Barry's Beef

Yet another boring F.A Cup draw this time for the Quarter Finals. Is it just me or has this tournament really been this indeterminably dull?

Middlesbrough or West Brom v Manchester United or Reading

Arsenal or Blackburn v Manchester City

Chelsea v Tottenham

Plymouth v Watford

No, that's pretty dull.

Update: Just for a change, common sense has been conspicuous in its absence within the hallowed corridors of the F.A. A suggestion mooted by Arsene 'the Professor' Whinger and Glenn 'The Smallest Mouth in Football' Roeder that replays in the F.A Cup should be scratched has fallen upon deaf ears. So what that it causes loads of fixture congestion and only a moderate proportion of fans will turn up to replays played midweek; just think of the wonga you can get by screening yet another Middlesbrough replay. And, of course, punditry from insightful legends like Shearer (zzzzzzz...), Wright (ah man, you know what I mean Al?) and Hansen (they're playing with passion, power, passion, power and power)

Labels: Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, dull, F.A Cup, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Plymouth Argyle, Quarter Finals, Reading, Spurs, Watford, West Brom

Irregardless of Cashley Cole being a fantastic player and a key element of the England national team, I think most neutrals would agree that his transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea reeked of scuminess and greed. Well this weekend, for the first time since leaving Arsenal, Cashley will be part of the Chelsea team going to the Emirate Stadium. Hopefully, the Arsenal fans will lose their Highbury Library reputation and give Cole a grilling. This is certainly the view of the delightfully, insane Arsenal goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann who is quoted as saying: "Of course. He should get it...That's football and it makes it exciting. If not, it would have meant he wasn't an important player for them [the fans]. But he was, he was a vital member of our squad and we had big success with him so of course he has to expect some negative emotions towards him."

* Thanks to Mr Treasury Tag for posting me two treasury tags in the internal post and for emailing me the Cashley note.

Labels: Arsenal, Cashley Cole, Chelsea, Jens Lehmann