FA Cup Fixtures
Saturday, 06 January 07, 08:35 PM · Comments(4)
I had originally thought of doing some kind of proper preview of the third round, predicting which teams would win and so on. And then I looked at all the games and thought, crap, there's a lot of teams still left, and I've never even heard of a lot of them (in my own defence, everything below the Premiership sort of doesn't exist in Canada). As a result, I will be falling back on my usual strategy of cheering for whoever are the underdogs and/or have the best nicknames.
So here's the complete list of games for Saturday and Sunday, with the clubs that you ought to be supporting in bold (all completely fair and unbiased; no, really):
1. Tamworth FC v Norwich City FC
Tamworth originally played at a place called the Jolly Sailor Ground. That is awesome.
2. Blackpool FC v Aldershot Town FC
Purely because I grew up in a place called Aldershot. Plus, they've never even made it past the second round before.
3. Barnet FC v Colchester United FC
Barnet are known as the Bees, and they play at Underhill Stadium. Which makes you think they're a bunch of apiary-inclined hobbits or something. Colchester, on the other hand, are called the U's, which is just lame.
4. Sheffield United FC v Swansea City FC
Sean Bean likes them, so you should too. Also: The Greasy Chip Butty Song.
5. Reading FC v Burnley FC
Ok, they're not underdogs, but they are the Official Plucky Little Team of the Premiership this year. They also hold the embarrassing honour of having experienced more FA Cup defeats than any other team. So, they're due.
6. Portsmouth FC v Wigan Athletic FC
Well, they need a chance to win something. Plus, Harry Redknapp bugs me. He looks like his face is melting.
7. Doncaster Rovers FC v Bolton Wanderers FC
Doncaster frankly don't seem all that interesting. But I hate Bolton, so there you go.
8. West Ham United FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Fatboy Slim is apparently a fan. You can decide for yourself if that's a point in their favour or not. Also, they have a centre half called "Guy Butters," which amuses me.
9. Leicester City FC v Fulham FC
Leicester have managed to set a record by making it to the FA Cup final four times and never winning. That's something to be proud of. I have nothing against Fulham, really, but nothing particularly for them, either (other than Moritz Volz, the only German with a sense of humor).
10. Derby County FC v Wrexham FC
Wrexham are apparently known as both the Red Dragons and the Robins, which seems odd to me, but what do I know. Anyway, they have the distinction of knocking Arsenal out of the Cup in 1992, so good for them.
11. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Oldham Athletic FC
Paul Scholes is a fan. Good enough for me.
12. Chester City FC v Ipswich Town FC
The Blues versus, um, the Blues. Tough call. Scrappy little underdogs it is, then.
13. Nottingham Forest FC v Charlton Athletic FC
They've won both the FA Cup and the European Cup, and now they're down in League One. Imagine how that feels. Still, not that much worse than being a Charlton fan, I imagine.
14. Preston North End FC v Sunderland AFC FC
The Lilywhites versus the Black Cats. A primal showdown of good versus evil, if you will. But evil is always more fun. Plus, Sunderland apparently list Olga Korbut as one of their supporters. The hell?
15. Watford FC v Stockport County FC
For no other reason than that their nickname is the Hatters. Yeah, I don't know either.
16. Crystal Palace FC v Swindon Town FC
Because they're desperate for glory, having last made it to the semi-finals in 1912. Also, Billie Piper is supposedly a fan. Ok then.
17. Bristol City FC v Coventry City FC
Another team called the Robins. Somebody needs to come up with some new and improved nicknames. Like the Flaming Mutant Robins Of Doom. Or something.
18. Peterborough United FC v Plymouth Argyle FC
I used to play with somebody who was a fan of the Posh (and no, I don't mean Victoria Beckham). Plus, at least they're not named after a kind of sock.
19. Queens Park Rangers FC v Luton Town FC
I have a soft spot for them after that 5-3 loss to Liverpool last year.
20. Southend United FC v Barnsley FC
Yes, even though the Shrimpers. They knocked Man United out of the League Cup this year.
21. West Bromwich Albion FC v Leeds United AFC FC
Because they're not Leeds. Enough said.
22. Hull City FC v Middlesbrough FC
I'm not sure that even people in Middlesbrough cheer for them.
23. Birmingham City FC v Newcastle United FC
I know they're not the underdogs here. And yet somehow I like them. At least when they're not scrounging draws against my team, that is.
24. Torquay United FC v Southampton FC
Because Southampton beat Man United to win the cup in 1976. And they list Craig David as a supporter. Uck.
25. Chelsea FC v Macclesfield Town FC
Unquestionably the biggest mismatch of the round. Chelsea could have their entire back line out injured and still win. But nevertheless: Come on you Silkmen!
26. Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC
Because I really want to see Steven Gerrard spazzing around inthe final again this year. Yes.
27. Manchester United FC v Aston Villa FC
And this would be where my "support the underdog" theory goes out the window.
28. Sheffield Wednesday FC v Manchester City FC
I know that I shouldn't have picked both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. And yet. At least they're not City.
29. Everton FC v Blackburn Rovers FC
Another tough one. But it'll be so easy to hate Blackburn in the next round.
30. Cardiff City FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC
Just to bug the Arsenal fans.
So here's the complete list of games for Saturday and Sunday, with the clubs that you ought to be supporting in bold (all completely fair and unbiased; no, really):
1. Tamworth FC v Norwich City FC
Tamworth originally played at a place called the Jolly Sailor Ground. That is awesome.
2. Blackpool FC v Aldershot Town FC
Purely because I grew up in a place called Aldershot. Plus, they've never even made it past the second round before.
3. Barnet FC v Colchester United FC
Barnet are known as the Bees, and they play at Underhill Stadium. Which makes you think they're a bunch of apiary-inclined hobbits or something. Colchester, on the other hand, are called the U's, which is just lame.
4. Sheffield United FC v Swansea City FC
Sean Bean likes them, so you should too. Also: The Greasy Chip Butty Song.
5. Reading FC v Burnley FC
Ok, they're not underdogs, but they are the Official Plucky Little Team of the Premiership this year. They also hold the embarrassing honour of having experienced more FA Cup defeats than any other team. So, they're due.
6. Portsmouth FC v Wigan Athletic FC
Well, they need a chance to win something. Plus, Harry Redknapp bugs me. He looks like his face is melting.
7. Doncaster Rovers FC v Bolton Wanderers FC
Doncaster frankly don't seem all that interesting. But I hate Bolton, so there you go.
8. West Ham United FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Fatboy Slim is apparently a fan. You can decide for yourself if that's a point in their favour or not. Also, they have a centre half called "Guy Butters," which amuses me.
9. Leicester City FC v Fulham FC
Leicester have managed to set a record by making it to the FA Cup final four times and never winning. That's something to be proud of. I have nothing against Fulham, really, but nothing particularly for them, either (other than Moritz Volz, the only German with a sense of humor).
10. Derby County FC v Wrexham FC
Wrexham are apparently known as both the Red Dragons and the Robins, which seems odd to me, but what do I know. Anyway, they have the distinction of knocking Arsenal out of the Cup in 1992, so good for them.
11. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Oldham Athletic FC
Paul Scholes is a fan. Good enough for me.
12. Chester City FC v Ipswich Town FC
The Blues versus, um, the Blues. Tough call. Scrappy little underdogs it is, then.
13. Nottingham Forest FC v Charlton Athletic FC
They've won both the FA Cup and the European Cup, and now they're down in League One. Imagine how that feels. Still, not that much worse than being a Charlton fan, I imagine.
14. Preston North End FC v Sunderland AFC FC
The Lilywhites versus the Black Cats. A primal showdown of good versus evil, if you will. But evil is always more fun. Plus, Sunderland apparently list Olga Korbut as one of their supporters. The hell?
15. Watford FC v Stockport County FC
For no other reason than that their nickname is the Hatters. Yeah, I don't know either.
16. Crystal Palace FC v Swindon Town FC
Because they're desperate for glory, having last made it to the semi-finals in 1912. Also, Billie Piper is supposedly a fan. Ok then.
17. Bristol City FC v Coventry City FC
Another team called the Robins. Somebody needs to come up with some new and improved nicknames. Like the Flaming Mutant Robins Of Doom. Or something.
18. Peterborough United FC v Plymouth Argyle FC
I used to play with somebody who was a fan of the Posh (and no, I don't mean Victoria Beckham). Plus, at least they're not named after a kind of sock.
19. Queens Park Rangers FC v Luton Town FC
I have a soft spot for them after that 5-3 loss to Liverpool last year.
20. Southend United FC v Barnsley FC
Yes, even though the Shrimpers. They knocked Man United out of the League Cup this year.
21. West Bromwich Albion FC v Leeds United AFC FC
Because they're not Leeds. Enough said.
22. Hull City FC v Middlesbrough FC
I'm not sure that even people in Middlesbrough cheer for them.
23. Birmingham City FC v Newcastle United FC
I know they're not the underdogs here. And yet somehow I like them. At least when they're not scrounging draws against my team, that is.
24. Torquay United FC v Southampton FC
Because Southampton beat Man United to win the cup in 1976. And they list Craig David as a supporter. Uck.
25. Chelsea FC v Macclesfield Town FC
Unquestionably the biggest mismatch of the round. Chelsea could have their entire back line out injured and still win. But nevertheless: Come on you Silkmen!
26. Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC
Because I really want to see Steven Gerrard spazzing around inthe final again this year. Yes.
27. Manchester United FC v Aston Villa FC
And this would be where my "support the underdog" theory goes out the window.
28. Sheffield Wednesday FC v Manchester City FC
I know that I shouldn't have picked both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. And yet. At least they're not City.
29. Everton FC v Blackburn Rovers FC
Another tough one. But it'll be so easy to hate Blackburn in the next round.
30. Cardiff City FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC
Just to bug the Arsenal fans.
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Yeah, this is why I picked the teams that I wanted to win, rather than the ones I actually thought would win. Thank god for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or it would've been an even worse weekend for me.
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Can't believe that you think the U's is a lame nickname for the mighty Colchester. Oh wait it is.
4 Comments · Add yours
Anything to 'bug' Arsenal fans footiegirl
Well,
Liverpool were comprehensively dismantled by Arsenal at home (The only spazzing Gerrard will do during the FA Cup final will be on his couch)... and Spurs were held to a draw - no doubt a presage to their elimination in the replay.
So all in all a pretty good round for Arsenal and their fans.