Stoke City will ensure the FA Cup Final will be an enthralling contest
There has been a lot of speculation of late as to whether the FA Cup is held in the same high regard as it was in the past. With dwindling attendances and teams fielding weakened sides, there has been a strong case for saying it was as much a distraction from the stresses of league football as anything else. This weekend, those sentiments have certainly been damaged by two exhilarating games at Wembley.
Yesterday, Stoke thrashed a hopelessly inept Bolton side 5-0 today to reach the first FA Cup final in the club’s history. May 14th sees the Potters make another trip to Wembley where they will meet Manchester City in a match that, if the semi-finals are anything to go by, could go either way.
Ordinarily, the Blues would be expected to cast Tony Pulis’s men aside, but Stoke’s display of hard work and opportunism against Bolton will give Roberto Mancini plenty to think about in the next few weeks.
Certainly, City will have to play with more guile in their own third than Bolton managed to. The Trotters’ defence was laughably generous all afternoon, with an error from Paul Robinson gifting Matthew Etherington the chance to lash a long-range effort into the net after only eleven minutes.
It was a sign of things to come, as only six minutes later one of Rory Delap’s trademark long throws caused utter mayhem in the Bolton box, and an unmarked Robert Huth smashed the ball past Bolton ‘keeper Jussi Jääskeläinen from range. It was a goal that Mancini would do well to study, as Delap’s throws present Stoke’s most potent form of attack, and although one would expect City’s defence to fare rather better than Bolton’s if they turn in a performance as clueless as they did at Anfield recently, they might just find themselves in trouble.
Even a much-improved performance against arch-rivals Man United was not without its defensive hiccups. Twice in the first half City’s defence was bested by United’s attack and were it not for some uncharacteristically poor finishing from Dimitar Berbatov, it could well have been United who made the final.
Credit where it’s due though, for the most part City’s defence was markedly improved from the Liverpool game, particularly in the second half, with Nigel de Jong putting out fires all over the field and a first-rate goalkeeping display from Joe Hart. Unsurprisingly Vincent Kompany gave a truly heroic account of himself to keep United at bay, and Stoke will have to do their homework to get the better of him.
Going forward, too, City looked remarkably sharp. Spanish playmaker David Silva was in inspired form, and will prove far more threatening to Stoke’s defence than any of the Bolton side that failed to make anything work in the final third. Mario Balotelli, too settled into the game well and was a worthy deputy for the injured Carlos Tevez.
Unquestionably, Stoke’s defence will have to be on top of its game for the Final, but City’s will hardly have an easy time of it. The quick feet of Etherington and Pennant made Bolton’s Steinsson and Robinson look amateur at best, while Jon Walters proved he is one of the best signings of the season with a flawless performance that was well worth his two goals.
For all their flair, Stoke were as pugnacious as ever. The combative, industrious style that has seen them survive nearly three years in the Premiership was on show for all to see, and their strength in the tackle was matched only by their mental fortitude. Bolton’s more delicate, refined version of the game was rendered entirely ineffectual and on the rare occasions they gained possession, they resorted to long, hopeful balls upfield which never threatened Stoke’s defence. This fighting spirit is another thing sure to be on Mancini’s mind, as on occasions his midfield can look a little clumsy, and Gareth Barry in particular will have to keep calm under pressure and an eye on the wayward passing he’s all too guilty of, upon which Stoke will thrive.
Even higher stakes than normal, then, it seems. Two teams, barren of silverware, yearning for respect, to put the doubters in their places, to be taken seriously. Although, we’re unlikely to see another 5-0 drubbing, we will get conclusive proof that the FA Cup means just as much today as it ever has.