2009 FA Cup Quarterfinal Draw
Premier League Top Teams Separated, Championship teams poised
While fives spots are yet to be filled due to replays, each team will still feel their cup hopes are alive and well.The draw sets up some glamorous fixtures for Championship hopefuls, but otherwise easy and welcome challenges for the Premier League title challengers.
Fulham/Swansea v. Manchester United
A brilliant draw for United even though it is an away fixture. While you cannot consider Fulham a cream-puff, United have made a habit of squeaking out games like this, even if their recent record in London has been shoddy with just one win in four trips.
However, United have been on a tear, destroying teams with a combination of ball possession, defense and just enough goals.
Swansea are a wild-card. Sitting just outside the playoffs in the Championship, the Welsh outfit are impressing with an incredible run and some very good football.
Fulham were lucky to pull a draw and force a replay, though their defense gives them a chance every time out.
Blackburn/Coventry v. Chelsea
This is great for Chelsea, although they may be wary of the prospect of taking on Sam Allardyce’s Rovers should they progress. Blackburn have been resurgent under their new boss, and they possess three very capable strikers in Benni McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz and Jason Roberts, plus a new-found fighting spirit, as evidenced in their dramatic last gasp equalizer versus Coventry.
Coventry showed strength in coming back from 1-0 down to lead Blackburn until Christopher Samba’s late strike, and they will feel especially dour knowing they could lose out on a massive tie with the Blues. However, one can only feel that Coventry would struggle in a tie with the fourth place side in the Premier League. Then again, this is the Cup.
Chelsea will be pleased that they were easy winners in the fifth round. And of the four top sides remaining Chelsea were the most in need of an easier draw. This competition is their most realistic hope of silverware and they have been in turmoil. New manager Guus Hiddink will have a little less to worry about now.
Arsenal/Cardiff City/Burnley v Sheffield Utd/Hull City
Arsenal and Cardiff City have yet to finish the fourth round, and then must face Burnley before this Quarter Final is sorted, while Sheffield United and Hull City will renew acquaintances next week to fill the other half. Cardiff, Burnley and Sheffield United are all near one another in the Championship standings, meaning that any match-up could carry much significance.
Meanwhile Arsenal will be hoping to exact revenge on Burnley before tussling with perennial cup foe Sheffield United. Arsenal knocked Sheffield out of the Carling Cup 6-0 earlier this term, so the Blades will be searching for revenge.
Hull City, should they survive the replay will certainly fancy their chances of making the semi-finals. They beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season and obviously would think they could beat a lower league team.
Everton v West Ham/Middlesbrough
The only assured all Premier League tie isn’t one to get the blood pumping, though West Ham and Everton have both enjoyed excellent veins of form recently.
Everton have reached their first Quarterfinal under David Moyes after the 3-1 win over Aston Villa. He believes his side are good enough to go all the way, and rightfully so with Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta in the form of their lives.
West Ham have enjoyed a nice run under Gianfranco Zola and they would provide a stern test for Everton. West Ham recently made an FA Cup Final, losing to Liverpool a few years back.
Middlesbrough have virtually slid off the Premier League map, but have had a knack in Cup competitions. They were beaten UEFA Cup finals two years ago and Carling Cup Champions before that. While no one would project them to reach the semi-finals this time out, stranger things have happened.
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