Some interesting results on the weekend.
Arsenal, Man U, Leicester, Sheff United, Man City, all through to the next round at this stage.
I watched Man. U demolish Tranmere Rovers 6 Nil, on what was best described as a goat track of a pitch,
Liverpool could only manage a draw against a plucky Shrewsbury albeit with a much reduced side.
Baz what is a bigger deal in English soccer, the premiers plate or the Fuck All cup? I remember when i was in high school our physed teacher encouraged us to watch the FA cup which seemed to be the big thing in soccer back then. From memory Liverpool was one of the teams in it. Back in the day Craig Johnston played I remember. Was he with Liverpool or Man U?
Yeah that was prior to EPL, FA Cup not as big a prize as the EPL Title that is for sure.
But given that the EPL is all but done and dusted, there’s more interest in who will make the FA Cup play off TBH.
of course, Bamford should have knocked the Arsneal out the previous round, but he missed virtually open goals.
DD: just to answer your question a bit more, both are coveted; it can depend a little bit on what a club or manager has not won. In 1972, Revie went all out to win ‘the cup’ because LU had never won it, and they had been champions in 1969 with a then league record points tally.
Brian Clough never won the FA and that is to his detriment as a manager.
Finally, one season, thanks to the stupidity of FIFA, Man U never entered the competition, which as you can imagine, caussed an absolute out cry in England-- it meant that the winner of the cup that year was not fully legitimate.
Going back to the 70s and 80s when live sport was very rare on TV, the FA Cup final was pretty much the one and only live game you ever saw in Australia. So it built up a bit of a legendary following.
There was a highlights game Monday night on ch 2 of English Football but the FA Cup Final was a a once a year live treat and just about everyone watched it regardless of whether they followed Soccer or not, back then it was also on at a convenient time WA wise kick off live about 8.30pm on a Saturday night broadcast on Ch 2 with no adds and a marching band at half time. I don’t like the later start time they have now.
Some of the most memorable wins for me have been when the smaller clubs get up - Wimbleton in 1988 and the year before Coventry.
Btw Aston Villa through to the League Cup final is an upset win v Leicester.
I think the FA Cup final is played in May. Was not televised live last year which was a shock. Hopefully the match is televised this year.
WAG – hopefully your right – SBS might do it
ESPN, it seems have the pay tv rights
Yep its in May, ESPN show all the games if you have it, Didn’t SBS do it last year? they normally always do.
SBS Have a dedicated Website for it.
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/league/93/fa-cup
Looks like ESPN got exclusive rights from last year, so SBS have lost that as well as the EPL game they had. Not much on offer from them anymore.
Down to Last 8 league Leaders Liverpool bow out…
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle FC v Man City
Norwich City v Man United
Leicester City v Chelsea
Liverpool choking? Who’s your money on Baz to make the final and take the spoils?
Man United . on a roll at the moment, I actually would of liked to see Norwich get through even though Im a Man U supporter, but I reckon then will get past them, knocked off City last night 2 Nil..
City, Arsenal should progress, Leicester and Chelsea is a tough one, But I have a feeling Chelsea will get there.
Would be good to see either Sheffield or Newcastle get to the final.
6 years on,Southampton are Living the Dream 50 years on from 1976,advancing to the Semi Final,after knocking off Arsenal at Home 2 - 1.
After Liverpool’s Feeble Exit last night,albeit to some MOB who like everyone else,MUST face their moment with the FA,GO SAINTS!
FA CUP Semi Finals
Chelsea v Leeds Utd Saturday April 25
Man City v Southampton Sunday April 26
Had I followed English Football in 1969/70,I probably would have gone for Chelsea.Brian Clough may have said so from the Rooftops!
Just about everyone outside Leeds,hated Don Revie’s Roughies.
Now for completely unrelated reasons,I’m going for them in that Semi.
In the other Semi,Southampton is keeping the Romance of the Cup Alive,with their run,after Winnning it nearly 50 years ago,under Laurie McMenemie’s guidance,thanks to Bobby Stokes’ late Winner.
Now they face a 21st Century equivalent of Leeds in City,though that has more to do with the book keeping,than heavy studs.
Unfortunately,Cloughie ain’t around to tell us all,if City should hand back all their Silverware.If he was and said so,an unholy row would have broken out over what he may have said.
The odds are inevitably against it,but hoping for a Leeds Utd v Southampton Cup Final.