What Happened To The FA Cup

[Nerine]

The what?

 

[hughy]

For Spurs I see FA Cup weekends as a light break from a hectic PL schedule, they're more like friendlies and I usually don't give a fuck if we lose.

Being born in 1990 I've only known heartbreak from the FA Cup. It can fuck off for all I care.

 

[SE Spurs]

Hate what's happened to the FA Cup. Its the competition we've had most success in, and now the majority couldn't give a toss about it.

That said, If Watford somehow miraculously beat City today, It'll be the greatest day in their history, and show there's still some FA Cup magic. Come on you hornets!

 

[absolute bobbins]

Moving the FA Cup final kick off for international audiences (who clearly aren't very interested) has killed it.

If they were interested, the revenue generated from broadcast fees would boost the incentive for winning it from the lofty heights of the current grand prize, a packet of haribo and 15 minutes of bragging rights

 

[Tucker]

The idea someone suggested that prem teams only field academy sides, or homegrown players is crazy. That would finish the old girl off completely.

The FA cup suffers because finishing higher in the league is far more important to everyone bar mid table chanpionship sides and below. The money on offer for being in the premier league is so vastly different to what’s on offer in the cup. The only thing that will change that is offering more money for winning the cup and or getting to the semis.

I can’t see that happening unfortunately. TV companies want to have the guarantees of big clubs playing in the later stages. And they can get far more mileage out of the league.

The idea that excluding the big name players will somehow generate more interest is hilarious.

 

[teok]

https://www.football365.com/news/is-city-v-watford-the-least-appealing-fa-cup-final-ever

 

[Dougal]

I work in Watford and there's not even much of a fuss being made about it in the town centre.
There's a little bit of bunting up and a couple of traders selling scarves/flags etc. but that's it.
You wouldn't really know they were in the final.

Went for a run this morning and can confirm cup fever has hit Watford. The parkrun was Yellow themed (didn’t get involved, had a blue Spurs top on), balloons everywhere, Watford fans everywhere, big screen being set up on the park with a funfair too (not going). Come on you ‘orns!

 

[Saoirse]

It'd just be so easy to get some interest back in it for PL and upper-end Championship clubs. Put a 5% levy on the Premier League's TV money - that'd come to £120m this season - and distribute it to the latter stages of the cup instead. £7.5m for reaching the QF, another £7.5m for reaching the SF, £7.5m for reaching the final and £15m for winning it. Suddenly a succesful run to winning the cup is worth £37.5m. That's better than a Europa spot for the midtable teams who currently bin the cup to fight for 7th. It's worth a shot at if you're lower down the league but unlikely to actually go down - or if you're adrift at the bottom ala Huddersfield or Fulham this year. If you're in the Championship those sums could be hugely important, giving you a chance to re-invest and have better odds of going up the year afterwards if this season is looking unlikely, or to hold onto a star player. And the big clubs wouldn't be adversly effected. We'd lose about £7.25m per season, so we could make that back if we reached the QF and be better off if we went any further, which are very realistic goals.

 

[mattdefoe]

money really does talk. Money shouldn't stop clubs wanting to win a trophy! The league cup can be tougher to win now and is on par with the fa cup, because the finals earlier teams seem to go for it more than the fa cup.

 

[cider spurs]

Feck me, that Watford team bus has bigger wing mirrors than Lineker's ears.

 

[longtimespur]

FA cup final day and there are 3 Live german games now on BT sport!!!!!!
Involving the top sides and the top clubs vying for the league.
Ok they're schedule to finish before the FA final begins but the build up used to be half the enjoyment of cup final day but now you can watch live football from another top European league

 

[fluffybunnyuk]

i'll watch it until watford go 2 down. at which point i'll go and tend to my fruit trees.
Loved seeing gazzas screamer in the opening titles. Thats the highlight for me.
I also get warm fuzzy feelings because it woz spurs that stopped the quadruple.
haha loved the flashing sign teasing shearer. the gag goes ever on.

 

[THX2208]

Is it, though? Teams like Newcastle, Bournemouth and Leicester have all been under heavy fire recently for sacking off cup games even when they haven't been in precarious league positions. Plus pretty much all sides fighting PL relegation or going for promotion from the Championship regularly stick two fingers up at the cup, send out the second or third string and crash out early.

Money talks, and all the money is in the league.

The prize money being only £3.2 Million does not make it very attractive to Premier League teams. The game has changed dramatically since the Premier League & Champions League money increased dramatically. If you ask any fan what would they rather have an FA Cup or Champions League qualification, I guarantee 9 out of 10 would say Championships League. ?

 

[Thewobbler]

Get rid of the league cup and just have the FA cup. Start it earlier in the season, maybe have matches mid week and spare weekends, and finish it in feb. That means teams have 3 months after to concentrate on the league and europe.

 

[THX2208]

Get rid of the league cup and just have the FA cup. Start it earlier in the season, maybe have matches mid week and spare weekends, and finish it in feb. That means teams have 3 months after to concentrate on the league and europe.

I think that is showing too much common sense for the FA! I think they'd rather run every player into the ground by February. I hope the Winter break helps a bit. Personally I think your idea is fantastic buddy.
COYS

 

[Tucker]

Get rid of the league cup and just have the FA cup. Start it earlier in the season, maybe have matches mid week and spare weekends, and finish it in feb. That means teams have 3 months after to concentrate on the league and europe.

Whilst I agree, if I were to play devils advocate, I’d ask the question, isn’t that just already the league cup?

 

[Gassin's finest]

What a shit final

 

[Tucker]

What a shit final

Stopped watching as soon as City scored. Must have been a massive turn off for anyone but City fans.

 

[Hakkz]

It's still a huge cup for the non prem teams, or teams that aren't obsessed with the Champs League.

I'd like to see some.changes to the approach to make it fresher though. Perhaps prem league teams can only field academy sides. Or 'home.grown' players only. Just something to freshen it up and get teams in the lower leagues competing more.

Its still the worlds largest cup competition?

Homegrown players and maybe players from England, Scotland, Ireland, NI, Wales? Would be something different at least.

Right now it's the same as the league cup.