The FA Cup.

[Dave Clark Five]

We're coming into the fourth season in a row where we're a bit too close for comfort to the relegation spots, so it's no surprise where our priorities lie. Going balls out for it now would be touching on negligent.

In what position would you go for it then?
A few places higher and we would be looking at getting into Europe.

[TimTheVillain]

@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

Now aint that the truth ...

[dave.woodhall]

I don't think the FA's decision in 1999 had much to do with it. The FA Cup was doomed from the moment Sky won the rights to show the Premier League, which they were always going to throw their influence behind it as the only show in town.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

The FA Cup is doomed when fans don't think it's important.

[Chris Smith]

Win the FA Cup and fans are happy but it does little for our wider prospects. Get relegated and good players leave. Sadly, that's the climate a manager works in.

[Dave Cooper please]

The FA Cup is doomed when fans don't think it's important.

It's on it's way then.
Have a look at the attendances tomorrow, and that will be, by and large, with much cheaper tickets.

Having said that, the early rounds of the Cup, and by that I mean before the 1st Round Proper, are great. There you will see clubs who really want to be in it.
Some of them start in the FA Cup before they have played a league game.

[pauliewalnuts]

I also think it is possibly a generational thing.

I am 45, and remember growing up, football mad, in the 1970s, and FA Cup final day was a massive event, the coverage would run pretty much for hours before the match started.

For younger people, they won't have this memory and think more about the league or the champions league.

It's probably also worth remembering that in the 70s, there were at most a handful of football matches on live all year, which added to making the Cup final an event.

These days, you can watch football every minute of the day if you want to.

[Chris Smith]

The FA Cup is doomed when fans don't think it's important.

It's on it's way then.
Have a look at the attendances tomorrow, and that will be, by and large, with much cheaper tickets.

Having said that, the early rounds of the Cup, and by that I mean before the 1st Round Proper, are great. There you will see clubs who really want to be in it.
Some of them start in the FA Cup before they have played a league game.

With players who are making a bit on the side from overseas betting syndicates.

[dave.woodhall]

The FA Cup is doomed when fans don't think it's important.

It's on it's way then.
Have a look at the attendances tomorrow, and that will be, by and large, with much cheaper tickets.

Having said that, the early rounds of the Cup, and by that I mean before the 1st Round Proper, are great. There you will see clubs who really want to be in it.
Some of them start in the FA Cup before they have played a league game.

That's the glory of the cup. There are winners at every stage of the competition, from the club with an average gate of 25 who get 500 in the second qualifying round, through Chasetown setting themselves up for years on the back of a good run and dustmen marking internationals until the eventual winners who nine times out of ten don't really care about it.

[supertom]

The FA Cup has totally lost it's magic. No one gives a great deal of a toss about it any more which is a shame. It's not far off the League Cup in toss giving now.
Every team in the bottom half of the Prem would rather have survival over winning the Prem. Every one in the top half would rather grab a top 4 placing at the expense of the FA Cup given the choice.

It's a sad indictment of the modern game. You can't even rely on the F.A Cup being given it's prime 3pm final kick off these days. And the magic of playing at Wembley seems long forgotten now. The new stadium hasn't got the same aura, and also using Wembley as a semi-final venue for a few years also hampered the impact of the final too IMO. The F.A don't appear to give much of a toss about the cup, so it's not surprising clubs don't particularly either.

I'd love for us to win the cup. It it were to negatively impact our league position and increase the threat of relegation, then probably not. But lets be honest. Half a dozenish extra games isn't gonna make much of a difference to us really.

[dave shelley]

 
  These days, you can watch football every minute of the day if you want to.





Which is why it's gone full circle for me.  I watch football on tv but only when it suits me despite what Mrs S says, there's such an overload.  What used to be the highlight of the year as someone posted earlier, Eastie I think, the F.A. Cup Final was the one live match of the year and something to look forward to and savoured.  Now it is just something put on television to solely to fill in the schedule time.

Nowadays, the highlight of the year footballing wise is, a trip down the Villa.  The only problem with that is, that every time I'm home Villa are either away or, as last October there was a fecking international weekend!

[adrenachrome]

Indie

Jose Mourinho disagrees with Paul Lambert and says FA Cup retains a 'special meaning'

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes the FA Cup has “a special meaning” and disagrees with Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert's assessment that the tournament is an unnecessary distraction.

Lambert suggested the competition is an unwelcome one for Premier League clubs, but Mourinho, who won the trophy in 2007 during his first spell at Chelsea.

"The FA Cup has a special feeling, a special meaning," Mourinho said.

"I was lucky to win lots of trophies but to win the FA Cup at Wembley and feel what it means was one of my high moments in my career. "I have a good feeling for the competition and the good things this country has in terms of football I think we have to keep them."

Mourinho sees no reason why clubs not involved in European competition do not take the FA Cup seriously.

He added: "I don't agree (with Lambert), but Paul has the right to express his opinion and he has a right to think differently than I think. And I have the right to think differently than he does.

"Especially for teams without European competition, where they play 38 matches during a (Premier League) season, and where FA Cup matches come not in midweek matches but one more weekend with football, I don't see a reason for the clubs for not trying to win matches."

PA

[pauliewalnuts]

Really, we should be able to get past Sheffield United with plenty to spare, and given the points made above re the league situation, I'd expect him to do try and do just that.

I'd like to see Helenius, more than anything, especially given the Kozak situation.

[Breezeblock]

Every year we get upset when there are weakened teams picked in the cups. And every year our lowest gates are in the cups.

Maybe the crowds are low because of the weakened teams? I'm not going because i'm fed up of watching our stiffs in cup games. If you remember I said that to you after the Spurs LC game. If the club don't take it seriously then they can't expect me to spend my hard earned.

I have to agree. I was going tomorrow but now I think i'll save my 20 quid.  Thanks for the warning you will be taking the piss tomorrow Mr. Lambert.

[dave.woodhall]

Every year we get upset when there are weakened teams picked in the cups. And every year our lowest gates are in the cups.

Maybe the crowds are low because of the weakened teams? I'm not going because i'm fed up of watching our stiffs in cup games. If you remember I said that to you after the Spurs LC game. If the club don't take it seriously then they can't expect me to spend my hard earned.

I have to agree. I was going tomorrow but now I think i'll save my 20 quid.  Thanks for the warning you will be taking the piss tomorrow Mr. Lambert.

Can you tell me where he said that, please, only I've looked everywhere and I can't find it.