Cup Matters

 

 

In recent years there have been plenty of reports and comment articles on the death of the FA Cup. In many ways those reports are premature. However there are times that you feel that the guardians of the Cup are determined to find new ways to inflict hurt on it year after year. The FA, in its own way seems to be putting the FA Cup through a long term form of euthanasia.

 

The FA call it "The most famous domestic cup competition in the world", which sounds great until you realise the status afforded to cup competitions in other major footballing powerhouses. With the odd exception, say the Coupe De France which has ten times the number of participants of the FA Cup, cup competitions in Europe are second class, midweek affairs with low crowds and little interest. It seems that the FA is set on a path of downgrading their own competition to that of the Coppa Italia or the Cofidis Cup in Belgium.

 

Yet on Sunday, one match shows just what makes the FA Cup important, why it is such a vital part of the footballing schedule. It was the fourth pick by the television companies, given an awful High Noon Sunday slot. It is probably the least attractive to fans looking in from the outside, obsessed with the Premier League and the big name players. You may not see the pretty football that many crave, you may not see teh most technically gifted players, yet it will probably be the only game where you see two full strength sides playing, where both teams see cup progressions as important, if not more important than what follows in the league. Sheffield United v Charlton should attract a capacity crowd of near 30,000 generating a raucous and vibrant atmosphere. The only empty seats being the result of over stringent segregation demands.

 

Over 5,000 Charlton fans will make the journey North, a tremendous effort for a match scheduled by television at a time, when there isn't a train out of London to get them to Sheffield for kick off. There are difficulties for local fans as well; with those playing or running Sunday league teams, managing junior football clubs or with sons and daughters taking part all affected. With park pitches unplayable for weeks following recent weather, another postponement is hard to justify or consider. But hey, why should the FA care about the grassroots of the game when they have their TV dollar in their pocket? Why should they care about the fans?

 

We already see matches moved to days and kick off times that make it difficult for fans to attend. Or if they do, it is damn near impossible for them to get home again. This does not just apply to the FA Cup, but there are glaring examples such as Coventry City's Third Round tie at Arsenal being played on a Friday night, to suit television schedules. Then there was moving the final to a 5:15 kick off to maximise the domestic/global television audiences. The FA were quick to claim that the 2012 final achieved the highest peak viewing figure The FA Cup Final had achieved under the current TV deal and a higher audience than that of Bayern Munich v Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League Final. Note the emphasis on "Current" i.e. the best for 5 years.

 

The move driven by UEFA rules on stadium usage prior to a Champions League final left the FA Cup as the denouement of a day of Premier League fixtures. So the final became just another TV game and those who had been at matches may have missed the final travelling back from supporting their team. No longer was the cup final a match everyone had the chance to watch, regardless of who they support.The global media market that the FA are striving to maximise actually found it more difficult to watch the game as a result, as matches slipped into the early hours of the morning in Asia and Australia.

 

Then the following year they used this same justification for keeping a 5:15 kick off when Manchester City and Wigan Athletic fans would have to miss the end of the match to be sure of getting the last trains North. The FA statement at the time was widely vilified, stating that " 5.15pm is a regular kick-off time in the football calendar" and that "This time was agreed with major stakeholders and broadcasters and has been used across the game for a number of years for televised matches". So they said that they had consulted with stakeholders, except they hadn't. Yet again the forgotten stakeholders of football - the fans - were ignored.

 

Many pinpoint 2000 as the turning point when the FA's grimly held belief in their ability to win the World Cup bidding process, led to them allowing Manchester United to withdraw from the competition to curry favour with FIFA and their bloated and expendable World Club Cup. Yet it goes back further than that. The move to play Semi Finals at Wembley in 1991 was the first steps on the road of devaluation. Arsenal and Tottenham playing there to cope with demand for tickets.

 

And Sheffield United fans played a part in the long term switch. When the North London Derby was again moved to Wembley in 1993, the people of Sheffield complained en masse that an Elland Road semi final would leave many fans ticketless and the opportunity to host a match in a stadium such as Wembley should be afforded to all. Although it didn't become established for another 12 years, the seeds were sown.

 

Having said that every other game seems to get played at Wembley these days. I have been twice to new Wembley for play off finals that could have easily been hosted at Old Trafford and would have proved more convenient and accessible for fans of both clubs involved. It has reached the stage where many would view the Championship Play Off Final as the biggest match to be played at Wembley each year. A sad state of affairs.

 

Then there is drawing the next round ties, before the current round of matches has been completed; on a Sunday afternoonbetween live games. How long before the draw is all pre-planned and your route to Wembley is shown as a series of if's and or's?

 

Despite all these negatives, the average attendance at this year's FA Cup third round ties was at a 30 year high. Bigger grounds and those red and blue plastic seats highlight the gaps much more clearly than dark coats on grey terrace steps. The fans are coming despite of the FA and their machinations. Sadly this will make them think their meddling is vindicated. I want the FA Cup to survive and succeed, but I also want the FA to realise how their ever desperate actions are killing off people's interest.

 

This is not some romantic paean to muddy pitches, Ronnie Radford, Bacofoil cups, pitch invasions and Cup Final Grandstand. This is more about remembering that once upon a time, not very long ago, the FA Cup mattered to all. Now it seemingly matters to a lot less. Football is all about money not glory - in Sheffield United and Charlton there are two teams that might keep some of those old fashioned football values alive.

 

They aren't fielding weakened sides with one eye on Champions League matches, neither are they battling to save themselves from the "disaster" of losing Premier League status, neither are they playing to make another £750,000 (the current reward for a position higher finish in the Premier League).

 

Charlton Athletic are in a relegation dogfight, but tell Chris Powell, the team and their fans that Sunday isn't important. Momentum and success can lead to more positivity - just look at what the Cup run has done to the Blades' confidence. United and Charlton will be fielding full strength teams, respecting each other, the competition and playing their hearts out for a trip to Wembley (albeit a round too early), because it still matters. If only that view was more widely shared.

Tell you why I don't want Wednesday......

 

 

 

On the morning after the Blades' FA Cup 5th Round victory against Forest, the local radio breakfast show opened its Sports bulletin with "Sheffield United are on course for a FA Cup Quarter Final against Wednesday". I nearly crashed the car, fellow drivers on the Sheffield Parkway had a lucky escape, as did I. The words "on course", suggested that United still had work to do to achieve it. Yet Wednesday were the team still to play, still with a match to win. Surely it was much better to credit United fully for reaching the quarter finals and then acknowledge the possibility of a match with Wednesday assuming they can beat Charlton.

This morning they introduces an interview with Wednesday's Head Coach Stuart Gray with; "The prospect (of an all Sheffield quarter final) is creating a buzz around the city". But is it? To question this notion on a football phone-in is met with disbelief and disdain. "Why wouldn't you want an all Sheffield tie? Do you not want a high profile game that showcases Sheffield? What an occasion it would be, how do you not want to be part of it?"

The incredulity of local radio presenters only serves to demonstrate that they are wrapped in their own little bubble, out of touch with what the fans are thinking. Of course an all Sheffield Quarter Final is great for them. It gives them a guaranteed high profile broadcast from Wembley for a semi-final, maybe a simul-cast of the Quarter Final on 5Live Sports Extra. It fills plenty of airtime, both that normally devoted to sports broadcasting and that which would be given over to the city's potholes, errant bin collections and a singing budgie from Darnall. But really, why should I care?

The unhealthy state of Sheffield football, largely self-inflicted in recent years, is a crying shame for a city of our size, but a cup Quarter Final is a mere sticking plaster over a gaping wound that will need much more time to heal. A non-Premier League quarter final, even if it is a two club city derby, will not create the national buzz that those with a S postcode might believe.

I never want Wednesday to win a match, so why should I now? Their fans are like niggling growing pains that have never gone away. They caused me pain and grief as a child, as the club's relative success in the 1980's garnered the majority of playground support. This superiority complex has lingered around ever since. Looking for any angle to claim superiority, however tenuous, even when on the pitch they were lagging behind United.

I hate Derby matches at the best of times. They are not comfortable viewing. Sitting, twitching, tense, agitated. The focus on not losing to "them" is a strong as wanting to win. But this is a cup game. There has to be a loser. And for the defeated, the loss is tinged with even more frustration and disappointment with a semi-final at Wembley at stake. Defeat in extra time at Wembley in the all-Sheffield semi-final of 1993 was hard to take. This would be up there with it.

Why would you want that risk when United would be the underdogs? When we wouldn't be expected to win? Yes we have done it against Villa, Fulham and Forest, but a defeat then would not be a disgrace, it would be disappointing but nothing more. This? This would be gut-wrenching.

We can cling to the fact United have triumphed so often as underdogs, both in matches against Wednesday and in the cup in recent years. Take our cup run to date as a fine example. The first league derby I remember attending saw Dave Bassett's struggling side achieve an unexpected double over Wednesday, results which, if they had gone the other way, would have seen Wednesday ahead of Manchester United and just a point behind eventual champions Leeds.

We would be the underdogs against Charlton, a side from the division above and some 20+ places better off. Yet without the tension of a local derby, without the fear of defeat but still with the vociferous home backing I believe we would have a much better chance of success. Who, in their right mind, doesn't want the easier option when it is presented?

I also worry about the impact of an unsuccessful Derby match on United's season. Our number one focus is on staying up. Let's not kid ourselves, however positive things are feeling at the minute we are far from out of the woods. Three places above the relegation spots, but only a one point gap and a fixture backlog in front of us, we could easily see our form suffer and possible mid table safety turn into a relegation dogfight.

Some have said that the cup run is a distraction we can do without, I firmly believe otherwise. A cup run is a good thing in that it has allowed us to build confidence round by round and although the league performances haven't necessarily followed, the building blocks are slowly being put together. We look a better team, much more cohesive and players who were struggling for form and out on the side-lines are now brimming with confidence. I just worry about the focus of such a big match on our season, defeat on top would only exacerbate it.

There are Blades who will be happy to meet Wednesday. Desperate to rub the smug arrogance of their fans' faces. There will also be those with the unshakeable self-belief in the team and that they will win. History and experience of watching the Blades knocked that out of me years ago.

Whilst Unitedites are split on who they would like to face, it is clear who a majority favour - an online poll shows 64% of Blades fans who have voted would prefer to play Charlton and that is representative of many forum posts and workplace conversations. Hardly a city excited at the prospect of Blades v Owls! Much of the clamour for a Derby comes from across the city, where the Owls' wings have been clipped by back to back defeats, but not enough to knock the confidence that the team from the higher division should win through.

The thing is many Wednesday fans believe they are already through. aided and abetted by local radio reports of the 5th round draw which suggested a home tie against an out of form Charlton Athletic was as good as a bye to the next round. The hubris of them talking of "tinpot" Charlton, the internet forum threads about Wembley and how they will thrash us to get there, just grate with me.

I cannot help wanting them to eat humble pie at some point. Some may say what better way than against United. Not me. Let them get a big crowd versus Charlton, all dreaming of a match at the Lane and beyond. Then let them lose. 1-0 will do. A flukey goal on a bog of a pitch. And then let us have a good competitive game with Charlton at the Lane.

Whilst I agree that Sheffield football is in need of a boost, particularly in terms of profile. If there is an exclusive 6th Round party to be had, then I want us to be the only local invitees.

It is a bit like when you went to a teenage house party and you are knocking back the Thunderbird trying to chat up the girl/boy from another school. All of a sudden your loud, boorish older brother comes barging in and bangs on, bragging about what a catch he is, how special he is, slobbering over the other guests, embarrassing you. In doing so, he blows your chances as well. "Yes he's related. No, you are right you can't choose your family". This is our party, gatecrashing older brothers are not welcome.

Five thoughts on why 90 points wasn't enough

Any Blades fans would have taken a 90 point return at the start of the season, it has only failed to deliver promotion once before. Sadly, someone had to join Sunderland in this depressing, but exclusive club at some point.

I know the obvious answer to why 90 points wasn’t enough is that Wednesday got 93 points and finished second, but it is worth looking at a remarkable season for Sheffield football and five factors that I think led to late failure of the Blades’ automatic push and ultimately Wednesday’s success.

Some people may disagree. If you do, why not add your thoughts in the comments below....

A crazy 45 minutes on a Saturday afternoon in March

United have scored 92 goals this season, a phenomenal scoring record. Much is made of Ched Evans' contribution but with 13 goals for Lee Williamson, 9 goals from Richard Cresswell, defenders contributing a further 9 it shows that goals have been delivered from across the team. This willingness to get at the opposition, whilst exciting to watch, has left United open at the back at times. Whilst for much of the season the back four has been impressively solid, the concession of a goal has often led to edgy and nervous performances of which there had been no sign up until the goal.

With a relatively inexperienced and not too vocal defence, in front of a keeper who struggles to command his area, mistakes were always likely and have at times proved costly. It would be easy to point to the home match against Wednesday, the home game against Exeter - where United came from 2 down to lead 3-2 and then 4-3 with five minutes to go, before eventually drawing 4-4. However, the events of Saturday 3rd March against Oldham Athletic, in particular those events between 4pm and 5pm, are a key reason as to why United finished 3rd.

Going into the match United were in 2^nd place, 5 points clear of Wednesday with a game in hand and 45 minutes in all looked rosy. 2-0 up at half time and relatively comfortable, United had managed to cope with disruption to a back four that was starting to settle into being a compact unit. Neil Collins was missing his first game for personal reasons and so Andy Taylor made a return from long term injury at left back, as usual incumbent Lecsinel Jean-Francois shuffled into the middle. Then, late in the half, Jean-Francois was stretchered off after a collision and Johnny Ertl came on at centre back.

The second half opened nervously, although United continued to create openings. Then a crazy five minutes found United down to 10 men and pegged back to 2-2. An Oldham corner led to Cresswell putting through his own net. As Lowton took the ball back for the kick off, the antagonistic Chris Taylor tried to hurry him along and a confrontation led to yellow cards for both players. Shortly afterwards Lowton lunged for a loose ball on the edge of the Oldham penalty area and picked up another yellow, which was followed by the red. Oldham equalised within a couple of minutes and then with the game heading to a draw, two minutes into added on time, Harry Maguire brought down Reuben Reid in the box. A red card was issued and Kuqi dispatched the penalty for a 3-2 win for the Latics.

The following Tuesday at Walsall United showed they had little problem scoring, but a makeshift defence - now without any of the first choice back four and containing two loanee debutants – was troubled. Twice United came from behind, before succumbing 3-2 to a team that only escaped relegation late in the season. Although United still had a game in hand, the gap was down to one point and the pressure was on.

The sacking of Gary Megson

Oh how we laughed as the news of Megson's sacking filtered out in the aftermath of the Blades' derby day defeat at Hillsborough. Mouthpiece of a Wednesday PR machine that, like those spam emails you receive, was focused on claims of size rather than actual performance; Megson epitomised all that United fans disliked about the club across the city. The fact his departure came on the back of beating the Blades seemed all the more laughable to many outside of the city, but the fact remained that the latter part of his tenure was strained and his public bleatings and inability to recognise his failings were increasingly resembling the rambling of his arch-nemesis Neil Warnock.

As Wednesday fans called the local radio stations in shock and disappointment, Unitedites revelled in their torment. Then Dave Jones emerged as the favourite for the Hillsborough hot-seat and feelings changed, both of Wednesday fans, quick to forget their upset and anger, and of Blades fans recognising the relative quality of Megson’s replacement. In Jones, Wednesday were appointing a well-respected manager, one I would have had no problem being appointed at Bramall Lane in the right circumstances. His first few games saw tweaks to the way Wednesday played and a successful start with the apparent impetus that a new manager brings. What could never be envisaged was the length of run that his team went on.

From the victory over Scunthorpe, which coincided with the announcement of Megson's sacking United's record was P15 W8 D4 L3, a reasonable return of just under two points per game. Two of those defeats coming in the aforementioned games against Oldham and Walsall.

Since Jones was appointed Wednesday have P12 W10 D2 L0; a phenomenal record that no team has matched in League One all season. United have been good, although form has slipped in the final push, Wednesday's record will rarely be repeated. The team may be largely made by Megson, but I struggle to believe that he would have dragged this level of performance out of them, even on the back of a derby victory.

I am not suggesting that United should have followed Wednesday’s lead. I would never have envisaged calling for Danny Wilson’s head at any point this season, even when we have wobbled. I won’t be doing it if we miss out in the play-offs over the next couple of weeks. But Mandaric recognised that things were not quite what they needed to be at Hillsborough and he made a massive call. I don’t think he ever anticipated how successful it would be.

Use of the loan market

Wednesday used the loan market well; out of a necessity to fill gaps in the starting eleven, rather than strengthening the squad. The goals and supply line provided by first Ben Marshall and then Michail Antonio and Keith Treacy have been a key factor in Wednesday, both maintaining a Top 6 place up to the turn of the year and propelling their subsequent push for promotion. The further addition of Nile Ranger, whilst a wildcard in more ways than one, gave Wednesday further top level experience amongst League 1 specialists Lowe, O'Grady and Madine.

With United maintaining a position in the Top 3 for most of the season, there has been little need to pep up the team with loans. You would question the need to bring players in if all they are going to do is sit on the bench. Very few clubs and players will agree to such a move if that was likely to be the case anyway. Where United failed, was to adequately replace midfield lynchpin Kevin McDonald when injury kept him out for 7 games from the Hillsborough derby match in February.


United won just two of those games and picked up 8 points, as the uncertainty over the length of McDonald’s absence passed from one week to the next. Lee Williamson failed to adequately fill his boots and we don’t know if Danny Wilson’s reticence in the loan market was due to financial restrictions, lack of suitable candidates or an unerring belief in the players he had. I suspect that the reality is a combination of the first two factors.

Many point to the failure to replace Ched Evans, yet it can be argued that United made contingency plans there. The much derided Chris Porter had started the season in the first eleven and contributed to United's strong start. Also within the squad, Danny Wilson could call upon the experience, but limited fitness, of James Beattie. For further back up Wilson signed the flawed, but talented, Will Hoskins on loan from Brighton and coming off the bench to score on debut was quite an introduction. He also borrowed young Bolton and Scotland U-21 forward Michael O'Halloran, although there appears to be confusion about where is his best position down the middle or out wide. Either way, he is a player who will need a lot of coaching if he is ever to make it in the professional game.

Some have suggested United needed better cover and maybe if we hadn’t signed Beattie to largely gain fitness and warm the bench, then that might have given us more room for financial manoeuvre. The over-riding feeling remains that the signing of Beattie was a board signing to boost the fans and not a Wilson signing. Whatever it was, history will show that it didn’t pay off. However, at the time, this should have been adequate cover.

The jailing of Ched Evans

My views on the Ched Evans situation are published here. What is clear though is that it isn't purely the on pitch absence of Evans that led to United’s downturn in form over the last three league games. Accusations of United being a one man team were made all season; ignoring the goals that came from elsewhere and the strong start to the season made in the absence of the injured Evans.

As much as his on-field threat was sorely missed, it was the impact on the team spirit that stood out. The performance at MK, just 24 hours after Evans was sent down, was clearly affected by the court's decision. Let's not forget the players had seen a friend and teammate sent to prison, some may well support his case. Mentally detaching yourself from this would be hard, especially so close to a game.

I've read comments which have said that Danny Wilson should have been on top of this, that he should have got the players prepared and motivated. I am not sure what part of the managerial handbook best advises you on dealing with such a situation. I certainly find it hard to blame the manager.

The other reason United felt the absence of Evans more strongly was a catalogue of events that led to all good contingency plans going to waste. United’s other key striker Richard Cresswell, so often the selfless and tireless runner creating space and opportunity for others, was injured and has then played on with three injuries. Will Hoskins, having had limited run-outs before suffering a virus, then lasted a half at MK Dons until it was subsequently discovered that he needed a hernia operation and that was the end of his season.

When you consider that left United’s hopes pinned on players who Wilson seemed reluctant to give game time to, even when adequate opportunity presented itself during the season, it didn’t bode well. This meant that Beattie, O’Halloran and Porter lacked the match sharpness to take the opportunities that presented themselves at MK, at home to Stevenage and at Exeter. Beattie’s subsequent, reckless red card at Exeter leaving a further hole in the Blades attacking options for the play offs.

Form against the Top 6

	Won	Draw	Lost	Pts	GD
Charlton	6	2	2	20	+7
Stevenage	5	2	3	17	+5
Huddersfield	3	4	3	13	0
Wednesday	3	4	3	13	-1
MK Dons	2	4	4	10	-4
United	2	2	6	8	-7

To truly succeed in this division you have to take points off those strong sides around you. United’s goal haul and points haul largely claim from teams who were not challenging for promotion; although 15 points were taken from a possible 18 against Brentford, Carlisle and Notts County who were challenging Stevenage for the final play off place.

If you consider the two points dropped in the final ten minutes against Wednesday at Bramall Lane, that three point swing could be viewed as vital. But defensive mistakes gifted Charlton two goals in an otherwise tight game at Bramall Lane, two deflected goals gave Stevenage a lead before United came back for a draw. Despite the lack of points very few of the top six teams comprehensively out-played United. In fact, the best side seen at Bramall Lane this season was probably MK Dons, who provided one of United’s two victories.

However, complaints of bad luck cannot mask the fact that in head to head games against the top 6 United were by far the worst performing team. A goal difference of -7 for such a high scoring team, highlighting a difficulty in breaking down their near rivals’ defences and a difficulty in containing the better forward lines and attacking midfielders. Whether bad luck on the day or tactical inadequacies, these matches have proved costly.   

This leaves United in the Play-Offs, facing a Stevenage side that have taken four points off the Blades this season and have the second best record against fellow top 6 sides. It doesn’t bode well, but then the play offs more often than not don’t reflect the results during the season. Sadly for United, they cannot be viewed as being in the best of form either, often another factor used to assess play off potential. Now is the time when Danny Wilson can really earn his salary, in challenging circumstances. Let’s hope he has more luck than he did at Swindon.