The 3rd Round of the FA Cup got underway yesterday and despite the fact that the competition has been devalued in recent years, the number of cup shocks were at an all-time low. I watched the Reading vs Liverpool game live and thought that Reading did really well and could have been 2-0 or even 3-0 ahead by the time that Liverpool scored.
Two things were evident in that game, firstly was in how important the FA Cup is now for Liverpool after going out of the Champions League. Secondly is in how disjointed Liverpool look at the back and despite the “guarantees” that Rafa made about a top four finish, that looks far from certain the way that Liverpool are playing.
With Man City making it three wins out of three for new boss Roberto Mancini yesterday, they look the biggest threat to Liverpool. But even Newcastle United selected a below par side yesterday as getting promoted is by far their biggest ambition.
The FA this season has cut the prize money for success in each round of the competition so that is hardly going to help the case when it comes to clubs devaluing the competition.
The winners now only stand to make £1.8 million compared to the £2 million last year. Some of the attendances were very low yesterday, a combination of post Christmas, a recession and bad weather may have had a lot to do with it but I wonder how much of the FA Cup lethargy with regards to the top clubs is now starting to knock on to the fans?
Wigan vs Hull City may not be a glamorous Premier League fixture but they met in the FA Cup yesterday and only 5,335 people turned up and only 12,474 watched Middlesborough host high flying Manchester City.
I will be keenly watching the games today and Manchester United vs Leeds United will drag up memories of old but I expect nothing but a home win for the Reds.
See you soon
Carl
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