Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Last season saw a complete turnaround in the teams who were competing in the final stages after some amazing results in the quarter-finals. Ultimately it was Portsmouth who went on to defeat Cardiff 1-0 in the Wembley showpiece. This year, however, normal service has resumed with three of the top teams still in the draw at the semi-finals stage.
First up at the weekend were Chelsea with a tricky away game at Coventry who beat Blackburn in the previous round. Gus Hiddink had a 100 per cent record going into this game and to be honest it was never in doubt that it would continue as his side were far too good for the Championship side. Coventry manager Chris Coleman complained that the referee was 'arrogant' and made some poor decisions against his side but in reality Coventry were well beaten and he should have no complaints with the outcome.
Hiddink may well not have his side playing attractive football but there is at least a new unity that is not dissimilar to the attitude under Mourinho and Chelsea are now back in the running for all competitions.
United manager Alex Ferguson must have been watching with some interest as, having seen off Liverpool and assuming Chelsea were finished under Scolari, a wry smile must have crossed his face with Hiddink's appointment. He would have been right to have been a little wary as the Dutchman is a canny operator and whilst Ferguson is not having any sleepless nights, his preparation has probably stepped up an extra gear.
He played a fairly strong side against Fulham whose home record merits respect but, as with Chelsea, after 20 minutes this game never looked like going any other way than the favourites. Tevez and Rooney, in particular, were superb and in Vidic they may well have the best defender in the world. Two-nil up at half-time and 4-0 at full time did not flatter them and Roy Hodgson was full of praise for what is becoming an outstanding group of players. The quintuple is on, unlikely of course, but it is still a possibility and United fans will believe more than they did a month ago that Ferguson and his team can pull it off.
On Sunday it was Arsenal who had to overcome Burnley who had beaten them in the Carling Cup earlier in the season and this game was still a round behind due to the Gunners' games against Cardiff being postponed because of the weather - Hull City were waiting for them in the quarter-finals. As with the other matches there was no likelihood of shock and the 3-0 scoreline was as comfortable as it sounds.
Wenger has his team playing a more solid game at the moment and if their season can finish off strongly with maybe a cup win and some good summer signings then the heat that has been building up on him will vanish as quickly as it has been generated. A lot of the criticism has been entirely justified but to suggest there is a better man available to replace him is madness as many of the top sides in Europe have found out to their cost.
The last game was the most competitive of all and saw Everton come back from a half-time deficit to beat Middlesbrough 2-1. David Moyes is working wonders at Goodison Park and if he could only keep all his players fit then he would be a lot happier.
Moyes, however, may not have been so happy when he saw the draw on Sunday evening as his side are due to play Manchester United at Wembley in the first semi-final. The other will be an all-London affair should Arsenal get past Hull and it will be too close to call should that eventuality happen.
Either way, the chances are one of the top clubs will again win the FA Cup and, whilst it is nice to see the lesser teams contest the final, occasionally nothing beats a Wembley showpiece with two of the best sides in the country playing each other.
The romance of the cup is always welcome but keep it to the earlier rounds, I prefer my finals with the best sides playing for the most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world.
