I don’t think I’m alone when I say that the F.A Cup is the biggest domestic cup in the world. The passion and fight that comes from teams is admirable, this years F.A Cup is an example involving Tony Pulis’s Stoke City, they first ever F.A Cup final after a thumping 5-0 win over Bolton at Wembley. They will be known as the underdogs all the way up until Saturdays kick off but you should never, ever write Stoke City off.
Etherington celebrating his goal against Bolton but will he star in this weekend's final?
My opinion of Stoke has changed alot over the years, I remember them getting promoted in the 07-08 season, with a countless number of loan players, Cardiff City are this years example, and I suppose it has to be done, the teams who make the most of loaning Premier League players prove to be successful whether they’re battling for promotion or survival. This was the beginning of the future for Stoke City, a future which is looking bright, next season they’ll be competing in the Europa League, which will attract more players to an already improving squad, Kenwyne Jones is a top class striker and Huth and Showcross are the backbone of such a strong, well organised team, I think that all three could get into most premier league sides.
Kenwyne Jones, Stokes top goalscorer
Stoke’s style of play has been called boring by many but alot of respect has to go into the way they play and I think this could well get them the F.A Cup this Saturday against the most expensive team in the League. Robert Huth and Matthew Etherington are both fighting injury battles and both could be major losses in the Stoke side, Huth was brought off in Stoke’s 3-1 win over Arsenal and Etherington tore his hamstring against Wolves when the teams last met but has been recovering well and could make a return.
This final is going to mean as much to City as it does to Stoke but in a totally different way. I honestly can’t choose a winner for this years F.A Cup final, In the red corner is the strength and steel of Stoke City and in the blue corner the million dollar babies Man City who have players with phenomenal technical ability in all parts of the pitch.