The magic of the Cup: five words that are frequently used in discussions of the oldest competition in world football, a tournament that began in 1871 and continues to this day.
The FA Cup is one of the English game’s biggest and most romantic traditions, but since the turn of the century it has been easy to question whether its allure has been lost.
The final at Wembley Stadium in May used to be considered the foremost day in the country's football calendar, but now the Premier League and Uefa Champions League are widely seen as more important, not just by players and clubs, but by fans too.
Television has had a role to play in that shift. The FA Cup final used to be only game broadcast live in the entire year, which inevitably focused people’s interest on the competition.
These days, though, several Premier League games can be watched by fans on a weekly basis, not to mention multiple matches from right across the continent.
The FA Cup final has gone from being an exceptional event to just another match that can be viewed from the comfort of one’s armchair.
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There is also a sense that the big clubs no longer hold the tournament in such high esteem.
Finishing in the top four is usually these sides’ primary objective, with the riches on offer in the Champions League seen as the more attractive proposition.
Giant-killings have always been the most appealing element of the FA Cup.
With entry open – at various stages – to every single club in England, there have been numerous instances of relative minnows defeating mighty and illustrious top-tier opposition down the years.
In recent times, however, many top sides have taken to fielding weakened teams in the Cup, which somewhat takes the shine off any subsequent shocks.
Manchester United even withdrew from the competition altogether in 2000, as it clashed with the inaugural Fifa Club World Championship in Brazil.
Yet despite this gradual realignment of priorities, English football’s major outfits have dominated the FA Cup since the early 1990s.
Only two of the last 20 finals have been won by teams other than Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, with Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth scooping the prize in 2008 and Roberto Martinez’s Wigan Athletic triumphing in 2013.
Before that, Everton defeated Manchester United in the 1995 showpiece, but Arsenal, Liverpool and United shared the four previous trophies between them.
This apparent contradiction is likely a result of the recent concentration of wealth in the hands of a few clubs at the top of English football’s tree.
While the likes of United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have made the Premier League and Champions League their chief targets, they have possessed strong enough squads to rotate the team in the early rounds of the FA Cup and still emerge as winners.
Perhaps things will be different this time around.
2015/16 has been one of the most open and unpredictable Premier League seasons in a long while, with the Premier League lacking an outstanding team and some of the traditionally smaller sides strengthening significantly in the summer.
West Ham United signed Dimitri Payet, Crystal Palace acquired Yohan Cabaye, Stoke City captured Xherdan Shaqiri and Swansea City bought Andre Ayew. Such deals would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, yet this term they were simply part of a wider process that saw many of the division’s lesser lights build squads with fantastic talent and depth.
This increased competitiveness in the top flight should also be replicated in the FA Cup.
Teams such as Leicester City, West Ham, Palace, Stoke, Watford, Southampton and Everton are all capable of beating anyone in the country on their day, and with a kind draw and good fortune with injuries there is no reason why any of the above cannot go all the way.
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Poor league form will hinder Newcastle’s effort at FA Cup once again
Newcastle United fans have not been a particularly happy bunch over the last decade.
Owner Mike Ashley has been an extremely unpopular figure ever since his takeover of the club in 2007, with supporters holding numerous protests and boycotts down the years to try to force the billionaire to sell up.
Their grievances have been manifold, from transfer policy to managerial appointments to the shunning of the local press.
The blatant disregard shown for the cup competitions has perhaps been Newcastle followers’ principal complaint, though.
Under Ashley’s regime, the six-time FA Cup winners have repeatedly refused to take the tournament seriously, with the club’s hierarchy considering progression into the latter rounds to be too much of a risk to the ultimate goal of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
In the eight full seasons of Ashley’s ownership, Newcastle’s record in the FA Cup reads: third round (the stage at which all sides from the top two divisions enter), third round, third round, fourth round, third round, fourth round, third round, fourth round.
After a dismal 2015 in which the club won only eight of 41 games in all competitions, frustration with Ashley’s approach is close to an all-time high.
A cup run – Newcastle travel to Vicarage Road to play fellow top flight side Watford on Saturday – would certainly act as a public relations boost and satisfy fans’ demands for the tournament to be taken seriously.
The problem this season, however, is that extended participation could genuinely harm Steve McClaren’s side’s chances of staying up.
Unlike in many previous campaigns, Newcastle find themselves mired in relegation trouble at the halfway stage and have been tipped by many to fall through the trapdoor this term.
The club is thus faced with something of a dilemma: advancing to the quarter or semi-finals would alleviate some of the supporters’ anger, but this time Ashley’s concerns about the consequences that could have on Newcastle’s league form are justified.
FA CUP FIXTURES (All times UAE)
Friday
Exeter City v Liverpool, 11.55pm
Saturday (6pm unless otherwise stated)
Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa, 4.45pm
Arsenal v Sunderland, Birmingham City v Bournemouth, Brentford v Walsall, Bury v Bradford City, Colchester United v Charlton Athletic, Doncaster Rovers v Stoke City, Eastleigh v Bolton Wanderers, Everton v Dagenham and Redbridge, Hartlepool United v Derby County, Huddersfield Town v Reading, Hull City v Brighton and Hove Albion, Ipswich Town v Portsmouth, Leeds United v Rotherham United, Middlesbrough v Burnley, Newport County v Blackburn Rovers, Northampton Town v Milton Keynes Dons, Norwich City v Manchester City, Nottingham Forest v Queens Park Rangers, Peterborough United v Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Southampton v Crystal Palace, Watford v Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City, West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester United v Sheffield United, 9.30pm
Sunday
Cardiff City v Shrewsbury Town, 10pm
Carlisle United v Yeovil Town, 6pm
Chelsea v Scunthorpe United, 6pm
Oxford United v Swansea City, 4pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City, 8pm
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