The Sad Demise Of The F A Cup...

[Brovion]

It is still wrong.

Out of the last 11 winners 8 had qualified for the CL already

One of the other finals Wigan beat Man city who had finished in the top 4

That means the only clubs to Benefit would have been Portsmouth and Man United

The top sides still take it pretty seriously, look at the sides Arsenal/City/United put out so far - they have to as a way to save a managers job, 6 into 4 don't go.

It is not the big clubs who challenge for the top who don't take it seriously.

I like the FA cup, but was the FA cup ever that great? or was it because it was the only game on TV?

Oh it was big. In the old days an FA Cup fixture between two teams in the same division would get a much higher crowd than the same fixture in the League. . Interestingly at the weekend it was the big clubs (Man U , Liverpool, Spurs etc) that had the big crowds and the timid "Let's concentrate on the League" clubs that had the poor ones. If there is to be some sort of incentive rather than giving a CL place I'd say make it so that the winner of the Cup can't be relegated. That might make the likes of Hull take it more seriously.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Oh it was big. In the old days an FA Cup fixture between two teams in the same division would get a much higher crowd than the same fixture in the League. . Interestingly it was the big clubs (Man U , Liverpool, Spurs etc) that had the big crowds and the timid "Let's concentrate on the League" clubs that had the poor crowds. If there is to be some sort of incentive rather than giving a CL place I'd say make it so that the winner of the Cup can't be relegated. That might make the likes of Hull take it more seriously.

I dont think after 6 or 8 games you should be gteed anything irrespective of league position. What you should be gteed is European football in the Europa league or bringing back the ECWC as a KNOCKOUT

 

[Eeyore]

Oh it was big. In the old days an FA Cup fixture between two teams in the same division would get a much higher crowd than the same fixture in the League. . Interestingly at the weekend it was the big clubs (Man U , Liverpool, Spurs etc) that had the big crowds and the timid "Let's concentrate on the League" clubs that had the poor ones. If there is to be some sort of incentive rather than giving a CL place I'd say make it so that the winner of the Cup can't be relegated. That might make the likes of Hull take it more seriously.

Good to see ideas being put forward. But I'd need a box of Pringles to watch the legal challenges to that one unfold.

 

[Easy 10]

Oh it was big. In the old days an FA Cup fixture between two teams in the same division would get a much higher crowd than the same fixture in the League. . Interestingly at the weekend it was the big clubs (Man U , Liverpool, Spurs etc) that had the big crowds and the timid "Let's concentrate on the League" clubs that had the poor crowds. If there is to be some sort of incentive rather than giving a CL place I'd say make it so that the winner of the Cup can't be relegated. That might make the likes of Hull take it more seriously.

Bit harsh on the club that finishes 17th taking the fall though.

*looks at table*

Hang on. GREAT idea.

 

[Brovion]

I dont think after 6 or 8 games you should be gteed anything irrespective of league position. What you should be gteed is European football in the Europa league or bringing back the ECWC as a KNOCKOUT

Ideally I'd agree with you. But the timid clubs don't take European competitions seriously either. (Although as you've implied UEFA must shoulder some of the blame for killing the ECWC and make adding a group stage to the UEFA)

 

[Brovion]

Bit harsh on the club that finishes 17th taking the fall though.

*looks at table*

Hang on. GREAT idea.

That's the point - they'd ALL have to take it seriously!

 

[Nixonator]

I'm excited for the draw at least.

 

[Easy 10]

That's the point - they'd ALL have to take it seriously!

It sounds bonkers, but I actually quite like it. The notion of the FA Cup winners having a "get out of jail free card" is hilarious. Imagine tuning in to the Cup Final absolutely CACKING IT because you might get RELEGATED

 

[Gritt23]

Oh it was big. In the old days an FA Cup fixture between two teams in the same division would get a much higher crowd than the same fixture in the League. . Interestingly at the weekend it was the big clubs (Man U , Liverpool, Spurs etc) that had the big crowds and the timid "Let's concentrate on the League" clubs that had the poor ones.

Absolutely, it was HUGE.

Not just the money, there was also the chance to see your team on telly! That was a massive thing 30+ years ago. Not just "maybe we get the live game" but simply having cameras at the game at all. When Match of the Day started it was the single MATCH they had chosen to show you from that day. Even by the mid 80's they only showed highlights from a couple. So simply seeing anything of your team on telly was special. But a Cup run, and there were fewer games they could show. Get a plum tie and that improved your chances again. Get to the FINAL and you would be the only domestic game shown LIVE all season! Of course we all crowded around the telly from about 9am, we were being built up to seeing a WHOLE GAME LIVE. Not quite the same rarity value now is it.

Also, with so few games being on the telly, and when they were, the highlights were relatively brief, you wanted a big club, so that you would see some of these players play, as you simply didn't see that much of them from your living room.

Times have moved on, and the only excitement about the FA Cup these days is when we recall the old days. They are not coming back, the FA Cup can never be what it was, and as sad as that is, we just have to accept it.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Happy New Year, and it's FA Cup time. I guess to some of us it matters more than others. I've transcribed my, somewhat bitter, thoughts. (Includes the goals from our defeat of Liverpool in 1984, and coverage of Malcolm Allison's team who simply needed to 'turn up' to beat Halifax Town at the muddy Shay in 1980)

https://brightonlines.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/the-sad-demise-of-the-fa-cup/

Can the tournament ever return to its former glories ?

NO, all the time punters a fed CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, premier league diet in its current format,an establish creditable competition like the FA cup becomes a distraction ......... COMPLETE PISS TAKE IMHO
regards
DR

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Oh it was big. In the old days an FA Cup fixture between two teams in the same division would get a much higher crowd than the same fixture in the League. . Interestingly at the weekend it was the big clubs (Man U , Liverpool, Spurs etc) that had the big crowds and the timid "Let's concentrate on the League" clubs that had the poor ones. If there is to be some sort of incentive rather than giving a CL place I'd say make it so that the winner of the Cup can't be relegated. That might make the likes of Hull take it more seriously.

I am willing to bet UEFA would tell the FA to f-off if that happens!

Your point on relegation, you cant start mixing the cups with the league, if you go down you deserve to go down.

Would you change football as it is now for a strong FA cup, not sure many would.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Ideally I'd agree with you. But the timid clubs don't take European competitions seriously either. (Although as you've implied UEFA must shoulder some of the blame for killing the ECWC and make adding a group stage to the UEFA)

The Europa League could be a decent cup if they got rid of the stupid CL drop out rules.

UEFA make it pointless

 

[Pavilionaire]

It's sad that the FA Cup has become completely emasculated and devoid of all romance - but sadder still that the BBC try to pretend otherwise and take us all for idiots who can't recognise what is plain for all to see. Just call it for it is; yes, let's watch the games but don't pretend the Cup has anything like the significance it used to have.

This is what the BBC do - you could say exactly the same thing about the BDO darts.

I have to say, I understand why Plymouth fans were ecstatic at their draw at Anfield but Liverpool fielded their reserves - the average age in their team would have been under 21 had it not been for the inclusion of Lucas.

Indeed, results like this - for me - are the very opposite of the magic of the cup because it's a reminder that even a battle-hardened Top 3 League 2 outfit like Plymouth still can't beat Liverpool's kids.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Absolutely, it was HUGE.

Not just the money, there was also the chance to see your team on telly! That was a massive thing 30+ years ago. Not just "maybe we get the live game" but simply having cameras at the game at all. When Match of the Day started it was the single MATCH they had chosen to show you from that day. Even by the mid 80's they only showed highlights from a couple. So simply seeing anything of your team on telly was special. But a Cup run, and there were fewer games they could show. Get a plum tie and that improved your chances again. Get to the FINAL and you would be the only domestic game shown LIVE all season! Of course we all crowded around the telly from about 9am, we were being built up to seeing a WHOLE GAME LIVE. Not quite the same rarity value now is it.

Also, with so few games being on the telly, and when they were, the highlights were relatively brief, you wanted a big club, so that you would see some of these players play, as you simply didn't see that much of them from your living room.

Times have moved on, and the only excitement about the FA Cup these days is when we recall the old days. They are not coming back, the FA Cup can never be what it was, and as sad as that is, we just have to accept it.

i find those last two words really worrying
regards
DR

 

[Brovion]

I am willing to bet UEFA would tell the FA to f-off if that happens!

Your point on relegation, you cant start mixing the cups with the league, if you go down you deserve to go down.

Would you change football as it is now for a strong FA cup, not sure many would.

True - and by the same token if you qualify for the Champions' League you deserve to qualify for the Champions' League. A few wins in a Cup competition shouldn't be allowed to take priority over your performance over 36 or whatever league games.

My point was that those who want to offer a CL slot to the FA Cup winners to make it more enticing are actually barking up the wrong tree. Leaving aside Wigan and Portsmouth over the last 20 years all the winners of the FA Cup have been CL-standard teams anyway (Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea etc). And the big clubs were those with decent crowds in the 3rd Round. It's the timid clubs who need to be encouraged to take it more seriously as opposed to treating a Cup Tie as if it were a beggar with Bubonic plague.

 

[whitelion]

Making the draw before all the ties have been played.

I'm sure this was never the case.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

This is what the BBC do - you could say exactly the same thing about the BDO darts.

I have to say, I understand why Plymouth fans were ecstatic at their draw at Anfield but Liverpool fielded their reserves - the average age in their team would have been under 21 had it not been for the inclusion of Lucas.

Indeed, results like this - for me - are the very opposite of the magic of the cup because it's a reminder that even a battle-hardened Top 3 League 2 outfit like Plymouth still can't beat Liverpool's kids.

To be honest they all hype up all types of football beyond the levels that a sport should. Sky are the worst with their precious Premiership - anyone would think that football didn't exist pre 1992. I guess that the FA and TV companies are not the only ones to get their priorities wrong though.

 

[Seagulltonian]

If I was the manager of a "Mid-Table" Premiership team, i.e. Everton, Stoke, Bournemouth, West Brom, the FA Cup would be one of my priorities,
and I would be playing my first team, as the League Cup, or whatever it's called, you're already out of, and you're pretty safe from relegation, and at least your fans have something to get excited about for the last third of the season, and you've still got a chance to qualify for Europe next season as well!
Now they've not really got much to look forward to, apart from a local derby maybe?

If you look at the Quarter-final line-ups for the last few season, quite a few Non-premiership sides have made it, and with some strange winners as well, it's a competition that still can provide an upset, unlike the Champions League, or the Premership (Leicester accepted).

 

[1066familyman]

If I was the manager of a "Mid-Table" Premiership team, i.e. Everton, Stoke, Bournemouth, West Brom, the FA Cup would be one of my priorities,
and I would be playing my first team, as the League Cup, or whatever it's called, you're already out of, and you're pretty safe from relegation, and at least your fans have something to get excited about for the last third of the season, and you've still got a chance to qualify for Europe next season as well!
Now they've not really got much to look forward to, apart from a local derby maybe?

If you look at the Quarter-final line-ups for the last few season, quite a few Non-premiership sides have made it, and with some strange winners as well, it's a competition that still can provide an upset, unlike the Champions League, or the Premership (Leicester accepted).

Totally agree. Bizarre why smug Eddie would put out such a weak team at Millwall.

They ain't getting into Europe via the league, nor are they going down, so why not give the FA Cup a right good go.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Listening to 5Live after Leeds had edged out Cambridge Utd anyone could be forgiven for thinking we're on the cusp of the New Revie Era. FFS!