Middlesbrough v Aston Villa pre-match thread

[LeeB]

I'd rather win the Conference League. There's a level of prestige to winning a European trophy unrivalled domestically.

Let's be honest, the FA Cup means something to people who grew up with 3 channels. I want to win the FA Cup because I want to win things. Winning the FA Cup wouldn't feel any better than winning the League Cup to me.

"Oooooh the magic" yeah, whatever mate, just put the trophy in the back and mind that big one while you do it.

Pfft kids these days, eh. I'm still old enough to remember the FA Cup being a big thing where the attendance goes up for it rather than down, and you'd still have enough left from a tenner to go to Laser Quest and get a hot dog from the Westlers man in town.

[Towser]

I want to win the FA Cup before I pop my clogs so it is important to me, however, every team in England gets a chance to win it every year whilst very few teams get the chance to win a European trophy so Conference League just about trumps the FA Cup for that reason for me.

[Villan82]

Every year I approach the FA Cup in the context of the season we are having. League is always the priority (whether at the top or the bottom). In a season like 1998-99 or this one I would prioritise the league. In a season like 99-00 or some of the non descript Gregory, O'Leary years I would want us to go for the FA Cup. I sometimes feel we could have done more in the League in 1995-96 if we didn't go so deep in the FA Cup in addition to winning the League Cup. I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

If we were 8th or 9th right now I would be up for an FA Cup run. As things stand we are in the race for two trophies already: Conference League and the League. I won't be gutted if we flop in the FA cup this season but that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to see us win it next year or the year after.

[Clark W Griswold]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy which they actually did by beating 2nd division Sunderland in the final.

[dave.woodhall]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy.

They played Portsmouth in the semi and Sunderland in the final. That was our year.

[Allan C]

I'd rather win the Conference League. There's a level of prestige to winning a European trophy unrivalled domestically.

Let's be honest, the FA Cup means something to people who grew up with 3 channels. I want to win the FA Cup because I want to win things. Winning the FA Cup wouldn't feel any better than winning the League Cup to me.

"Oooooh the magic" yeah, whatever mate, just put the trophy in the back and mind that big one while you do it.

I agree with you, the so called “magic of the cup”went long ago for the clubs. Our game, Boro will likely rest players cos they’ve prioritised other competitions and we’ll do the same. Certainly some of ours need a break and this, from a club point of view, is the ideal time to do it. Thats also the point of a squad. I think we’ll win regardless of the team we field.

[Clark W Griswold]

Yes, i edited the end of my post regarding the final. Portsmouth were also 2nd division i think?

[eamonn]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy.

They played Portsmouth in the semi and Sunderland in the final. That was our year.

So did we not turn up at Anfield or what happened? I only have vague memories of it as a kid watching it in a neighbour's house (full of Redscouse fans).

[VillaTim]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy which they actually did by beating 2nd division Sunderland in the final.

i went to that one, the Yellow away kit out of the blue day

[AV82EC]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy.

They played Portsmouth in the semi and Sunderland in the final. That was our year.

So did we not turn up at Anfield or what happened? I only have vague memories of it as a kid watching it in a neighbour's house (full of Redscouse fans).

In all honesty it was a bit of a nothing game as we cancelled each other out, we huffed and puffed second half but didn’t create too many chances then Kubicki made a slip and Liverpool got the ball to Michael Thomas to score. It was a massive missed opportunity and was rounded off with us wearing that appalling Ellis cash in Yellow shirt. I’m still bitter 30 years later.

[VillaTim]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy.

They played Portsmouth in the semi and Sunderland in the final. That was our year.

So did we not turn up at Anfield or what happened? I only have vague memories of it as a kid watching it in a neighbour's house (full of Redscouse fans).

the game sort of passed us by. Neither team were briliant from memory

[PeterWithesShin]

The FA Cup started being devalued in the 2000s. There's a few reasons for it I reckon. Main one being as more CL spots were on offer more clubs were after that cash cow. Back before then a side 4th or 5th would be going all guns blazing for the cup as they were most likely already out the title race.

Then the PL money meant staying in the PL was deemed more important so you had sides at the top and bottom of the league fielding weaker sides.

Fans lost interest in paying good money to see reserve sides playing each other, along with the sides at the top being so cash rich from the PL and CL so have ridiculous squads that the odds of anyone winning from outside the Sky Wanker clubs is tiny. Only 3 teams have won it from outside that group in the last 25 years. All the others were won by either Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea.

[RamboandBruno]

Well my dreams are pissed on, a man of my time and all that, but to correct Ads there were 4 channels when I was growing up.

There are probably stats and info to prove me wrong on this, but it doesn’t really feel like the second string play once the quarter finals come around?

[LeeB]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy.

They played Portsmouth in the semi and Sunderland in the final. That was our year.

Yep, and it was probably the last year before the significance of the Cup was eroded.

[KevinGage]

I am a bit too young to comment with authority on 1991-92 but the consensus is we should have won the FA Cup that season.

We queued for 4 hours for tickets to the quarter final at Anfield. We really had a good chance that day, maybe not quite as much so as the other night at Old Trafford but it was certainly a good chance to beat them on their own turf, but they won 1-0. The atmosphere was electric from our end and they had empty seats. I think we were the 2 best teams still in it from memory so yes, had we been better on the day we could well have gone on to win the trophy which they actually did by beating 2nd division Sunderland in the final.

Prob not good enough to beat them on the day, but def should have got the draw and done them in the replay at home.

Can still see Atkinson's miss now. And that daft look on his face.