The FA Cup was the biggest crock of shit I have ever seen. And I'm not even talking about the match.
The media coverage as well as the arrogance of the English FA has really gotten on my nerves this weekend for reasons I will now explain.
In 2000 the old Wembley closed its doors to the final in order to pave the way for a new state of the art stadium. All the matches that were to be played at that ground were moved to the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
My home.
Cardiff did its very best in being the host city of the Carling Cup, FA Cup, Charity Shield and League Play-off games. The English embraced us. Hell, even Liverpool - after their triumphs at the stadium - called us their 'home away from home'.
The city even bailed out the FA last year when the new stadium was late in developing and an extra year was added to the time it took to finish the job.
The newspaper, radio and televsion pundits kissed our asses. They said they loved it here and thanked us for the cup memories.
They weren't remembering anything on Saturday.
Not one person mentioned any of the finals that took place after the year 2000. Sure, the day was meant to highlight the opening of the newer stadium but the procession was the celebration of 'the cup'. The very same cup that was won in my city for the last seven years.
The ignorance reminds me of a failed romance. When you were together nothing was better and the times were treasured. Then - you break up. Years later you see each other in the street and those times spent as an item are forgotten as you pass by without an acknowledgement.
I was offended that the FA would ignore their own history by making out that the last few years weren't important. If it wasn't for Wales they would have been a laughing stock more than they had already become in the eyes of so many.
At least the Millennium Stadium can claim to have hosted exciting FA Cup finals during the 21st Century. We aren't hearing them endorsing Saturday's game are we?
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