Agreed Bookertease, I also have a dream that their is a massive overhaul of football's hierarchy. And the FA cup is restored to its former glory, no more semi finals at Wembley, replays in every end,all teams fielding there strongest side. And a return of cup final Its a knockout !!
I still harbour regrets about the failure to beat Tranmere in the Cup. The team selection that day was a clear indication that the Cup was not the priority, yet we stood to make a lot of money just by progressing to the next round.
@micra said:
I still harbour regrets about the failure to beat Tranmere in the Cup. The team selection that day was a clear indication that the Cup was not the priority, yet we stood to make a lot of money just by progressing to the next round.
Me too. That night stills hurts. I see the retrospective knowledge that the league win helped us reach the play offs but I don't buy the argument you can only have one or the other. Both games were there to win.
I don't think it has to be one or the other, but everyone has a preference as to which one they would do well in.
For me, again, the issue is that the cup has gone from a tournament in which everyone tries their best, into one in which they do not. That devalues it irrevocably for me.
Put it this way - if I entered a pool tournament, and made a deep run, only to find out that some of the players I had knocked out had played with their weak hand because they did not care too much about winning the tournament, would my progress feel as earned and valuable as it would had they been trying?
I loved the cup as a kid, and the cup final was always beyond anything the league could offer. The FA Cup predates the league, and deserves to be on an equal footing. The reason it is not has nothing to do with a younger generation having their priorities wrong - it is rather another casualty of the Premier League silly money era, where clubs stand to lose so much money by not putting their best foot forward in the PL, that they play their reserves in the cup, and that thought process trickles down through the divisions.
It has also become terribly predictable, as only the top clubs can actually win round after round playing their B team (or combination of A and B ). So we get the 11 winners in the past 40 years, compared to the 13 winners in the 15 years before that. Is that romantic?
The cup should be the centrepiece of the English game, but money has ruined that. I totally respect the perspective of anyone who still loves it, but to me we have to find a way for clubs to see it as a full first team competition again.
I fully expect Parker, Freeman and whoever else hasn't played much recently to start v Preston.
Doesn't mean I will go to the game hoping we lose though, or temper any excitement at winning with the thought of "oh no, that's another fixture added to the list, thereby reducing our chances of staying in the league."
Entirely unrealistic to expect the top teams to field their strongest 11 in the FA Cup when they're competing at the top of the Premier League and in Europe. Not a new phenomenon either. Besides, some of their squads are frighteningly strong in depth now - a very much second-string Liverpool team beat Lincoln 7-2!
@chairboyscentral said:
Entirely unrealistic to expect the top teams to field their strongest 11 in the FA Cup when they're competing at the top of the Premier League and in Europe. Not a new phenomenon either. Besides, some of their squads are frighteningly strong in depth now - a very much second-string Liverpool team beat Lincoln 7-2!
Entirely true but I'd be interested in whether you think it's ok for the sport. Back in 'the day' the talent was spread around the teams slightly more evenly as those not playing didn't earn that much. Teams outside the top flight all had a chance at getting some talent too.
Now the top sides even hoover up lower top flight sides of their best players. Some are never seen again.
Would some sort of balancing up make the sport more competitive?
@chairboyscentral said:
Entirely unrealistic to expect the top teams to field their strongest 11 in the FA Cup when they're competing at the top of the Premier League and in Europe. Not a new phenomenon either. Besides, some of their squads are frighteningly strong in depth now - a very much second-string Liverpool team beat Lincoln 7-2!
Entirely true but I'd be interested in whether you think it's ok for the sport. Back in 'the day' the talent was spread around the teams slightly more evenly as those not playing didn't earn that much. Teams outside the top flight all had a chance at getting some talent too.
Now the top sides even hoover up lower top flight sides of their best players. Some are never seen again.
Would some sort of balancing up make the sport more competitive?
There's definitely an imbalance, and the way top clubs are able to pick up young players for peanuts these days is disgraceful. Generally I don't think any player should be allowed to change club before they're 18 unless they've been released.
Comments
Agreed Bookertease, I also have a dream that their is a massive overhaul of football's hierarchy. And the FA cup is restored to its former glory, no more semi finals at Wembley, replays in every end,all teams fielding there strongest side. And a return of cup final Its a knockout !!
A cup run in a season every game is likely to be a real battle seems the perfect remedy to me.
And then we go and draw a team in the same division!
It's like double "concentrating on the league"!
I still harbour regrets about the failure to beat Tranmere in the Cup. The team selection that day was a clear indication that the Cup was not the priority, yet we stood to make a lot of money just by progressing to the next round.
Always love reading your posts, @bookertease, as I often think to myself: ‘are you me in disguise?’ That post is the very definition of “spot on”!
Same here @LeedsBlue.
Me too. That night stills hurts. I see the retrospective knowledge that the league win helped us reach the play offs but I don't buy the argument you can only have one or the other. Both games were there to win.
I don't think it has to be one or the other, but everyone has a preference as to which one they would do well in.
For me, again, the issue is that the cup has gone from a tournament in which everyone tries their best, into one in which they do not. That devalues it irrevocably for me.
Put it this way - if I entered a pool tournament, and made a deep run, only to find out that some of the players I had knocked out had played with their weak hand because they did not care too much about winning the tournament, would my progress feel as earned and valuable as it would had they been trying?
I loved the cup as a kid, and the cup final was always beyond anything the league could offer. The FA Cup predates the league, and deserves to be on an equal footing. The reason it is not has nothing to do with a younger generation having their priorities wrong - it is rather another casualty of the Premier League silly money era, where clubs stand to lose so much money by not putting their best foot forward in the PL, that they play their reserves in the cup, and that thought process trickles down through the divisions.
It has also become terribly predictable, as only the top clubs can actually win round after round playing their B team (or combination of A and B ). So we get the 11 winners in the past 40 years, compared to the 13 winners in the 15 years before that. Is that romantic?
The cup should be the centrepiece of the English game, but money has ruined that. I totally respect the perspective of anyone who still loves it, but to me we have to find a way for clubs to see it as a full first team competition again.
There is still prize money remember in the FA Cup. A cup run would therefore give the club much needed funds
Exactly @Guppys_Left_Leg.
A lot of money at this stage.
£82,000 for winning a 3rd round tie
Squad rotation is a necessity though.
I fully expect Parker, Freeman and whoever else hasn't played much recently to start v Preston.
Doesn't mean I will go to the game hoping we lose though, or temper any excitement at winning with the thought of "oh no, that's another fixture added to the list, thereby reducing our chances of staying in the league."
Entirely unrealistic to expect the top teams to field their strongest 11 in the FA Cup when they're competing at the top of the Premier League and in Europe. Not a new phenomenon either. Besides, some of their squads are frighteningly strong in depth now - a very much second-string Liverpool team beat Lincoln 7-2!
Entirely true but I'd be interested in whether you think it's ok for the sport. Back in 'the day' the talent was spread around the teams slightly more evenly as those not playing didn't earn that much. Teams outside the top flight all had a chance at getting some talent too.
Now the top sides even hoover up lower top flight sides of their best players. Some are never seen again.
Would some sort of balancing up make the sport more competitive?
There's definitely an imbalance, and the way top clubs are able to pick up young players for peanuts these days is disgraceful. Generally I don't think any player should be allowed to change club before they're 18 unless they've been released.
So Premier League clubs will no longer be able to sign under 18s from overseas - which means they could absolutely ransack the EFL.