Comments on: Hungry For The FA Cup http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575 Daily News & Analysis of the English Premier League Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:25:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: LS7 http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-63313 LS7 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:47:24 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-63313 Good article. The FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France and others all generate excitement. For clubs with little chance of winning their domestic league, it gives them something to aim for and it also gives lower-division clubs something to dream about. Beyond the examples mentioned in the article and previous comments, there was a massive underdog story in the Coupe de France last year. The competition was won by a 2nd division club En Avant de Guingamp, who by winning received a spot in the Europa League. They also recently travelled to Montreal to play in the French equivelant of the Community Shield against Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux. Great experience for the players and coaches of Guingamp Good article.

The FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France and others all generate excitement. For clubs with little chance of winning their domestic league, it gives them something to aim for and it also gives lower-division clubs something to dream about.

Beyond the examples mentioned in the article and previous comments, there was a massive underdog story in the Coupe de France last year. The competition was won by a 2nd division club En Avant de Guingamp, who by winning received a spot in the Europa League. They also recently travelled to Montreal to play in the French equivelant of the Community Shield against Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux. Great experience for the players and coaches of Guingamp

]]> By: DaveMo http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-63203 DaveMo Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:19:10 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-63203 United were one blown penalty call away from making it to the FA Cup Final last season. Yes, they used youth and back-up players, but a good, long cup run is essential to develop those players in the modern game. How many of their counterparts were loaned out or sold on outright in the years previous, when Utd flopped out of the Carling Cup so early? Big clubs want to win all of the trophies on offer, but your first XI can only play in so many matches. You may have more love for the FA Cup this season, but you still won't be supporting Rafa resting Torres and Gerrard in a league match or a CL match so they can survive a cup tie. The way the big clubs treat the FA Cup is exactly what provides the drama - would Havant and Waterlooville or Burnley have created the Cup magic they did over the last couple seasons if they had had to face the first XI of Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal? Doubtful. The clubs only come in for criticism like yours when their 2nd stringers don't pull it off. But personally I would have more cause for complaint if the manager had used the youth to get them through the tournament, and brought in the first team just for the final. Let the youngsters get the glory, in my opinion. The FA Cup is still part of the only treble that counts, so there's still a lot of glory there to be had. United were one blown penalty call away from making it to the FA Cup Final last season. Yes, they used youth and back-up players, but a good, long cup run is essential to develop those players in the modern game. How many of their counterparts were loaned out or sold on outright in the years previous, when Utd flopped out of the Carling Cup so early?

Big clubs want to win all of the trophies on offer, but your first XI can only play in so many matches. You may have more love for the FA Cup this season, but you still won’t be supporting Rafa resting Torres and Gerrard in a league match or a CL match so they can survive a cup tie.

The way the big clubs treat the FA Cup is exactly what provides the drama – would Havant and Waterlooville or Burnley have created the Cup magic they did over the last couple seasons if they had had to face the first XI of Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal? Doubtful.

The clubs only come in for criticism like yours when their 2nd stringers don’t pull it off. But personally I would have more cause for complaint if the manager had used the youth to get them through the tournament, and brought in the first team just for the final. Let the youngsters get the glory, in my opinion. The FA Cup is still part of the only treble that counts, so there’s still a lot of glory there to be had.

]]> By: WG Don http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-63121 WG Don Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:29:01 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-63121 No one that I know wants to see that game. It seems to be something that other football watchers want. I'd be happy if we got into the league and never had to play them, ever. No one that I know wants to see that game. It seems to be something that other football watchers want. I’d be happy if we got into the league and never had to play them, ever.

]]> By: Ross McCormack http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-63011 Ross McCormack Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:14:13 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-63011 The only reason you're suddenly giving so much attention to the FA Cup is because you realised your pathetic team can't win anything else. The only reason you’re suddenly giving so much attention to the FA Cup is because you realised your pathetic team can’t win anything else.

]]> By: lynyrd cohen http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-62997 lynyrd cohen Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:57:08 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-62997 I'm sorry, were Chelsea "treating the world’s oldest football competition like the red-headed step-child of trophy runs" by winning it for 2 out of the past 3 years? I’m sorry, were Chelsea “treating the world’s oldest football competition like the red-headed step-child of trophy runs” by winning it for 2 out of the past 3 years?

]]> By: Ethan Armstrong http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-62996 Ethan Armstrong Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:53:20 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-62996 Good catch, David. My mistake. Good catch, David. My mistake.

]]> By: Jose http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-62988 Jose Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:20:47 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-62988 My favorite memory of the FA Cup so far has to be when Havant and Waterlooville came to Anfield last year. I think that match, with the atmosphere and respect between both fans, was oozing of FA Cup "magic". My favorite memory of the FA Cup so far has to be when Havant and Waterlooville came to Anfield last year. I think that match, with the atmosphere and respect between both fans, was oozing of FA Cup “magic”.

]]> By: winstongator http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-62966 winstongator Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:13:34 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-62966 David is right, it was Barnsley. I enjoyed both the Lpool & Chelsea games. David is right, it was Barnsley. I enjoyed both the Lpool & Chelsea games.

]]> By: Dave http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-62928 Dave Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:39:27 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-62928 Potential FA Cup match-up nobody thinks about but everyone would take time out to watch: AFC Wimbledon v. MK Dons. Potential FA Cup match-up nobody thinks about but everyone would take time out to watch: AFC Wimbledon v. MK Dons.

]]> By: David http://www.epltalk.com/hungry-for-the-fa-cup/9575#comment-62914 David Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:43:56 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/?p=9575#comment-62914 An understandable mistake but it was Barnsley that put out Liverpool and hated Chelsea two years ago in the FA Cup. An understandable mistake but it was Barnsley that put out Liverpool and hated Chelsea two years ago in the FA Cup.

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