Last week Premier London derbies (PLDs) discussed the likelihood of completing the F.A. Premier League (F.A.P.L.) 2019-2020 season, and put forward a theoretical, quasi-statistical way of constructing a final 38 matches table without another ball being kicked! This week we look at how the F.A. Cup competition for 2020 might pan out.
With the Covid-19 corona virus world pandemic now at epidemic proportions in U.K., centred in case numbers and deaths on London, and worsening by the day the F.A.’s review date of 30 April 2020 will be nowhere near the date for resumption of professional football.There are 4 quarter-final, 2 semi-final and the F.A. Cup Final match to play, that is 7 matches in all. The quarter-final matches are all by chance outside London. They could be played behind closed doors, but all televised (a reward for the B.B.C. for sticking with “The Cup”). The semi-finals and Final could also be played away from London without audiences as T.V. spectacles. This would be hard on the real fans and any “home-grown” players for whom the F.A. Cup is the pinnacle, but the competition could be completed in this way.
Arsenal and Chelsea are the only two PLDs Clubs still in, both with challenging away ties, versus Sheffield United and Leicester City respectively. Arsenal have a record 13 wins between 1930 and 2017, their last being 2 v 1 against Chelsea! The Blues got their revenge in 2018 beating Manchester United (12 times winners between 1909 and 2016) 1 v 0, andhave 8 wins but are late to the party their first win being in 1970. Neither Club have a goal scorer among the leaders in The Cup this season, that position being currently shared between Harry McKirdy of League 2 Carlisle United with 5 goals and 1 assist, and Jimmy Ball of National League Solihull Moors also 5 goals but no assists. Of the clubs left in Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United has 4 goals and Adam Idah of Norwich City 3. The magic and glamour of The Cup go on…. sometime but not soon!
Until football resumes, keep safe and well, Andrew at PLDs.