Stunned: Norwich out of the FA Cup. Courtesy of: Focus Images Ltd.
With Europe’s finest leagues at its height and the African Cup of Nations providing its usual amount of drama, it was yet another busy soccer weekend for soccer fans across the globe. And although some of the pickier supporters of the Beautiful Game might have initially missed the drama and magnificence of the English Premier League, it is unlikely that they were disappointed with what the Football Association Cup had in store for them. The upsets, comebacks and drama of the FA Cup’s fourth round made soccer fans to once again believe in the “magic of the FA Cup.” I decided to provide a small review of the weekend but to emphasize on one particular upset and why it occurred.
Thirty-two teams from all possible tiers of English soccer entered the fourth round of the competition. Among them were Premier League “giants” such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City; relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa; teams with glorious pasts such as Leeds United; and several small clubs – including “underdogs” from Luton Town – who were enjoying the ride while it lasts.
Prior to the games, it seemed as the “big” clubs were favored by the luck of the draw because only 2 of the 16 matches featured two Premier League clubs. In these two, Manchester City was victorious 1-0 at Stoke City while Manchester United thrashed Fulham 4-1 at home (although this was the least the visitors could get away with!). Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham had easier tasks on paper, having to go on the road to Brentford , Oldham and Leeds United. Even less-intimidating Premier League teams Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City seemed to have hit the jackpot for they had to just win against third-division Milton Keynes Dons and fifth-division Luton at home in order to reach the next round.
Alas, that was not meant to be and many of these “favorites” left the competition, some in quite a disgraceful manner. A star-filled Liverpool squad deservedly lost 3-2 in the mud and pouring rain at Boundary Park; Tottenham was entirely outplayed by Leeds and the final score 2-1 could deceive many who haven’t watched the game; the Dons contributed to Queens Park Rangers’ dreadful season by making a fool of the Premier League team in the middle of London, 4-2.
The closest Tottenham players will get to the FA Cup this season. Courtesy of: 2013 Getty Images.
Only Chelsea seemed to partly save its face by coming back from behind twice thanks to a beautiful goal by Oscar and a rare such from Fernando Torres. The Blues will most likely find themselves in the next round after the replay at “Stamford Bridge” but the way the team played forced its fans to start an online petition against manager Rafael Benitez, Daily Mail reports.
However, the upset that most impressed me was Luton Town’s 1-0 win over Norwich City. This was not only because of the Luton’s players’ heroics, but also because of the way Norwich played.
Norwich City manager Chris Hughton started the game against Luton Town without some key players and that eventually cost him dearly. The inexperience of his line-up showed throughout the first half. Although the Canaries created some very good opportunities for goal in the first half, to the frustration of their fans they were constantly denied by a solid Luton defense, especially Norwich-born goalkeeper Mark Tyler.
Substitute striker Grant Holt boosted creativity in Norwich’s attacks after half-time and a goal seemed inevitable but then for some reason the Canaries let their fifth-division visitors to control the tempo and pressure them in their own half. Jon Shaw and Alex Lawless nearly made the Norwich defense pay but wasted good chances. As Hughton introduced two more forwards to the game in attempt to regain the momentum for his team, it was one of Luton manager Paul Buckle’s changes that made the difference. Jake Howells and Scott Rendell connected perfectly on the break for the visitors in the 80th minute, with the latter stunning the 26-or-so thousand spectators by side-footing the ball past goalkeeper Declan Rudd.
After the final whistle, Luton players, coaches and fans alike went crazy and didn’t rush to go into the locker rooms. Hatters manager Buckle later told Sky Sports News, “It has not really sunk in yet. It is an incredible performance by the players. The most pleasing thing for me was that we defended very well and carried a threat going the other way.”
Good to be back: Mark Tyler triumphed at the stadium he once called home. Courtesy of: Focus Images Ltd.
He also described the supporting crowd of 4,000 as the team’s 12th man and described them as “out of the world.”
After the loss, Hughton – who played together with Buckle in Brentford between 1992 and 1993 –told Sky Sports that “[Luton] came with a game plan and we found it difficult to break them down.”
With all due respect to Mr. Hughton, but what did he expect? To breeze through a team that has allowed only 1 goal in the competition thus far while at the same time playing many of his reserves? Or perhaps he hoped that the Luton players would wave the white flag as soon as they see the packed Carrow Road.
In my opinion, it was not so significant that the Canaries lost on Saturday but that they could not win. In other words, the game was theirs to take and they could be easily a goal or 2 to the good at half time, but yet once again they became victims of their poor finishing. Andrew Surman, Simeon Jackson and Holt all wasted chances that one could only dream of. Only three teams have scored fewer goals than Norwich City in the Premier League this season (25); two of them are at the very bottom of the table.
“The good chances that we did have, we were not able to put them away. If we get one of them, the game changes a little bit,” Hughton added. This cliché would probably do the job after a hard-fought, away loss to another Premier League team, but I doubt it will comfort many Canaries’ fans after this one.
The January transfer closes 11 pm local time and there is still time to bring in another striker. Sky Sports reported that in fact the Canaries are in talks with Leeds United about possible transfer of striker Luciano Becchio while also trying to acquire 24-year old Celtic forward Gary Hooper.
Luciano Becchio: Is the Argentine the man Norwich needs? Courtesy of: BBC News
From statistical point of view, Becchio, who has scored 19 times for the Championship side this season, and Hooper (21 goals in 27 starts this season) might be good acquisitions for goal-needy Canaries, but only time will show how valid those reports are. However, the time IS ticking away.
Do you think those two will suit the Canaries well? Which was your favorite FA Cup upset of the weekend? Which Premier League team do you expect to fly out of the competition next?
Comments are welcome.
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