FA Cup

[jmelanie]

I think it is time the FA did something about the FA Cup.

This weekend Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool, Norwich and ourselves all lost to lower opposition. Chelsea managed to get a last minute drawer.

This weekend used to just for FA Cup matches. Teams did not make up the premiership game mid week. You may recall teams not in the cup often used to go away for a break this weekend.

Also teams should be made to field their first team. I thought this was the rule at one time. They say fans are not supporting the FA cup. How can they expect them to, when teams field inferior sides.

[Will M]

FA Cup Final day used to be the highlight of the season. Before the Sky Era. Adds a bit of romance back to the Cup all this though, having teams not completely committed seems a great leveller. And feeds money back to the grass roots of the game, and that can only be a good thing.

[acricketer]

A meaningless condescending homage to a time when working for a wage meant something.

[gator]

I agree about the midweek fixtures Jane, if we weren't fighting for survival and didn't have a league match vs the Champions on Tuesday I believe Harry would have played a stronger side out there! In saying that, the way things worked out he got some clear evidence who's not up to the task and we won't have a distraction of added fixtures to deal with in the current set up!

[TBLOCKRANGER]

I think too much has been said about premiership teams being weakened, which takes away that the lower league teams efforts. My view is from what I saw the lower league teams were simply better on the day, Liverpool, spurs , villa and Chelsea had strong teams out. At Griffen Park Terry was out and a 50m pound man had to equalise, these weren't teenagers being sent out by the premiership. As Arry said we had players from real and man utd on the pitch and we got played off the park.
Oldham had players on 150p/w on the field, Liverpool had Sturridge and Sterling.
I agree the FA cup needs to get its high profile back, as said before a champions league place for winners would certainly achieve this.
My thought is you have a well organised team, with pace , unity and passion then you can take out premiership teams. Swansea are showing it week in week out but somehow when we built our premiership team we decided not base it on traditional lower league values.