Romance of the Cup ?

Or devaluing it ?

Another F.A. Cup round of underdogs proving the romance of the competition is still intact. But the reduced importance of the oldest cup competition in Football is also plain to see.
Non-league Lincoln City are the first club in 103 years to get into the Quarter Finals. Congratulations but how has this happened ? Teams above them picking to many reserve players and seeing a Cup run as a distraction rather than an attraction.
Premiership Burnley and Leicester went out on Saturday, while Man City have a replay against Huddersfield. Something they won't have to endure in the next round because I've just discovered these ties will be decided on the day as there are no replays in this season's Quarter Finals!
This further reduces the great tradition of the F.A. Cup.
Even the TV coverage at the weekend saw the BBC's lower leagues presenter Manish Bhasin get a full game by introducing MOTD with the weekend's pundits also having a distinct reserve team appearance about them. Maybe the BBC's assigned F.A. Cup team, but still not their best players.

FA Cup quarter-final draw

• Chelsea v Manchester United
• Middlesbrough v Huddersfield or Man City
• Tottenham v Millwall
• Sutton or Arsenal v Lincoln City

With the ties to be played on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th and Monday 13th of March. This rather spreads the action out and who plays when will still be dictated by the European involvement of Man City, Man United and possibly Spurs, the week before and after.