Bitter, twisted, childish, jealous

Any more superlatives to describe Nick Townsend's article in today's 'Independant' - see below

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Driving home from Old Trafford and listening to Chelsea fall to Barnsley in the FA Cup quarter- finals, accompanied by what one suspected was unsuppressed joy throughout the land, for some reason Michael Caine's exclamation in The Italian Job came to mind: "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off". His immortal line could be adapted for the upstarts remaining in this year's tournament: "You're only supposed to produce the odd shock, not blow the damned thing apart."


They have obviously forgotten that the idea is the plucky no-hopers rise above themselves in rounds three to six but, at the end of it all, two of the Big Four cartel face each other. Or, perhaps more enticingly, Liverpool face the likes of Tottenham or West Ham, as they did in that compelling final two years ago.

Instead the nation will awaken on 17 May to the prospect of, maybe, Barnsley against West Bromwich Albion, and will feel worthy and good about itself – a bit like when you put your recycl-ing bins out – for a few seconds because the unheralded have prevailed. And you would be right to feel pleasure for them, even though by then you would have had to plough through all the inevitable, patronising guff about the People's Final (how long before someone deems it thus?).

But then it will be back to reality, and you'll be thinking: "Now, what about those repairs I promised to do?" Because outside certain areas of South Yorkshire and the Midlands, nobody will really give a damn. Sorry, but whether Brian Howard can do it for Barnsley will not have been the stuff of ***-break chatter. For the FA Cup final to be taken seriously, it requires, at its business end, some seriously charismatic performers.

Now I'm an old FA Cup romantic. Used to love it. In a previous incarnation, I set out on the ultimate tour, starting off not even with minnows but with tadpoles, and ending up with Manchester United v Everton as it transpired. Indifferent final destination, fascinating journey.But that was then.

That was before Manchester United ducked out, having been inveigled into participating in a world club tournament, and the financial imperatives of the Champions' League and Premier League lanced the old Cup's soul to the core. It is no good pretending that what remains truly engages us as it once did. Significantly, I write this in the same week that it is confirmed that the Big Four comprise 50 per cent of the Champions' League quarter-finalists. Could it be any coincidence that they have all taken premature leave of this year's competition, with the date of 21 May and Moscow yielding rather more fascination than that of Wembley fourdays earlier?

In contrast, Portsmouth have only the opportunity of a Uefa Cup place. Cardiff and Barnsley don't have anything to play for in the League except counter the outside threat of relegation – and they are only in that position because they have been sidetracked. And then there is West Bromwich Albion, who around the turn of the year appeared destined for promotion. Now there is only one certainty: if the Baggies fail to reach the Premier League, Tony Mowbray won't be thanked for allowing his team to take this tangential journey.

No doubt many will delight in a bunch of teams who normally do not engage public debate progressing to the semi-finals at Wembley, with two set to return. There will be constant reruns of Barnsley beating Liverpool and Chelsea, and the pitch invasion at Oakwell; the kind of excess which we thought had disappeared around the time of Dickie Bird's last dismissal. And, no doubt, the Barnsley man himself will talk endlessly about the proudest day of his life.

Yet, come next season, don't fool yourself that every team will have been galvanised by the feats of this quartet. There will still be other priorities, be they glory or survival. Some contend that this year's FA Cup has restored the romance of the tournament. For others of us, it's a love affair that has been over for years

 

Does he write that sh*te for a living?</p>

Jeeeeez....</p>

 

take it his big team has been knocked out then, whoever they are nt

 

He really doesn't get football

What we did to Chelsea was celebrated by the majority of football fans accross the country, who are sick of 'The big four' winning everything.

I guess this idiot is part of the big four fan club.

A very poor piece of journalism.

 

Every football fan I know thinks the Cup is great this season, that includes supporters of the "big four".....I was reading an article in When Saturday Comes this morning, issue from Feb I think....and a comment from a Reading player about them putting out a weakened team because "We've no chance of competing for it anyway".....Hmmm - I wonder how those clubs feel now!

 

Would only be the people`s final if all 90,000 tickets went to fans of both finalists. This will never happen at Wembley.

 

There speaks "corporate" football

He's so far up his own financial arse he's no idea what makes football fans turn up on a wet windy night in January!

 

Funny how the top 4 teams both put out near full strength teams when they got knocked out. What a pillock, but we don't care. Just remember it's us going to Wembley and not them.

 

wellsie did u forget to mention bearnsley had a 3 players out of liverpool game and 4 out of chelsea either cup tied or injured

 

Notice he skips back to Liverpool v West Ham and no mention of last years eagerly awaited Chelsea v Man Utd final which could have killed the game of football altogether never mind the FA cup.

 

Obviously not interview Chatterbox

Brian Howard then. Otherwise he'd know that charisma doesnt equal premiership mardy bum a la Ronaldo