The Magic Of The F.A Cup

By: Toby | December 31st, 2008

Ah the beauty of the cup, “the Cup”, the FA Cup, the Football Association Challenge Cup. It’s a cup where wages and egos are left at the door, every man can be a hero and every big time Charlie can become the villain. It’s a place of giant killings and amazing displays, its non league verses Premier League, and it’s the field of dreams.

Which is why it’s a bit disappointing that we’ve not only got another team from the Championship, but also, the fact that we’ve got one of the dullest teams currently playing in the Championship. If it weren’t for Birmingham being local rivals, this would be the kind of game you’d close the curtains on if it were going on in your back garden. Also, I for one don’t think Wolves’ will have much time for the cup this year, as with the League cup it’ll be a place for 2nd stringers to have a run out, expect Ikeme, Gray, Edwards, Vokes and Keogh, or at least, I wouldn’t spit out my cornflakes if that’s the team sheet that gets announced. Wolves don’t really have a very good recent history in the FA Cup, which is a shame for the team which has appeared in the final eight times, winning it four times in their history. It’s a shame because it really is history, by the time the final rolls round at Wembley it’ll have been 49 years since we’ve won it, which is all a bit depressing really.

However, this is the season where the goal must surely be to concentrate on the FA Cup, we saw the ill effects which it had on Cardiff when they went on their maizy run through the lower teams of the Premiership, and indeed ourselves (That peach of a goal by Jimmy Floyd). But the fact remains that their league form stuttered, that’s one thing we can’t afford. So, while I’m not saying send the kids to Birmingham this weekend, I am saying send the second string. It’s a win/win situation, beat them, they’ll be demoralised, they’ve just been beaten by Wolves B Team, lose, then hey, it was only our B Team and that’s another game on their fixture list, and they all add up when May comes around.

So yes, I’ll post this today, as I’ve got work in a bit, a mighty 1:00pm till 4:00pm, and then 8:00pm till 6:00am. Which might explain my slightly terse preview of this game, but I’m just struggling to get excited about it. I can only imagine what this game is doing for the cockles of the neutral fan.

Preston North End on the 10th, so by resting a few key players, means by the time they roll into Molineux, the likes of Blake, Jarvis, Mancienne, Kightly and Stearman, the constant performers, will all have had around ten days rest bite. Which I can only see as a good thing.

Predictions?

I’d go for a 1-0 to Wolves, as much as I’m dispassionate about the cup, the fan deep down doesn’t want to predict a loss. I’m going to go for Vokes scoring, It’d do him the world of good.

Best of luck, and a happy new year! I’ll think about you all while working down in the cellars at the turn of midnight!

Tarra-a-bit!