Perhaps the FA Cup just isn’t that important anymore? Maybe supporters brought up in the Premier League era do not give the oldest cup competition in the world the same kudos that it was once afforded? Perhaps in this day and age, when fourth place is king and relegation a fate worse than death, they are right. However Southampton have no chance of making fourth place this season, indeed it is difficult to put a case for them finishing higher than the 8th place they currently inhabit, or lower than the 9th spot that has been theirs for the last couple of months. They are, along with Newcastle, one of only two teams below Manchester United with no chance of being sucked into the scramble to avoid the drop. So why did they not move heaven and earth to win yesterdays fifth round FA Cup tie at the Stadium of Light? Gus Poyet, whose team already have a League Cup Final to look forward to and made 10 changes to yesterdays side, half admitted before the game that defeat might be a preferable option.
Football supporters are not naive, staying in the Premier League is of the utmost importance, although it would be interesting to know how Wigan supporters feel about this. Did that day out at Wembley last May make up for relegation? Was one gloriously unforgettable afternoon more satisfying than another season of fighting the drop and getting beaten week in week out? Regardless of the answer, that question applies to Sunderland this year and not Southampton. Saints have a fantastic, energetic and young team with a bright future, indeed everywhere one looked or listened over the past few days, observers were bigging up their chances in the cup. The top four were drawn together, suddenly there could be an easy path through to the semis, and then who knows what might happen? If only there was an example of an unfancied club winning the FA Cup against the odds in the last year or so.
However, instead of going 100% for Sunderland yesterday, Mauricio Pochettino chose to make six changes from the team that beat Hull City in the week. Jay Rodriguez, currently one of the hottest strikers away from home in the Premier League was dropped. Out too was Jose Fonte, the only fit and reliable centre back at the club, to be replaced by Jos Hooiveld. Jos may be a good guy and once a great player for Saints in the lower divisions, but much like J-Rod’s stand in, Guly do Prado, he is simply no longer up to the task. You can perhaps make a case for Morgan Schneiderlin being moved aside for Victor Wanyama, but does a 24 year old professional footballer really need a rest? In any case, Southampton have a full week to recover after this match before an away trip to West Ham, and I know which game most supporters would rather have lost.
So why did it happen? Who is to blame? Are foreign coaches simply not in tune to the importance of the FA Cup, to the desire of fans to have a day out at Wembley? Personally the 2010 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley will always remain one of my greatest days as a football supporter. Red and white filled half of the stadium that day and the goosebumps rise on my arms now just thinking about it. Perhaps the ominous threat of the Europa League caused Pochettino to sabotage his teams chances? After all who wants European football these days, apart from a majority of the supporters of course. Yes, being in the continent’s much maligned second club competition brings with it the danger of reduced league form, but surely that can be managed correctly? Southampton have the best academy in the country, a team comprised of younger players, with one or two seniors for guidance, could have taken the field in that competition. What fantastic preparation that would be for the youngsters at a club proclaiming to have genuine Champions League ambition?
Most depressing is the thought that if Saints are not prepared to have a proper crack at winning a trophy this season, when will they? If relegation were even a distant proposition I would understand the weakened team selection, had they been in touching distance of fourth place then yes, there is justification to make that the priority. But neither of those are the case, instead a golden opportunity for silverware, or at least a day out at Wembley has been squandered, and at what cost? Would Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and Adam Lallana be more inclined to stay at the club if it could aid their development with European football? Now any offer these players receive in the summer will be a little harder to turn down, after all Southampton are a club that can’t even be bothered to try and win the FA Cup. And who wants to play for, or support, a club that is not interested in going for glory when that rare opportunity presents itself?
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