My Cup runneth over

If I've got one wish for 2010, it's that Robert Earnshaw never takes a penalty again. His horrible miss against West Brom at the start of the season quite possibly cost us a point, and having been given a chance to redeem himself in the FA Cup 3rd round tie with Birmingham, he did exactly the same thing as he did last time.

Earnshaw should really be the ideal candidate to take penalties, as in one-on-one situations he is absolutely clinical, but just like he did against West Brom, he did a silly slow run-up before taking the spot-kick. The ball went hopelessly over the crossbar, and he was left with egg on his face. Maybe he was feeling over-confident after his recent red-hot form in front of goal. Hopefully if he is to remain our first choice penalty taker, he will change his approach from now on!

At least all he's cost us is a potential place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and not three precious points. I know to some people the Cup is still important, but to be honest I can't be bothered with it any more as I know we stand little chance of winning the damn thing. Years ago, it was one of my main ambitions to see us win it, but as each season passes and Forest have gone out earlier on, my interest has waned. The magic of the FA Cup is definitely dead now. Once the big clubs stop taking it seriously, it's the end of the road. We've now got to go to St Andrews for a replay. Maybe there will be some added spice if we know that we get to play a big Premiership team if we win, but that didn't seem to make Forest play well when Liverpool and Man United were the prizes on offer in the last couple of years. I just see the game as a nuisance that we could do without, and Billy Davies is probably thinking the same thing.