FA Cup

[kev316]

3rd Round Draw:

Wimbledon v Stoke

Cardiff City v Sheffield United

Wycombe or Mansfield v Burnley

Crewe v Telford United

Bristol City or Barnsley v Shorpe or Sheffield Wednesday

Portsmouth v Blackpool

Northampton Town v Rotherham United

Fulham v Cheltenham Town

Manchester City v Leicester City

Southampton v Newcastle United

Yeovil Town v Liverpool

Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers

Nottingham Forest v West Brom

Watford v Chelsea

Kidderminster v Wolves

Gillingham v Charlton

Swansea v Macclesfield or Cambridge

Leeds v Arsenal

Tottenham v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Manchester United

Southend United v Port Vale or Scarborough

Sunderland v Hartlepool

Tranmere Rovers v Bolton

Preston North End v Reading

Wigan v West Ham

Middlesbrough v Notts County

Ipswich Town v Derby County

Coventry City v Peterborough

Everton v Norwich City

Bournemouth or Accrington v Colchester

Bradford City v Luton Town

Millwall v Walsall


Ties to be played weekend of 3/4 January, 2004

[glamour-gal]

thanx for posting!!

[muffins]

There some good ties in that draw. Leeds v Arsenal will be interesting and Southampton v Newcastle. Yeovil v Liverpool has all the ingredients for a cup upset. A 3rd division club, just promoted from the Conference playing at home to a huge Premiership name, Liverpool. In all fairness, Liverpool should win but this is the FA Cup where nothing goes like it's supposed to hehe! Cardiff are at home to Sheffield United. Both teams are in Division 1 and doing relatively well. The last time they played was a few weeks ago at Sheffield United with them winning 5-3, all goals coming in the second half! Hopefully Cardiff can win this one but their manager, Lennie Lawrence, has said that the FA Cup isn't his priority. Cardiff have just been promoted to Division 1, the highest they've been for many years, and they want to stay there. However, if by some miracle, Cardiff made it to the final it would be such a great atmosphere with the final being played in Cardiff. I seriously don't think Cardiff will get to the final but it would be fun!

[glamour-gal]

i'm really looking forward to seeing leeds vs arsenal and everton vs norwhich city!!

[muffins]

Why is Everton v Norwich so interesting for you? Do you sense a cup upset? Or do like one of the teams?

[kev316]

Villa vs Man Utd is another big one.

[glamour-gal]

Originally posted by muffins
Why is Everton v Norwich so interesting for you? Do you sense a cup upset? Or do like one of the teams?


as i already told you, a friend of mine is a huuuge everton fan, so i have to be for everton as well!!! :)
...lol.. that's why.....

[muffins]

Oh right. Does that mean you don't like Liverpool then? ;) Hehe. Sorry, I either didn't read that bit about your friend or I forgot. So, anyone got any FA Cup predictions?

[glamour-gal]

NO! don't like liverpool!! :)

[muffins]

I don't have any problem with Everton.

Anyway, in an FA Cup second round replay Shorpe progress at the expense on Sheffield United. They won 3-1 on penalties.

[glamour-gal]

:D
well, don't get me wrong, i'm not the super-huge fan of everton and really no liverpool hater.....:)

[muffins]

Michael Owen should be fit for this weekend's FA Cup tie with Yeovil. He will probably start on the bench. Yay! I really hope he can stay fit.

[kev316]

^ They need him back ASAP. Do you think Houllier will keep his job at the end of the season?

[muffins]

Depends how the rest of the season goes. I don't think Liverpool have ever sacked a manager. There must be a big chance Houllier could be the first.

[Dreamer7]

He probably won't be sacked but asked to resign or replace that Phil Thomson?

[muffins]

Well, Liverpool have won a few matches now so things are a bit quiet on the Liverpool and sacking Houllier front, until something goes wrong lol!

Here's the FA Cup fourth round draw:
Scarborough v Chelsea
Portsmouth v Shorpe Utd
Swansea City v Preston
Telford v Millwall
Arsenal v Middlesbrough
Birmingham v Wimbledon
Burnley v Gillingham
Coventry City v Colchester
Ipswich Town v Sunderland
Luton Town v Tranmere
Liverpool v Newcastle
Man City v Tottenham
Wolves v West Ham Utd
Nottm Forest v Sheff Utd
Everton v Fulham
Northampton v Man Utd


Hmmm, some giant-killing opportunities in there and Northampton must be rubbing their hands together for their tie against Manchester United! Tie of the round has to be Liverpool v Newcastle though. I'm a bit disappointed as I wanted that to be the final lol!

[muffins]

In the FA Cup fourth round replay between Tottenham and Manchester City a thriller was played out. Tottenham went 3-0 up before half-time and just as the referee blew the whistle for half-time a Manchester City was sent off. The second half was absolutely brilliant and City scored 4 goals to win 4-3 and could be the greatest come-back of all time! It sure was a great match!

[kev316]

Yeah, it was a great game. Also Fulham beat Everton 2-1 in extra time.

[Dreamer7]

2 seasons back Manchester United beat Spurs 5-3 after going 0-3 down. Now the two Manchesters will face each other.

[muffins]

I didn't see the Manchester United Tottenham game a few season back but I remember everyone talking about it. I think this Manchester City one just eclipses it because they haven't won in the Premiership for ages so confidence must be really low and they were a man down. I remember when Tranmere played Southampton in the FA Cup a few years ago and were 3-0 down and came back to win 4-3 but I think they were home and didn't have anyone sent off.

[muffins]

Here are today's FA Cup fifth round results:

Sunderland 1 - 1 Birmingham


Fulham 0 - 0 West Ham Utd


Millwall 1 - 0 Burnley


Tranmere 2 - 1 Swansea City


Man Utd 4 - 2 Man City

[Dreamer7]

Arsenal won, guess everyone got it right. I wonder what the Chelsea boss was thinking, his tactics were bad, it cost them.

[muffins]

What a great goal by Reyes though! Amazing. It had my dad screaming and jumping around the place hehe. Liverpool went up early against Portsmouth through clinical finishing from Michael Owen but with 10 minutes to go Portsmouth equalised. I'm biased but I thought Liverpool needed to win but it goes to a replay.

[kev316]

FA CUP DRAW
Quarter-finals:

MILLWALL v TRANMERE



MAN UTD v FULHAM/WEST HAM



SUN'LAND/B'HAM v SHEFF UTD



L'POOL/P'MOUTH v ARSENAL

[muffins]

I'm not liking the way these draws are going hehe. If(and that's IF) Liverpool beat Portsmouth they'll play Arsenal and I wanted that to be the final.

[Dreamer7]

Hehe, this time a little tough on Arsenal though. After Chelsea, now Liverpool, who knows the next will be Man Utd or Liverpool might even win.

[muffins]

LOL. My dad(an Arsenal fan)doesn't think that if they play Liverpool they'll win if they don't have Henry. Oh, and I think if Arsenal reach the final this year it will be their fourth consecutive FA Cup final which would be a record!

[muffins]

Liverpool lost. AGAIN! And to top it all, Owen missed a penalty. *sobs* Oh well. I hope Arsenal win the whole thing and get their record. I may just be saying this in post-match anger, but I'm starting to lose my patience with Houllier.

[Dreamer7]

I think many Liverpool fans think likewise as you, muffins, enough is enough with Houllier.

[muffins]

A lot of Liverpool fans have been complaining for a while but I like Houllier and I didn't want to jump on the get the manager out of here bandwagon but my dad(who I trust fully on footballing matters)said where he played Heskey on Sunday was totally wrong and that he's lost the plot. I think Owen will be gone soon. :(

Oh, and in the replay Fulham whooped West Ham 3-0, all 3 goals being scored in the last 20 minutes. Fulham now go to Old Trafford. I don't think they'll be able to beat them like they did in the league.

[muffins]

I was right, Manchester United beat Fulham 2-1. Then Arsenal gave a masterclass in how to play football the beautiful way! The passing was exquisite at times and they thumped Portsmouth 5-1. It has to be said, the Portsmouth fans were fantastic and were sing the manager's name when they were 5-0 down. Even Thierry Henry commented on how good they were. I wonder if Manchester United and Arsenal will draw each other in the semis.

[muffins]

First division Millwall drew 0-0 with second division Tranmere so it goes to a replay. Sunderland beat Sheffield United 1-0. The draw will be made tomorrow and if Sunderland draw Millwall/Tranmere then there will be a non-Premiership side in the final. However, if Manchester United and Arsenal avoid each other then there's a good chance they could meet in the final. Exciting stuff!

[muffins]

Hehe! Here's the semi-final draw!

To be played at Villa Park:
Arsenal v Manchester United

To be played at Old Trafford:
Sunderland v Tranmere/Millwall

This guarantees that there will be a non- Premiership(top division) side in the final for this first time since 1992!

These ties will be played on the 4th of April.

[muffins]

Change of plan, the Arsenla v Manchester United game will be played on the Saturday April 3rd.

[Dreamer7]

This is probably the only hope for Man Utd to win something.

[muffins]

I think they've got a good chance, I think it's a close call. Does anyone remember that semi-final of the FA Cup in 1999 where Giggs scored that awesome goal?

[muffins]

Millwall will play Sunderland in the FA Cup semi-finals as they beat Tranmere 2-1.

[muffins]

Arsenal's treble dreams are ended as Manchester United beat them 1-0. I didn't see it as I'm not at home right now but I rang my dad(Arsenal fan)for a match report and he said that Manchester United played well in the second half but the Gooners should have had a penalty as there was a 'blatant' hand ball. I'll have to try and see this for myself.

[muffins]

It will be a Manchester United v Millwall final as Millwall beat Sunderland 1-0. I thought Sunderland would be in the final but I was proved wrong. I have to be honest, this is not the final I wanted at the beginning of the tournament nor at the semi-final stages of it but oh well. Good to see a non-Premiership side in there. I just hope there isn't any trouble and that Manchester United don't whoop them.

[Dreamer7]

I somehow knew Arsenal was gonna to lose that match. Now Man Utd is 99.9% sure of getting the FA Cup. :p I don't think they are going to lose this one!!

[db44]

Millwall all the way!!! :p

No, I don't believe it.

[muffins]

As usual, I should be popping into the town to savour the atmosphere of the final in May. I'm not definitely sure I'll be going in but I hope to. If I do would anyone like me to take some pictures of the scenes outside the ground? I'll do my best obviously but it all depends on if I go in and if I can get the technology on my computer to work hehe.

[muffins]

Sorry! Change of plan. I won't be in Cardiff this weekend as I am away visiting my boyfriend. :) It will feel strange not being Cardiff for the Cup final but I am kinda glad because I am seeing my boyfriend, there might be trouble amongst fans and there may even be a terrorist attack. There aren't any specific threats but it's a major event where lots of people congregate at one place so it's definitely a possible target. Obviously, I hope everything goes ahead without a glitch and I can return to my home city with everything as I left it hehe!

[muffins]

Congratulations to Manchester United for beating Millwall 3-0! I listened to the match but I phoned my dad for a proper summary and he said Millwall didn't play very well and that Van Nistelrooy should not have been man of the match, Ronaldo should have.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3725063.stm

[glamour-gal]

hehe, was watching the manchester match!!
what a long sports day for me..... lol...

yeah, your dad's right, ronaldo would have been better as the 'man of the match'.

[muffins]

My Dad also said it was one of the most one-sided, dull cup finals he has seen in a long time! Hehe. I listened to it and I have to be honest, it didn't sound that exciting. Good news though, there was no trouble! Yay!