Source: Daily_Mail
FA Cup final classic at Wembley would resuscitate the FA Cup: DES KELLY
ShareThe noise alone will prove there is still some life in the grand old trophy. The new Wembley will echo with a ground-shaking roar that wobbles the mighty arch and puts Sir Norman Foster's expensive stadium foundations to the test. It's not quite a death rattle; it's not quite the last gasp for the competition. But there is no doubt it is fighting for breath.[LNB]The FA Cup is being suffocated as the Premier League muscles in on this once sacrosanct football festival, stealing away the precious oxygen of publicity with its unrelenting demand for attention.[LNB] Magical moments: It cannot be beyond the wit of the game to organise a single day when the world's oldest football competition is given some breathing space and respect[LNB]Get more from Des on Twittertwitter.com/DesKellyDM[LNB]The stage should have been cleared for Manchester City and Stoke City. This is a time when we should care whichteam is in what hotel, relive Dennis Tueart goals and admire specially tailored suits. Instead, the Premier League ruthlessly pressed a foot onthe FA's windpipe by scheduling matches involving eight other clubs.[LNB] More from Des Kelly... Des Kelly: How do you stop Messi? Sir Alex might just know!06/05/11 Des Kelly: Jose Mourinho has a point, Barcelona DO get away with it29/04/11 Des Kelly: Stress? Managers should just think of their ?3m salaries23/04/11 Des Kelly: Farcical exodus illustrates FA's serious contempt for football fans15/04/11 Des Kelly: I'll cut out the curses - Rooney can do it too!08/04/11 Des Kelly: You don't ask for respect... you demand it01/04/11 Des Kelly: Why England will NEVER be winners25/03/11 Des Kelly: Manchester City's maniac Mario Balotelli is no King Eric18/03/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE So, before City or Stoke lift the trophy, Manchester United could be crowned title winners for an historicand record-breaking 19th time, while Blackburn, Blackpool and Wolves will be patching up their wounds and nervously waiting to hear if their bloody scrap for survival in the top flight goes on.[LNB]These scene-stealers prompted Stoke manager Tony Pulis to say the clash was 'disgusting', while Tottenham's Harry Redknapp complained it was a 'scandal'. I'd say they were both being diplomatic.[LNB]It cannot be beyond the wit of the game to organise a single day when the world's oldest football competition is given some breathing space and respect. Even if you care little about the fate of Manchester City or Stoke, even if you believe the FA Cup has been eclipsed in recent years, the occasion still warrants special recognition.[LNB]The FA Cup is not the richest, most prestigious or alluring club tournament any more the Champions League has that prize wrapped up, complete with sponsored ribbons and bows. But it is pretty much all we have to remind us that football is not just for the elite. [LNB]It is for every club; for all the amateurs and semi-pros who set foot on the pitch dreaming that one day their shoestring outfit might just pull off a one-in-a-million shock. The FA Cup is the last bastion of that almost forgotten principle that any David can topple Goliath on any given day.[LNB]Of course, these days Goliath has someone else tying his laces for him and is encouraged to be too big for his boots. Manchester City are living evidence of that modern phenomenon with their new-found wealth and ambition. [LNB]Even so, the FA Cup would be a precious bauble, not least so that banner at Old Trafford, taunting them for 35 years of trophy drought, will become obsolete overnight. The silverware will signify they are ready to establish themselves as equals in Europe's Platinum Club.[LNB] Happy memories: Cup final day should be about caring which team is in what hotel, reliving Dennis Tueart goals and admiring specially tailored suits[LNB]But City's real aim is the Champions League. Like so many others, they are looking past the FA Cup to another horizon. Which explains why Stoke are the neutral's choice. Some moan about the tactics of Tony Pulis's side but that is too simplistic a stereotype - as the 3-1 cruise past Arsenal and the 5-0 semi-final thrashing of Bolton demonstrated. [LNB]And this trophy is always about the underdog. Yes, the FA Cup's heart might be failing, it might even be on its way to intensive care, but one almighty shock will resuscitate the competition and bring it back to life, if only for a while.[LNB]And the FA's big idea is... do nothingThe Football Association is preparing to 'back no-one' in the upcoming FIFA presidential election. [LNB]This would be entirely in keeping with FA policy over years past, which was to have no-one in charge, no-one accepting responsibility, no-one saying anything that might cause a fuss and no-one prepared to tell Sepp Blatter and his corrupt cronies where they can stick their governing body.[LNB]But enough about Geoff Thompson. New FA chairman David Bernstein hints he proudly intends to stick with tradition by abstaining at the forthcoming vote.[LNB] I'll be back: FIFA president Sepp Blatter is likely to be voted in for yet another helm at the top of world football[LNB]Blatter will be re-elected to office regardless, despite the fact that a large proportion of his executive committee stand accused of being on the take or, more likely, because of it.[LNB]Lord Triesman, another ex-chairman and Bernstein's predecessor, levelled a series of damning allegations against Blatter's generals during a Parliamentary inquiry.[LNB]When he was in office, Triesman said nothing about FIFA demands for knighthoods, ?2.5m 'donations', Royal Wedding invitations and a night with Victoria Beckham (only the last is made up). He turned a blind eye or played along while the 2018 campaign chief Andy Anson described media expos?s of this deceitful international cabal's corruption as 'unpatriotic'.[LNB] Claims: But why did Lord Triesman wait until now to accuse Nicolas Leoz, Jack Warner, Ricardo Teixeira and Worawi Makudi[LNB]So what next? Take a look at the latest developments and see if you can detect a common thread. Blatter has paid investigators to look into his own organisation as if that's ever going to get to the bottom of it. MPs here say they want to quiz Blatter over FIFA corruption as if that's ever going to... etc.[LNB]And the FA investigation is led by the QC who worked on the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly as if that's.. oh, you know the rest.[LNB]The Irish-born statesman Edmund Burke said: 'All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph in the world is that good men to do nothing.' Or, in this case, to look like they are doing something when it's nothing at all.[LNB][LNB]'Yellowy liquid'... sounds familiarPaul Merson made the astonishing claim this week that Arsenal once supplied him with an unknown substance that he could only identify as a 'yellowy product'. [LNB]Analysis suggests Merson's blood may indeed have been contaminated. Sources found evidence of a designer drug they think is called 'Hein-E-Ken'. There were also traces of a Belgian stimulant, 'Artois', sold throughout Europe by an agent known only as 'Stella'.[LNB][LNB] Yellowy liquid? Paul Merson made some intriguing claims about his time playing under Arsene Wenger[LNB]It's not what your country can do for youChoosing when you might like to play for your country is arguably the greatest arrogance in sport. [LNB]Now the talented, but not quite talented enough, goalkeeper Ben Foster has decided to turn his back on the international scene, citing 'injury fears' as his reason and not because he has grown frustrated at playing understudy to Joe Hart.[LNB]Foster assures everyone he will not close the door on England forever and would be prepared to consider a return one day. How kind.[LNB]Personally, I'd bolt that door from the other side and leave him there. Along with Rob Green and any other player who believes it is not about what they can do for their country, but what their country can do for them.[LNB][LNB] Arrogance: Ben Foster has turned his back, albeit temporarily, on England [LNB]Target TigerI have always wanted to play golf like Tiger Woods. After the American shot six over par through the firstnine holes and then hobbled off the course, that ambition is within reach.[LNB]Haye flawed by puerile trash talkDavid Haye inflicted a huge psychological blow on his rival Wladimir Klitschko during those heavyweight pre-fight press conferences. In an extraordinary moment, one that is sure to go down in the annals of sporting history, Britain's heavyweight champion turned to his heavyweight rival and declared: 'Na-ner na-ner ner.'[LNB]Belt up: David Haye has been full of his usual derogatory pre-fight hype[LNB]Klitschko hit back by thumbing his nose and blowing a series of raspberries, but Haye responded by sticking out his tongue and saying 'Your Momma is so fat, the back of her neck looks like a pack of sausages.' Observers are wondering if the fight might be over before it has even begun.[LNB]Actually, I wish the debate had been this highbrow. [LNB]The sight of two grown men trading puerile insults, ostensibly to drum up ticket sales, was a depressing pantomime. [LNB]'I am literally going to take Klitschko's head off,' said Haye, displaying that familiar absence of taste, combined with a new and profound misunderstanding of the word 'literally'. We heard his opponent was a fraud, imposter, only fought puddings, wore big shoulder pads, and so on. [LNB]But this is the conundrum with Haye. He wants the public to like him. He has even dipped a toe in that celebrity quiz and chat show hinterland stalked by the Patsy Palmers of this world, preparing for a time when he has no discernible job, either.[LNB]But then he opens his mouth and his popularity collapses faster than Audley Harrison. This, remember, is the boxer who said his last contest would be 'like a gang rape'.[LNB]Haye is now boasting he cannot wait to see Klitschko 'twitching on the canvas'. The idiocy of it all is we know their fight will end with the winner declaring his sincere regard for an opponent he previously described as pond scum and vowed to put on a ventilator.[LNB]But just when you thought you had let out your last, weary sigh, Haye said something truly offensive. He announced his victory would honour the memory of the late Sir Henry Cooper. [LNB]As if this great gentleman of the ring would ever have associated himself with such pathetic trash talk.[LNB][LNB] Why can't we be friends: The animosity between Haye and Wladimir Klitschko has seemed somewhat forced at press conferences[LNB]Sum to make a head swimThe preparations for the 2012 Olympics have been remarkably smooth. But one glitch surrounds the completion of the Aquatics Centre, which is now two months behind schedule. Problems with the air temperature inside the stadium mean more alterations to the ?269million building.[LNB]Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive Dennis Hone explained: 'Quite a lot of resources are going in. I can't say if the cost is likely to go up or down.' Let's take a wild guessup?[LNB][LNB]Remote control mix-upIf you're going to poke fun at someone, best to make sure you poke the right place (Is this another piece about super-injunctions? - Ed). [LNB]While mocking the spurious invention of extra countries by a broadcaster last week, I sat on my remote and mixed up my ITV with my Sky. Apologies to the geographically sound folk at ITV. It was Sky Sports creating nations, presumably so they could sell more subscriptions. [LNB]Luckily, I am now back from the different planet I have been on myself of late.[LNB] Exclusive: FA caught up in bitter beer war as Budweiser set to be named new Cup sponsorsExclusive: FA Cup Final flags printed with wrong names ahead of Wembley clash[LNB] Explore more:People: David Haye, Harry Redknapp, Sepp Blatter, Tiger Woods, Victoria Beckham, Tony Pulis, David Kelly, Joe Hart, Geoff Thompson, Paul Merson, Ben Foster Places: Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe Organisations: Football Association, Olympic Delivery Authority
