The FA Cup.

[Legion]

They will just sensationalise it in order to increase listening figures.

[Dave Cooper please]

It's not mis-hearing Lambert, it's choosing to interpret his words in the worst possible light in order to make a non-story in to something sensational.
It's what the media do innit?

[Pat McMahon]

I remember the days when FA Cup attendances were nearly always a good size above league ones. And the main ambition of just about every player was to win it.

Season 67/68 which I remember.
R3. Millwall at home. 34,703 for the cup game, 14,891 for the league game.
R4. Rotherham at home. 33,442 for the cup game, 13,673 for the league game.

Was it that year or 68/69 when we played QPR in the cup and somehow got 40,000 who cranked up the atmosphere to turn around a 0-1 half time score to win 2-1.

[Damo70]

I still can't totally get my head around squad rotation for clubs that aren't in Europe. Also, struggling clubs playing weaker sides in the cup. Surely a win not only gets you through to the next round but helps confidence for the league campaign.

[Drummond]

The league is after all our bread and butter. Without it and the revenue it generates, the club would be in the stink, people wouldn't have jobs and the fans would desert the club.

The Cup is a nice to win, for the big clubs (i.e. us) the early rounds of the Cup are a distraction from the day-to-day, it's the latter stages or when playing a big rival, that the Cup generates interest these days.

If we can't challenge for the cups AND maintain our place in the Premier League, then we're no longer a big club.

We're big in terms of most of football in this country, however, I'm under no illusion that we aren't one of the big five or six in many ways and haven't been for a while.

[frank]

Tayls is on Radio 5 Live shortly to discuss the importance of the Cup

[olaftab]

I paid £10 for my ticket in the Lower North.

I paid £20 in the upper Witton Lane and I asked for your seat. P4 AA 193. The lad swore that's where you sit.

[Legion]

He's a few blocks out then.

[olaftab]

We're big in terms of most of football in this country, however, I'm under no illusion that we aren't one of the big five or six in many ways and haven't been for a while.

May be not top 5/6 but we are definitely in the list of biggest 10 clubs in this country. So if 64 set out in the third round one of the big 10 should be planning to win it not treating it with disdain.

[frank]

Ian Taylor, speaking on Radio 5 Live a few moments ago, broadly agrees with PL. He says it's regrettable, but the league brings in the money and it's understandable that clubs give it the priority over the cup

[eastie]

@MatKendrick: After Paul Lambert's comments, I fear Sheffield United are going to have more than just the 5,000 fans in the away end cheering them on.

@MatKendrick: Regardless of what PL said or how it has been interpreted, the biggest shame is Villa feel they can no longer 'compete' on more than 1 front

[olaftab]

Football in the top division  really is dreadful these days. There are teams shitting their pants at the thought of not being in the Champions League and the rest are absolutely terrified of losing their Premier League place. There is no free spirit or a will to just go out and compete in everything that your club can achieve.

[David_Nab]

Look at the team selections this weekend from the Prem league sides and then tell me it's only Lambert you prioritizes league ...

[Clampy]

@MatKendrick: Regardless of what PL said or how it has been interpreted, the biggest shame is Villa feel they can no longer 'compete' on more than 1 front

Lambert didn't really say that either, so Kendrick has misinterpreted it himself.

[Clampy]

Look at the team selections this weekend from the Prem league sides and then tell me it's only Lambert you prioritizes league ...

Exactly.