FA Cup not as exciting?

[claretburns]

Take the semi-finals away from Wembley and winner goes into the Champions League in place of the 4th placed Premier League side.

See how many weakened sides from the likes of us, Bournemouth, Everton, Southampton, Stoke, West Brom etc you see then.

[Devils_Advocate]

For the 3rd and 4th round probably exactly the same. Once you get to the 5th round teams start to take it a bit more serious. Regardless of that from a punters point of view it would still be just another live game among the many of others and so not hold the special place it did before Sky tv

[Wile E Coyote]

just watched Barrow's manager doing that thing where they cover their mouth when discussing tactics. They were beaten by rochdale.
The idea that barrow might have a secret gameplan that must remain a secret ,revives my love of the cup.

[Clarinetclaret]

And that was exciting?

Quick run Saxo, the men in white coats are here again.

[Saxoman]

Quick run Saxo, the men in white coats are here again.

Its OK, they're here for brew up and a chat.

[box_of_frogs]

Burnley FC FA cup winners 2016/2017. Yeah think I could live with that

Not at the expense of relegation!!

[Inchy]

I don't think anyone is saying it's not exciting, just not as exciting as it was.

It's was a crap tie and a crap result. I am surprised we played so many of our first teamers considering it's just after the packed xmas period.

If we win a could more rounds I am sure the spark will come back

[RocketLawnChair]

The influx of foreign managers hasn't helped. Knockout competitions have never been seen as important in other European Leagues..

I'm sick of hearing "we play too many games". They don't want too play in the league cup,,they don't want too play over xmas,, they don't want too play in the fa cup,,they don't want players going off on international duty.. they don't want too play in the Europa League.. it's truly pathetic.

[Cleveleys_claret]

For me the TV companies have ruined it for viewing figures. Not long ago I recall a fact that UTD had had 49 consecutive cup matches being shown live.

The rot began when the same club opted to go to the world club championship instead of playing in the cup

[scouseclaret]

That'll be 55 consecutive now, Cleveleys - every one since 2004 I believe.

What really annoys me about this "weakened teams" business is the totally knee-jerk, unthinking nature of it. It seems to have become such a powerful meem in football that managers just do it automatically. Look at Bournemouth yesterday, where Howe changed the entire team. They're 10 points clear of the relegation zone and would surely back themselves to stay up, but with virtually no chance of Europe. They should be prioritising the FA Cup, not denegrating it - they're just the sort of team who could actually win it.

[claptrappers_union]

Not Read the whole thread, but its easy to slag off the FA Cup when your not in it. I love it. Always have.

The media should give it more airtime though. The final needs the Superbowl / World Cup Final treatment. Sometimes I don't even realise it's on until I do the channel hopping.

[tiger76]

Not Read the whole thread, but its easy to slag off the FA Cup when your not in it. I love it. Always have.

The media should give it more airtime though. The final needs the Superbowl / World Cup Final treatment. Sometimes I don't even realise it's on until I do the channel hopping.

They've ruined it by placing the final in a Saturday teatime slot while the PL is still in operation.

Whereas back in the day the final was normally played the week after the regular season had completed, and the build-up run all week as well.

Part of the attraction of the FA Cup was it was often one of the few times a year you'd be able to view a live telly game.

[Silkyskills1]

The only time as far as I can remember back. When it was over that was it and for the next number of weeks we had what was called the close season.

[Spijed]

They've ruined it by placing the final in a Saturday teatime slot while the PL is still in operation.

Whereas back in the day the final was normally played the week after the regular season had completed, and the build-up run all week as well.

Part of the attraction of the FA Cup was it was often one of the few times a year you'd be able to view a live telly game.

Also, semifinals were better when they were played at a neutral venue such as Villa Park rather than Wembley, which really should be for the final only. But as money talks....

[SouthLondonexile]

If anything I would say it is having a renaissance.
The thought of making a semi-finals / final would be fantastic being held at Wembley would be thrilling.
I’ll be able to take the grandchildren twice if we get that far.
Bring it on.

[Colburn_Claret]

As a child the FA Cup was a major event. In the 50s 60s, teams could double their average attendance on cup matches.
Over the years it has been diluted in so many ways. The expansion of the Champions league, leading to top teams playing weakened teams, that have filtered down the divisions.
Moving the Semi Finals to Wembley, takes away from the whole Wembley experience.
The loss of the whole Final day tv coverage.
Moving the Final to tea time on a match day.

Of all the issues it's Europe that is the biggest problem, and it won't be long before they start trying to cut the Premier League to fit even more European matches in.

What needs to be done is obvious, but doing it will cause the big 6 to chuck their teddies

[ClaretTony]

As a child the FA Cup was a major event. In the 50s 60s, teams could double their average attendance on cup matches.
Over the years it has been diluted in so many ways. The expansion of the Champions league, leading to top teams playing weakened teams, that have filtered down the divisions.
Moving the Semi Finals to Wembley, takes away from the whole Wembley experience.
The loss of the whole Final day tv coverage.
Moving the Final to tea time on a match day.

Of all the issues it's Europe that is the biggest problem, and it won't be long before they start trying to cut the Premier League to fit even more European matches in.

What needs to be done is obvious, but doing it will cause the big 6 to chuck their teddies

I think the first big change that diluted it was the screening of live first division games back in the 1980s - suddenly the FA Cup final wasn't the only game to be shown on TV. Could you have imagined clubs reducing prices for cup ties back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. There was just no need, they attracted bigger attendances than the league games.

[LoveCurryPies]

I'm hoping we can make the semi-finals or even the final. Time to take a few scalps and why not dream of silverware for the trophy room? UTC!

[ClaretTony]

I'm hoping we can make the semi-finals or even the final. Time to take a few scalps and why not dream of silverware for the trophy room? UTC!

We only need to reach the final to win it. When we lost the final in 1962, my dad promised me we'd win it next time we got there. I don't think, at the time, he expected that we wouldn't have reached another final sixty years on, but when it does happen, he'll be true to his word.

[boatshed bill]

I loved Cup Final day when it was in black and white.

[ClaretTony]

I loved Cup Final day when it was in black and white.

Sat in front of the tv hours before the game

[boatshed bill]

Sat in front of the tv hours before the game

It was just about the only live game on.

[ClaretTony]

It was just about the only live game on.

The only live game I think. The first time I ever saw a game on TV that wasn't the cup final was I think the 1962 World Cup and that was very limited coverage.

[boatshed bill]

I'd only been following Burnley since the 3rd round draw. I watched the FA Cup final at my Gran's. She had these weird colour changing things that slid in front of the screen, so I had Burnleys claret in a sort of magenta

[It Is What It Is]

The FA Cup Final is still shown live all the world.

[It Is What It Is]

The FA Cup Final is still shown live all over the world so it have quite some clout...and a Europa place for the winners.