The FA Cup 2013-14

Sunderland beat the Saints today 1-nil at the Stadium of LIght. Lots of empty seats. Our demise at CC vs. Sheff U was also lightly attended. The squads most skippers put out for these fixtures plus the relative supporter indifference would suggest that this competition is in serious trouble. Not to mention that the FA is having trouble finding someone to succeed Budweiser as the primary corporate sponsor.
What to do, sports fans? Is this thing worth saving? If so, what about the Capital One/Carling League Cup?
Also hearing rumblings that the Europa should go away.

I honestly don't know what to think about all these concurrently running competitions. It's damn confusing to a newbie like me, and I don't really understand the corporate mindset on this. It would seem the saturation point has long since passed.

Thoughts, ladies and germs?

 

I feel like the conversation comes up every year with the same inquiry but no actual reform. I personally don't care about this competition because the clubs, players, governing bodies, and TV channels don't care about it either.

Overall, no one cares about the FA Cup because of money and timing.

There's not enough money provided if you win. There's not enough money to make sure its more worthwhile than your league place.

It's not included in most, if not all, clubs' season ticket plans, so fans don't pay for it as HD said. Likewise, TV Channels always air the Big 5, regardless of their opponent, so fans can't watch it.

It comes after the busy holiday season so managers are openly resting their starters.

The bulk of it occurs toward the end of the season when managers are more interested in survival so they openly rest their starters.

And on and on and on.

The only people that care about the FA Cup are pundits who write their annual "where'd the magic go?", and former players/pundits that think sporting events that occurred 30-40 years ago are still relevant and thus should dictate current trends.

 

The FA Cup is an amazing competition.
For me, it will never lose its nostalgia or significance.
Don't really care about the League Cup.
It's become irrelevant.

 

It may just be a recalibration of how we view the competition. If we stop kidding ourselves, pretending it's an important competition, I do think there's still a place for it. For the big clubs, it's a chance to give younger or fringe players some competitive time on the pitch, and for the smaller clubs, it's a chance to gain some much needed recognition, not to mention the cash that can accompany a tie against a big Prem side. So sure, let's dispense with the nostalgia and mythologizing.

Also worth noting that our collective opinion of the competition is probably colored by our current situation, but if we are relegated, wouldn't we relish a chance to play a top club?

 

This is why I'll be screaming for Hull tomorrow after previous ambivalent indifference. Such presumptuous arrogance, especially in athletic contests, really raises the hair on the back of my neck. Think they'll have this posted prominently in the Hull locker room at Wembley? I sure would. COME ON YOU TIGERS!

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...l-victory-parade-bus-is-revealed-9377816.html

 

I'll agree that Monsieur Wenger gets a lot of disrespect from all over, even his own supporters, but I can't fathom the lack of discretion on the part of somebody allowing something that egregious to get out. T-shirts are one thing. Buses are another. And us Fulham supporters have no room to talk trash about anybody, especially a club that's never been relegated. I'll stick with the underdogs.

 

And the underdogs did great today. Nothing to be ashamed of in that loss. Great match!

 

Big props to Steve Bruce's men, and to him for not putting 11 behind the ball and playing a boring style to even the odds. I really enjoyed watching them at Wembley last month against Sheffield United. I wonder if things would have been different had Mr. Gibbs not managed to head Hull's potential 3-nil goal off the line. Or if Lee Probert had correctly awarded a goal kick instead of the corner that resulted in the equalizer. My question is why can't Fulham be more like Hull...or even better? Oh well, at least they got to use they're freakin' bus...