Is the FA Cup turning into the mickey mouse cup?

[BuryMeInEngland]

No because they won't and will always field their strongest team to win the completion. this is a poor argument!!

No because they won't and will always field their strongest team to win the completion. this is a poor argument!!

Hey, shit happens.

 

[Blake Griffin]

If all the big clubs get knocked out of the Champions league does that make it a second rate competition?

no. it would make it a second rate competition if the clubs played weakened sides, attendances were rubbish and none of the games for televised ...

 

[guiltyparty]

You guys are kidding ourselves if you think the FA Cup still maintains its luster. It's very telling that every league cup match is broadcasted somewhere so at least we have the abilitiy to watch, albeit maybe illegally, but FA cup matches between PL sides and even Chelsea vs Bradford(who had previously knocked out Arsenal a few years ago in this cup) is not broadcasted anywhere. FA Cup matches not being broadcasted makes the tournament lose alot of its luster when the supposed mickey mouse cup has every match at least broadcasted somewhere.

This. If you can't watch it, it didn't happen. It's a joke in 2015 to have to make do with radio commentary on a football game, especially when we're at home. There are cameras, there is Spurs TV. If we supposedly have a 30k waiting list for season tickets, and all these new international fans, that's a lot of people who may pay a fiver to watch a game. Why on earth can't they/won't they screen it? Because what? It would compete with me... What?

And you're right, it makes the cup look second rate. In a world where people are cooing over VR and AR future headsets, and they televise fucking darts, we still have to make do with radio reports on the most popular sport on the world. Absolute lunacy

 

[yankspurs]

This. If you can't watch it, it didn't happen. It's a joke in 2015 to have to make do with radio commentary on a football game, especially when we're at home. There are cameras, there is Spurs TV. If we supposedly have a 30k waiting list for season tickets, and all these new international fans, that's a lot of people who may pay a fiver to watch a game. Why on earth can't they/won't they screen it? Because what? It would compete with me... What?

And you're right, it makes the cup look second rate. In a world where people are cooing over VR and AR future headsets, and they televise fucking darts, we still have to make do with radio reports on the most popular sport on the world. Absolute lunacy

Its because it's not even mickey mouse level. More like minnie mouse

 

[Navin R Johnson]

The premier league and champions league have pretty much killed the competition. Teams are either too busy prioritising trying to get into the champions league or just staying in the premier league that this competition is a mere distraction to them, likewise the top teams in the championship are prioritising getting into the premier league to be worrying about the FA cup. Its why you get comments from supporters (up and down the country, not just on here) saying that they'd rather let in a goal in injury time than have to play a replay.

Do away with the Wafer League and give a Champions League place to the domestic cup winners instead of third and fourth place runners up in the PL.

Also bring back matches played on mudbaths and people running onto the pitch in parkas at full time to celebrate. That's what the cup need to bring back the magic.

 

[SpurSince57]

If all the big clubs get knocked out of the Champions league does that make it a second rate competition?

It's set up the way that it is to ensure that they don't get dumped out early on.

 

[RickyVilla]

So with Us, Chelsea and City out is it starting to show that a lot of the big teams just do not care for this competition anymore. I mean the Capital one cup has a semi final of 3 of the top 6-7, and an exciting Wembley final. Maybe the FA cup is starting to go obsolete. Thoughts anyone?

Also to add to the fact you can't find a legal or illegal broadcast of it anywhere so how can we support a cup we can't even watch?

I am not sure where you live so it may be irrelevant but I am pretty sure you could have got a ticket to watch it live today mate.

 

[SpurSince57]

So with Us, Chelsea and City out is it starting to show that a lot of the big teams just do not care for this competition anymore. I mean the Capital one cup has a semi final of 3 of the top 6-7, and an exciting Wembley final. Maybe the FA cup is starting to go obsolete. Thoughts anyone?

Also to add to the fact you can't find a legal or illegal broadcast of it anywhere so how can we support a cup we can't even watch?

If that's a question, the fact that only three clubs outside the CL Four/Five have won it since we last did is all the answer it requires. Since 1992 Arsenal have won it seven times, Chelsea six, United four, Liverpool three, and City once, and at least one of the five has been in every final bar 2008. They've stitched it up just as much as they have the league, and I'd suggest this predictability is also a big factor in the decline in interest. Last year's final was the first I've watched in maybe 10 years. I think I lost interest when Arsenal won in 2005, for the third time in four years. Up until then I'd watched every one since Bolton beat United in 1958.

I don't think the lack of televised games has too much to do with it; it's no coincidence that the domination of both league and FA by five (really, four) clubs coincides with the establishment of the Champions League. As someone else has already pointed out, what matters now is a top four place and CL. We may not like this, but it's a fact of life.

 

[THFC_67]

The premier league and champions league have pretty much killed the competition. Teams are either too busy prioritising trying to get into the champions league or just staying in the premier league that this competition is a mere distraction to them, likewise the top teams in the championship are prioritising getting into the premier league to be worrying about the FA cup. Its why you get comments from supporters (up and down the country, not just on here) saying that they'd rather let in a goal in injury time than have to play a replay.

Sadly, this is very true. Just too much money involved in other competitions. It's such a shame because it's a great competition, disappointed to go out of it today..

 

[SpursManChris]

I thought the magic of the FA Cup and what made it so special was the lower league teams beating the top tier teams?

Leicester are in the top tier. Perhaps you're including when bottom half teams beat clubs who are in Europe. Either way, you're right though, that is the magic of it. And it's always great to see, just as long as it's not your own team.

 

[Mr Pink]

All about the Champions League - for teams already in it, or teams aspiring to be in it.

And its not just the FA Cup that's lost appeal, International football is loosing appeal to IMO.

 

[Ironskullll]

It's a funny question that ignores the fact that the very romance of the cup; what made it the world's greatestcup competition in the first place is the giant killing. From non-league Spurs beating Sheffield United in 1901 to shocks like Hereford beating Newcastle, Worcester beating Liverpool, Wrexham beating Arsenal, Sunderland beating Leeds, West Ham beating Arsenal. It's in recent years when the competition has become monopolised by the "big clubs" that it's begun to lose its shine. It;s just tough shit on Spurs, Shitty et al but awesome for the so called weaker teams - that's exacty what the cup's all about. For nearly 100 years the double was almost impossible because fixture congestion would eventually get to even the best teams and they wouldn't be able to fight on all fronts. It's good for the cup that we seem to be returning to something like that, not bad.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Fa cup meh. It has little more value than the league cup

It's all about the champions league. Magic of the Fa cup lol. It's Just Nostalgic dinosaur nonsense, the game has changed.

We either finish champions, top 4 or win the europa to enter Cl. Everything else is just icing and doesn't really aid the club in the long run as no one outside of England cares

 

[spurs-r-us]

In a sense, it's better to have these giant killers progress into the next round to renew the magic.

I haven't personally been this annoyed about leaving the FA Cup in some time.

On the other hand though, the evidence is there. Look at the laughable starting teams put out by Pellegrini, Mourinho, Koeman and Poch.

The funniest thing about this weekend has been United starting close to their best XI and then blaming the pitch

 

[spurs-r-us]

Fa cup meh. It has little more value than the league cup

It's all about the champions league. Magic of the Fa cup lol. It's Just Nostalgic dinosaur nonsense, the game has changed.

We either finish champions, top 4 or win the europa to enter Cl. Everything else is just icing and doesn't really aid the club in the long run as no one outside of England cares

What do you support this football club for if not glory? Who cares whether anybody outside England cares?

I really do wonder about the mentality of our supporter base sometimes. We hold on to this pipe dream that we'll make the CL, sign a bunch of quality players and rise to become the best side in the world.

For us to make the CL in the next 2-3 years is very unlikely. With the quality and wealth of the sides around us - we are very much part of the chasing pack.

I support Spurs to win silverware. I'd love it if it was the Champions League or Premier League, but it's not going to be and most likely never will be. Why don't you just enjoy the trophies that we can win?

 

[BK007]

Not exactly set up for a great final though with all the big teams out lol! Like I said this competition is great for the lower teams, but it seems a lot of the big teams don't care anymore. It's not a stupid question because you can see the change in mentality when it comes to the top teams.

I'd love if the final was contested between Middlesbrough and Bradford City actually.

If we're not in it, then I sure as hell don't want to see the procession of "big clubs" go on to win the cup.

At the end of the day, it's a trophy on the line and if the players from big clubs are content just to steal wages and not win anything, it's their loss, but those from lower league clubs can say they've won the FA Cup and taken out the trash in the process.

 

[littlemandefoe]

If we won last night this thread wouldn't exist and we'd all maintain the F.A. Cup is a big trophy to win.

Im gutted we lost, to win the F.A. Cup is a big deal in my opinion. History and everything!

 

[Legacy]

I wish people would just stop saying "no" and back up their argument. I am going on evidence here. Look at the teams Us and Chelsea fielded. Why have your best players on the bench if you want to win this competition.

???
Chelsea fielded 8 international players and Drogba. The other two were under 21 internationals. Against a League One team. At home.
We put out a team of 11 players that you wouldn't be surprised to see starting a league game. Against the team rooted bottom of the Premier League. At home.

Both teams were good enough to beat their respective opponents. Failing to do so isn't about the club not taking the competition seriously, it's about the 'lesser' teams performing better.

 

[Legacy]

If we won last night this thread wouldn't exist and we'd all maintain the F.A. Cup is a big trophy to win.

Im gutted we lost, to win the F.A. Cup is a big deal in my opinion. History and everything!

With Chelsea and City out, it's even more gutting. Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal are the only teams of any real quality left in. And 'quality' is rather loosely used there.

 

[BuryMeInEngland]

Some Tottenham fans can appear to be very arrogant when they can dismiss a competition we haven't won in 24 years as "Mickey Mouse". Maybe we need to bring home a few more trophies before we say things like that.

Mickey Mouse? I don't think so. Mighty Mouse maybe