The Premier League and Chelsea WIN!

Last night saw a spectacular match involving Chelsea and Manchester United, with Champions Chelsea coming from behind to triumph 2-1, thanks to goals from David Luiz and Frank Lampard.



The whole country cast an eye over last nights match at Stamford Bridge, but what about the FA Cup?

It was an enthralling game that had everything; goals, saves, a red card given that should have been, a red card not given that should have been, a penalty given that shouldn’t have been and a penalty not given that should have been. Oh, and Ryan Giggs equalled Bobby Charlton’s record of 606 league appearances for Manchester United.

We had rhetoric after the game about how this was “the best league in the world”, how David Luiz’s performance, however flawed or rough around the edges, made him one of the “best central defenders in the world”, hell, I even started thinking I was one of the best fans in the world just for watching the game. It was awe-inspiring….!

Up in Merseyside however, in front of a reasonable crowd admittedly of 29,976, Everton crashed out of the FA Cup to Championship side Reading.

A game with few chances or controversy, seemingly, it was more a case of an insipid display by the home side that gave the away side a chance, which they took. Reading go on to play either Manchester City or Aston Villa, a 5^th round tie that will finally be played tonight, on the same night as a 5^th round replay.

The FA Cup’s schedule has been all over the show this season, with 4^th round games being played on the same day the 5^th round commenced, and as with City and Villa a 5^th game being played on the same day as a 5^th round replay. Sure weather ravaged the schedule earlier on in the 3^rd round in particular, but it also underlines what a low priority the FA Cup now has in English Football’s agenda.

Little over 5000 people saw the 3rd round tie between Wigan and Hull this year

The Premier League runs elite English football. That was something that was discussed at length after the World Cup in 2010. However,  not only is the international team struggling in English football’s modern landscape, but our proudest cup competition, the FA Cup is also perishing, being badly attended and virtually forgotten about by clubs, TV producers and newspapers alike.

So what’s the reason for it? Well I believe Sky have a part to play here. They own the lion’s share of England’s domestic football viewing market, and they largely set the agenda. Remember also that the same company that part-owns Sky, News Corporation, also owns the Sun, Times and News of the World Newspapers. As a result, not only are News Corp part responsible for the broadcasting of almost all the live action from the Premier League, they can also wax lyrical about how great or otherwise it was in their papers the next day.

It’s the perfect media partner for the Premier League. Sky pay colossal sums of money to get the viewing rights of Premier League matches, which the Premier League can then pass on to their clubs to keep improving their standards, by pumping more and more money into the transfer market to buy new players.

It’s a two way relationship, because Sky, and equally News Corp can then sell their coverage to their millions of Sky subscribers, and sell further coverage in their newspapers to boot. Football seems such a vast and complex business, but when you break it down it’s really all about Sky and the Premier League.

So what can be done to save the FA Cup, and does it actually need saving?

What I would propose is to introduce Seedings to the competition, so that once the 3^rd round is drawn; you automatically get Premier League teams against minnows. I think this would heighten interest across all games and should lead to higher attendances then the 7000 at Wigan v Bolton for example. It would also give the Premier League clubs the incentive that they could get quite far in the competition, providing they avoid any slip ups.

Secondly, I would award the 4^th Champions League place to the FA Cup winners. I don’t disagree with 4^th place in the League getting into the Champions League per se, but it would definitely provide much more gravitas to the FA Cup, if its victor would qualify for Europe’s elite competition. It would also mean teams throughout the leagues in English football could potentially qualify for Champions League action, and what’s wrong with that? They would be, after all, a champion of a competition.

But perhaps the answer is simpler. Perhaps Sky should take on the broadcasting of the FA Cup? I know the competition is considered Heritage in England, but so were the home Cricket test matches, and they have since gone to Sky and the success of the English Cricket team of late should show you that for all the hyperbole that accompanies their coverage, Sky do get games and competitions talked about – it’s not so much that the FA Cup is dull, it’s just that everyone forgets it’s on until the semi-finals.