Has the FA Cup lost it's spark...?

Basil Plumley · 06-03-2010, 12:24 PM

Maybe for the big boys but for those of us that follow teams that are in the quarter finals, I can tell you it's the biggest game of our season so far - till next week when we play Juventus in the quarter finals of the Europa league...

THE AMATUER · 06-03-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basil Plumley

Maybe for the big boys but for those of us that follow teams that are in the quarter finals, I can tell you it's the biggest game of our season so far - till next week when we play Juventus in the quarter finals of the Europa league...

When was the last time a non-premiership team won the FA Cup?

Dony · 06-03-2010, 1:26 PM

The cup will never lose it's spark for me. Can't wait for our game (Spurs) against Fulham later.

The only thing I don't like is having the semi-finals at Wembley. Old Trafford, Villa Park, or Arsenal's place should be used instead, with the big day out at Wembley adding to the hype of the final.

QuietRiot1983 · 06-03-2010, 1:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

The cup will never lose it's spark for me. Can't wait for our game (Spurs) against Fulham later.

The only thing I don't like is having the semi-finals at Wembley. Old Trafford, Villa Park, or Arsenal's place should be used instead, with the big day out at Wembley adding to the hype of the final.

I wouldn't limit to those three, just a suitable neutral ground. If a northern or midlands team gets to the final, 2 trips to Wembley is a crazy outlay for travel and tickets.

Still, the FA has to pay for their big mistake somehow.

Dony · 06-03-2010, 1:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

I wouldn't limit to those three, just a suitable neutral ground. If a northern or midlands team gets to the final, 2 trips to Wembley is a crazy outlay for travel and tickets.

Still, the FA has to pay for their big mistake somehow.

That's the problem, I heard yesterday that it's in the contract between Wembley and the FA that the Semi's are played there.

If we get through against Fulham later, I hope we play our semi first.

dazza74 · 06-03-2010, 1:37 PM

Wembley for me makes sense for holding the semi finals. I'm just thinking that if Chelsea / Spurs or Fulham got pulled out of the hat there would be more tickets available for fans.

Dony · 06-03-2010, 1:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

Wembley for me makes sense for holding the semi finals. I'm just thinking that if Chelsea / Spurs or Fulham got pulled out of the hat there would be more tickets available for fans.

The first time it was used was to host Spurs - Arsenal (Gazza'a freekick

)

As Arsenal are out this year, there's no reason a London derby couldn't be played there. The capacity is still big enough to host the game.

dazza74 · 06-03-2010, 1:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

The first time it was used was to host Spurs - Arsenal (Gazza'a freekick

)

As Arsenal are out this year, there's no reason a London derby couldn't be played there. The capacity is still big enough to host the game.

Imagine most Spurs fans would prefer a trip to wembley over the emirates myself. Chelsea v Spurs would easily require more than a 60K ticket allocation, especially once the FA have dished out all their freebies and hospitability tickets. Mate of mine has had a season ticket for over 20 years at Arsenal and couldn't get a ticket through the club for the champions league final in Paris a few years back.

Basil Plumley · 06-03-2010, 2:09 PM

The last time we (Fulham) played in a semi it was against Chelsea at Villa Park - great day out apart from the result...

Anyway - glad we're at home against Spurs today as at least we have a chance of winning at the Cottage - if it was away or it goes to a replay. then bye bye Wembley as our away form is woeful...

Basil Plumley · 06-03-2010, 2:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE AMATUER

When was the last time a non-premiership team won the FA Cup?

Whats your point...? There are still "small" Premier league clubs as well...

QuietRiot1983 · 06-03-2010, 2:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

Wembley for me makes sense for holding the semi finals..

But say there's a Wigan/Bolton semi final, why should both sets of fans have to potentially shell out Wembley tickets prices AND two trips two Wembley? Surely in that scenario, somewhere like OT/CoMS could house the semi and then the trip to Wembley for one team is that much more accessible cost wise, as well as being that bit more special?

Dony · 06-03-2010, 3:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

Imagine most Spurs fans would prefer a trip to wembley over the emirates myself. Chelsea v Spurs would easily require more than a 60K ticket allocation, especially once the FA have dished out all their freebies and hospitability tickets. Mate of mine has had a season ticket for over 20 years at Arsenal and couldn't get a ticket through the club for the champions league final in Paris a few years back.

With the state of the Wembley pitch, I'd guess that most Spurs fans would prefer to play on the better surface of the Emirates.

If there was a 200000 all seater stadium we could fill that too

My point about not playing the semi's at Wembley is that it makes getting to the final even more special.

dazza74 · 06-03-2010, 5:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

But say there's a Wigan/Bolton semi final, why should both sets of fans have to potentially shell out Wembley tickets prices AND two trips two Wembley? Surely in that scenario, somewhere like OT/CoMS could house the semi and then the trip to Wembley for one team is that much more accessible cost wise, as well as being that bit more special?

There is a counter argument to that in the sense that it might be the only opportunity either of those clubs get to play at Wembley. I would concede though that in the event of a replay being required a common sense approach in this case would be to hold that at Old Trafford say.

THE AMATUER · 06-03-2010, 6:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basil Plumley

Whats your point...? There are still "small" Premier league clubs as well...

Calm down mate, it was a genuine question, didn't mean anything by it.

tim68 · 06-03-2010, 8:22 PM

The Last team outside the top division to win the F.A. cup was

West Ham

by beating Arsenal by 1 goal to 0. in 1980

The first team outside the top division to win the F.A. cup was

Notts County

by beating Bolton Wanderers 4 goals to 1 at Goodison Park in 1894

Other teams to win are Spurs, Wolves, West Brom, Sunderland, Southampton and Barnsley

Info from wikipedia

thfccambs · 07-03-2010, 8:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim68

The Last team outside the top division to win the F.A. cup was

West Ham

by beating Arsenal by 1 goal to 0. in 1980

Wasn't spammers Div1 team the season they won FA Cup but got relegated?

thfccambs · 07-03-2010, 8:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

I wouldn't limit to those three, just a suitable neutral ground. If a northern or midlands team gets to the final, 2 trips to Wembley is a crazy outlay for travel and tickets.

Still, the FA has to pay for their big mistake somehow.

Tell me about it, had to travel to OT twice for semi's, once against Gooners and Newcastle and Elland RD against Everton. Surely Better grounds could of been found each time?

thfccambs · 07-03-2010, 8:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

The first time it was used was to host Spurs - Arsenal (Gazza'a freekick )

As Arsenal are out this year, there's no reason a London derby couldn't be played there. The capacity is still big enough to host the game.

....but wasn't the other semi that season played @ Villa park? Forest v spammers?Also 92 all semi's took place @ wembley, gooners spurs and 2 sheffield teams.

Gooners would never allow Spurs to play a semi at there ground, remember going there when we played Wolves in the semi , placed got smashed to bits.