YOU CAN'T BEAT OLD BLIGHTY OR THE F.A CUP!

Evening fans. It has been a while I know: been mega busy of late. But I am back with my pearls of wisdom.

I have just finished watching the FA Cup game on BBC between Stevie Coppell's Reading and Fergie's Man Utd. An extraordinary game which saw United, bound to win their league title this term, hold on for their dear life to gain a 3-2 success. The game according to John Motson "all looked so simple for the visitors after three goals in the first six minutes. In the end though it was nearly one of the very best F.A Cup comebacks of all time. Just goes to show how special the FA Cup is ". Yes, how special the FA Cup is. Take your mind back to last season's final between Liverpool and West Ham: it ended 3-3 and was one of the best Cup Finals in recent years. Just think of all of the FA Cup shocks there has been in recent years, that have given fans from some of the country's small league and non-league clubs some of the best days of their lives. Hereford United beating Newcastle in the 1970's, Sutton knocking out Coventry City in the 1980's, Bolton knocking out holders Arsenal in the 1994, Exeter City holding Man Utd at Old Trafford in the New Millenium and Wimbledon winning the FA Cup back in 1988. It is very special.

Next season though, great games like this evening's match may not occur. There have been many calls for replays in the world's greatest club competition to be scrapped. I believe that these calls are unwarranted and also take incentive out of matches for smaller clubs.

It is the big clubs in the main that are asking for the replays to be scrapped- the likes of Wenger and Mourinho. No real surprise really. Winger and Mr Arrogant have sides in the Champions League, are fighting (just about) for the Premiership and just the other day both were jostling for the Carling Cup.

However, these sides also have reserve squads treble the value and size than that of the lower league teams first teams put together. Take Chelsea: if they need a replay in the FA Cup then off the bench comes Kalou, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Cudicini amongst others. Wright-Phillips value is presently approximately £8 million. That is the value of the entire Watford squad put together.

Therefore, the bigger sides have the resources to deal with the replays.

Anyhow, replays have always added to the flavour and the excitement of Cup competitions.

Take for instance, the Bolton v Arsenal replay. It ended 3-1 to the Gunners, after extra time. The game it is all agreed was much better than its predecessor at the Emirates Stadium, where both sides ground out a 1-1 draw. This match had drama, passion, vigour and a 90 minute equaliser from Bolton to take the game into Extra Time.

Imagine, how lowly Burton Albion would have felt last season if there was not a chance of a replay. After scrapping every blade of grass for a resolute 0-0 draw against Man Utd, they and their fans earn a deserved replay at Old Trafford- the theatre of dreams. In what other scenario would Burton be able to step out into 'The Theatre of Dreams' to play United. If there were no replays, United would probably have ground out a cruel 1-0 victory over Burton after extra time. If a team can shut up shop in the Premiership for 90 minutes, in order to gain the draw and therefore a point- then there simply has to a reward in Cup Competition (i.e: yes you've guessed it a replay....)

Anyhow, my tip for this season's FA Cup is for Man Utd, Tottenham (after a replay), Arsenal and Plymouth to reach the last four, with a Spurs v Man Utd final.

2). Last week I spent the weekend in London. I haven't got enough fingers to count how many times I have been to London, yet I still love being in the nation's capital. Last time I was in London was for the Remembrance Parade last year: a solemn occasion but one with which I was very proud to represent my Grandfather at (an ex-Paratrooper who was unable to attend).
This time around I had a glitzy anniversary dinner to attend. FREE BAR, great luxurious grub, excellent music (especially by Clive Golanski on the Electric Guitar) and a good venue in the Holiday Inn Suite in Camden.

To say that I was a little under the weather early Sunday morning, is like saying that Sir Richard Branson can spare the odd fiver. However, not deterred the British bulldog spirit took me over and before long I was on a Walking Tour around London.

With my friends Major Tom and J.P Clarke scurrying for the back benches and scampering home, I was left to wait until the early afternoon to meet my mate Mr Robert Lee Esq.

Therefore, I had a couple of hours to spare and decided that it sounded quite good fun to have a free guided tour of Whitehall and Westminster.

The walk was only free as it was International Tourist Day or whatever tosh it happened to be. However, having experienced very enjoyable walking tours in Berlin (with Kenny's army), Dublin (Paddy), Copenhagen (Per) and Cape Town (Jacques) then I thought it was a good idea.
It was an immensely enjoyable, child-like tour. I didn't care that we all looked like tourists and that black cabbies kept gesticulating towards us, I just had a bloody good time. Our guide was some wacky Ulster women called Tash, who kept us going for two whole hours (on Chinese New Year day too) with many funny stories, tales, ambiguous facts and general useless information.
Guided tours are just the best ever- because no person can surely enjoy getting lost or wandering aimlessly around a City for a couple of days. Just take out a tenner and enjoy the delights of being sheep following the shepherd towards the stable: and enjoy the fact that everyone else around will hate you for it.

I finished my weekend in Covent Garden drinking beer. Sundays seem to be pantomine day in London, with every street corner featuring jugglers, still statues, Mexican Banjo players and ice cream men galore: especially in Covent Garden. However, there was a buzz around the whole place last Sunday that I have yet to match: there is youthful exuberance in Copenhagen, oozes of culture in Vienna, chilling out in Cape Town, stress and tight shoulders in Zurich and manic debauchery in Dublin and Prague. Yet you cannot beat London if you want a place where you will always be guaranteed a pint, a meal and..... a juggler.