[Albion] Win the FA Cup or stay up this season?

[Weststander]

Voted PL.

In this simplistic binary choice, simply to secure the club's financial future, plus taking the long term strain away from TB's personal funds.

I realise that the recent FAC/LC wins for Pompey, Wigan and Birmingham were amazing and can never be taken away from their fans, but they're also examples of huge struggles for many years once relegated from the PL.

 

[Exile]

This is the correct answer. If we become established in the Premier a cup will follow at some time in the future. As regards European football is there not a directive that the competing teams must be in their national top league for qualification.

Will it? West Brom, Palace, Southampton, Swansea, West Ham, Stoke, Everton and Bournemouth are all pretty established in the Prem. When did any of them last win an FA Cup?

And on your second point, both Birmingham and Wigan have recently played European football whilst in the Championship.

 

[Spicy]

Stay up.

 

[SAC]

Staying up is a rubbish ambition, although I can see why the club would want it. To win a cup, even a devalued one, would be monumental.

Fulham will always look back on their European run and Wigan their FA Cup success.

 

[Insel affe]

My problem is if we stay up and our club gets ransacked of all our quality players in the summer and we go down next year without a whimper. You would then rue the day you voting stay up on NSC, be told....

Cup win all day long.

 

[BensGrandad]

In an ideal world I would like to beat Coventry and the draw Man City, Chelsea or Tottenham and go for it and if needs be get beat. If we get relegated I can see us struggling for a couple of seasons to get back up.

 

[Exile]

In an ideal world I would like to beat Coventry and the draw Man City, Chelsea or Tottenham and go for it and if needs be get beat.

Nope. In an IDEAL world we'll beat Coventry, then get drawn at home to Rochdale in the QF.

 

[BensGrandad]

No because that would continue our participation which I do not want and dont think we need the distraction I would like to see us put up a good show against one of those three and go out 3-2. I believe that would give us great confidence for the run in.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

No brainer..... stay up. The cup can come later when we are established. I am amazed at the votes for relegation and the cup.
NB .. we did that once before ( almost.... if Smith had scored)

 

[Brovion]

Win the Cup. We can get promoted again next season. And come back stronger.

 

[Exile]

Win the Cup. We can get promoted again next season. And come back stronger.

+1

Nobody belts out...

"Cos we're going up to finish 17th, for Sussex by the Sea"

 

[BensGrandad]

Win the Cup. We can get promoted again next season. And come back stronger.

I dont think that we would as our squad would be ravaged with 3 or 4 going.

 

[Insel affe]

No brainer..... stay up. The cup can come later when we are established.

What like these established teams...

Stoke, WBA, Southampton, Swansea, Bournmouth, Leicester, Burnley, Watford, oh and of course Crystal Palarse...

Cup... Cup... Cup...

 

[Steve in Japan]

I voted stay up, and am surprised the poll is so finely balanced.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

My preferred option is to get 9 points in the next 3 games and then concentrate on the Cup.

 

[BensGrandad]

My preferred option is to get 9 points in the next 3 games and then concentrate on the Cup.

That would a great scenario. Better still 14 from the next 7 league games.

 

[Yes Chef]

Voted for cup, the game is still about glory

 

[Easy 10]

I voted Cup. Can you just imagine Bruno climbing those stairs, wiping his hands on his beard, shaking hands with Dale Winton (the royals are otherwise engaged) and hoisting the famous old trophy aloft in front of a deafening, thronging sea of blue and white ? THATS what following football is all about. memorable days like that, not scrambling to 17th.

Relegation would not be terminal. We've finished in the top 6 of the Championship in 4 of the last 5 seasons, and with Sir Chris still at the helm, we'd be well placed for another tilt at promotion. I'd be confident of a return in the not too distant future. The club well run these days, its geared for PL football.

Cup cup CUP

 

[Wozza]

Glory (FA Cup win) all day long, but only if you can guarantee we'll win it.

You can't, of course, so Premier League comes first I guess.

PS Shame the big teams weren't drawn together in this round. QF could include....

Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City
Chelsea
Leicester City
Swansea City
Southampton

... and our record against them isn't great.

 

[grubbyhands]

Stay up for me. Getting promotion again won't be easy by any means.