r00fie1
Well-known member
It's that Special time again>>>>
The oldest National Football Competition in The World.
First played in the 1871 / 72 season, the first winners were "Wanderers" from Leytonstone in London. The first Wembley final took place at the newly opened "Empire Stadium", between Bolton Wanders and West Ham United. Hundreds of clubs have taken part in the knock-out competition, and it's one of the few which gives non-league opposition the opportunity to take part, and earn some much-needed income. It's just as exciting for the smaller local clubs to engage, with dreams of progressing to meet bigger opponents. It's not all about the "big" clubs.
There's certainly been some upsets and shocks along the way for the Boro! A few banana skins and a few games we "should have won". Remember Sutton United [Conference League], who were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Boro in the replay [then in the Second Division] in the 87/88 season, at Ayresome Park. They gave us a run for their money, drawing 1-1 at their place. Gary Pallister was our scorer at Sutton.
The following season they were beaten by Norwich of the First Division.
Then it was the turn of Bishop Stortford, who gave Malcolm Alison's Boro a shock in the 82/83 season, when they took us to a replay at their Rhodes Avenue ground! Schoolteacher, Richard Bradford was the goal-scoring hero in the 2-2 draw at Ayresome and a young Stephen Bell scored a brace for the Boro. We scraped through 2-1 in the replay, with David Shearer netting both goals!
The number of clubs entering, and the rules, have changed over the years, particularly with the advent of the Premier League and the unfortunate preference to have the cup named after sponsors. For the vast majority of us football fans, it's "The FA Cup".
The last time we met Villa was in March 2019 - their promotion season from the Championship. They beat us 3-0!
The last time in the FA Cup was January 1957, in front of a good 42,000+ gate. Brian Clough and Bill Harris put Boro on the score-sheet, but unfortunately, Villa added one more to knock us out 2-3. Boro`s team, that day, included Peter Taylor and Lindy Delapenha.
"It's magic, you know............"
[Michael Carrick on the FA Cup]
Let's back our boys to get the right result against Premier League Villa!
Neither Unai Emery, nor Michael Carrick, are taking today's tie lightly. Both have had successful careers as players at the highest level. Both respect the Cup and understand it's woven into the fabric of English Football. Emery described the competition [in his recent press conference] as one of "prestige" and highlighted the need for him to provide motivation for his players. For him, it's about the opportunity to qualify for Europe, as well as adding silverware to the Villa Park trophy cabinet.
Carrick emphasized, in his recent media conference, that he wasn't taking this game lightly, despite having injured players out and having fewer options than he might wish:
The thing that's made it a little more challenging, obviously, is the amount of injuries [we've] had and players that we've not been able to choose from, which means the boys that have played, have been pushed a little bit harder.
There may be a couple or three players back in contention on Saturday, but he wouldn't say for definite. For him, he has to protect and manage the players, to ensure they are ready for today, with an eye on the Tuesday game against Chelsea:
Of course. there's a constant one where you're trying to get the balance right….. Listen[!] we still want to win the game tomorrow. Tuesday is not the only game at the moment, so we have to get the balance right. There's some boys that can play[against Villa], but can't play on Tuesday. Some boys coming back might get involved, might not….and there's some might need a rest. That's the nature of it, but it doesn’t mean we're.....taking this game lightly at all. We're really looking forward to it, and Tuesday is that little bit further away at the moment.
[Carrick won the FA Cup once with Manchester United]
Michael Carrick has only won the FA Cup once [!], as a player, along with his other 17 medals, but, he will be able to use his experience to offer guidance and "nudge" players in the right direction. For him, the opportunity to play another match is "brilliant".
It's magic, you know. The [FA] Cup has been good to me at certain times and give me some great memories and great moments, and….everyone in this draw right now is looking for a Cup run and to have special memories.
He doesn't see the upcoming cup games as a drain on his players, or an obstacle to pushing on in the league. Asked was it a time to "rest" players:
Plenty of rest in June. Don't worry about it. I've got no problem obviously with the amount of games. To be successful or to go further in competitions, you got to play extra games, and it's great...….it's what we want you know. So being further in cup competitions [for me] is a real plus.
He impressed on reporters several weeks ago, that he values every game and wants to win every one. Furthermore, he believes his players are already motivated, have "great enthusiasm" and "great energy" and the self-belief to try and do their best.
Boro are considered "under-dogs"(!) according to betting companies and the predictors of some national sports media. But Carrick explained, "football can be funny", where what's expected can be "flipped" on its head.
We are realistic, we know what we're up against, but it doesn’t stop us from looking forward to trying to achieve.
There are no guarantees in this game. Certainly, in various cup games, Boro have knocked out Manchester United on penalties only recently and disposed of Tottenham Hotspur.
Our Josh Coburn will never forget that brilliant goal! There was one occasion, of course, where our brilliant Manager missed a penna against us, when we knocked them out of a Cup. Whether it's the FA Cup or the League Cup, players need to remain focused and believe they can win:
Listen. You got to have the belief and the confidence, that you can perform and perform well….that you're capable of winning the game, and that's the start. You have to believe. If you don’t believe it, then you haven't got a chance. So, yeah. Be realistic…..there is a different mental test in some ways when you're the favourite, and you’re totally expected to win. Talking about the `motivation` before and how you have to motivate the players sometimes, that can be the difference. Now, for us, it's a great opportunity: for the players to test themselves and to have a game like that is brilliant[!], absolutely brilliant[!]. Hopefully they'll thrive, and they'll take the game to another level again, and use the experience to become better players and a better team.
Carrick acknowledged Villa's success in the Premiership and also praised their Manager's achievements in a relatively short space of time. They have quality players, who haven't taken the "villains" into the top six by accident. As always, the Head Coach and his staff know it's going to be a tough game. It's going to stretch our players and act as a barometer as to how far the squad has come. It will also provide inspiration. Younger players, in particular, aspire to play at the top levels in the game, so for them the opportunity will be awesome.
We've had a taste in the past, of the Final at Wembley in the Cup, and many of our lads have played for different clubs in the FA Cup. It's not an entirely new experience. Our Manager was up-beat, without being unrealistic, over-optimistic or arrogant. In his usual calm and collected way, he gave us all hope and belief that tonight could just as easily be our night:
It's such a unique competition. It's got a certain magic about it - Cup competitions, that sense of achievement, big wins or big occasions, …….it's priceless. I know [from] speaking to the boys here and me and the staff and the club, we treat it as serious. That's the dream, isn't it [?]...the supporters can dream and hope and come and look forward to the game and see what we can achieve together.
We can take the fight to Villa and do our best to get the right result.
There's nothing to stop us.
Come On Boro
r00fie1 06/01/2024
First played in the 1871 / 72 season, the first winners were "Wanderers" from Leytonstone in London. The first Wembley final took place at the newly opened "Empire Stadium", between Bolton Wanders and West Ham United. Hundreds of clubs have taken part in the knock-out competition, and it's one of the few which gives non-league opposition the opportunity to take part, and earn some much-needed income. It's just as exciting for the smaller local clubs to engage, with dreams of progressing to meet bigger opponents. It's not all about the "big" clubs.
There's certainly been some upsets and shocks along the way for the Boro! A few banana skins and a few games we "should have won". Remember Sutton United [Conference League], who were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Boro in the replay [then in the Second Division] in the 87/88 season, at Ayresome Park. They gave us a run for their money, drawing 1-1 at their place. Gary Pallister was our scorer at Sutton.
The following season they were beaten by Norwich of the First Division.
Then it was the turn of Bishop Stortford, who gave Malcolm Alison's Boro a shock in the 82/83 season, when they took us to a replay at their Rhodes Avenue ground! Schoolteacher, Richard Bradford was the goal-scoring hero in the 2-2 draw at Ayresome and a young Stephen Bell scored a brace for the Boro. We scraped through 2-1 in the replay, with David Shearer netting both goals!
The number of clubs entering, and the rules, have changed over the years, particularly with the advent of the Premier League and the unfortunate preference to have the cup named after sponsors. For the vast majority of us football fans, it's "The FA Cup".
The last time we met Villa was in March 2019 - their promotion season from the Championship. They beat us 3-0!The last time in the FA Cup was January 1957, in front of a good 42,000+ gate. Brian Clough and Bill Harris put Boro on the score-sheet, but unfortunately, Villa added one more to knock us out 2-3. Boro`s team, that day, included Peter Taylor and Lindy Delapenha.
"It's magic, you know............"
[Michael Carrick on the FA Cup]
Let's back our boys to get the right result against Premier League Villa!
Neither Unai Emery, nor Michael Carrick, are taking today's tie lightly. Both have had successful careers as players at the highest level. Both respect the Cup and understand it's woven into the fabric of English Football. Emery described the competition [in his recent press conference] as one of "prestige" and highlighted the need for him to provide motivation for his players. For him, it's about the opportunity to qualify for Europe, as well as adding silverware to the Villa Park trophy cabinet.
Carrick emphasized, in his recent media conference, that he wasn't taking this game lightly, despite having injured players out and having fewer options than he might wish:
The thing that's made it a little more challenging, obviously, is the amount of injuries [we've] had and players that we've not been able to choose from, which means the boys that have played, have been pushed a little bit harder.
There may be a couple or three players back in contention on Saturday, but he wouldn't say for definite. For him, he has to protect and manage the players, to ensure they are ready for today, with an eye on the Tuesday game against Chelsea:
Of course. there's a constant one where you're trying to get the balance right….. Listen[!] we still want to win the game tomorrow. Tuesday is not the only game at the moment, so we have to get the balance right. There's some boys that can play[against Villa], but can't play on Tuesday. Some boys coming back might get involved, might not….and there's some might need a rest. That's the nature of it, but it doesn’t mean we're.....taking this game lightly at all. We're really looking forward to it, and Tuesday is that little bit further away at the moment.
[Carrick won the FA Cup once with Manchester United]
Michael Carrick has only won the FA Cup once [!], as a player, along with his other 17 medals, but, he will be able to use his experience to offer guidance and "nudge" players in the right direction. For him, the opportunity to play another match is "brilliant".
It's magic, you know. The [FA] Cup has been good to me at certain times and give me some great memories and great moments, and….everyone in this draw right now is looking for a Cup run and to have special memories.
He doesn't see the upcoming cup games as a drain on his players, or an obstacle to pushing on in the league. Asked was it a time to "rest" players:
Plenty of rest in June. Don't worry about it. I've got no problem obviously with the amount of games. To be successful or to go further in competitions, you got to play extra games, and it's great...….it's what we want you know. So being further in cup competitions [for me] is a real plus.
He impressed on reporters several weeks ago, that he values every game and wants to win every one. Furthermore, he believes his players are already motivated, have "great enthusiasm" and "great energy" and the self-belief to try and do their best.
Boro are considered "under-dogs"(!) according to betting companies and the predictors of some national sports media. But Carrick explained, "football can be funny", where what's expected can be "flipped" on its head.
We are realistic, we know what we're up against, but it doesn’t stop us from looking forward to trying to achieve.
There are no guarantees in this game. Certainly, in various cup games, Boro have knocked out Manchester United on penalties only recently and disposed of Tottenham Hotspur.
Our Josh Coburn will never forget that brilliant goal! There was one occasion, of course, where our brilliant Manager missed a penna against us, when we knocked them out of a Cup. Whether it's the FA Cup or the League Cup, players need to remain focused and believe they can win:
Listen. You got to have the belief and the confidence, that you can perform and perform well….that you're capable of winning the game, and that's the start. You have to believe. If you don’t believe it, then you haven't got a chance. So, yeah. Be realistic…..there is a different mental test in some ways when you're the favourite, and you’re totally expected to win. Talking about the `motivation` before and how you have to motivate the players sometimes, that can be the difference. Now, for us, it's a great opportunity: for the players to test themselves and to have a game like that is brilliant[!], absolutely brilliant[!]. Hopefully they'll thrive, and they'll take the game to another level again, and use the experience to become better players and a better team.
Carrick acknowledged Villa's success in the Premiership and also praised their Manager's achievements in a relatively short space of time. They have quality players, who haven't taken the "villains" into the top six by accident. As always, the Head Coach and his staff know it's going to be a tough game. It's going to stretch our players and act as a barometer as to how far the squad has come. It will also provide inspiration. Younger players, in particular, aspire to play at the top levels in the game, so for them the opportunity will be awesome.
We've had a taste in the past, of the Final at Wembley in the Cup, and many of our lads have played for different clubs in the FA Cup. It's not an entirely new experience. Our Manager was up-beat, without being unrealistic, over-optimistic or arrogant. In his usual calm and collected way, he gave us all hope and belief that tonight could just as easily be our night:
It's such a unique competition. It's got a certain magic about it - Cup competitions, that sense of achievement, big wins or big occasions, …….it's priceless. I know [from] speaking to the boys here and me and the staff and the club, we treat it as serious. That's the dream, isn't it [?]...the supporters can dream and hope and come and look forward to the game and see what we can achieve together.
We can take the fight to Villa and do our best to get the right result.
There's nothing to stop us.
Come On Boro
r00fie1 06/01/2024
