If a third round tie against Derby County did not tickle their fancy there was nil chance of the BBC abandoning Manchester United a second time in 12 years at Yeovil, even before Alexis Sanchez decided United were his favourite team.
If ever a tie expressed the essence of the oldest cup competition in football this is it, a draw that revives something of the lost romance that had been seeping out of the competition in the early years of the new millennium.
The concentration of competitive interest among an ever decreasing circle of wealthy clubs is proving a real issue in the game. The identity of the Premier League’s top six has become achingly predictable and the ruinous retreat of the teams outside the elite when mano-a-mano with the major powers has led to some mind numbing encounters.
As beautiful a team as Manchester City are there is no joy to be had from the stranglehold on possession they assume in too many of their matches. Not their fault, of course, if Newcastle United and the like park the bus at home, but football needs dynamic tension to endure. The damage inflicted by Newcastle et al with their pacifist tone is universal as well particular.
The FA Cup is a kiss of life for a stagnant sport
Why the FA Cup is the perfect antidote to the stale world of Premier League football