FA Cup Fifth Round Recap with Quarter Final Draw · Feb 18, 07:39 PM

The FA Cup saw one huge tie this weekend that would be a fitting finale for any domestic cup competition. Manchester United played Arsenal in the only all Barclays Premier League tie of the weekend. The Rest were made of of BPL teams with clubs from the lower divisions.

The results are as follows:

The marquee tie of the round featuring Manchester United and Liverpool saw the team from Manchester coming away with a terrific and somewhat surprising result. It could also tip the psychological factor in Manchester United’s favour with the run-in for the Barclays Premier League title hotting up.

The eleven men of Barnsley went to Anfield and fought for every blade of grass, every ball and were thoroughly deserving of their last minute victory. The pressure is now mounting on Liverpool’s manager Rafa Benitez, who needs to get some positive results out of their next few fixtures or face the consequences. Not finishing fourth this season in the Barclays Premier League could spell the end of Rafa’s reign at Anfield and usher in a new period for the scousers.

The Quarter Final Draw is as follows:

Apart from Alex Ferguson complaining that Man Utd have drawn another Premier League club (I’m sorry Alex, can you show me the unwritten rule where Manchester United have to get the easy games?), it’s an interesting draw. It could well be the year of the underdog, or it could easily be a predictable Chelsea vs Manchester yawnfest final.

— GeordieInExile

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FA Cup Fourth Round Recap · Jan 27, 05:52 PM

On a day when a non-league side lead twice against a Barclays Premier League team and balloons helped Sheffield United beat Manchester City, the FA Cup Fourth round drew few surprises.

There were only two major upsets as Sheffield Utd defeated Manchester City, and Preston beat Premier League strugglers Derby County.

The full list of results can be seen below:

The fifth round draw is made on Monday the 28th.

— GeordieInExile

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FA Cup Third Round Recap · Jan 7, 07:32 PM

The FA Cup is the most well respected and famous domestic soccer cup tournament worldwide. This past weekend showed us why.

No fewer than six Barclays Premier League sides are out of the competition at the first hurdle. Three of those to lower league sides. Creditable mentions go to Stoke, Luton Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield who all managed either a draw or a victory against much more esteemed opposition. Absolute credit goes to Havant & Waterlooville, Coventry (who got the upset of the weekend by beating Blackburn at Ewood Park) and Oldham (who beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park).

A dishonorable mention goes to Liverpool FC who, after being asked to do so by Luton Town, refused to donate their allocation of money to the bankrupt League One side. Luton’s players, manager and backroom staff haven’t been paid since October. Liverpool, I hope you get everything you deserve from this season – absolutely nothing.

Full FA Cup third-round results.

Soccer is a game of chances and percentages. If you take your chances, the majority of the time you will come out on top. In a knockout cup competition, the team who puts their chances away will be victorious – whether it be a team of part-timers made up of plumbers, electricians and window cleaners, or a Barclays Premier League side player who makes more in a week than I do in a year.

I tell you what though, with the fourth round draw for the FA Cup being made this morning, more Premier League sides will get knocked out leaving room for the lower league sides to progress. At the end of the day, when the players run out onto a soccer field, it’s 11 men against 11 men, and there is no greater leveller than that.

— GeordieInExile

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