The Rovers Return

That’s right. I have it on good authority…

Okay, so I have no proof to back up this outlandish statement. But it seems obvious to me that there’s some jiggery-pokery going on before cup draws, especially when they reach their later stages.

The FA will obviously prefer to see the ‘Big Four’ reaching the later rounds, and preferably meeting each other in the final. And surely it’s no coincidence that the draws tend to see them avoiding each other…

This all sounds like the bitter ramblings of a man who’s team has just been drawn against a Chelsea side that hammered them 5-0 recently. And to some extent, yes, that’s it.

But I maintain that, with eight teams in the draw, three of which come from the Big Four – Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea – yet none of them draw each other:

United v Spurs
Portsmouth v Villa
Rovers v Chelsea
Man City v Arsenal

Looking back, I refer you to last year’s FA Cup quarter finals:

Coventry v Chelsea
Fulham v Man Utd
Arsenal v Hull
Everton v Boro

FA Cup semi-final 2006/07:

Rovers v Chelsea
Man Utd v Watford

United v Chelsea that year turned out to be one of the worst cup finals ever. It could have been so much different if one of Rovers or Watford had been there!

Carling Cup semi-final 2005/06:

Wigan v Arsenal
Man Utd v Rovers

FA Cup semi-final 2004/05:

Arsenal v Rovers
Newcastle v Man Utd

I could go on. I believe my compelling argument is more than conclusive.

The prosecution rests…

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