Well played Leeds.. This is further proof that Spurs need to give Gyifi Sigurdsson back to Reading or Hoffenheim, and whilst we're at it, we should ask for a refund on Dempsy from Fulham. If Spurs had to rely on these two mis-fits for the remainder of the season we'd surely finish behind West Ham. These two weaklings add no bite, no strength, no awareness, No guile, in fact they have no real presence at all, IMO and they were always going to get bullied off the ball at Leeds. Demsey's lucky goal will not change my view of him either, after-all, if you pelt enough balls at an object, eventually one of them is certain to bunch off in a favourable direction, 'its called the 'Law of averages". Other them that, he did nothing of note and might as well had stayed at home with Sigurdsson. Who could blame the likes of Bale and an inform Lennon for getting frustrated. Poor team selection today., They (Leeds) didn't stop us from scoring today, we prevented ourshlves from scoring more. Please AVB do not play Gyifi Sigurdsson and Demsey as the two strikers, in the same line-up, again. Thankyou........... Now where's my Rum.
When Del Boy started it off earlier today, you just knew something was in the air. Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool- not one have progressed.
Well played to all of you on this thread who seem to have remained reasonably calm after that debacle. No doubt over the next few days we will be 'treated' to all sorts of excuses from the players and management, about how it was a 'bad day at the office' and 'one of those days' and 'we're determined to put this behind us on Wednesday'. That was a simply unacceptable performance against opposition who not at any time looked a good side. I am fuming at the number of players who just did not turn up and others who failed abysmally to perform. Out thought and out muscled and another weak exit from a cup competition this season. It's going to take me a long while to get over this one.
You really do wonder why teams who are not challenging for the title, but have some history and tradition in the F.A.Cup, would not place importance on winning a trophy. Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool- why play weakened teams against lower league opposition on their own grounds? You know you're going to get a game. Play your best XI, put some effort in and look to win the tie early. If you get a couple of goals up, then you can rest players.
The FA Cup lost its prestige many years ago, mainly due to the money and importance being put into the league, plus there used to be the cup winners cup, so teams see it as an annoyance, until they reach the later stages. Also, the host on 606 made a good point, about when clubs viewed the FA Cup as a big trophy and a major trophy, in general teams had smaller squads, QPR are a good example, as while they lost yesterday, back in the day when they were in the premier league with Les Ferdinand and Trevor Sinclair, they couldn't call upon 8 players from their squad, it would mean calling up canteen staff. Its sad to say it, but the FA Cup will soon be of as much importance as the league cup, and managers main (only) focus is League success, be that winning the title, champions league, top 6, or staying in the league. I'm sure back in the 80's, 70,s even the early 90's, teams still viewed the FA Cup as a welcome break from league action, even if they are struggling as they say winning games breed confidence, today's managers have a different outlook and its partly the reason for destroying the competition.
Well, Turnbull, Bertrand and Marin wouldn't make a Chelsea first XI. And Dempsey and Sigurdsson up front would have looked toothless in any PL game. Why play Huddlestone when Dembele was needed to give Spurs a grip in midfield in a game like this? And neither Caulker nor Vertonghen would have much experience of a blood and guts English Cup tie. Coates looked like a Sunday league player v Matt Smith.
The number of non-UK players/managers might also have something to do with it. The cup has always been a poor relation to the league in most other countries.
