Martin Samuel replies to your comments on his Debate: Is this the best FA Cup ever?
There has been a lot of talk about the attitude of the big four towards the FA Cup but the fact they have had a monopoly in recent years suggests they have taken it seriously enough. The problem is those teams that should go full tilt at the Cup (Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Reading, West Ham United, Sunderland…) but choose not to, forsaking potential glory and Europe for mid table mediocrity. Well done Portsmouth and Harry Redknapp for taking the competition seriously. James Roberts.
MS: Couldn’t agree more, James (although I am sure Villa would love to take the competition seriously if only they could stop drawing Manchester United). It is those clubs putting out half-strength teams to consolidate 14th place that are the problem, and the supporters that have been brainwashed into endorsing this bizarre sense of priority.
If you still miss the big four just cast your mind back to the mediocrity of the final between Chelsea and Manchester United last season, or the time when Arsenal played for penalties against United from the first minute. Graham Parker.
MS: I agree. The anticipation of these epic battles is almost always greater than the reality.
I won't be watching and I bet I'm not alone. I would much rather watch teams that can play football. Can you seriously think Barnsley's style of football is entertaining? Chris Thurston.
MS: No, but this weekend is not necessarily about recreating Brazilian football from 1970, it is about an occasion and a dream that most supporters think is beyond their team. That has merit, too, surely?
The unpredictability of the FA Cup makes it unique. How boring have two-leg fixtures and group stages become? The FA Cup this season has been fantastic. Tom.
MS: I find it strange that in some rounds the FA Cup is one match, no replay, and in others it goes to two games. The League Cup is the same. There is a lot to be said for the one game, death or glory approach that we will see this weekend.
Matches that stick in my memory have usually involved at least one unexpected finalist – Manchester United against Brighton and Hove Albion, Coventry City against Tottenham, United against Crystal Palace. Of these semi-finalists, only West Brom have played in a final in my lifetime so I shall be specially looking forward to May. Variety is the spice of life. Martin Litchfield.
MS: Still think the Final needs Portsmouth, though, rather than an all-Championship clash (although if West Brom do win, good luck to them).
I love the play-off finals because they often produce exciting matches. The players involved in the FA Cup final this season will now be playing the biggest game of their lives. It could be the best of the century so far. Sam.
MS: An interesting point about the play-off finals, which some think have taken the place of the FA Cup final in the affections of the public. Not this year, apparently.
What's so great about it? You can't fill a quarter of the stadium anywhere in Asia if it were held there; commercial sponsorship grinds to a halt when any of the EPL Top4 is not involved. Defintely not prime time viewing.
Posted by: S K Lin | April 05, 2008 at 06:38 AM
To James Roberts. Did Tottenham not take it seriously? They were knocked out by Manchester United at Old Trafford, congratulations to Portsmouth on doing it but not everyone does!! If anything Tottenham focused on the cups they were in this season more than the league and it has been fruitful having won the League Cup and qualifying for europe again next season. Also were Manchester City not a little unlucky the way they went out, Reading did well taking Tottenham to a replay before falling out. Villa as has been mentioned were unfortunate to draw Manchester United, the research of your question seems questionable to say the least.
Posted by: Ray | April 04, 2008 at 12:44 PM
to James Roberts, I would love to know how much reseaerch was done into your suggestion that some clubs do not take the cups seriously, but would rather field weakened teams in order to be stronger for the more lucrative premier leage. However, as a Newcastle fan I would love you to suggest, with back-up, how my team falls under this category. We draw Arsenal or Chelsea in both cups, almost every season, and got Arsenal twice this season. Now I would love for my team to be better than Arsenal's youngsters, and stay in. But atleast we played our strongest team. Just because the media hates Newcastle United at the moment, doesnt mean that it is acceptable for people to guess about how we play our matches. Please do the legwork before you speak of other people's teams in future!
Posted by: James | April 04, 2008 at 08:33 AM
"Everyone would take the FA Cup deadly seriously if there was a Champion's League place for the winner."
That would be silly and undeserved though, and would just go to enhance to ridicule aimed at UEFA. Imagine Barnsley with 20m, instant promotion hopes given to them despite finishing way in the bottom half.
There was the Cup Winners Cup, but that was scrapped as it was boring and predictable until the quarter finals, so think how ridiculous Barnsley, or indeed any midtable Premiership side in the Champions League would be.
Posted by: Damian Williamson | April 03, 2008 at 04:20 PM
There is no comment so innocent that somewhere, an idiot isn't offended. David Harrison, how in any language have you managed to miss the joke about Villa and Man Utd? The point is that Villa do take the competition seriously and put out full-strength teams but always seem to draw Utd, who beat them every time. It was a joke in response to the commenter's suggestion that Villa don't take the cup seriously.
Posted by: Chris | April 03, 2008 at 02:51 PM
I think you've missed the irony and sarcasm of that comment, David......
Posted by: Harry | April 03, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Like issues of allocation of tickets to clubs, an old mate once said to me 'The FA Cup doesn't belong to the clubs, it belongs to the people'. This year the people have got their FA Cup. And we all know that it doesn't take two great clubs to make a great match. Let's face it, most finals are not up to the hype. Good luck to all the teams, I'd love mine to be there at Wimble Wemble this weekend. No matter what, semis and finals will still be viewed with a bit of atmos at the pub.
Posted by: Stoney | April 03, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Everyone would take the FA Cup deadly seriously if there was a Champion's League place for the winner. The FA Cup champions are at least "Champions" of something, unlike the fourth-past-the-post guys. This would help break the CL monopolies and spread the wealth about a bit as well. I would not have this method for every country but as an option if desired.
Posted by: Nogbad T. Bad | April 03, 2008 at 09:45 AM
"Villa would take it seriously if the could stop drawing Macnchester United" Could we translate that into Portsmouth should not have taken the quarter final game seriously because they drew Manchester United? We all know what happened there. Should Barnsley not have taken it seriously because because they drew two premier league teams? We all know what happened there.
Who you draw should make no difference. If you field your best team and win then you deserve it. If you field your best team and lose then you just weren't good enough on the day. There are no excuses- luck, the ref etc don't wash.
Posted by: David Harrison | April 03, 2008 at 01:34 AM