THRILLS, SPILLS AND CUPSETS
It was a weekend in which we saw the very best and worst of FA Cup culture, from the plucky non-league minnows of Maidstone United slaying Ipswich Town in a classic upset, to crowd ugliness so unsavoury at the Hawthorns that not even the surreal, genuinely hilarious sight of a grown man dressed as a boiler making placatory gestures in an attempt to lower the temperature made them the kind of “scenes we want to see”.
There were other games too. Billed as the tie of the round, Manchester City’s visit to Tottenham on Friday proved to be anything but. A dreary encounter in which the visitors ran rings around their hosts for 87 minutes without doing anything so vulgar as scoring was eventually settled by a contentious goal from Nathan Aké, the defender prodding home from a corner after the ball was flapped his way by Guglielmo Vicario. The debate over whether or not the Spurs goalkeeper was fouled by Rúben Dias was contentious, but he could scarcely have looked more forlorn unless he’d swapped places with [spoiler alert – Football Daily Culture Ed] gullible young Mollie, who was learning her trusted friend Harry had been a traitor all along on a far more riveting knockout competition aired on a different terrestrial TV channel at the exact same time.
Playing their seventh game in this season’s FA Cup, Maidstone ensured they’ll get an eighth by beating Ipswich, despite the two clubs being separated by 98 places in the pyramid. In a textbook giant-killing, the National League South side comprised of part-timers rode their luck with the kind of fierce tenacity not seen since AP McCoy hung up his whip and saddle, scored the only two chances to come their way and defended like dervishes – with some woodwork assistance – to earn their place in the last 16 and the disappointingly unglamorous tie away at Coventry or Sheffield Wednesday that goes with it.
Despite their best attempts, League Two side Newport County failed to join them in the hat, despite a stirring comeback from two goals down against Manchester United that prompted the author of at least one world renowned daily football email to swivel on their bar-stool and redirect their gaze at the pub TV, having lost all interest in the game for the previous 23 minutes. Disproving the long-held theory that his right leg is solely for standing on, Antony sank to his knees and offered thanks to the heavens above Rodney Parade after volleying home the goal that broke Newport hearts. While the Brazilian hailed his strike as a first step on the road to redemption, more cynical commentators wondered aloud if the 23-year-old had simply found his level.
Meanwhile at Fulham, Alan Shearer muddied his spats in an away end for the first time since 1985 and seemed to have a splendid time as Newcastle advanced to the fifth round with a minimum of fuss. Despite his best attempts to keep his presence inconspicuous, his decision to wear a coat and hat in January was always going to make him stand out in a group of hardcore travelling Mags and he was duly mobbed and serenaded. And finally, on a weekend of action in which some remarkable goals were scored, the pick was a fine solo effort from Jaidon Anthony. Having lost his mother last week, the Leeds winger revealed a T-shirt bearing the slogan “Rest In Perfect Peace Mum” and was duly booked for a tribute that was as heartfelt as it was unprovocative. Oh to have had West Brom’s Boiler Man on hand, if only to plead for some compassion and common sense as jobsworth referee Lewis Smith reached for his pocket.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join John Brewin from 7.30pm GMT for hot MBM coverage of Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Wrexham in the FA Cup fourth round, while Yara El-Shaboury will be on deck at 8pm for updates from Senegal 3-1 Ivory Coast at Afcon.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I could not believe it. I don’t know where it’s coming from. I think we have to be very careful when you talk about personal things especially. When someone puts a statement about what we’ve done personally. Secondly because I don’t think someone deserves to hear news like that. I’ve always said completely the opposite. That’s why I feel upset” – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains why he’s feeling so funky after reports were floated and quickly shot down that he would follow the lead of Jürgen Klopp and Xavi by leaving – for the Camp Nou – at the end of the season. “I’m in the right place with the right people. I’m immersed in a beautiful journey with this football club and there is still a lot to do.”
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Re: Klopp leaving Liverpool and history repeating (Friday’s Football Daily letters). Eight months after leaving Liverpool in February 1991, Kenny Dalglish took over at then-second-tier Blackburn, got them promoted and won the Premier League within four years. As a Rovers fan, I for one welcome the impending arrival of our new era of Klopp-fuelled dominance, starting around September” – Mark Rushton.
I’m grateful to Klopp for a lot of things but perhaps his biggest impact was that he made me believe in monsters. Mentality monsters” – Peter Oh.
You have to feel sorry for Xavi. Have we ever seen a football player change from joyful sprite to dead-eyed depressive so fast? He has a triumphant career with Barcelona – the old Barcelona, the magic one – disappears for a while into the desert sands, returns as the prodigal and is swiftly crushed. We know that management does that to a player over the years, but this was what, 18 months or so? Sic transit gloria, sure, but the transit looks indecently fast in this case. One more step down in Barcelona’s dismal spiral” – Charles Antaki.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Mark Rushton.
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