Just look at this week’s FA Cup Results: Oldham 3 Liverpool 2, Leeds 2 Tottenham 1, Norwich 0 Luton 1, QPR 2 MK Dons 4, Brentford 2 Chelsea 2.
I really enjoyed seeing those results when I checked. But is this really the “magic” of the FA Cup? I recall Roy Keane saying publicly that the FA Cup wasn’t a priority for Man Utd. The Premier League and obviously Champions League came first and the FA Cup was a distinctly second priority. It seems it’s all about the money. Personally, I think it’s good that Roy Keane speaks honestly but still, I’d rather not hear that kind of talk.
While I don’t doubt the players’ are trying once they are on the pitch I do wonder if some of them aren’t a little indifferent as to whether they are in or out of the cup , the idea being that they can concentrate on Premier League survival if they go out. Because that would be a shame: you don’t get medals for coming 14th
A West Brom fan I know wrote that he would happily take an FA cup final place (with an unknown outcome) and get relegated than take mere survival. While I’m certain there’s not a manager in the country who would agree, I make him right. What is sport about if not the glory? Will ex players be telling their grand children around the fireside in the year 2055 that they preserved their Premier League status for another season? (Good on ya Grandad!)
Maybe you earn a few quid more in the top tier. But come on – if you’re earning 20 grand a week in the Premiership and you drop to 10 grand a week in the Championship – it really isn’t the end of the world. (Do you know how much Danny Murphy and Jordan Rhodes are on at Blackburn?) You’ll still seriously rich, so how about that shot at glory?
So this week’s question is: “What do you think about last week’s FA cup Results” Answer this week’s poll and leave a comment with your Twitter username to be in with a chance of winning an Irish Open satellite token.
Congratulations to @pcbunter for winning last week’s poll.
I gotta say given the teams that Premiership managers field in the 3rd and 4 th round (and it’s not just the big boys) It’s the managers who either want a quick exit or a nice but somewhat lucky cup run fuelled at the start by some choice reserves. @fiercelyacute
@BenBulben40 There is no “magic of the cup” anymore and this is a great shame. i could tell you the teams, score and goalscorers from 1970-2000. I honestly would struggle to remember who was in last year’s final. Managers like Saggy Chops Redknapp place survival or Top 4 (HA remember those days ‘arry? WHERE’S YOUR ENGLAND JOB NOW???) over winning a trophy. The game is fooked.
Some of the bigger teams are not giving 100% but lower league teams are giving more than 100% also
@pauldoc9
i think the bigger teams arent giving 100%…it’s all about the league and changes to team selections are always going to happen for a cup game.i’m still a fan of it however! @pcbunter
the bigger teams are getting worse and the smaller teams are giving more on the pitch as it means more to them.
@theblackrose84 on twitter
I dont care about fa cup either, i just want an IO token.
@ironnutzpoker
the bigger clubs have the champions league an the premier league. this f.a cup gives the lower leagues a chance to take on the bigger clubs, gain experience playing them and try take revenue at the gate.
its a league that the lower clubs value more an more. @djdoc2001