Well... If i could go I would but.... i've seen this more and more. I don't know if its the christmas that sucks cash or its the 4 games on christmas or what but a home game in the cup ought to be a sell out.
I think the FA Cup is still seen as very valuable by lower PL clubs and league clubs, but to those in the higher echelons its value has definitely diminished as the focus is now on the PL title and Europe. It's still a prestigious trophy as it has so much history behind it, more than the PL, but it just doesn't have the same financial reward or global reach so it's not as prestigious or attractive in that sense. Lower level teams still covet it pretty highly as it's probably the biggest pot they can win outside their respective leagues, surely an FA Cup win is more or as valuable as winning the Championship or League 1 (not in a financial sense but a footballing one). But to devaluate it and place it on the same tier as the League Cup as I've heard a few do is ridiculous.
The FA Cup is great....while your team's still in it Whilst I understand the reasons people say CL places should only be judged on league form I still think the FA Cup winner should get a CL place for the simple reason that football in this country has (almost) become a closed shop these days. Same teams up the top every year (yawn) unless someone finds themselves another multi-billionaire. Should we really be rewarding the team that finishes fourth in a league with a shot at Europe or should we be rewarding a club that's actually won something? Imagine how tense the cup games would be if there was a CL place riding on it, it'd be ****ing ace
does anyone think that either the Christmas league schedule needs one less game OR the FA cup should be played the first week of the christmas schedule not the last. Also the Fa need to make a proclaimation now. LFC were not so bad but.... "resting" players is killing the comp. Lambert at villa was stupid. he said what he thought.. fat sam and pardew were all about the magic of the cup in the press then fielded weakened sides. 100k fine to both clubs... actually newkie were not too bad but they did still go out at home to cardiff... which is a fairly hard thing to go do... obviously moyes is worried about relegation too so also got out early.
well i doubt they will piss about with the procedures too much, but an instant impact on it would be make it more financially rewarding same as Eufa cup, make owners think well we could do with the money from them comps so do your best. that way the managers wont be so concerned with just league survival as owners would want the financial reward from them as well. may or may not work, but i doubt you would see as many weakened teams playing as the owners wouldn't be too impressed i shouldn't imagine of losing out on the potential money from that as well. at the moment both are seen as not worth the effort because mainly of the financial rewards of both, they use the fixtures as an excuse, but thats bull, just not financially rewarding to risk it.
I guess take some tv money from the prem and give it to prize money. I was looking and no MOTD so the cup to the masses was no even on yesterday IMO. The thing about the cup is the top 4 have an issue... the cup and the champions league clash. the top 4 like the league cup as its near over by the cl starts back.... but the FA cup for the majority.. its great. you play games not have two weeks off between games. I dunno.... I think the FA need to ensure that max 3 players rested is a kind of standard. why should reserve teams be allowed... start fines next year and then roll it up to points deductions in 3 years time. that should sharpen pencils.
1. The PL & FA are separate competitions & organisations, there's no way that the PL would transfer some of it's sponsorship to the FA Cup 2. MOTD wasn't on, as the BBC don't have the TV rights, ITV & BT have them 3. The 'top 4' have won the cup in 16 of the last 18 years, so the 'issue' with the CL, can't be too great a hinderance 4. It's a squad game, you can't decide whether someone's use of player A or B is a 'weaker' choice, as it'd come down to subjective opinion.
