The FA Cup.

[curlytailavfc]

love talk sport there all bell ends

[newtonsballs]

Let us pass judgement when we see the team sheet and know the final score. See you all at Villa Park tomorrow. May the best team win. Up the Villa

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

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

What gets me is that people somehow think playing 6 FA cup games will be a big burden for a team when basically they have about one game a week between now and end of the season.

True, but the reality is that our squad is pretty thin and some of our players appear to be made of straw.  I can just imagine the fury on here if he put out his strongest team tomorrow and, say,  Vlaar, Delph and Benteke were crocked for the rest of the season.  It's not just about six games, it's about the impact they have on the other nineteen.  Either way he'll be damned whatever he does in the eyes of some people.
 
(Oh, and in response to adrenachrome, who responded to my previous post, I feel compelled to point out that I am no longer a member of the press.  That was a job I did for a brief period as a very junior member of staff, and it set me on my way to not becoming a sports reporter.  I don't think you have too much to forgive me for...)

[LeeB]

Rodney Marsh is an absolute bell end.

That's really all that needs to be said.

[old man villa fan]

I am amazed by some of the comments by some posters and media reports having listened to the interview myself.  There again, perhaps I am not surprised.  Either people have not taken time to listen the interview, listen to it carefully or have a different agenda.  It came out very clearly to me that he implied that, in the order of priorities, the PL would come first for the majority of the managers, which it does.  Given a choice between the two, it would by the PL all day long.  Those chasing CL places and those fighting relegation (and that starts from 10th place down according to some drama queens) are more interested in the PL, which leaves about four clubs having the luxury of not having to worry about any effect a cup run might have on their league position.

The 3rd and 4th rounds should not really effect things as they are free weekends in the PL but from the 5th (or is it 6th) round on, league games have to be postponed and played midweek to accommodate cup matches, just at a time when things become critical.  Perhaps the answer is to allow teams that are not in Europe to play midweek games earlier in the season when the top teams are playing in Europe, thus freeing up time post Xmas but that would not suit TV who run the game now.

As somebody else pointed out, the most worrying comment from Lambert was the one about players being more interested in their contracts rather than winning things.  Again, I believe he made the comment about the game in general rather than the Villa as was the whole tone of the interview.  How do you motivate players to give them the edge if they are only interested in their contracts.  I suppose the only answer is wages being more tied into results but the PFA do not want that.

[TB]

I am amazed by some of the comments by some posters and media reports having listened to the interview myself.  There again, perhaps I am not surprised.  Either people have not taken time to listen the interview, listen to it carefully or have a different agenda.  It came out very clearly to me that he implied that, in the order of priorities, the PL would come first for the majority of the managers, which it does.  Given a choice between the two, it would by the PL all day long.  Those chasing CL places and those fighting relegation (and that starts from 10th place down according to some drama queens) are more interested in the PL, which leaves about four clubs having the luxury of not having to worry about any effect a cup run might have on their league position.

The 3rd and 4th rounds should not really effect things as they are free weekends in the PL but from the 5th (or is it 6th) round on, league games have to be postponed and played midweek to accommodate cup matches, just at a time when things become critical.  Perhaps the answer is to allow teams that are not in Europe to play midweek games earlier in the season when the top teams are playing in Europe, thus freeing up time post Xmas but that would not suit TV who run the game now.

As somebody else pointed out, the most worrying comment from Lambert was the one about players being more interested in their contracts rather than winning things.  Again, I believe he made the comment about the game in general rather than the Villa as was the whole tone of the interview.  How do you motivate players to give them the edge if they are only interested in their contracts.  I suppose the only answer is wages being more tied into results but the PFA do not want that.

Agreed. That's the way I heard it, too. You've put it much better than I ever could have. The entire interview was solely general questions and answers related to the declining importance of the FA cup status vs the need for continuing PL survival for most PL teams due to the financial gains involved - not anything to do with Aston Villa specifically.

The only part of the interview directly pertaining to Aston Villa was the question at the very end of the interview: whether Lambert's team selection on Saturday would be most affected by Lambert wanting to proceed to the next round in the cup or by the upcoming Arsenal game - to which he replied that it would have to be a little bit of both: he would want to progress in the cup if possible, the team vs Sheffield United might have to reflect both that there are players that would benefit from a run-out, and there's an upcoming match against Arsenal shortly afterwards.

To think I've thought from time to time that parts of the Norwegian media were reporting matters in a over-the-top sensationalistic manner.... they don't hold a candle to their English counterparts.

[Dave Cooper please]

Talking of people with very thin skin who love to be in the public eye:

"Influential" Villa fan throws his toys

[Clampy]

Talking of people with very thin skin who love to be in the public eye:

"Influential" Villa fan throws his toys

Influential? A twat full of his own self importance more like.

[Small Rodent]

This reminds me of when The Rutles said they were bigger than Rod.

[Dave Clark Five]

Talking of people with very thin skin who love to be in the public eye:

"Influential" Villa fan throws his toys

Influential? A twat full of his own self importance more like.

What? The voice of the fans?

[CJ]

While the media are obsessing about Lambert's comments they should cast a wider eye at supporters' attitudes to the FA Cup, especially at PL clubs, too. Villa have closed off sections of the ground and offered cheap tickets to entice supporters to the game (my normal ST seat in the Upper Holte is £15), and even with Sheffield bringing twice the normal away allowance the attendance today is likely to be well below any PL game at VP this season. The League Cup was downgraded ages ago, and the FA Cup is following the same trajectory. The incompetence of the FA coupled with the gravy train of the Premier League has de-valued all other football, and the 'magic' of the FA Cup now only exists for the lower league teams in the early rounds, with PL teams only twitching their snouts when they start to smell the money from a cup final appearance. It's called modern football, and if I wasn't hooked on Villa I'd loathe it with a passion.

[mrfuse]

Talking of people with very thin skin who love to be in the public eye:

"Influential" Villa fan throws his toys

For many many reasons it would be great to get to the final, this would be one of them.

[olaftab]

It's not the supporters attitude that results in low attendance. Clubs are entirely to blame for this. Fans were not responsible for disrespecting the Cup by playing reserves. Team managers did that and once fans realised that they are being treated like idiots they will not turn up with their hard earned money to watch reserves.
Yes the cups have been turned into a farce by the FA and Premier League however NO blame should be attached to supporters attitude.

[dave.woodhall]

It's not the supporters attitude that results in low attendance. Clubs are entirely to blame for this. Fans were not responsible for disrespecting the Cup by playing reserves. Team managers did that and once fans realised that they are being treated like idiots they will not turn up with their hard earned money to watch reserves.
Yes the cups have been turned into a farce by the FA and Premier League however NO blame should be attached to supporters attitude.

That's totally incorrect. I know that you're at the point of obsession with the FA Cup but the fact is that the new breed of football supporter has been brought up to believe that the Premier League is the only show in town.

[Clampy]

It's not the supporters attitude that results in low attendance. Clubs are entirely to blame for this. Fans were not responsible for disrespecting the Cup by playing reserves. Team managers did that and once fans realised that they are being treated like idiots they will not turn up with their hard earned money to watch reserves.
Yes the cups have been turned into a farce by the FA and Premier League however NO blame should be attached to supporters attitude.

Look up the line up for the Rotherham game earlier in the season and tell me how many were reserves?