Is it just me or has the magic of the FA cup totally diminished?? When I was a kid I used to love watching the build up that started about lunch time leading to the 3pm KO. This year it's a 1715 KO with Chelsea playing Villa this lunch time! It was also always the last match to be played of the season, but for some reason they've stopped this and they's still 2 more games to go in the Prem. The Semis are now played at Wembley completely taking the gloss of the main event when that gets played there?
I quite agree with you & totally lay the blame at the FA's door. They've always been a bunch of clueless goons. Old school tie & jobs for the boys.
It's not just you mate. Unfortunately, the Premier League is the be all and end all of club football in this country now. The FA Cup will always come second best to the PL title and the Champions League. The FA are not helping matters by no longer treating the FA Cup Final as the end of season finale. To have the game today, before the PL season is complete is a disgrace in my eyes.
The powers that be have undermined this great and historic competition at every turn..It is up to real football fans up and down the land to fight back and restore this competition to what it was. The only way to do this is to turn out in force to support it...
I'd agree with all this. It's an absolute travesty the final is being played today before the season is finished. Some things should remain unchanged. 3pm kick off after the season finishes and having to choose between bbc1 and itv at midday for the build up.
I may be wrong but isnt it played this weekend because the CL final is at Wembley, and that is the last game of the season in Europe and they dont want the pitch to play like crap and be all cut up for it.
but saying that when we won it in `73 we had 2 matches left and leeds had 1 against Arsenal who they stuffed 6-1, so it hasnt always been the last day of the season.
Last seasons FA cup final was 5th May, with a 1715 KO . The season ended on the 13th May, so the Champions league makes no difference to this season.
it was played at Wembley last season and this season its going to be played there again (cl final that is) hmm no it wasnt must have been 2011 final feck knows then but like i said it hasnt always been the last game anyway...
Nowt to do with that mate it's all about the money that semi finals etc. rake in for the money grabbing barstewards, agree it should have remained THE last game of the season so that everyone can enjoy it whether involved or not, always used watch it not even remotely interested now.
Sorry, but I can't believe that for one second. Unless you're not a football fan, everyone knows the final is today and who's playing.....even my wife who hates football knows this.
I've just been having this conversation its lost its sparkle. The semis should be at Old Trafford and The Emirates and the Final should be a show piece at the end of the domestic season. It needs a rich sponsor to come along and force the Fa's hand. If your not top 4 what is the reward for winning it? The Europa League, more like a punishment if you ask me.
They are putting the semi finals at Wembley to help pay the costs of the stadium. I couldn't give a **** about it and certainly wont be watching.
for me the prize money is the problem not enough of it. and Bud is a pretty big sponsor anyway. Extra Preliminary Round winners (200) £1,000 Preliminary Round winners (166) £1,750 First Round Qualifying winners (116) £3,000 Second Round Qualifying winners (80) £4,500 Third Round Qualifying winners (40) £7,500 Fourth Round Qualifying winners (32) £12,500 First Round Proper winners (40) £18,000 Second Round Proper winners (20) £27,000 Third Round Proper winners (32) £67,500 Fourth Round Proper winners (16) £90,000 Fifth Round Proper winners (8) £180,000 Sixth Round Proper winners (4) £360,000 Semi-Final winners (2) £900,000 Semi-Final runners-up (2) £450,000 Final runners-up (1) £900,000 Final winners (1) £1,800,000
Hold on mate, i'm a massive football fan. I've played at a decent level and watch as many games as possible. The only day I really get to myself is a Sunday and I watch 5 games from midday until 10pm. Theres English, Spanish, German and Italian football matches on and I watch the lot, even French if thats on. I didn't know it was the cup final today. It's sad, I know. Unfortunately though this is what people are saying, its lost its magic and nobody bats an eyelid at it, unless they are still taking part in the competition.
Why a 5.15 pm kick off ?, probably because the residents in london are not happy with the already congested roads in London being jam packed, and by the time it kicks off 1000,s of Chelsea supporters will be arriving back from Villa. The final could have been played at old trafford due to Wigan's average, 50,000 Man city and 26,000 Wigan supporters roughly.
I fully agree its lost it's magic, big time. But I cannot understand any football fan living in England not knowing today is cup final day and who's playing in it. I'm not saying your not a fan for not knowing this, but surely you read papers, Internet, listen to radio and watch tv?
