[overkill]

Is it only me, or is there a general lack of enthusiasm about this game? Obviously Chelsea and Utd fans are geared up for it, but no-one else I talk to really seems to give stuff. Many aren't even going to bother to watch it - and this is the new Wembley's first cup final!

Is it that we've seen too much of these two recently? Or is it that this is Utd's 7th cup final appearance in the last 14? Or that seeing the same teams appearing again and again in the Cup final is getting boooooooring?

Any thoughts?

[The Dude]

You could probably guess my thoughts on the whole affair..


I do know what you mean though, only a few days to go and interest level is almost zero?



I think the FA cup has finally been outed as the worthless prize-draw that is truly is.

- Imagine how much time could be saved, if they only had to draw 1 ball out of the bag.

[Steven]

Sky/Potato/Tabloids: Biggest cup game in the world between the two biggest sides in England

No interest?!

Honestly speaking, I don't give a damn. I usually look forward to being able to watch a game as a neutral, but I don't really care for the love fest/hate relationship between the two sides. I think its because they're not really rivals. Lets be honest here - Utd - Liverpool, Utd - Arsenal, Spurs - Arsenal then yes... but Chelsea?

[city fan]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Sky/Potato/Tabloids: Biggest cup game in the world between the two biggest sides in England

No interest?!

Honestly speaking, I don't give a damn. I usually look forward to being able to watch a game as a neutral, but I don't really care for the love fest/hate relationship between the two sides. I think its because they're not really rivals. Lets be honest here - Utd - Liverpool, Utd - Arsenal, Spurs - Arsenal then yes... but Chelsea?

Err, you forgot City v Utd

I always look forward to a big game Utd are in, always living in the hope they get beat , The miserable looks on Ferdinand, Ronaldos faces- priceless

[CFC1]

The build-up has definitely been low-key, particularly as it's the new stadiums "Christening", but personally, for the first time really, I have passed saturation point with all the football coverage. Way too much! Probably due to the fact that my team were involved in all competitions to nearly the end, but I've lost a bit of interest recently, TBH.

[bjd]

Perhaps one reason for any lack of enthusiasm is that many neutrals dislike both teams, and therefore have no-one to support?

[madcyril]

Originally Posted by city fan

The miserable looks on Ferdinand, Ronaldos faces- priceless

Being a City fan,something you can spot easily.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by bjd

Perhaps one reason for any lack of enthusiasm is that many neutrals dislike both teams, and therefore have no-one to support?

Add that to all the rest, and you could well be right.

[Spacecat]

Premiership was Everything this season
FA Cup would b a nice bonus & the double would b nice, but im not
THAT bothered ....used up all my footy energy on the league

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Spacecat

Premiership was Everything this season
FA Cup would b a nice bonus & the double would b nice, but im not
THAT bothered ....used up all my footy energy on the league

And that says it all. Once upon a time winning the double was the ultimate achievement in the game. It was done once in a blue moon, only five times in over one hundred years of the football leauge, only three times in the 20th Century.

Now it happens so often due to the top flights spiraling decline, that fans of the big four are blase about it.

[kourosh]

Originally Posted by bjd

Perhaps one reason for any lack of enthusiasm is that many neutrals dislike both teams, and therefore have no-one to support?

spot on,and not only that prob a 0-0 bore after full time ....prob watch it around 5.20pm when the penalty shootout starts

[overkill]

Originally Posted by kourosh

spot on,and not only that prob a 0-0 bore after full time ....prob watch it around 5.20pm when the penalty shootout starts

That's when I'd switch it off. It's the only thing I agreed with Sepp Splatter on. Penalties are a bankrupt farce.

[hottstuff]

I'll be watching for sure!!!
And backing chelsea to win.
I think Mourhino deserves more than the Carling Cup this year.

[rio1981]

It could go one of two ways for me - cagey, a bit nice, and ultimately dull.

Or it could get a bit nasty, and then I think it'll be a proper final. Someone to stick one on Lumpalard, Ronaldo, early on and we could have a real final with some proper effort and entertainment.

Before our final last year, what was the last one that was a truly great final... Palace vs Man Utd?

[booyaka]

looking forward to the game as a Utd fan.

I think it will be a tight affair with probably 1 goal in it and not much more.

If Moanrinho gets beat i'm sure he will blame the stress of lossing his dog etc etc for the defeat.

[kourosh]

Originally Posted by overkill

That's when I'd switch it off. It's the only thing I agreed with Sepp Splatter on. Penalties are a bankrupt farce.

penalties is the only way,thats why nothing else has been tried

[overkill]

Originally Posted by kourosh

penalties is the only way,thats why nothing else has been tried

Err replays ? There are other ways, and the only reason they haven't been tried is the 'shoot-out' is 'glossy' and 'dramatic'. It's funny how replays for major games rarely had to be applied before the advent of penalties, in fact no WCF went beyond 90+ET and only one ECF ever had to be replayed. So why penalties when the stats say we don't need them? Money that's all.

Think about how many games have been utterly ruined as a spectacle due to the penalty shoot-out being the first option? WC finals reduced to a farce, ECF where teams have played for pens from the kick off. Even the 2005 FA cup final reduced to a joke as a result of Arsenal knowing they could cope out. The penalty shoot out has done massive damage to the games image as entertainment.

It's yet another myth that we 'need' penalties.

If I want glossy or dramatic I'll watch a film, not a flamin' football match!

[hottstuff]

Originally Posted by booyaka

If Moanrinho gets beat i'm sure he will blame the stress of lossing his dog etc etc for the defeat.

Ah cummon , thats below the collar...............

[city fan]

Originally Posted by rio1981

Before our final last year, what was the last one that was a truly great final... Palace vs Man Utd?

No. 1969 City 1 Leicester 0

[overkill]

Originally Posted by rio1981

It could go one of two ways for me - cagey, a bit nice, and ultimately dull.

Or it could get a bit nasty, and then I think it'll be a proper final. Someone to stick one on Lumpalard, Ronaldo, early on and we could have a real final with some proper effort and entertainment.

Before our final last year, what was the last one that was a truly great final... Palace vs Man Utd?

2001 Arsenal v Liverpool. We lost but it was a great game. Before that, erm', well, probably Cov v Spurs. Utd v Palace was too error strewn to be a 'great game'.

[rio1981]

Originally Posted by overkill

Utd v Palace was too error strewn to be a 'great game'.

All the more reason for it to be a great game! Good call on Coventry vs Spurs though, was a great final (I was young at the time but I also remember a brilliant Everton v Liverpool final as well).

Obviously I'm in full support of not having penalties in finals, for purely selfish reasons! (One of these days I may get over last year's defeat... )

[Steven]

All the pundits and columnists giving their two pence worth atm are ex-Chelsea or Utd players who miss the point entirely.

They trot out the Cup is back £757 million worth of stadium... Cardiff was great but it can't beat Wembley...

But they all cannot see the FA Cup lost its glamour a decade ago. No one outside of 4 teams can win it - only marginally better than the "Premier"-ship!

Honestly, why do we even bother with a season of football anymore? We're better off spending an afternoon playing table football to decide the winners!

Spain and Germany this year showing the way

Anyway, enough of me being a miserable sod. Rooney to score first, Chelsea to win 3-1

[overkill]

Although it's a little off topic, but still sort of related, here's a list of my fave cup finals:-


1971. Arsenal v Liverpool, great game, both sides played good controlled passing games. Not remembered as such as the 'powers that be' sulked over us winning the double.
1973. Sunderland v Leeds. Not a pretty game, on of the dirtiest ever in fact, but Porterfields goal and Montgomery's saves meant it will live on as one of the greatest giant killings of all time.
1974. Liverpool V Newcastle. Newcastles disgraceful pitch invasion against Forest had me rooting for the Pool' in the final, and they didn't disappoint! Great example of Liverpool when they wanted to play.
1976. Saints v Utd. Poor game, but Utd lost, so who cares?
1977. Utd v Liverpool. Great game, Liverpool played the better football, but it was end to end stuff and Utd just about deserved it in the end.
1979. Arsenal v Utd. A good, open game, not terrific by any means, but then, because of five dramatic minutes it'll never be forgotten. At the time I sank to my knees when Utd equalised, as did hundreds of people around me. We thought it was over. But, Brady advanced, we all stood up, and then........ Rix, Sunderland, and we all disappeared into a frenzied heap on Wembley's terraces.
1981. Spurs v City. First game was average at best, but the replay was one of the greatest cup finals of all time. A superb game of football. One, that had penalties been around, would never taken place...........
1983. Utd v Brighton. First game was littered with errors but it was exciting stuff, only ruined by Smiths miss.
1987. Cov v Spurs. Another terrific final involving 'them', but happily this time they lost! Great, end to end game, some good moves, and nice finishing.
1988. Wimbledon v Liverpool. Not much of a spectacle, but tbh after all the hype, the daft 5-0 predictions, it was never going to be. However, as Motson said afterwards, there wasn't much between them, and the Liverpool myth at that moment was cruelly exposed. For me, the biggest moment was when Beasant saved the pen, and one of my mates, not given to public outbursts normally, jumped on top of me and nearly sent the pair of us crashing down the terrace!
1990. Utd V Palace. Well ok then, the first game was good, but down to some serious howlers!
2001. Liverpool v Arsenal. Good game, well fought, Arsenal dominated, but the old legs gave out, and Liverpool punished Arsenals slack finishing. Now where have I heard that before...........
2002. Arsenal V Chelsea. I was feeling really ill when this was on, so anything bar an Arsenal win and I'd have been suicidal! Good, but not a great game, it was tight and well controlled by both defences. Took two top drawer goals to clinch it.
2006. Liverpool v West Ham. Great game, again error strewn, sad it was ruined by penalties.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

All the pundits and columnists giving their two pence worth atm are ex-Chelsea or Utd players who miss the point entirely.

They trot out the Cup is back £757 million worth of stadium... Cardiff was great but it can't beat Wembley...

But they all cannot see the FA Cup lost its glamour a decade ago. No one outside of 4 teams can win it - only marginally better than the "Premier"-ship!

Honestly, why do we even bother with a season of football anymore? We're better off spending an afternoon playing table football to decide the winners!

Spain and Germany this year showing the way


Anyway, enough of me being a miserable sod. Rooney to score first, Chelsea to win 3-1

Spot on though LFC.

Apart from the last bit. 0-0, pens, who care who wins?

[Del Boy Smiffy]

I'll have a punt but i fear it'll be a dire affair, gonna say 2-1 to Utd.

Just dont want the other team to win.

[kourosh]

Originally Posted by overkill

Err replays ? There are other ways, and the only reason they haven't been tried is the 'shoot-out' is 'glossy' and 'dramatic'. It's funny how replays for major games rarely had to be applied before the advent of penalties, in fact no WCF went beyond 90+ET and only one ECF ever had to be replayed. So why penalties when the stats say we don't need them? Money that's all.

Think about how many games have been utterly ruined as a spectacle due to the penalty shoot-out being the first option? WC finals reduced to a farce, ECF where teams have played for pens from the kick off. Even the 2005 FA cup final reduced to a joke as a result of Arsenal knowing they could cope out. The penalty shoot out has done massive damage to the games image as entertainment.

It's yet another myth that we 'need' penalties.

If I want glossy or dramatic I'll watch a film, not a flamin' football match!

To be fair,clubs dont want extra games,they play enough games during the season.........and would most supporters wanna have to fork out another few £100 quid going to another game(or because they cant afford to)and anyway how many replays do you play untill you get a result!?

Finals are about 1 off games(thats why its a final )they never have the same build up the second time round.We have penalties because its the only fair way,and how does penalties mean more money surley replays would mean extra money

And im sure there are plenty of other things that are damaging the game than penalties

replays are fine uptp the semi's but finals are one off's

[overkill]

Originally Posted by kourosh

To be fair,clubs dont want extra games,they play enough games during the season.........and would most supporters wanna have to fork out another few £100 quid going to another game(or because they cant afford to)and anyway how many replays do you play untill you get a result!?

Finals are about 1 off games(thats why its a final )they never have the same build up the second time round.We have penalties because its the only fair way,and how does penalties mean more money surley replays would mean extra money

And im sure there are plenty of other things that are damaging the game than penalties

replays are fine uptp the semi's but finals are one off's

You see this is all Skyspin. Sorry but it is.

1) Bar the very top clubs, no-one else is playing any more games than they ever have before. In fact, in the top flight the majority are playing less games than at any time since the 1920's.

2) Frankly, I couldn't care less about paying to go to a replay if it means my team has a chance of staying in the cup. Nor do the vast majority who actually go to games. Of the non-prem generation that is..........

3) Finals are simply the last stage of a competition. Nowhere does it state they have to be a one-off, and until very recently they weren't. I have given you the stats, did you not bother to read them?

On the other issue I never said it would be less expensive or more expensive to have a replay. Since clubs earn a packet either way it hardly matters.

4) How can penalties be the only 'fair way'? Football is an 11 a side game played over 90 minutes. A penalty shoot out is a gimmick that was drawn up simply to avoid clubs in European games having to toss a coin. Yes, it was that arbitrary. But then so are penalties. How can reducing a football match to a a gimmick knock about where neither team are actually playing any football be 'fair'?

5) Since penalty shoot-outs were introduced we have had the delightful spectacle of teams playing for penalties, many of them from when the first ball is kicked. As a result, as before, many major games have been reduced to a dire farce, and worse, it's been the World cup final, the most important football match of all. How can anything be more damaging to the games image than that? Fact: Until penalty shoot-outs were introduced no World cup final saw less than 3 goals scored and none went to a replay. How do you account for that? It seems fairly obvious. Give the members of a weaker team an option to defend like mad (stifling a game is much easier than trying to out play a better side) then to cop out and leave the responsibility to someone else, the penalty takers - and they will. Thus destroying what the game is all about - entertainment. Unless you watch football for other reasons?

6) Nonsense. The FA cup was actually more relevant when it had unlimited replays as it had all sorts of positive consequences for the smaller clubs that achieved them. And that, not for any other reason, is why certain clubs want them to go. The Final is only a one off because Sky want it that way. And frankly, if it's good for Sky, the Mcdonaldisers of sport, then it's bad for game. I would rather have a replay any day than lose (or win) on penalties. It's meaningless.

[kourosh]

Originally Posted by overkill

You see this is all Skyspin. Sorry but it is.

1) Bar the very top clubs, no-one else is playing any more games than they ever have before. In fact, in the top flight the majority are playing less games than at any time since the 1920's.

2) Frankly, I couldn't care less about paying to go to a replay if it means my team has a chance of staying in the cup. Nor do the vast majority who actually go to games. Of the non-prem generation that is..........

3) Finals are simply the last stage of a competition. Nowhere does it state they have to be a one-off, and until very recently they weren't. I have given you the stats, did you not bother to read them?

On the other issue I never said it would be less expensive or more expensive to have a replay. Since clubs earn a packet either way it hardly matters.

4) How can penalties be the only 'fair way'? Football is an 11 a side game played over 90 minutes. A penalty shoot out is a gimmick that was drawn up simply to avoid clubs in European games having to toss a coin. Yes, it was that arbitrary. But then so are penalties. How can reducing a football match to a a gimmick knock about where neither team are actually playing any football be 'fair'?

5) Since penalty shoot-outs were introduced we have had the delightful spectacle of teams playing for penalties, many of them from when the first ball is kicked. As a result, as before, many major games have been reduced to a dire farce, and worse, it's been the World cup final, the most important football match of all. How can anything be more damaging to the games image than that? Fact: Until penalty shoot-outs were introduced no World cup final saw less than 3 goals scored and none went to a replay. How do you account for that? It seems fairly obvious. Give the members of a weaker team an option to defend like mad (stifling a game is much easier than trying to out play a better side) then to cop out and leave the responsibility to someone else, the penalty takers - and they will. Thus destroying what the game is all about - entertainment. Unless you watch football for other reasons?

6) Nonsense. The FA cup was actually more relevant when it had unlimited replays as it had all sorts of positive consequences for the smaller clubs that achieved them. And that, not for any other reason, is why certain clubs want them to go. The Final is only a one off because Sky want it that way. And frankly, if it's good for Sky, the Mcdonaldisers of sport, then it's bad for game. I would rather have a replay any day than lose (or win) on penalties. It's meaningless.

its got nothing to do with Sky!!you need to move on with the times
whether you(or we) like it or not this is how football is now.

There is no way the game is gonna be like in the ,60,70,80's..........or maybe is it you just dont like the games!?

i read quite alot of the stuff in the sport section an i cant believe how much of its you moaning about the game or slating other posts.

Moan all you like the fact is penalties are here to stay.
If you dont like the game's or penalties then its simple DONT WATCH!

[Spacecat]

Funny im warming up for the cup final now thats its getting closer

Cmon the REDS.

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by Spacecat

Funny im warming up for the cup final now thats its getting closer

Cmon the REDS.

Same for me and I am stuck at work all day! Looks like it poor mans teletex for me today.