The Emirates FA Cup

The FA Cup kicked off this weekend. Unfortunately I didn’t see the first game from having a terrible night’s sleep the night before and a full day of work in between the match. I decided to go for a snooze with the TV on in the background, I awoke an hour or so later to find Man City winning 5-0.

I thought I was still dreaming as the commentator for the BBC stated that John Stones had a solid game and scored. These two phrases I haven’t heard associated with Stones before so my groggy self was still trying to work what was going on.

I assume most West Ham’s fans were feeling as equally groggy given how poor the team were, you know it’s bad when there is more fight from the stewards trying to throw fans out for standing up than the team.

I always like to gain fans reactions after the games as I feel you can gain a true feeling of what the games mean, also some of the stuff that people come out with is hilarious. YouTube is a great resource for this and on this occasion West Ham TV was calling.

They have a regular guy on there called Dom, lovable chap but terrible language, who didn’t hold back. I’ve never heard the phrase ‘we are fucking shit’ used so many times in a ten minute interview.

Slaven Bilic could have used Dom at half time as he looked like a broken man at the post match interview. His smoking habit would have doubled after this game while Pep didn’t have a temper tantrum after his sides very professional and ruthless performance.

Saturdays early game saw the return of Jaap Stam to Old Trafford. He took his Reading side there in the hope of a better outcome than for himself when he last saw Alex Ferguson on the side of a motorway basically being told he was sacked.

I can imagine in 10 years time when the class of 1999 turn up it would be best for Stam to avoid the topics of autobiographies. Saying that most of the players from that team have sold books within the last ten years so they may want to compare notes.

A tough game for United then? Potential banana skin tie? Well, no. Wayne Rooney scored the first to break the all time United goal record. The camera panning off to Sir Bobby Charlton who looked as sick as when United announced David Moyes as successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.

It became worse for Stam who saw his side destroyed 4-0 and a contender for gaff of the season with the fourth goal. Martial and Rashford, who scored two, got the other strikes in what was a dominant united display.

Moving onto the three o’clock games and the shocks that makes it a proper FA Cup weekend. Millwall and Wolves having won against Bournemouth and Stoke along with Derby’s win at West Brom provided the shocks. A reply was needed between Saints and Norwich as Claude Puel continues to do his Inspector Clouseau impersonation on the south Coast.

Non league Lincoln held their own against Championship side Ipswich Town while Bolton Wanderers held Fat Sam’s Crystal Palace side. No signs of a revival at Selhurst Park as of yet.

Have to mention to Stourbridge who were very unlucky not to beat league side Wycombe. Bayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa throwing his weight around for the equaliser. Did you see what I did there?

You may ask me did I go up to Hull for the Swansea game, quite simply following the events of this morning I wouldn’t have had the energy to get the supporters coach from the Liberty to the KCom Stadium. I would have had more chance getting to Haymarket that Hull today.

Also, I’ve been to Hull too many times to remember over the previous 16 years or so I have support the Swans, a 2-0 defeat was no surprise really. Over six thousand fans saw this cracker.

instead this afternoon I finished reading Ian Wright’s new book which was a Christmas present from the other half. Might do a book review on this for Tales as it was that good!

Joey Barton’s book is next but I’m not rushing to read that anytime soon. Particularly since Preston and Arsenal was on in the evening, even more so when Preston took the lead. Despite criticism, Wenger is still breaking records. He hasn’t lost a third round FA Cup tie yet. After Aaron’s Ramsey’s equaliser, Oliver Giroud scored his second important to secure passage to the fourth round.

The FA Cup has thrown us some shocks this weekend but Arsenal doing and Arsenal will always stay the same, time to sit back. Maybe Arsenal Fan TV and chill?