FA Cup draw

[richard moore]

I loved season 87/88, one of my best following the Villa for all sorts of reasons

If we get relegated, will enjoy it again...

[Chico Hamilton III]

Getting relegated was a nightmare but the actual season we spent in the second division under Taylor was fucking fantastic. And I think most people I know were the same.

[adrenachrome]

I would certainly not choose relegation for the sake of an FA Cup, but my most active period of attending games was in the season when we got promoted from the Third Division, and I only missed 2 matches home or away.

 

[TheSandman]

Maybe a bit controversial here but I'd rather win the fa cup and get relegated than finish 8th and win nothing- I've dreamt all my life of seeing villa win the fa cup and if we did go down we would bounce back as champions next season in any case.

Agree with that. I'd even say a bit higher than that as we get a European spot for winning it which is the same as you get for fifth.

I don't give a monkeys about Europe or the Champions League unless we are going to win them. Football is about winning trophies not qualifying for being knocked out by FC Metalist Kwagiokor of Belarus. I'd even to an extent say the same thing for the Carling Cup though the FA Cup is something else. It is special and it is the trophy I'd like us to win more than any other. It has been too long.

However, it is academic. I don't think we will go down.   

[eastie]

We are not talking bout relegation being enjoyed but the promotion season was hugely enjoyable- give me the fa cup anyday rather than staying up- if we went down we would bounce back in style but winning the fa cup would be the holy Grail for me and complete the set .

Who could forget at Swindon waiting for the boro result to confirm Gary mcallisters goal for Leicester had sent us up and boro had missed out at the death, even though we had failed to beat Swindon- moments like that are worth more than money can buy.

[PeterWithe]

Same here, everyone of my age goes misty eyed talking about that season in the second division, it was ace.

[Merv]

Agreed. Being relegated wasn't fun and I'd hate us to go down again - financially it would hurt us far more significantly than in 87-88 - but it was fun watching us win so many games. Didn't we set a new record for away wins that season, something like 13?

I was 12, 13 years old that season. I remember going to the home game against Man City, and Kevin Gage scored an absolute screamer of a volley. Amazing, amazing, goal.

And as for that final day of the season... unbeatable drama.

[dave.woodhall]

To be honest, for me we could end up in the Conference as long as we won the FA Cup.

[eastie]

To be honest, for me we could end up in the Conference as long as we won the FA Cup.

Obviously that would never happen dave , but i agree with the sentiments , the fa cup however devalued people consider it , is the ultimate for me , ive seen us win league cups , championship, european cup, super cup etc but to win the fa cup would just be the greatest of great days in my life, and i could gladly sacrifice a place in the premiership for a season if it meant getting the fa cup in the trophy cabinet.

Maybe its different for us 40 somethings that have memories of how important the fa cup was and younger fans nowadays perhaps see it as a much lower priority but it would be just incredible to win it .

[Chris Smith]

What do you think Randy would say if asked the same question? I'm not sure the big day out and a few fans completing their trophy top trumps collection would be a particularly persuasive argument.

I'm always a bit confused about this supposed great love for the FA Cup as the numbers turning up at games doesn't reflect what is said on sites like this.

[Merv]

It's not confusing to me; whatever the merits of certain cup competitions, nothing beats seeing your team lift a trophy, IMO. I can understand people getting excited at the thought of winning the FA Cup.

[eastie]

chris , obviously randy would see it differently as he is the owner and relegation would be costly , but as merv and dave say from a supporters view the fa cup still remains huge in my eyes at least and although im sure randy has a great knowledge and interest in the game he probably would not see the fa cup in the eyes that many of us do, it to me would be like cleveland browns winning the super bowl to randy.

[Chris Smith]

It's not confusing to me; whatever the merits of certain cup competitions, nothing beats seeing your team lift a trophy, IMO. I can understand people getting excited at the thought of winning the FA Cup.

I'm excited at the thought of us winning the cup but crowds suggest that not everyone is.

[TheSandman]

It's not confusing to me; whatever the merits of certain cup competitions, nothing beats seeing your team lift a trophy, IMO. I can understand people getting excited at the thought of winning the FA Cup.

I'm excited at the thought of us winning the cup but crowds suggest that not everyone is.

I bet once we get to the final that will change.

[eastie]

I suppose the younger generation brought up on premiership football see it in a different light , I'm sure if we beat man city that villa park would be packed for a quarter final and tickets would be like gold dust if we reach the final- out of curiosity when did we last have an fa cup quarter final at villa park?

I've seen us in a few of them but they all seEm to have been away draws.- west ham, arsenal, oldham, forest and everton away all spring to mind, as do reading.