FA CUP 2013

[Euler]

Extract from my blog post for the third round matches today.

Matches I’d be very keen on are a bit short on the ground. But one obvious candidate is Brighton vs Newcastle. Newcastle have lost their last three FA Cup away matches, and have not dismissed a club away since the fourth round in 2006. Crawley vs Reading is interesting also. Reading went out to Stevenage last year and Crawley have reached the fifth round in each of the last two seasons. Reading’s confidence has improved recently though, so I fancy this less.

A Mansfield win over Liverpool would be amazing, but I just can’t see it coming. The same goes for Cheltenham, but home advantage should play some part in both these games. One match I do have my eye on is Wigan vs Bournemouth, though Wigan at home is unfavourable. But after a bad start to the season, Bournemouth have been resurgent under the stewardship of Eddie Howe and not lost a match since he returned. I reckon they will fancy their chances anywhere at the moment. Still a bit of an ask against premier league opposition, but I fancy a side bet on this one.

[herbie]

toon were terrible....we will go down if its not fixed soon

[MarketTrader]

A nice touch from Mansfield Town FC ahead of the tie with Liverpool today. Tribute to the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough. Cards bearing the names of those who perished placed on 96 empty seats:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-di ... --sow.html

[haichless]

it was a great gesture of goodwill and camaraderie puttind the football community as one, its a shame Mr Saurez isnt living up to Uk traditions,nor is Brendan Rogers.

Rodgers was at pains to point out in the wake of yesterday's clash at non-league Mansfield that Suarez did not deliberately handball what proved to be the all-important second goal in the 59th minute after new £12million (€14.5m) forward Daniel Sturridge had scored on his debut in the seventh minute.

Television replays, however, proved otherwise because after goalkeeper Alan Marriott saved Suarez's left-foot shot, the Uruguayan then used his right wrist to beat the ball down over the line.

In front of the jubilant Liverpool fans, and whilst everyone within the Stags team appealed to referee Andre Marriner and his assistant, Suarez then kissed his offending wrist.

who says cheats dont prosper

[Euler]

LOL, for some reason premier league teams having a real problem in the cup this year.

[Euler]

Matched bet volumes on the cup are consistently poor, anybody else noticed? Even the final last year wasn't great.

[Online Trader]

Have noticed that the the CS markets have had very low volumes indeed.

[steven1976]

LOL, for some reason premier league teams having a real problem in the cup this year.

I haven't watched anything on FA cup for a few years as we tend not to get FA Cup games over here. My feeling is, that the FA cup is becoming the new carling cup (or whatever its called these days), where no body cares any more and sees premiership more important because of the money. Is this the case?

[Euler]

I think you are right.

[superfrank]

the greatest domestic cup comp in the world has been devalued.

many reasons
- the financial importance of the premiership (cup success comes a poor second now) with many clubs fielding weakened teams
- Man U withdrawing to play in some mickey mouse cup overseas a few years ago
- increased dominance of the big 4 or 5 clubs

but one of the main reasons imho is Wembley: when i was a kid the stadium was used for only the FA Cup final, the League Cup final and England home matches. it was a special place because so few got to play there. now everything is played there, cup semis, play-offs, other sports. most players have played there now and it's lost its special status.

edit: you've got me started now!...
the cup final, even for neutrals, was a massive occasion. TV coverage started at about 10am and there was big build up, and wasn't it on both the BBC and ITV?

the cup final had a real sense of tradition with a marching band on the pitch (and no logos, fireworks, flames or ticker-tape).

and the emotional cup final hymn, Abide with Me, was sung by the crowd only - not murdered by some 3rd rate singer in an operatic style!

also the old stadium, for all its faults, had a feel and history that can't be replicated in a modern stadium (which is just a big version of the Emirates).

rant over. The FA Cup; RIP.

[steven1976]

think you nailed it pretty much there frank. I wasnt sure if its just the fact that as we grow up these small things that we enjoyed just fade away but what you stated rings true with me as a kid.

[freddy]

Oh dear Chelsea 2-0 down inside 10 mins, im sure will Help Rafa's cause no end

[freddy]

2-2 good cup tie now

[Euler]

Would be amazing if Millwall managed to get to the final again.

[Euler]

Nice peice on Wigan chairman on the BBC web site today: -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22466795

As for the cup, it continues it downhill slide each year. Wonder why the FA are not doing more to bring it back to life. They should move the date for starters!