Pinch me, I must be dreaming. How has this happened? We're through to Semi Finals of the F.A Cup! Lets just take a moment to think about what that means. The huge achievement that this result actually is. What's even better is we're making a mockery of all the Premiership sides (and the BBC) whilst we do it. A mockery of all those fans who believe that their team should be there instead of us, basically at the very least fans of all 14 other Premiership sides who will not be in the draw tomorrow (with the addition of 2 in a weeks time). The victory is even greater because of the build up, the fact it appeared everyone wanted Plymouth to win and most importantly the pressure Holloway tried to place on our players. BBC certainly wanted us to lose. The build up on football focus on Saturday couldn't have been more bias neither could the Five-Live build up I heard during Blackburn Vs Man City. Fair enough we all like to see the underdogs win, but were Plymouth really proper underdogs? The BBC seemed to ignore the fact 'little Plymouth' don't have to compete with the 'big' London clubs for fans, oh and the fact 'the little village of Plymouth' (as Holloway called it), is actually a City, and over three times the size of Watford. In my opinion it would not have been a shock if Plymouth had won, they were the home team with a good record etc, whilst we are a team low on confidence. This wasn't a match between two uneven sides, as I've said before the gap between the bottom Premiership sides and the Championship is not that great. It must have escaped the BBC's attention that we drew with Plymouth twice last season and lost away the year before. The BBC made it clear how important the game was to Plymouth fans, calling it 'revenge' for 1984. Just how have they got away with (in my opinion) 'glamorising' (by suggesting it shows passion) the savage act, by the Plymouth fan who bit and tore off, half of George Reilly's ear? As you may tell I had a real issue with the build up to this game and more importantly with the actions of the BBC and I haven't even started on the kick-off time, 6.00pm on a Sunday! How the BBC and the F.A only communicated with Plymouth when arranging the fixture is a disgrace, the excuse 'if it was mid week etc etc' doesn't wash. Well done to all who were able to get to the game. 'The sea of yellow' was obvious, not that the BBC acknowledged your existence, or the reason why the club was forced to pay for the coaches. This was the BBC's weekend of sport for the armchair fan, the expert on all that is football, the fan that can sit and moan about how rubbish a game of football is, thereby missing the point in the achievement of both sides in getting so far. This match was never going to be a classic, the BBC tried to pretend it was going to be, but I think fans from both sides expected a nervy and scrappy game. Well I did anyway. I predicted a 1.0 win. Notable changes included Powell in for Stewart and Damien Francis back in central midfield alongside Mahon, Kabba upfront with Priskin, but the most crucial was Foster back in goal. Watford started brightly and Plymouth looked edgy. But there were few real chances, until a moment of magic by Bouazza and a lack of concentration by the Plymouth defence, but such is the way games are won and lost (as we are well aware from a season in the top-flight). In a league game against Plymouth I think that they'd have collapsed and we'd have taken advantage but this was not a normal game for either sets of players or fans. Plymouth had nothing to lose, and as has been our way we started to defend after going a goal up, meaning 70 minutes of needless agony for our fans. We never stamped our authority on the game, and Plymouth is a difficult ground to visit on most occasions let alone one as important as this. I initially felt frustrated by our performance during the match, but in hindsight that takes credit away, credit which Plymouth deserve, for the spirit they showed. But most of our players also deserve credit for the grit and determination they showed in hanging on, despite the pressure Plymouth fans led by Holloway tried to place upon them. Though I must admit I was almost hoarse by the end of the game, my TV receiving various verbal assaults due to my frustration. Ben Foster made some outstanding saves and looked confident on crosses, Shittu made life difficult for the attackers as did Mahon who appeared to be running midfield on his own again. As the game wore on it was evident that despite all Plymouths possession they didn't really know what to do with it - more so as the reality of defeat began to sink in and as the crowd became increasingly silent. Of course we all want our teams to play well and to win, BUT this is certainly one game where the result was so much more important than the performance. Ask a Plymouth fan. This is a fantastic result for the club, and the more I think about it the more fantastic it becomes. The last cup run and semi-final appearance in 2003 helped save us from administration, a little bit of perspective of how far we've come in such a short space of time. We might be going down, but an F.A Cup Semi Final appearance (who dares to dream we can get further?) is a great consolation prize. Lets savour this moment and enjoy our day out, wherever that is. Thanks for your comments as always!
good post mate i cant agree more with you about the bbc they dont care about us to be honest i think they hate watford they all ways put us on last on match of the day every week and then give us a 6pm kick off on a sunday night just because they want to show 22 men running after a egg its and they all ways slag us off and always putting as down its a joke but thats the bbc for you anyway back to the match as i had to work i missed the frist half but once i finsh work stright to the pub to see us winning great i was over the moon i got a pint in sat down and watch us defend defend and defend lol that sumed up the second half i cant comment on the frist half as i missed it but what i saw of the second well done to the lads they denfend great we did ride are luck at times but to win a cup you need luck and we got it today so well done to the lads and for the watford fans yes they where great again abit gutted i could not make it as i had work and not alot of money so i was gutted but well done to the fans who went all that way you did us proud again and for the semi i will be attending as im not mising another semi fainl so i look forward to the draw 2mz i and a great day out on the 14th or 15th of april :]]
Superb write up as per usual Aber. Great to get a perspective of somebody who wasn't actually at the game but still goes through all the same emotions.
