Shock to the system

Well we got what we wanted.

We have all begged for a change from the "big four" domination of the cup and now we have it.

The semi final line up is Portsmouth against West Brom and Barnsley versus Cardiff.

Three teams from outside the Premier League in the final four. Chelsea, United and Middlesbrough all knocked out in the quarter finals.

Fantastic.

So while people like us, who sat through all the available games on the BBC, will watch the semis and final, regardless of who is in them, the TV viewing figures for the two games at Wembley and the final will be interesting.

While the entire BBC Football presenting team was out and about at the weekend, you can bet that the managers back at base were not too pleased.

Last years final (Utd vs Chelsea) had peak viewing figures of 12.9 million.

2006 (Liverpool vs West Ham) had peak figures of 9 million despite being a far superior game to last years horror show.

While we may not care about the BBC and its figures the FA will.

Its showpiece game will not get close to those figures this year. Combine this with England's no show at Euro 2008 and the FA will be facing a bleak few months.

The FA cup is also aggresively marketed around the world. While I am sure there are a few West Brom and Cardiff fans in Africa and Asia, for most casual viewers, in Ireland, the UK and the rest of the world, there is no way they will tune into a game between two teams from the championship.

Why should we care?

Well the FA have meddled with the cup before, remember 2000 and the World Club Championship?

Don't be surprised if the campaign for Champions League teams to skip to the fourth round or abolition of replays to be floated before next years competition.

TV drives football these days. Settle down with a few beers on May 17th.

It could be the last "real" cup final