Talking points from the FA Cup 4th Round
Luton Town
Luton Town, 85 places beneath Norwich City, have become the first non-league side in 24 years to knock out top-tier opposition from the FA Cup. The celebrations in the dressing room of the side plying its trade in the Blue Square Bet Premier League showed that the magic of the FA Cup still lives on. As far as Norwich City is concerned, this just maybe the wake up call they need. Chris Hughton’s side haven’t been able to replicate their form of last season and find themselves in 13th position.
QPR
The scoreline actually gave more respect to QPR’s performance than they deserve. Even though this was a second string team, it’s a disgrace to the Premier League as a whole when a team from their division finds itself 0-4 down at home to a League 1 side. Park Ji Sung’s misery continued as he was subbed off to jeers from the home supporters. One positive from this performance is that Redknapp’s side can now fully concentrate on survival. Also, his first choice team is relatively fresh.
Ryan Giggs
Words can’t describe the Welsh Wizard’s longevity or his ability to reinvent himself time and again. Earlier this season, after a couple of poor performances in the center of the park, it did look like finally Ryan Giggs had to hang up his boots at the end of the season. But in recent weeks, he has switched backed to the left side of the pitch and has rolled back the years. Cutting inside effortlessly and using his vision, intelligence and touch, he is managing to create terror among defenders as he did all those years back. And now he has taken the burden of taking penalties too, although it remains to be seen who will take them when Robin Van Persie is also on the pitch.
Dimitar Berbatov
The Bulgarian’s return to Old Trafford was no fairy tale. Often a frustrated figure, he was exasperated with some of the passes from his teammates. Fulham doesn’t seem the right place for the Bulgarian, whose technical ability certainly can be put to better use. I wonder why there was no interest shown in him by the bigger teams in the summer. Maybe a move to Spain would suit him better.
David Moyes
With scoreboard reading Bolton 1-1 Everton, the Everton fans showed their displeasure at the removal of Nikita Jelavic for defender Johnny Heitinga. But as luck would have it, Heitinga scored the winner to send the toffees in to the next round. Some may believe that Moyes was just plain lucky, but bringing on Heitinga freed up Everton’s best player Maroune Fellaini and the Belgian did play his part in the winner. Sometimes, to move two steps forward, you do need to move a step back.
Jordan Rhodes
Michael Appleton had his first win of his tenure at Blackburn Rovers as the Venky’s owned club defeated Derby County 3-0. Jordan Rhodes scored his 22nd goal of the season and he remains the only beacon of hope in an otherwise miserable time for the Rovers fans.
Andre Santos
Andre Santos shouldn’t play for Arsenal. Period.
Stoke City Vs Manchester City
Pablo Zablaleta scored the winner for the Premier League Champions in a scrappy affair at the Britannia stadium. The Argentine has a wonderful knack of arriving late into the box completely unmarked. On current form, he certainly is the best right back in the Premier League. But the main talking point from the match is of course Glen Whelan’s challenge on Javi Garcia. Whelan literally stamped on Garcia’s ankle and the City midfielder was visibly upset with the challenge. But Howard Webb decided not to even caution the Stoke player.
Roberto Martinez
The Spaniard, after the game against Macclesfield Town humbly acknowledged,”Macclesfield are the ones that should be getting all the credit.”