FA Cup final day tomorrow and not a mention on here- how far has the competition fallen

T

Trug

Well-known member
FA Cup games for me were the be all and end all of football. Far more important than league games. There was excitement in the games, wonder in amazement when seeing the results in the Pink, looking for the giant killers and hoping for the big boys to slip up. Looking at the crowds at games that normally only attract a few people, even the gates at games between two non league teams doubled and trebled and were sold out. It was exciting and we wondered who would be on Match of the Day at 10.15 on the Saturday night. Money didn't play a part. It was glory, bragging rights that could last for years or generations even. KO was at 3.00 on Saturdays. There were replays and extra time, second and third replays and even on the odd occasion fourth replays. But the winner was the team who scored more goals than the opponents-not some nancy pancy shoot out.
We have mentioned on here before about the greeness of the AP pitch, especially under floodlights. Well it was a lot greener and lusher when we had a replay, especially if it was a "top" team. The atmosphee for a cup replay was always another 10 notches up.
So why am I ranting ? I didn't even know it was cup final day this weekend. I think that is a measure of how far the competition has fallen.
This article just reminded me of what the FA Cup meant to me


thttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-cup-final-history-b1847466.html
 
El Guapo said:
Lost in the fight for 4th place razzmatazz
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Everything that is wrong with football, I wouldn't be surprised if both teams played an under strength team to help protect their squads in the battle for fourth.

At 45 I'm probably part of the last generation that used to idolise the cup final. FA Cup Grandstand, following the teams to Wembley, let's see how they got there, obligatory Smith and Jones sketch, interviews with fans in the City/town of the finalist, of course a trip to the butchers or bakers, its a knockout cup special, then the game and once its finished over the field for our own replay.

I have a 12 year old son and he doesn't even know its Cup final day tomorrow, how times change (not always for the better unfortunately).
 
Will it be 5 Defeats out of 5 appearances in the FA Cup Final for Lesta - as predicted by all the Lundun media "Luvvies" - and will they be arzed to field their strongest team as they have to play Chelski in the Bankers League on Tuesday.
It appears that the Manager Brendan Rogers has no intention of putting the kids out.
I hope they do to Chelski what they did to the pundits in 2016 and shove their predictions right up their arzs

Leicester City predicted line-up v Chelsea: Three decisions to be made for FA Cup final​

How Leicester City could shape up when they emerge from the tunnel at Wembley on Saturday afternoon for the club's first FA Cup final in more than half a century
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Brendan Rodgers will be thinking about “more than talent” when he picks his Leicester City line-up to face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Form, and particularly fitness, will be under consideration as to which 11 players get to emerge from the tunnel at Wembley just before 5.15pm.
There are three questions that need to be answered by Rodgers.

..............................If Evans returns, Timothy Castagne will be pushed out of his makeshift position in the back three and will take up one of the spots at wing-back.
The Belgian is one of City’s most consistent performers, and one of their most energetic players, and so is very likely to be given one of the wing-backs spots. He could even be up against Ben Chilwell, the man he was signed to replace.But choosing the other wing-back is not so easy. Ricardo Pereira is perhaps the least likely option given his struggles to get back to his peak following a lengthy lay-off. Rodgers has said he will not be at his best until next season...................................


........That leaves Luke Thomas and Marc Albrighton. One scored at Old Trafford in City’s last outing, while the other assisted.

Thomas is left-footed and so provides greater balance to City’s set-up, albeit they still attacked far more often down the right-hand side at Manchester United.
Albrighton has the greater experience, and has been in decent form of late. If he plays, Castgne may be pushed to the left-hand side. Right now, it seems local lad Thomas is most likely to be handed a dream outing at Wembley..................................................... [continued]

Predicted City line-up (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu; Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas; Perez; Iheanacho, Vardy.


www.leicestermercury.co.uk

Why there's a fox-shaped hot air balloon over Leicester

Look up and you might see something incredible flying overhead
www.leicestermercury.co.uk www.leicestermercury.co.uk
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This lot seem to be taking it seriously - though they face the same Russian - backed agents on Tuesday in the Bankers League ;@))
www.leicestermercury.co.uk

Fifty-two years of patience leads City to historic day

Leicester City haven't been in the FA Cup Final for 52 years - now it's their chance to put things right, says Jordan Blackwell
www.leicestermercury.co.uk www.leicestermercury.co.uk
 
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www.standard.co.uk

How Leicester are predicted to lineup against Chelsea in FA Cup Final

Leicester City are sweating on the fitness of Jonny Evans ahead of Saturday's FA Cup Final showdown with Chelsea.
www.standard.co.uk www.standard.co.uk
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Leicester City XI vs Chelsea FC: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, latest injury update for FA Cup Final​

Leicester City are sweating on the fitness of Jonny Evans ahead of Saturday's FA Cup Final showdown with Chelsea.

The centre-back was forced off in the defeat to Newcastle earlier in the month with a heel problem and has since sat out the following two games.

He is being assessed and boss Brendan Rodgers admits he will give Evans every chance to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday's final at Wembley.

Rodgers said: "We're giving him another day, he has progressed really well in the last 24 hours. He looked very good and we'll see what the reaction is after that and make the final decision tomorrow.

"It's just a discussion between myself and Jonny, you always have to speak to the players and Jonny is a warrior. If there is any way he can play - even if he is not 100 per cent - he will be out there.

"It's going to be a physical game so we need good physicality and running ability, if that's hindered in any way it may make it difficult for him."
Cengiz Under has been nursing a hip problem while Harvey Barnes and James Justin (knee) remain out along with Wes Morgan (back).

Leicester City predicted XI (3-5-2): Schmeichel; Evans, Fofana, Soyuncu; Pereira, Ndidi, Tielemans, Castagne; Maddison; Vardy, Iheanacho
Leicester provisional squad: Schmeichel, Ward, Jakupovic, Fuchs, Soyuncu, Pereira, Evans, Daley-Campbell, Castagne, Thomas, Choudhury, Tavares, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Mendy, Amartey, Praet, Perez, Albrighton, Vardy, Iheanacho.


Meanwhile:

www.standard.co.uk

Chelsea stars face cup final axe with Tuchel furious over defeat

Chelsea stars face being dropped for Saturday’s FA Cup Final after Thomas Tuchel was left fuming over last night’s home defeat by Arsenal.
www.standard.co.uk www.standard.co.uk

Chelsea FC stars face FA Cup final axe with Thomas Tuchel furious over Arsenal defeat​

"Chelsea stars face being dropped for Saturday’s FA Cup Final after Thomas Tuchel was left fuming over last night’s home defeat by Arsenal. [Oh dear]
The top-four race was blown wide open..........."

"The German was infuriated by Kai Havertz’s wasteful finishing when one-on-one with Bernd Leno, as well as Jorginho’s blunder that gifted Arsenal their goal. In a damning assessment, he accused his side of lacking hunger, focus and fight......."

Praise where its due?

"Tuchel said: “We were distracted, we were not focused, we were not ready to fight 100 per cent for this win. We were trying, but not hard enough. We wanted it, but not badly enough. Maybe I sent the wrong signals with seven changes.[Perhaps you just werent good enough?!!] Maybe I left too many guys out who were fighting at City for a big, big win....."

“We were not sharp enough, not with the same energy, hunger, attitude, and so it’s on us. It was totally unnecessary but it’s the reality.” [praise indeed].

While Jorginho was guilty of gifting Arsenal their goal, Havertz was responsible for missing a gilt-edged chance with the game still goalless.
Tuchel did not even try to defend the German for his wayward finishing.

“It is very easy in front of goal, you take the decision to go for goal — he did something in between,”[If it was that easy - why didnt you win?] he said. “It is a crucial miss, because if we score after 11 minutes I think we have a big opportunity to win this game. We had the big chances to go ahead, we missed them.” [Shame].
 
Abel Tasman said:
Partly because Chelsea are involved and nobody gives a toss.
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In London Chelski already have the cup on the shelf and are looking to take third place and win the Champions League. Thats that then.

Meanwhile: Mark Lawrenson, who last played a professional game 32 years ago, will only be remembered by those aged 40+. predicts the London Luvvies to win. No surprise there.
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Isnt it time that the current presenters and "experts" [like Lineker and Lawrenson] were put out to grass?
 
Definitely hoping Leicester win. I would love to see Vardy win it and get a goal or two.

I do love a 'Roy of the Rovers' type story. That's why I always look at Wing and think 'well done👏'. The guy was making baths a few years ago and now probably on 6-10k a month and holding his own in the champo.

The competition is pretty much dead on the water. The main reason being the simple disrespect shown by clubs towards it. I believe we've gone out in the 3rd round the last 4-5 years? Just look at the side we put out at Brentford. The gaffer said all week that it was a chance to rest players.

Sides like Liverpool and Burnley etc put out are shocking line ups. The whole 'finishing 4th is a cup' mentality is awful.

It's not just that. It's been p*ssed around with so much by TV companies etc. The final is at 1715 and the rounds spread out over 4 days for TV (fri - Mon). They actually do the draw before the Monday game is played. Also don't get me started with it being on the f*cking One Show😒

I will probably watch it. That said I could probably tell you who won it in the 80s and 90s or who scored. Yet no idea 4-5 years ago (probably City).

My memories are Wimbledon beating Liverpool or the Spurs v Cov final with Houchens diving header. Although pretty much sick of seeing that Di Matteo goal.... 42 fecking seconds.

It's a shame. It holds a lot of childhood memories and most revolve around seeing 'big teams' with my old man. We can never forget those epic cup games against Everton and Parkys thunderbolt.
 
Boro and a number of supporters on here disrespect the cup too. NW (as have other managers) played a weakened team against Brentford and a number of fans on here at the time were in agreement and in support of the idea, let's give so and so a rest etc.

Unfortunately a lot of football has bought into the new mantra that the cups don't matter and for some reason that footballers can't play twice a week or more and still be successful, we know from the past that's rubbish, but because someone said it was true and others started to follow then the it must be true.
 
I think a big part of the problem for me is that we are saturated with live games most days and they always seem to involve one of the so called top 6 clubs. The magic of football has been diluted by Sky, Bt Sports et al. The older I become the less interested in the wider game i am. I get fed up with Jamie Carragher and all the other annoying pundits trying to discuss the game before and afterwards to the nth degree. I support Boro to the hilt, not football per se, so the magic of the cup means nothing to me anymore unless it involves Boro, even then, if Gary Monks face appears on the couch, I want to destroy my telly.
 
Shame that Leicester are only getting 6k to witness potentially their first fa cup win. Similarly city only getting 6k for potentially their first champions League win.
 
I still love seeing league 1 and 2 clubs playing UTD etc. If you support crewe or teams like that then taking 5-6k to old Trafford is a great day out.

It's also superb financially. That's pretty much where 'the magic of the cup' ends these days.

Then again I did get to go to Spurs new ground. So I achieved something in recent times👍
 
When we were kids we all dreamt of scoring the winner at Wembley in the cup final.

no kid ever dreamt of winning the league or finishing 4th.

when the prem league basically made their trophy a cup with all that comes with it that stole its thunder.
 
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The World Cup was called a cup as an homage to the fa cup, as this was the CUP the first cup competition in football all other cups come from this. Hence why it’s just the FA cup not not English etc just THE FA CUP.

First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competition in the world.

ALL other sporting Cups Stanley Ryder Calcutta etc all come from the cup.
 
It was a special day FA Cup final day. The days when you didn’t get regular interviews. The days when there wasn’t live football on the box - let alone every day/ night. All added to a true sense of occasion.

Now? Just another competition. This due to weakened teams in the competition, draws being made to suit tv requirements, league positions taking on greater priority, dare I say foreign managers not appreciating the history and heritage.

Great shame. I fear the days of the competition is diluted forever- and truly takes on the fact it is just another game.
 
Sky isn't showing it so their focus is on P.L. Doesn't exist in their eyes if they are not showing it. Moving it to 5:15 killed it stone dead for me. Used to get up and have it on all day for the build up to 3:00pm. Now rarely even watch it.

Had to look up who was in the final. Hope Leicester win it even though I'm not keen on their manager.
 
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