Brighton v Hull City or Arsenal v Liverpool? Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic or Manchester City v Chelsea?
The fifth round of the FA Cup draw has now been made and, with Brentford already having abandoned proceedings, the main focal point for me is which treats we will be served up by the TV companies when the games recommence.
I’d love it to be the Brighton and Wigan ties but I can’t see the directors at ITV having the balls. In each case, you have a Premiership side playing a decent Championship outfit and so a very real chance of a ‘Goliath’ being scalped. Likewise, these are the two Premiership teams with, possibly, the most controversial owners in Christendom.
To read the rest of this article, season 2013/14 is now available to download onto Kindle, in full. Containing previously unseen content, you can do so here for less than the cost of one matchday programme.
Thanks for reading over the course of the campaign. For now I need to make space on this page for any follow up. The ‘close season’ / World Cup columns continue in full, further on in this site.
BrentfordFC 
Hmmmm, I agree with the sentiments. Sort of. However, those two big ties have the potential to be superb and ITV won’t be missing those.
I again kind to agree, as a city fan I know what a good game if will be against Chelsea. It’s will be different to a league game, but to watch Brigton v Hull, I think sums up the FA cup..
MCFC, AFC & LFC all play entertaining footy. CFC – who can bore the pants off a blind man – won’t be able to nullify the game at The Etihad in the same way they did at Old Trafford of The Emirates. But do agree that it’s the teams from the lower divisions pitting their wits against the big boys which really deserves the exposure.
Further cheapens ITV, they want to show the top tier football but can only do so in cup competitions.
Of course ITV and the BBC showed contempt beforehand for the English game with fixing prices and only showing top tier matches usually with Liverpool being in the title before Sky.
Sky brought back English football (& the Simpsons) back to where it came from (and rest of the world).
Thankfully their days are numbered with internet steaming with choice to the consumer of live football just around the corner
Whilst I understand your sentiments, the TV channels, havr created their own problems. By speading the games over a couple of days. Some of the grounds were half full, no atmosphere.
It will thereforr be a certainty, the big teams will be broadcast live. However as an Arsenal supporter, we have a massive overseas following, In the middle east people wish to sea, Barcelona,Real Madrid, in Spain, or Arsenal or Man Utd in England.
What makes you think that all Hull fans are opposed to Dr Allam. Without him we would be where Portsmouth are now.Maybe you have never had to watch League 2 football? I have, and in front of 2300 fans.
Tiger Phil.(Hull fan of 50 years standing)
Morning Phil, many thanks for your comments.
Without getting into debate about the merits (or otherwise) of Doctor Allam and how he stopped your club becoming another Portsmouth, could I just clarify a couple of things.
I didn’t say all Hull fans are opposed to him – clearly he has at least one voice behind him (two, if you count Steve Bruce)
However, there is a clear movement in opposition to his plans and it is one I support.
Secondly, as a Brentford fan, I have seen plenty of League two football – although ‘only’ in front of 12,000 supporters. At least we were able to take some consolation by winning that title in both 98/99 and 08/09.
Much appreciated
Nick, please don’t give further oxygen to the vocal minority of Hull fans that continue to ask for unwarranted and unrealistic control over the club. The proposed name change only utilises the nickname that we have had throughout our history. Our club is enjoying the strongest owner we have ever had and if he believes this will form a better marketing brand outside the UK who can argue. I am a season ticket holder and have followed the team for over 50 years. Please don’t believe all you read in the media and stick to supporting things that you understand.
Thanks Phil.
That’s brilliant!
You have your opinion; I have mine. You are welcome to it, and I’m happy to print any reply (no matter how patronising) but please don’t think I’ll stop expressing my opinions, on my blog site, about what I can see going on around me
Brighton season ticket holder here? I can guarantee that the Amex won’t be half empty when Hull City come to our magnificent award winning stadium. And we’ll give Hull a good game. BT Sport have the option of a few games as well, so Wigan and the Seagulls will more than likely make it onto TV. My take on Vincent Tan is the same as Paul Merson’s. Anyone who tucks his football shirt inside his underpants should not be in charge of a football club!
It’s all down to ratings and ad money, I’m afraid. ITV know they will probably get higher ratings for Arsenal v Liverpool & Man City v Chelsea, so can sell more advertising at higher rates to persuade us blokes who watch, to buy new cars & lager….football is ust big business after all