What's happened to the FA Cup?
Can anyone remember the time when a weekend full of football would be eagerly anticipated? No me neither. The truth is the magic of the FA Cup is starting to disappear. This used to be something that everyone looked forward to, giantkillings, end to end football, penalty shoot-outs and last minute goals in extra time. Who can forget the Arsenal vs Manchester United semi-final in 1999.
Last weekend saw the FA Cup fifth round, and aside from Colchester daring to take on the mighty Chelsea it was dull. Manchester United and Liverpool couldn't be arsed to play a good match. Every other TV game was bland. It has come to something that even the leaders of the Championship will sacrifice the FA cup in order to rest their top players. So much for the fines that should be handed out for not fielding your best team.
So what's the problem. In short money. There are too many team who are looking to jump on the cash cow of the Premier League or the Champions League. There is a guaranteed European place but that doesn't hold much for those looking like they will get relegated. The truth of the matter is that you get more passionate games in the first two rounds as non-league and lower league clubs do battle without a care in the world because they know about the riches a third round tie at Old Trafford can bring them. Teams attack and full strength sides are always played. The FA premier League and the FA have killed the FA Cup. Looking at the quarter final draw we should expect a boring Liverpool vs Chelsea final, but if it turns out to be Birmingham vs Newcastle you can bet everyone will be talking about how the big teams just couldn't be bothered
Last weekend saw the FA Cup fifth round, and aside from Colchester daring to take on the mighty Chelsea it was dull. Manchester United and Liverpool couldn't be arsed to play a good match. Every other TV game was bland. It has come to something that even the leaders of the Championship will sacrifice the FA cup in order to rest their top players. So much for the fines that should be handed out for not fielding your best team.
So what's the problem. In short money. There are too many team who are looking to jump on the cash cow of the Premier League or the Champions League. There is a guaranteed European place but that doesn't hold much for those looking like they will get relegated. The truth of the matter is that you get more passionate games in the first two rounds as non-league and lower league clubs do battle without a care in the world because they know about the riches a third round tie at Old Trafford can bring them. Teams attack and full strength sides are always played. The FA premier League and the FA have killed the FA Cup. Looking at the quarter final draw we should expect a boring Liverpool vs Chelsea final, but if it turns out to be Birmingham vs Newcastle you can bet everyone will be talking about how the big teams just couldn't be bothered
posted by Sports Potato at 6:24 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home