Bluebirds better suited for Disney not Europe
My congratulations to Portsmouth and Cardiff City for reaching the final of this season’s FA Cup. The end of ‘Big Four’ cup dominance has seemingly been a long time coming; 13 years to be exact (and 28 years for a winner outside the top flight). But while this season’s cup events are great in the romantic stakes, in reality is such a final good for the game?
Judging by how the competition has gone so far, it wouldn’t be the biggest shocker if Cardiff defied the odds (currently 5/3 compared to Portsmouth 1/3) and lifted the trophy taking with it a likely route into Europe.
Despite initial doubts over whether the Welsh Club would be allowed entrance into the Uefa Cup, there now appears to be little problem. Uefa president, Michel Platini, has already vowed to help Cardiff in their quest for admittance should they be crowned FA Cup champions on the 17th May. Uefa officials now expect an executive committee to issue the Bluebirds a wildcard into the Uefa Cup if they managed to go all the way.
Uefa spokesman, William Gaillard adds further weight to Cardiff’s support by saying, “From our point of view it would be sad if they win the FA Cup and cannot compete in Europe. There is a lot of sympathy for Cardiff and I would expect it [the executive committee] to go their way.”
Well deserved or a wasted place?
So with full support from the important people at Uefa, Cardiff’s inclusion in Europe looks set should they overcome Portsmouth. But while the romantics cheer, the more hard-nosed of football followers may mutter a jeer. After all, what can a 12th place Championship side achieve against some of Europe’s bigwigs?
Call me cynical - and while like every other girl I relish some romance - I prefer my football on the more pragmatic side with at least a hint of victory. Look at who Cardiff had to ’struggle’ past to make the final - Southern League Division One Midland’s Chasetown FC, League Two’s Hereford, Wolves, Middlesbrough and then the Championship’s 22nd place Barnsley. Granted the Bluebirds should be credited with their victory over Middlesbrough and, to some degree, Wolves, but does this journey really warrant, or prepare them for, Europe?
I am not so jaded that there isn’t some part of me wishing Cardiff through. Something does tug on my heart strings and think how ‘nice’ it would be for them to experience such an event. However, isn’t the Champions League and Uefa Cup meant to be a stage taken by Europe’s finest? I’m just not sure Cardiff are that.
So who instead?
Well the most obvious choice would be the sixth best team in English football and that now looks like three-horse-race between Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers.
Fellow FA Cup finalists overcame 11 times winners, reigning Premiership champions and one of the world’s best in Manchester United to earn their place in the semis. Currently sixth in the table, Pompey have also held their own with the ‘giants’ on more than one occasion in the league, picking up points with United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Seventh place Aston Villa have had a good season under Martin O’Neill. Despite having only a 19-man squad at his disposal, the Irishman has done his job tremendously, leading fans to victories over Chelsea (and not forgetting that epic 4-4 Boxing Day draw), Everton and Blackburn. And is there a better manager to lead a team into Europe? After all O’Neill took Celtic to the Uefa Cup final in 2003 and to the quarterfinals in 2004.
And finally to Blackburn. Manager Mark Hughes is no stranger to European success as a player winning the European Cup Winners Cup twice, once with Manchester United and again with Chelsea. I would imagine he’d give anything to earn the honour as a manager.
While I am reluctant to pledge alliance to the imposing force of the top flight, it simply comes down to the realism of it all. At a time where English fans have voiced their opinions loud and clear about where they want to be on a Europe and Global stage, I’m just not convinced having a middle weight Championship side as one of our representatives in the Uefa Cup helps the cause.
Tags: Cardiff City, FA CUP, Football, Uefa Cup
