English Top Flight Also-Rans

With the promotion of Norwich City, Watford and Brentford, and the relegation of Fulham, the number of clubs in the English Premier League who have never been English champions increases from 5 to 7.

Since the start of the Premier League in 1992, the number of clubs each season who have not previously won the title are as follows:

Consecutive FA Cup Finals

Chelsea’s defeat in the final of the FA Cup this weekend is the ninth time that a club has lost back to back FA Cup Finals. The various occasions are as follows:

• Old Etonians, 1875, 1876.
• Queen’s Park, 1884, 1885.
• West Bromwich Albion, 1886, 1887.
• Derby County, 1898, 1899.
• Newcastle United, 1905, 1906.
• Manchester United, 1957, 1958.
• Everton, 1985, 1986 (although they had won in 1984 to make it three finals in four years).
• Newcastle United, 1998, 1999.
• Chelsea, 2020, 2021.

Spurs And The FA Cup Revisited (In A Year Ending with “1”)

In May 2001, I wrote:

A widespread belief, especially among Spurs fans, used to be that Spurs would win the FA Cup in a year ending with the digit “1”.  Spurs have won the FA Cup 8 times, of which 5 have been in years ending with “1”, namely, 1901, 1921, 1961, 1981 and 1991.  The other three wins were in 1967, 1962 and 1982.  Spurs’ one and only defeat in an FA Cup Final was in 1987.

Since Spurs were formed in 1882, in the years ending with “1” in which they have participated in the FA Cup, Spurs did not win in 1911, 1931, 1951, 1971 and 2001 (they did not participate in 1891 and there was no competition in 1941 due to World War II).  How about this – since they first participated in the FA Cup in the 1894-95 season, Spurs have won the FA Cup in years ending in “1” except where in the preceding year (the year ending with “0”):

Arsenal or Chelsea win the FA Cup; or

A Yorkshire club (other than Huddersfield Town) are the beaten finalists.

Years Ending With … Germany

So Germany have won the World Cup. Which means that, since the resumption of the World Cup after World War II, they have won every World Cup held in a year ending with the number “4”, except for 1994 (winning it in 1990 instead). Germany (or West Germany before re-unification) have won the World Cup in 1954 (in Switzerland), 1974 (in West Germany), 1990 (in Italy) and now 2014 (in Brazil).

Which brings me back back to an old superstition – Spurs winning the FA Cup in years ending with the number “1”:

FA Cup Final Scores

Manchester City’s 0-1 loss to Wigan Athletic in yesterday’s FA Cup Final means that of the 10 finals they have been in, 5 or 50% have ended 1-0.

That is a higher proportion of 1-0s than for any other club that has reached 9 or more FA Cup finals.

FA Cup Final 2013 – Manchester City v Wigan Athletic

Moving away from the distraction of David Moyes replacing Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, three weeks ago, I noted:

The cup finals in England, Spain and Italy this season all involve two clubs from the same city/metropolitan area – all Madrid final in Spain, all Rome final in Italy and all Greater Manchester final in England.

Double checked, and Wigan is part of the Greater Manchester metropolitan county, but not part of the Greater Manchester urban area.

Last Eight To Finals Of The League Cup, 2012-2013

The 2013 League Cup Final on 24 February 2013 between Swansea City and Bradford City has been notable for the following:

• Swansea City are the first Welsh club to win the League Cup.
• This is only the second occasion that a Welsh club has won either of the two major domestic cup competitions in England.  The previous occasion was in 1927, when Cardiff City defeated Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.   The only other occasions a Welsh club has reached the final of either cup competition were in 1925, 2008 and 2012, with Cardiff City losing on each occasion – 1925 FA Cup Final 0-1 to Sheffield United, 2008 FA Cup 0-1 to Portsmouth and 2012 League Cup Final on penalties to Liverpool after a 2-2 draw.
• Bradford City are only second fourth tier club to reach the final of either of the two major domestic cup competitions in England.  The first Rochdale, who also reached the League Cup Final, in 1962, losing over two legs to Norwich City 0-4 on aggregate.

Liverpool And Manchester United Revisited

When Manchester United won the English title in 1967, they equalled the record of 7 titles held jointly by Arsenal and Liverpool, ahead of Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland on 6 each.

FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Everton

Chelsea meet Everton in the FA Cup Final on tomorrow.  This will be the 15th major domestic cup final for both Chelsea and Everton.

Chelsea have reached the FA Cup Final 8 times before (winning 4) and the League Cup Final 6 times (winning 4 as well).  Everton have reached the FA Cup Final 12 times before (winning 5) and the League Cup Final twice (without having won).

How The Game Has Changed

Alan Hansen is right when he says

Things have changed a lot in English football since I was playing for Liverpool and chasing several trophies in the way Manchester United are now.

On the other hand, he is not correct to say that “the biggest difference” is that “United have got more strength in depth than the others [Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea] put together.”