Ok. So there was Tamworth. My bad.

Ok. So there was Tamworth. I tweeted Sunday, during a break driving back from Devon and forgot about Tamworth’s heroics v Spurs when I said I couldn’t see where a smaller club would’ve benefitted from a replay. Apolgies guys - and what a very good effort at glory you put in.

But. There’s always a ‘but’ isn’t there? I stand by what I said about FA Cup replays. They had to go. There’s no place for them in the game now.

And let’s not pretend that the ‘magic of the cup’ is diluted as a result. There isn’t any magic anymore. By the way - what a tired old cliche that is.

There hasn’t been any cup magic for years. Not since the days when Hereford could beat Newcastle on a mud bath of a pitch in the 70’s. Since Mickey Thomas and Wrexham could do the same to Arsenal in the 90’s.

Sutton United beating Coventry went down well in Surrey the season after the Sky Blues had won the cup - not the season we were holders - and there are others, but they don’t happen often nowadays. And if they do - there isn’t the same fuss.

Plymouth’s win at Brentford this weekend got respectful mentions, but no more.

So much is different. I noticed the Mirror’s Andy Dunn raging at everybody after Sheffield United’s limp performance v Cardiff last Thursday. Yes - Thursday. That was the first thing that upset Dunn.

In case you missed this non-event I should point out Cardiff beat United’s reserves 1-0 at Bramall Lane in front of 6,126 people.

That so few turned up disappointed Dunn as well and he was apoplectic when Chris Wilder said ‘the last 20 Championship games are all that matter now’. Spot on Chris. Of course they are.

Dunn’s take was different. ‘The FA cup used to matter to clubs such as Sheffield United’ he wrote. ‘And who we like to think of as traditional football men such as Wilder’. Ah. I see . Managers like Wilder are ‘traditional football men’ on occasions such as these, but they’re derided and called dinosaurs the rest of the time.

Wilder is right. Sheffield United have to get promoted this season. The FA a Cup is a distraction. Are they going to win it? No. So what’s the point?

Coventry made the mistake of going on a run last season. We won the semi-final v United, but were never going to be allowed to go back to Wembley. Does anyone seriously think our winner would’ve been ruled out had United scored it?

They reckon a cup run costs a team like Coventry - chasing a play-off place - at least six points. It cost us more. And eventually our manager Mark Robins.

In the last 20 years only Leicester, Wigan and Pompey have stopped one of the big six winning the FA Cup. And Leicester were a pretty good side when they won it. Cup magic? Really? Nope.

I’m sorry Tamworth, but it’s all very different now. The weekends drama came from the shoot-outs at Arsenal, Coventry and Hull and I don’t have a problem with that. Getting a result on the day adds jeopardy.

I’ve caught up with the game at Arsenal now. Fair play to United. That was another fine performance, but I had to smile when I saw Harry Maguire getting so upset with Havertz. What was it Maguire said ‘you cheating scumbag’? Has he ever said that to Fernandes? Or Rashford. Or Pogba when he was diving in the box after being sneezed on I wonder?

Do you remember that era when United were getting penalties every week until we called it out on beINSPORTS? Fernandes is still at it. And if I’m not mistaken - I’ve even seen Maguire tumble embarrassingly looking for a pen. Behave Harry.

A final word on the Cup. The new format didn’t stop some shocking old officiating habits from being repeated did it?

It’s great to have David Moyes back amongst us. Everton is his club. I know he’s always felt that. It’s fitting that he now gets a chance to lead the Toffees into a new stadium and a brand new era. And as I said in another tweet - we now have a Scot managing in the PL again. That’s very welcome also.

Karen Brady is pretty sure Graham Potter is going to win things at West Ham. I’m not. ‘We believe we have appointed not only a good man, but the right man’ she has said - just six months after saying this of Julen Lopetegui ‘Julen has been a breath of fresh air. He’s an experienced individual we believe can build on David’s (Moyes) work’.

David Moyes? Who out-performed the norm at West Ham in every season he was there? David Moyes? Who Brady sacked first time round to replace him with Manuel Pelligrini. Remind me how that worked out?

I’m sorry to see Niclas Fullkrug is injured again. He’s out for another three months with hamstring problems. Who on earth decided to pay £27m and hand a four year deal to a 31-year-old? Wow.

Manchester United have no choice but to accept Kobbie Mainoo’s demands. He’s a young man I’ve followed closely since I was told to watch out for him - at least four years ago. He is the future at Old Trafford. Be warned United - if you mess his agent about Mainoo will leave.

And it’s great to see Jack Grealish back amongst the goals after 37 games and 392 days. Well done Jack.