Last week one of my main topics was whether we should do away with replays in the FA Cup.

I defended replays, particularly for the smaller clubs, and, lo and behold, that came about with the Cambridge efforts as they not only held Manchester United to a draw but let them off in some ways.

They did earn a replay which gives their supporters what will be in some case a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Old Trafford to be part of probably a 60,000 crowd.

Unless they ever got to the play-offs, this might well be their best chance to have a Wembley type atmosphere.

In addition, of course, the directors are probably still dancing around as they add up the figures which will come via television and gate money etc.

That game on the Friday was a terrific advert for the FA Cup.

I think it indicated that it could be back in everyone’s mind as being top of the order, having lost a little of its glamour with the arrival of the Champions League a few years ago.

This was definitely added to on the Saturday.

Like most other supporters during the game at St Mary’s, I was hearing from people who nowadays keep in touch with phones, who were at first saying ‘would you believe Bradford have actually scored a goal at Stamford Bridge.’ I thought ‘well done, terrific.’ Of course the next word was they had scored another one, then a third and then a fourth. Unbelievable.

When the dust had settled late in the evening, it was realised that was not the only shock with Middlesbrough winning at Manchester City.

To be fair I was, like most supporters, keen to see whether Bolton could complete the exciting and very surprising day of results by winning at Anfield, but not as excited as the gentleman who you may have all read about who placed a bet of £2.50 on Bradford to win, Middlesbrough to win, and another couple of results.

Bolton to beat Liverpool was the fifth.

If it had come in, he would have won £1m.

He finished up winning £16,000.

There’s one family who will never say anything bad about the FA Cup.

All in all, those results, followed by Sheffield United’s gallant effort against Tottenham, have proved the strength of the English league system.

Over a whole season, naturally, the top flight clubs would come out on top, but I’ve always said the difference between even our Premier League to most others around Europe is on any given day one of the bottom teams fighting against relegation can beat teams at the top.

That was evident of course in our cup tie at St Mary’s.

One of the other things which came out over the weekend was that there are some good young English coaches around.

Phil Parkinson, who was a young apprentice at Southampton, popped up again.

Bear in mind he took Bradford to Wembley a year or so ago in the League Cup where they played this weekend’s visitors to St Mary’s, Swansea.

To win 4-2 at Stamford Bridge means he deserves a lot of credit.

Nigel Clough, too, has done superbly with Sheffield United.

Apart from that, our neighbours Bournemouth have Eddie Howe, who has maintained their high position in a very competitive league with a lot of clubs with a lot more money, many having had parachute payments over recent years.

He has proven his quality by staying top with a club with a 12,000 capacity ground.

He is part of an extremely well-run club from chairman right through, who I know have plans to extend the ground if promotion comes along.

I just hope the builders move in at the end of May.

Monday brings an end to the January transfer window.

Speaking to a number of managers recently, I get the impression they would much prefer to do away with having a window.

I have often thought myself ‘what’s the point of it’ and ‘why not use the old system when transfers could happen at any time up until a deadline, which was usually in March?’ The moves made in January often give the impression of panicking, but this year seems to have been much quieter.

Apart from the Manchester City move for Swansea’s Wilfried Bony, there has been very little big money spent.

So it could well be that bearing in mind that clubs can nominate up to 25 players for their squad, they are now realising that they should have enough quality to see them through a season without splashing out more money.