There is a lot of column inches taken up in today's newspapers regarding Leeds United win over Manchester United this weekend. Some journalists hail the 'romance of football' others laud the 'minnows' and others simply revel in the 'beauty' of the FA Cup.
Personally I do not care one little bit for the FA Cup, or the Carling Cup for that matter, and frankly I struggle to understand why anyone else does either. Presumably there are many Leeds United fans who are extremely happy today with their 'famous' victory over United. But why? They have not won the FA Cup, they won't win the FA Cup so why are they that happy? Of course its always good to watch your team win, but unfortunately the powers that be in football have made it so that the joy that Leeds are feeling will be short lived.
The FA Cup is immeasurably boring. Lets take a look at the last few winners:
2009 - Chelsea
2008 - Portsmouth
2007 - Chelsea
2006 - Liverpool
2005 - Arsenal
2004 - Manchester United
2003 - Arsenal
2002 - Arsenal
2001 - Liverpool
2000 - Chelsea
1999 - Manchester United
1998 - Arsenal
1997 - Chelsea
1996 - Manchester United
Anyone notice a pattern? With the exception of Portsmouth in 2008, all winners come from four teams? Which four? Oh right, I think we all know them.
Where is the excitement and drama in a competition if history tells us that only four teams can win? If teams outside of these four were to start consistently winning the FA Cup, then I will happily retract all the above statements and say that the FA Cup is truly a great competition. Until that happens, it is merely a distraction.
Are there any Manchester United fans that are really that upset about thir exit from the competition? I would doubt it. The Premiership and the Champions League are the only things that this club really care about.
If United can win the Premiership is anyone going to be thinking, "well this is great, wish we could have won the FA Cup though"......?
No.
Let Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal win it.
I pretty much agree actually.
ReplyDeleteAs a Spurs fan, i'm sad to say that i'd probably rather finish 4th this year and get into the CL than win the cup. We have a great cup heritage, but the reward for winning it is just not great enough.
For struggling Premier League clubs, it appears to be too much of a distraction as they clearly feel they can't win it and would rather concentrate on the games that matter, such as those that can keep them in the top flight.
Here's an idea - what about a 2-leg playoff between the cup winners and the 4th placed team for Champions League qualification? It would give more incentive to perform in the FA Cup, and place slightly less emphasis on the holy-grail of 4th place.
it wasnt about the cup.. it was about two rivals meeting for the 1st time in 5/6 years!! a win at old trafford that has been rare for 28 years. leeds dont have a local city rival and since the 60's leeds and man u has been that rivalry between top teams at times and both have had their blips. so on the blips leeds united have plumited to the lowest they have ever been reasons why are very well publicated. This and the last year have been the turnaround for leeds united and once again we are on the up "hopefully" the only significance the cup had in this case was that it brought the teams together. I had a wonderful day out, didnt expect a result just wanted our players to put in a good shift & not get beaten by a rugby leauge score. Ben from Leeds
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure people care so much about who wins the final, as about the adventures had by various teams along the way. It's likely the final's going to be between a couple of Premier League teams, but it's also likely by that point that a couple have been embarrassed, and so have some of the larger teams from the lower leagues (as Leeds were by Histon last year). Those embarrassments and triumphs become as much a part of the clubs' respective histories as much as the names that eventually get engraved on the trophy.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's the first time I've read this blog, having been led here from the NewsNow page for Leeds. Let's check the teams mentioned in the labels list - Man City, Spurs, Villa, Man U, Barcelona - actually exactly as many as in the supposedly boring succession of FA cup winners. Not really surprising you've come up with the opinion that the rest of English football doesn't really matter.
Passionate about football? Don't make me laugh.
@ Anonymous, 5.03pm:
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'd care to check back at the labels/topics that the blog has covered in a few months time before judging its coverage levels? After all, we've only been in existence for a month and a half!
I think in time you'll find a healthy range of articles on all subjects. If we find something interesting and worthy of comment, we won't hesitate to write about it.
The words of a lost football fan.. Not excited perhaps not if you are one of the big fish in the sea.. Lets not forget that despite who has won the competition lets look past that to some of the minnows that have made the semi finals or the finals and lost.. Yes perhaps when you can play in europe winning a domestic competition does not ring the same sense but to the smaller clubs winning big matches in the F.A. Cup it becomes a dream to go up against the big boys of football. A chance to be some where you strive to be. Those teams dont have there moments in the San Siro or barcelona they have you and how pathetic is it when you the so called football fan don't give a dam about the oldest and most prestigious football tournament in the world. You my friend is what is wrong with modern day football. I notice you didnt publish this article until after you had been knocked out of the competition. How truly sad. Don't forget before the last 20 years you were one of those teams that dreamed.
ReplyDeleteStuart C. Proud football fan not glory chasing insult to the game
@ Stuart C, 5.17pm - i admire your passion! However, i feel your bile against the author is a little misguided. He's not a Man Utd fan!
ReplyDeleteIt might surprise you to discover that this is actually the view of an impartial observer to English football - a Scottish Celtic fan observing the game from the USA.
I agree with your sentiment - it's still exciting to see small clubs over-achieving in the competition, and it's great for them to have their day. After all, for some clubs a good run in the cup is an absolute saviour in financial terms.
However, the cream does rise to the top, and the business end of the tournament does tend to lack the drama and intrigue of days gone by. Top teams increasingly look upon it as a fall-back option - a chance to salvage some silverware once their title challenge fails, while lesser Premier League teams seem too preoccupied by Premier League survival to care about a cup run.
Surely the FA Cup should be about more than this?
Back in the days before football got ruined by commercialism a whole host of clubs had a chance of winning the cup and the league for that matter. In those days fans really could get excited when the season started and when the FA cup came around because they had a realistic hope of winning something. Gone are the days when teams like Cardiff, Huddersfield or Derby could lift a trophy. Top flight football has declined as a competition be it in the league or in the cup. What's left is Premier League football which is a vastly over-rated, expensive hype, adored in the main by armchair fans in far away places.
ReplyDeleteThat you don't care about the cup says it all, all you probably care about is whether your club can qualify for the Champions League so they can spend millions on egotistical, money-grabbing mercenaries who don't turn up when a bit of passion and bottle is required on the pitch; who go away for Christmas and don't come back; who put in a transfer request because the club won't agree to their enormous wage demands.
You are a saddo. Some "football fans" are always trying to bring others bring to their pessimistic attitude to others. No doubt your a glory fan with the comments your making. Its not all about winning the cup. Little teams beating giants has happened almost every year. This competition also allows many struggling clubs to survive the economic climate. So before making people feel bad, why don't you sort your attitude out?
ReplyDelete"It might surprise you to discover that this is actually the view of an impartial observer to English football - a Scottish Celtic fan observing the game from the USA."
ReplyDeleteDoesn't surprise me, but you might want in future to publish the opinions of someone who has a clue what he's talking about.
struck a nerve here.....
ReplyDeletefirstly, let me say that I am not a fan of Manchester United or in fact any of the PL's top teams.
Secondly, just because the FA Cup has a long history does not make it good. Iran has a long and rich history - does not mean its any good now.
Thirdly, I as a football fan, do not enjoy watching a whole host of, for the most part, routine matches in the FA Cup. Sure there will be few upsets here and there, but there is no drama or excitement for me in watching Chelsea vs Watford.
Fourthly, why do small clubs like to get drawn against the bigger clubs?Aside from the obvious potential monetary gain I do not see it. Surely you would rather draw a weaker team with the hope of winning and try to advance in the competition. It always amazes me when teams are 'delighted' to draw Premiership clubs in the early rounds of the FA Cup. I would be devastated to draw a big club.
Fifthly, I am not trying to "bring people down with pessimistic views', rather merely trying to understand why people get so excited about a competition that for me has lost all of its appeal. You dont have to read what I write, but if you do and you disagree, back it up with something intelligent.
Dan i backed my comments with something intelligent yes perhpas for you watching Chelsea play Watford is nothing to get excited about.. But what does it mean to all the Watford fans ? it means your little tiny team from no where is playing one of the elite of british football. Perhpas the author as a Scottish Celtic Fan living in the states has long forgotten the david vs goliath's in sports. Not every day can be full of upsets but when it happens its magical. Every season since the F.A. Cup started bar none there has been several upsets. I also find it interesting that a scottish Celtic fan living in the states would draw up this point as his own country has had the same 2 league champions for 20 years with no sign of any under dog upheavel.... As for Mr point 1-5 How can you not get excited about drawing an elite club. With them they bring there media there fans the essence of british football to your small club team and raise it to a national leval. In order to win any tournament you have to beat the best wether you draw them at the start or at the end is irrelevant. As for history i fail to see how your comparison of Long outstanding history and iran fall into the same guidelines. Perhpas you needed to take a step into my living room yesterday as i had a house full to watch my once might Leeds United battle with the English Champions. Thats the essence of Football.Your article is misguided and cheap much like the computer your typed it on. Next time you want to comment on a piece of football history like the F.A. Cup perhaps i might suggest getting out of your arm chair going to a small club in the UK and watch these matches that you claim mean nothing. What has changed in the F.A Cup that does not make it appealing anymore ? its the same tournament it always has been. I also beg to difer on anonymous comment of an impartial view coming from a Scot when talking about something English its never impartial. Thats like asking an Iraqi his views on American Sports. No he's no going to write with a leval of prejudice.
ReplyDelete"It might surprise you to discover that this is actually the view of an impartial observer to English football - a Scottish Celtic fan observing the game from the USA."
ReplyDeleteSo, the fact that the FA Cup has only had 5 different winners since 1996 makes it boring. Here's the SPL (including the runner up) since formation in 1998:
2009 Rangers, then Celtic
2008 Celtic, Rangers
2007 Celtic, Rangers
2006 Celtic, Hearts (!!! bit of excitement that year)
2005 Rangers, Celtic
2004 Celtic, Rangers
2003 Rangers, Celtic
2002 Celtic, Rangers
2001 Celtic, Rangers
2000 Rangers, Celtic
1999 Rangers, Celtic
Oaf.
to add to my comment and your quote
ReplyDelete"Secondly, just because the FA Cup has a long history does not make it good. Iran has a long and rich history - does not mean its any good now."
Have you been there ? your now insulting a nation because of its government. Was the US a shite hole when Bush was in charge ? Is it clean now he's gone. I consider myself to be one of the lucky one's in life as i have a long history of travel. my tally is at 46 countires. I spent 2 weeks in Iran 3 years ago even under its current regime and found it to be one of the best countries I have ever visited. There world culture was nothing comapred to how its descibed in North America. For the record I am a white English Male living in Canada with what most countires see as an american accent. YOUR views are that of a typical American all beit converted, talk a great story of all the things you don't know from the arm chair of your family room.
"Fourthly, why do small clubs like to get drawn against the bigger clubs?Aside from the obvious potential monetary gain I do not see it. Surely you would rather draw a weaker team with the hope of winning and try to advance in the competition. It always amazes me when teams are 'delighted' to draw Premiership clubs in the early rounds of the FA Cup. I would be devastated to draw a big club."
ReplyDeleteBecause it's a chance to see your team play someone they'd never otherwise play. Because they get to test themselves across the boundaries of the divisions. Because it might, just might, be a day that goes down in the history of the club, and you might be there. Go to Colchester United and ask them about their greatest game. Or Hereford.
Look, you obviously have no empathy for English football, precious little knowledge of it and to come back with "any criticism of me reflects a lack of intelligence" just reflects badly on you and on the people that run this site, who had the bright idea of letting you write for it.