston Villa in 2000. Matches that stick in my memory have usually involved at least one unexpected finalist; e.g. Man Utd. v Brighton 1983 Coventry v Spurs 1987 and Man Utd. v Crystal Palace 1990. Of this year's semi-finalists only WBA have played in a final in my lifetime so I shall be specially looking forward to this year's game. Variety is the spice of life.

[Richard Wood]

"Is it now apparent that, on Sunday, Barnsley will be playing Cardiff City, an inferior match between inferior teams?"

Inferior teams that BEAT "better" teams. Y'know, like a cup competition or something. I'd rather watch Barnsley vs Cardiff than Middlesbrough vs. effing Chelsea.

"By this stage, do we not want to see the best teams, the greatest players, in the country going at it hammer and tongs?"

Since when have they gone at it hammer and tongs? Their matches are always drab, dull affairs at this stage in the cup.

"Shouldn’t this be about Cristiano Ronaldo versus Cesc Fàbregas, not Brian Howard versus Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink?"

Why? What a ridiculous viewpoint. This is a cup competition. Who wins it is who wins it. I just want to see end-to-end football with drama and passion, a Cup final that actually means something to the players. The only final that was close in the last ten years was Liverpool v. West Ham. I can't wait to see some other players living their dream for perhaps the only time in their life.

[Sam]

After last years' damp squib of a final I think it is fantastic that this years' will be contested between two teams of players who may never again get so close to glory. I love the play-off finals because, more often than not, they produce exciting finales with both teams desperately trying to get a result. The players involved in this years final will not be taking anything for granted, it will be the biggest game of their lives bar none (Arsenal old boys and David James aside), and we can all hope this produces the best final of the century so far.

[Tomred]

I think the FA Cup this season has made a refreshing change to the landscape of English football. For the last few years we have had annual Liverpool - Chelsea Champions League fixtures to add to the usual Premier League fixtures with the added risk that the League and FA Cups will throw up the very same fixture in the latter stages.

Whilst people generally want to see the best players in action, we get enough opportunity between August and May so that it makes a refreshing change to see the likes of Barnsley punch above their weight. Barnsley's wins at Anfield and over Chelsea will live long in the memory, especially given that for the next ten years there is unlikely to be a winner outside of the current "big four".

[Bud Fox]

“Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.”

The lack of participation from the Premiership’s big four or clubs with a good cup record, like Tottenham, guarantees the FA cup semi-finals are less exciting this year. Although the ’07 and ’05 finals proved how big a letdown FA cup matches between the big clubs can be, it is the anticipation that is half the fun. Sometimes, the matches do deliver; the ’99 semi-final replay between Man U and Arsenal is the type of game we could be missing this year.

It would be churlish to begrudge Barnsley or Portsmouth their semi-final places because they knocked out three of the big four clubs. But Cardiff and West Brom? They have beaten only one Premiership team between them and it is their presence that is the problem. I am no more excited by them than I was by Millwall in 2004, who reached the final without playing a Premiership team, and, judging by their performance in the final, would have been knocked in an earlier round had they drawn a side from the top division.

I think balance is the key. People are uninspired by the fact that none of the country’s big clubs are in the last four of the cup, but would bemoan that football is too predictable if the semi-finals were contested by Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U. A mixture of the two situations would be ideal. The FA cup needs to rediscover its yin and yang.

[Lee - Brighton]

Bradley - spot on.
It only seemed 5 minutes ago that everyone was talking about how predictable the FA Cup is and how often the 'big four' win it between them thus devaluing it for everyone else. What are those people saying now? That debate will continue when normal service is resumed next year but, even as a Chelsea fan, I'll be watching the semis and the final as keenly as ever.

[Dave]

As a Manchester United supporter I am disappointed not to be in the semis but I think this is good for the competition overall.
Teams that fielded weakened sides and got knocked out because survival is so important, such as Reading should be kicking themselves right now. If they had taken the competition seriously they could be in with the chance of winning a major prize and these chances dont come round often enough to be sniffed at.

[Paul Evans]

"By this stage, do we not want to see the best teams, the greatest players, in the country going at it hammer and tongs?"

Of course we do. However, on the form of the last few seasons, the FA Cup has not shown us this, with some jaw-droppingly dull 'clashes of the giants'. I'll be enjoying the chance to see four teams who don't get into the spotlight very often and may actually play with some passion.

[Bradley Micallef]

I dont think the 'big four' or any other team in the premiership for that matter has devauled the FA Cup - the bottom line is, Man United couldn't stick the ball in the net against Pompey, and the same applies for Chelsea away at Barnsley. Neither played weakened sides.
If Manchester get knocked out of the Champions League because they dont score against Roma over the next couple of weeks, are they going to be accused of not taking the CL seriously??
Sometimes good teams lose against weaker teams - I think people should celebrate the fact the cup can still throw up such upsets.
I for one think Pompey vs West Brom will be a classic - both teams try to play football and have fantastic support - which will make for a fantastic atmosphere.. Just hope Harry's boys sneak it...

[David Harrison]

As a Pompey supporter I have to say yes its the best FA Cup for many years and the trophy will look nice at Fratton Park. For the teams involved in the semi finals it is obviously a great cup but for neutral supporters then maybe it is not. However at the start of the cup every team has a chance. Every team plays games and if they don't play to win that is the fault of the manager of that club not the club that does win and takes the cup seriously. If neutral supporters think this years cup is inferior then blame YOUR club not the clubs left in the fight. Enjoy the cup for what it is - possibly the best club competition in the world. Incidentally, Portsmouth are presently 6th in the league. That's is not too far away from the top 4. Is it because they are not a fashionable club with the media that they are constantly refered to as an inferior club? Would the same comments be made if Tottenham were playing in the semi finals even though they are lower in the league than Pompey?

[Tim Williams]

Freak show? Devalued ?

Maybe it wasn't obvious, but the reason that Manchester United aren't in the semi finals of the cup is because they lost to Portsmouth. Liverpool and Chelsea are missing because they failed to overcome Barnsley.

Should we be using glamour as a criteria for being in the semi finals of the cup now? Possibly just give the title to the team with the most money - oh sorry, that's the Premiership.

Maybe not the greatest cup ever, but one that renews hope to the supporters of all the "small" clubs that maybe there is a chance to win something once again.