Man U vs Everton Semi Final FA Cup Preview
This Sunday Manchester United and Everton will be competing for a spot in the FA Cup final. Given the talent still left in the competition this year, the Toffees are inevitably viewed as the underdogs, but Everton fans will be hoping for a repeat of 1995, when as underdogs they beat United at the old Wembley thanks to a Paul Rideout winner. Although Everton were the favourites to beat relegation battlers Boro in the last round, by beating Liverpool and Villa earlier in the competition Everton hve already proven they are more than capable of punching above their weight in this competition. Plus this season in the league the Toffees drew at Goodison Park and we were only beaten by a late penalty at Old Trafford, so feel more than capable of nicking a goal at the crucial moment.
A victory over United will mean even more to the Everton faithful as Wayne Rooney is expected to start. Rooney was a passionate Everton fan as a boy and was an Everton player when he first found fame as an exceptionally talented teenager. A big money move to United in 2004 did however sour his relationship with Goodison Park. Although Rooney would claim that there is a big part of him that will remain forever blue, he will not allow childhood loyalty to get in the way of going all out to beat former employers. Rooney has already missed out on one cup final this season, a Carling Cup success over Tottenham, and he is keen to shine at Wembley this time around.
The one note of controversy related to this tie so far is that although many blues are undoubtedly looking forward to their team playing at one of football's greatest stages, David Moyes and others do not share this view as they think hosting the semis at Wembley dilutes the achievement of reaching the FA Cup Final. As is only too common with football these days, this change was due to money rather than sentiment, with a view to this helping to pay the costs of building the new stadium. However venue aside, the tie is likely to be a thrilling emotive encounter. What a weekend of football ahead!
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