The only thing the FA builds is hype

At the end of an extraordinary season has come the revelation yesterday that the Football Association are considering Twickenham as an alternative should Cardiff (UTV/Sky Sports 2, kick-off 3 p.m.) prove to be the logistical disaster many are expecting.

The news will further rile the traditionalists in Fleet Street and beyond who already this season have witnessed England lose its last international match at Wembley stadium to Germany; a Scot at the FA appoint England's first foreign manager, a Swede, Sven Goran Eriksson; and seen its domestic cup competitions climax in Wales, where the two FA Cup final teams will be led out by Frenchmen.

The FA swiftly played down the report saying that Twickenham was merely one of several venues they are monitoring, but the minor furore indicated that the loss of Wembley - decrepit and far from user friendly as it was - will be felt more keenly today than at any time since it was decided the old stadium had to give way.

Wembley last missed out on an FA Cup final back in 1921 and, were a new erection, or a resurrection, under way then the alarm might not be so pronounced.

But the absence of builders at Wembley and the sense of drift concerning any future national stadium has caused great stress, this week of all weeks, the week of the quintessential English end of season send-off.

But it is not the end of the season, of course. Television demands and league restructuring means that next Saturday is the last day of the Premiership - television's hope was that issues such as the title and relegation would still be alive - while for over a decade now the play-offs have stretched the season beyond the cup final.

It has been written many times over the past few years that the FA Cup is in mortal danger of losing its credibility as it cannot compete either financially or in sporting terms with the Premiership and the Champions League.

Those hoping that a great final would remind football of the essence of the cup - something glorious like the 1971 decider between the two - are forgetting that both Arsenal and Liverpool would happily sacrifice their presence in Cardiff's Millennium stadium for a Champions League place.

Thus the anxiety gripping England's one-time showpiece will continue, even though in clubs like Dagenham and Redbridge, Wycombe Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers this has been one of the more romantic cup years.

The story of Roy Essandoh should be remembered for a generation, ensuring Carryduff gets a regular mention.

Wycombe never did make it to the final, halted as they were by Liverpool. Having won the League Cup against Birmingham City in Cardiff in February, Gerard Houllier's side now embark on a week that will decide whether in Houllier's words the season is a "good" one or a "brilliant" one.

After today, Liverpool play Alaves in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday and then next Saturday travel to Charlton to try and clinch that third Champions League position.

If Liverpool do win all three then Houllier is indeed entitled to call Anfield's season brilliant. Houllier again has the pleasant dilemma of which attacking formation to choose from. Overcoming Arsenal, though, will be a difficult starter.

Liverpool's first FA Cup final since the Spice Boys white suit farce five years ago will depend to a large extent on how the coming force of England's midfield, Steven Gerrard, copes with the established Arsenal and France figurehead Patrick Vieira.

Vieira will be the principal supply route to Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord, the latter having scored six goals so far, in every round apart from the semi-final.

Should Vieira win that contest then Arsenal should go on to lift their first trophy since the cup final of 1998 gave them the double.

Arsenal have been second in the Premiership twice since then and lost last season's UEFA Cup final to Galatasaray and Arsene Wenger could do with a silver pot under his arm to keep the punters happy. The bookies - just - say that will be the case.