We’re On The Road To Wembley: The FA Cup’s Semi-Finalists

Leicester City lead the Premiership. Tottenham are having their best run in a very long time. Arsenal have won the past two FA Cups.

None of these three teams feature in the Semi-Finals.

Instead, Manchester United, Everton, Crystal Palace and Watford will be vying for the title – whichever team does take the crown, it’ll have been a long time waiting for each, and for different reasons.

In the first Semi-Final, Manchester United take on Everton – two teams that already have multiple FA Cup trophies between them, but it’s been a long drought for both sides. The Red Devils last won in 2003/04, when they beat a then-Championship side in Millwall. History might look favourably for Everton – despite it being 21 years since they last had the glory of lifting the cup, they did against their opponents this weekend – Manchester United.

The second Semi-Final pits two teams that have never won the trophy together – Crystal Palace vs. Watford. What makes this match even more interesting is that both teams have reached the finals before, but never won: For Crystal Palace’s only appearance, they lost to Manchester United, and Watford’s only appearance was a loss against Everton – meaning there’s a good chance of a repeat final yet again!

United beat then Championship side Millwall for their last FA Cup success, back in 2003/04.

Manchester United
Premier League Position: 5th
FA Cup Wins: 11th (Last: 2003/04 Season)

It’s been hard for United fans in the past two years for the FA Cup – seeing Arsenal not only equal, but then surpass, their record for most FA Cup victories, but this year marks their best opportunity to take the trophy that’s eluded them for the past twelve years.

They’re the highest placed team left in the competition, having seen other favourites fall in shock losses throughout the contest – and as the only team in the top half of the Premier League left, it almost feels as if it’s an open goal for them to now score – but does doubt still remain? Van Gaal’s been criticised continually for his tactics this season, which has seen United sitting out of the Top 4 for some time now (but still easily within touch of a late surpassing of either Arsenal or Manchester City in front of them).

To solidify his place – and to win some supporters back – an FA Cup success may be the ticket.

Everton’s 5th and most recent win came against their semi-finalist opponents this weekend – Manchester United – in 1995.

Everton
Premier League Position: 11th
FA Cup Wins: 5 (Last: 1994/95 Season)

Despite being safely in the mid-table, Roberto Martinez has been receiving heavy criticism of the way he’s been managing Everton recently – not helped by a 4-0 demolishing in the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool. Yet for Martinez, this is familiar territory – in fact, he’s the most recent manager outside of Arsene Wenger to lift the FA Cup trophy when he took Wigan to an astonishing victory against Manchester City in the 2012/13 final.

For Everton as a club, they’ve actually been in the FA Cup final more recently than their opponents on Saturday – last appearing in 2008/09 (scoring the fastest FA Cup final goal in history in the process) in an eventual loss to Chelsea. Could they cause United to stumble up yet again?

Crystal Palace
Premier League Position: 16th
FA Cup Wins: 0 (Most recent final: 1989/90)

Could we be in for a repeat?

Crystal Palace have yet to win the FA Cup, but they have made it to the final previously – in 1989/90, where they played Manchester United, who had an under pressure manager (sound familiar?). Back then, the final could have a replay – in which they managed to do with a 3-3 draw, but eventually they lost to the Red Devils 1-0 – who could end up as their finalist opponents yet again!

Palace’s eye may still be on the Premier League though – while they sit a comfortable 8 points ahead of Norwich behind them, they’re not mathematically safe just yet; likewise they’re only 2 points behind two of their rivals in the FA Cup who are four and five places ahead of them in the league.

Watford
Premier League Position: 12th
FA Cup Wins: 0 (Most recent final: 1983/84)

Speaking of repeat finals…

Watford have only appeared once in an FA Cup final before, in a losing effort to… yup, you guessed it: Everton. In a solid, if quiet, season for the team, one might foolishly overlook them… apart from they are the team to have knocked out the current holders Arsenal. That, alongside playing the lowest ranked team left in the competition in the semis, could give Watford quite the opportunity to reach their second ever final.

So who will it be? All we know for sure is one team who’s never won will get the opportunity to be in the final, and that their opponents will be hungry to end their FA Cup drought.

Ashley Redman
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