Is the FA Cup no longer what it was?

[Basher]

As all followers of football will know, it's cup final day tomorrow.

It's also Man Utd's final game of the season. The Premiership should be won tomorrow.

It's also the League 1 play off semi final 1st leg tomorrow.

Is nothing bloody sacred?

As a kid, FA Cup final day was one of the most important days in the football calendar. A full day was spent in front of the telly watching the great build up to the game, the game itself and then the presentation of the trophy to the winning side.

Why do the powers that be allow the cup final to be held on the same day as other important matches?

Personally I'll be glued to the box at 12.45 to watch Bournemouth v The Terriers in the play off 1st leg. Just hope Town get a good result!!!

 

[fundy]

FA cup not been the same ever since United decided not to play in it one year to play in the super cup, top sides not taken as serious since then

 

[freddielong]

The FA cup isn´t what it was because of FIFA changeing the european cup so that the top 4 could get in

the fa cup used to be one of the few legitimite ways into europe

 

[JonathanEly]

i agree with Fundy and it not just that it always has been a top four team win it prior the lower teams that have been in there (Southampton, Millwall West Ham and Pompey).

i think it that now Sky have taken over it just don't feel the same anymore so if their anyone to blame it is Murdoch and BskyB fault

 

[sev112]

Unless West Ham are in teh final its a waste of time ...

Actually, given our record of doing very well when we've been relegated, next year might be our year again

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not been the focal point it was for years. Mind you the Copa Del Rey was held midweek so a Saturday albeit with other fixtures still seems a result of sorts. They FA have said next years final will also clash with premier fixtures and that the one after might even get moved to a evening kick off. I think if the FA don't treat their flagship event with any pride and dignity they can't expect clubs and fans to do the same. I still miss thing like Cup Final Its a Knockout and the build up from 11.00 on the morning. Used to be glued to the chair all the way through until the final whistle

 

[viscount17]

part of it is that playing at Wembley is no longer a unique event, as a kid the only matches played at Wembley were internationals and the cup final. Wembley was the FA, and the FA Cup its show piece.

now all the semis are played there, which has devalued those games too. when one was played north and one south they were an event in themselves.

toss in all the league play-off finals and it becomes just another game

 

[big_russ]

UEFA made the FA bring the FA Cup forward so that no games were played at Wembley in the two weeks before the champions league final. That is the reason why it is being played before all the regular league football has finished.
As many others have stated the gloss has been removed from FA cup final day for many years now and it isn't the occasion it used to be.

 

[bobmac]

How far can professional footballers kick a football

Golfymit

 

[Ethan]

Wow. you mean the FA Cup is still going? I thought it finished in the 90s.

 

[quinn]

after the best final ever "1987" the F.A cup went downhill from there, , top teams now put out reserve teams , games are switched to the bigger grounds to make more money, not the same anymore

 

[chrisd]

It's never been the same since the Mighty Eagles of Crystal Palace beat Manchester Utd 3 - 3 and wern't given the cup!


Chris

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Erm, it's no longer the competition it was because pretty much every premiership team has zero interest in winning it!!!

The top clubs are concentrating on the Premier league and the Champions League.

The middle clubs are trying to get sixth place which gets them European football.

The lower clubs are trying to stay in the PL so ANY cup is a huge distraction.

The FA Cup will become a competition for the Championship and below in the next few years.

Can you imagine Sheik me handy I'm worth nuff money Al Maktoum talking to Mancini on Monday morning and saying "Manci, what can I say, you've won the FA Cup! I'm beside my self with pride! You've got a job here for life!"

Or, will he say:

"Roberto, you've come here with a great managerial reputation. We've spent £5,555,555,555.000 on players. We even bought you Adebayor and all you deliver is the FA Cup!!! I had to look up that competition and, apparently, it was quite prestigious in the 80s but, let me remind you, we're in the 21st century now!!! Next season, if you don't win the Premiership, the Champions league and the game that SKY put on featuring Ralf Little then you're sacked!!!"