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The Lawrence & Lovatt Broadsheet

Episode 2: 25th May 2026

There was a time when the FA Cup final brought the country to a standstill. Were you not parked in front of the television for the day, enjoying the extended coverage on both the BBC and ITV, there’s every chance you would find yourself standing outside Rumbelow’s or Curry’s in your local high street, crowded around the TVs on display in the window. It really didn’t matter whether you supported one of the teams participating, as a ‘neutral, there was always a team that you definitely didn’t want to win!

Age may have impacted my tolerance levels but for me, this year, either side winning was a disappointment. Chelsea v Manchester City. Both clubs are awash with superb footballers. They maintain possession skilfully, ‘work hard’ when not in possession and pass the ball with laser-like precision. Their technical abilities, instilled from a very, very young age, particularly the ‘pretend you’ve been snipered’ one, when a player feigns a dumb-dumb bullet in the ankle just as an opponent attempts a tackle, are faultless.

It’s the money, I think. Admitting that appears chippy, but I’m not. For whatever reason, the more money that is thrown at a club, the less likeable it becomes. Chelsea were at the forefront of the Premier League revolution. Glenn Hoddle attracted Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli who in turn attracted more great players: Zola, Leboeuf, Petrescu, Hughes etc. And Dennis Wise, who may well have achieved immortality as ‘a nasty little 4 footer’ or a tricky 4 foot putt. But, in 2003 the Abramovich revolution began. He chucked serious money at the club in pursuit of success. It took time but it worked. Their likeability to the neutral deteriorated. In fact, neutrals would support whoever Chelsea’s opponents were that day!

Since then, most leading clubs have found themselves ‘sugar-daddies’. But it was Manchester City who ‘bagged the elephant’. As with Chelsea, their likeability collapsed. (And Chelsea’s improved!) Thus, for this cup final, I was hoping Chelsea would prevail, but only just!

It wasn't to be. Manchester City added another F.A. Cup win to their long list of trophies under Sheikh bin Mansour's ownership. Pep Guardiola is a formidable manager.

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