FA Cup Previews

This year marks my fifth year of writing an FA Cup Preview (I start with the Third Round Proper) email to my football buddies out there, so I figured I'd get some of them all in one spot for posterity.

2014/15

That's right, I can't believe this thing is five years old either!

But like a Luis Suarez ban, we're back and better than ever!

Before I start, a couple of media recommendations for the football fans out there:

1. If you haven't caught it, check out Roger Bennett's (Men in Blazers) "The Southampton Way", an hour long look into their philosophy and success on on and off the field. The coolest part is the list of guys that have come through their youth academy (Bale, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain just to name a few). Here's the link to watch online (I'm sure it will be shown again on NBCSN): http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/02/video-watch-the-southampton-way-documentary-in-full/

2. Also, I just started a great book on the history of Premier League soccer in England. The Game of Our Lives by David Goldblatt is tremendous so far, as much a book about history as it is about football. He also wrote the thorough The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer. That one will take you a bit longer. 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Our-Lives-English/dp/1568585063

Ok, on to the football. Just a reminder that this year's FA Cup started back in mid-August with 736 teams, and with the start of the Third Round Proper we have just 64 teams remaining. Also remember that English Football has about 24 levels (leagues) of football, so whoever is left at this point is the best of the best.

Third Round Proper (games to be played this weekend, Jan 3-6).

- This round marks the entry of all the EPL teams (20 teams) and all Championship teams come in (24 teams)

- With 32 matches scheduled this weekend (and Tuesday), we have 64 teams left

- The breakdown by league:

     EPL 20

     Championship 24

     League One 11

     League Two 4

     Conference Premier 4

     Northern Premier League 1 (!!!!!!!!)

- We have four all EPL match ups (Leicester/Newcastle, Burnley/Tottenham, Arsenal/Hull, and Everton/West Ham)

- Even better, we have an all League Two matchup (Cambridge United/Luton Town) ensuring at least one League Two team in the Fourth Round!

- JD's Upset Special pick: Sheffield United (League One) over QPR (EPL) 

- Minnows: While we have four Conference Premier Teams remaining (Gateshead, Southport, Dover Athletic, and Wrexham), which are all very minnow worthy on their own, we need to focus here on Blythe Spartans (8th in the Northern Premier League), who host Birmingham City (14th in the Championship). Spartans have a long history of crashing these rounds of the Cup, so pay attention and pull hard for them. 

- Name(s) of the Round: I love me some Rovers (Blackpool, Doncaster, and Tranmere) and Wanderers (Wolverhampton and Bolton)

- As for our teams:

     Newcastle travel to Leicester

     Arsenal host Hull

     Liverpool travel to AFC Wimbledon (this one could be interesting!)

     Sunderland host Leeds United

     Everton host West Brom

 

Best to all, Happy New Years, and may Steven Gerrard be coming to your local MLS team!

2013/14

Ha! Just like the USPS, neither ice, snow, or below freezing temps can delay the Fourth Annual FACPENUT (FA CupPreview Email Newsletter Update Thingy)!

While the Third Round Draw took place awhile back, the matches actually take place this weekend, so it seemed like the right time. 

 

Round Three (matches to be played Jan 4/5)

- Once again, the Third Round marks the entry of the EPL teams (20 teams)

- Round Three is also when the Championship teams come in (24 teams)

- With 33 matches scheduled this weekend (and Tuesday), we have 65 teams left

- Just one Second Round replay left (to be played Saturday), FACPENUT favorites Crawley Town host Bristol Rovers (not to be confused with Blackburn Rovers or Bristol City) with the winner to travel to Birmingham Tuesday 

- The breakdown by league:

     EPL 20

     Championship 24

     League One 12

     League Two 6

     Conference Premier 3

- We have four all EPL match ups (Norwich/Fulham, West Brom/Crystal Palace, Newcastle/Cardiff City, Man U/Swansea and the big one Arsenal/Tottenham)

- jd's Upset Special pick: Burnley (Championship) over Southampton (EPL) 

- Minnows: Macclesfield (Conference Premier) face Sheffield Wed (Championship)

- Name of the Round: Kidderminster Harriers

- As for our teams:

     Newcastle host Cardiff City

     Arsenal host Tottenham in a FA Cup Special Derby!

     Liverpool host Oldham (who beat them in the fourth round last year!)

     Sunderland host Carlisle

     Everton host QPR (playing well in Championship)

 

Best to all, Happy New Years, and may all your substitutions be fruitful!

2012-13

Bigger than the news of a royal baby is the FA Cup third round draw!

 

And even bigger than that is jd's FA Cup Preview email newsletter/update thingy!

 

I know you have all been waiting on the edge of your seats. A couple of announcements before we commence:

 

- This marks year three of the FACPENUT

- For the first time this year, we will be previewing the Third Round (previous editions have begun with recaps after Round Three)...at no added cost!

- I have added a couple of fanatics to the list, so by way of supported team, here are the introductions:

 

Pete G- Newcastle

Bogel - Arsenal

Pohlman - Liverpool (Boo!)

Matt - Sunderland

Durk - Everton (yea!)

Pete B - Tottenham

 

We are nearing a starting XI...on to the football.

 

Before we get to the Round Three preview, there was a crazy matchup in Round Two between MK Dons and AFC Wimbeldon. The story is a bit complicated, but basically it's kind of like the Colts and Ravens playing in the playoffs, or maybe the Colts and Browns. Whatever. Read this article: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/MK-Dons-emerge-victorious-in-FA-Cup-grudge-match-4084913.php

 

Round Three (matches to be played Jan 5/6)

- As we all know, the Third Round marks the entry of the EPL teams (20 teams), so until the weekend of Jan 5/6, we all have hope!

- Round Three is also when the Championship teams come in (24 teams)

- As of today, we have 72 teams left (8 replays scheduled for this week)

- The breakdown by league:

     EPL 20

     Championship 24

     League One 12

     League Two 8

     Conference National 6

     Conference North/South 1

     Isthmian League 1

- We have four all EPL matchups (Swansea/Arsenal, West Ham/Man U, QPR/West Brom, and Southampton/Chelsea)

- jd's Upset Special pick: Crawley Town (League One) over Reading (newly promoted EPL)

- Minnows of the round - Harrogate (Conference North - tier 6) vs. Hastings AFC (Isthmian League - tier 7) in a Round Two replay, with the winners to face Middlesborough in Round Three

- As for our teams:

     Newcastle are at Brighton, Hove, and Albion (that's just one team Pete - Championship side)

     Arsenal are at Swansea (given the Gunners recent troubles, Bogel's run may be short lived)

     (Being) Liverpool are at either Lincoln City or Mansfield (both 5th tier teams, shouldn't be a problem...reverse jinx, reverse jinx!)

     Sunderland are at Bolton Wanderers (yikes! Tough draw for the Black Cats, Bolton are playing very well in the Championship)

     Tottenham host Coventry City (third tier)

     Everton are away to the winner of Cheltenham Town/Hereford United (4th and 5th tier respectively)

 

Hope everyone is well and enjoy the upcoming matches. Here's to no frozen pitches and may all your shots that hit the posts go in (except for you Pohlman).

 

Have a Merry Boxing Day!

 

Newcastle - When Hibbo Scores We Riot!

So, it's been a pretty long time since the last post. I do have an excuse, or rather two of them, but I rather like to think of them as good luck charms rather than excuses.

The twins came April 4th, and they have already watched four Everton matches. Future Toffees for sure. And while the FA Cup run came to an end shortly after they came into the world, they have yet to see EFC lose a league match, and that includes today. In the final match of the season with the only thing on the line the chance to finish above our crosstown rivals, EFC cruised to a 3-1 victory over Newcastle. Goals from Pienaar (please stay!), Jelavic (amazing signing!), and Heitinga (club player of the year!) sealed the deal. Oh yeah, Hibbert also scored, albeit an own goal, but still...this entry's title is from a shirt I saw online somewhere. No confirmation if said riot actually happened, but I did read the Gladwys End was rocking after the miscue.

This season was amazing in so many ways, and the last day was no exception. While Man City came away with their first title in 44 years, the other races were equally as exciting. Bolton and QPR were fighting to avoid relegation, with Bolton needing a win to have any chance. They drew at Stoke, and that was their fate, down to the Championship next season. The final piece of the puzzle was the race to see who made it into Champions League, and that's where the EFC - Newcastle match came into play. Newcastle needed a win to have a chance, and Everton denied that. Once of the great things about this season for me has been seeing my buddy Pete get into the EPL and get behind his team, Newcastle. As the season went along, I have seen him become more and more pulled in, and when NC signed Papiss Cisse and he started scoring crazy goals, he was totally hooked. So while I was happy with the Toffees win today, I am even more happy that I have another partner in my obsession, and really, at the end of the day, that's what this is all about. Talking football with friends. Until next season, Up the Toffees!

West Bromwich Albion - Owning the Goal

Short and sweet today as the replay wasn't on until well after the result was in the bag. I followed on iFooty and after a thousand refreshes, saw Everton finish off a great week by winning 2-0 for the third time in a row, and leaping, for now, into 7th place in the EPL.

Another curious thing about soccer is the own goal, "scored" when a player deflects the ball into their own net for a gift to the other side. It seems it's been a more common occurrence this year than in others, but it happened twice in the Toffees favor this week. The thing about own goals is they are always different. The goal that Sunderland put in their own net was the very definition of an own goal. The defender had all the chance in the world to clear the ball, but put it cleanly in the back of his net. Today was much different. The lovely strike by Leon Osman took a slight deflection before heading home. In both cases, the offensive players got no credit for the goals, but clearly Osman should have. Believe it or not, a Goals Committee exists for just the case of deciding what is and isn't an own goal. Brilliant. On to Easter Weekend and games Saturday v. Norwich and Monday v. Sunderland before the FA Cup Semi-Final Darby in two weeks. Up the Toffees...

Sunderland - Round 2...Wembley!

I had to break down and purchase the Fox Soccer Plus package finally. I had no choice really. The replay of the FA Cup 6th Round v. Sunderland was being shown (delayed), and I couldn't very well miss it. Let's just say it will be the best $2.99 a month I have spent in awhile. From beginning to end, Everton completely dominated the Black Cats, and Nicika Jelavic provided the first goal, and created the second, an own goal for Sunderland. A 2-0 win felt like a 10-0 win. Every player showed up from the get go and played well, and it didn't hurt that Sunderland did pretty much the opposite.

So we are through to the semi-finals at Wembley, and what a big one it will be. Everton were drawn against Liverpool on April 14th, so another Derby will be upon the Toffees soon. Everton haven't won a trophy since 1995, and most recently lost in the FA Cup final in 2009. Despite the fastest goal ever in FA Cup history by Louis Saha, Chelsea overcame the early deficit and won 2-1. It's all about trophies in soccer, and if you can't have the Premier League title (or Champions League), the FA Cup is the next best thing. Two weeks from Saturday, hopefully Everton will be one step away, against our rivals to boot. Up the Toffees.

Swansea City - Maybe It's Better If I Don't Watch

The game against Swansea (the Swans of course) wasn't on anywhere yesterday, and I was so busy with other stuff, I didn't even check the score until well after the final whistle. Of course the Toffees got a great away win after goals from Baines (of course a free kick) and Jelavic. A solid win on the road and it moves us up to a tie for 8th place with Sunderland (although we are down 7 on goal difference). I think Everton are undefeated this year in games I don't watch. But don't think for a minute I won't be watching the FA Cup on Tuesday!

Twitter has been such a useful tool to quench my soccer thirsts, whether it be posting this blog, following great soccer writers like Grant Wahl and Leander Schelackens, reading other blogs, or, what I love the most, following the Everton players. I'm sure many other teams have players on Twitter, but I can't imagine that any team has guys that show the same candor, compassion, and humor as the Toffees. With Tim Cahill, Sylvain Distain, Phil Neville, Stephen Pienaar, Louis Saha, and Landon Donovan all exchanging tweets back and forth, it provides for some laughs and entertainment. We wouldn't see this in America from Lebron James or Eli Manning, as the media would jump on them for any little joke made. Just another reason why I love EFC and the EPL. Up the Toffees, hopefully to an FA Cup semi-final v. Liverpool!

Arsenal - At A Fever Pitch

Another mid-week battle against a top contender, and while a better effort was put forward by Everton, the result was the same, a loss. Arsenal completely dominated the first 20 minutes and the score could have been 4-0 easily, but some solid (desperate?) defense by the Toffees back four kept it at 1-0. RR Drenthe was called offside on a goal late in the half when he clearly wasn't, but those are the breaks. Certainly some promise showed in the second half, as EFC was on the attack, but the game ended at 1-0 to the Gunners.

One of the many aspects of my obsession with the beautiful game has been my need to devour as many books as I can about soccer. Some are funny, others moving, and still others historical. Currently I am reading The Ball is Round; A Global History of Football by David Goldblatt. All 900 pages of it. One of my favorite books of all I have read, not just soccer tomes, is the tremendous and still relevant Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. Written in 1998, it depicts Hornby's life growing up an Arsenal fan. It is a must read for any sports fan, not just soccer enthusiasts. At the same time, it's both hilarious and endearing, his obsession frightening and understandable, and the details informative and well-written. Ironically enough, the book is the basis for the American movie of the same name about a fan's obsession with the Boston Red Sox. While the movie left a good deal to be desired, one can see the similarities with an Arsenal and a Red Sox fan. The bottom line is that any fan of any team can sympathise with Hornby, and laugh along while doing so.

Sunderland - Replaying the Match

Had to work until 1 on Saturday, so the result was already determined once I started watching the recorded FA Cup quarterfinal against the Black Cats from Sunderland (my former colleague Matt's squad). Of course that didn't prevent me from donning my EFC jersey for good luck. Luck came in the form of Tim Cahill equalizing on a brilliant header to send the match to another stop in a week or so. It ended 1-1 after an exciting first half.

The replay is something unique to soccer, and only happens in competitions such as the FA or Carling Cups. We are so accustomed to using overtime at each tie game; we need a winner. But in the Cup runs, when two teams are tied after 90 minutes, instead of them continuing to play, they end the match and a replay is needed. The second match goes to the away teams home ground, and only then will they got to extra time and penalties if needed. Hopefully Everton can survive the Sunderland replay away to reach the semis of the Cup. Up the Toffees.