Has the FA Cup Lost Its Shine?
Changing priorities among Premier League clubs could be contributing to the devaluation of English football's flagship cup competition.
When I was younger, the FA Cup was considered an incredibly prestigious competition capable of producing moments of magic. Ryan Gigg's goal against Arsenal in 1999 is one of the most memorable in modern football. FA Cup final day was always a special event, dominating the day's media coverage. Who remembers Roberto Di Matteo's wonder goal in the 1997 FA Cup final? Gerrard forcing extra time in 2006 from 35 yards? The Cardiff versus Portsmouth final in 2008? Now, however, it almost seems like the FA Cup has lost a lot of its value among Premiership teams.
With the fourth round weekend behind us, only four Premiership teams have made it to the next stage of the FA Cup: Manchester United, Manchester City, Watford, and Crystal Palace. Wolves and Brighton have been taken to replays by lower league opposition. Compare this to last year's fifth round, which featured 10 Premiership teams, and the year before, which featured eight. Chelsea drawing Manchester United means that only two of the so-called "Big Six" teams in the Premiership will make it to the quarterfinals.
This is the weekend that West Ham United was knocked out, quite convincingly, by League One opposition, and Everton was beaten at the death by a team fighting relegation in the Championship with only two wins in their last six home games.
Now, we all love a giant-killing—it's part of what makes the FA Cup so special. Chesterfield making it to the semi-finals in 1997 springs to mind immediately. But they seem to be coming thick and fast this year. The third round saw Leicester City, Premiership champions in 2016, crash out to Newport, and Fulham losing to Oldham. Liverpool, who seem to have kicked up another gear in the league this season, went out to newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in a game that saw manager Jurgen Klopp field a largely second string side.
Underachievement from teams in the top six of the Premiership can almost be understood. Liverpool, for example, is still going strong in the Champions League (arguably a more prestigious competition than the FA Cup) and are desperate to keep setting the pace against a Manchester City squad that has an incredible embarrassment of riches in their squad. Getting into the top four and qualifying for the most respected club competition in Europe (and perhaps the world) looks like it's taking priority for the likes of Spurs and Arsenal over progression in the FA Cup. But it's the attitudes of the Premiership's mid-table teams that is the cause of some confusion, and indeed anger, among football fans.
Leicester didn't even include talisman Jamie Vardy in the matchday squad, Bournemouth also rested first team players and didn't get out of first gear against Brighton, and the less said about Everton's display against Millwall the better. These are teams who have little to no hope of challenging for Europe (Champions League or Europa) in the next few years, barring a cataclysmic fall from grace from one of the top six. But they're also unlikely to face a relegation challenge anytime soon. So, wouldn't it make sense for them to make a decent cup run a priority?
It also looks like the magic of the FA Cup has worn off on the fans—overall attendance across all rounds of the 2018 tournament reached 1,875,938. In 2017, total attendance was 1,977,797, and in 2016 it was 2,098,077.
Perhaps one of the answers is to overhaul the rewards system for the FA Cup. The winners receive £3.6 million; the runner-ups will bag themselves £1.8 million. Taking home the trophy will leave you with £200,000 less than Stoke City "won" for finishing 19th at the end of the 2017-18 Premiership season. In an age of ever inflating transfer fees, the FA Cup needs to keep up with the times. Prize money has only risen by £2.6 million in the last 10 years. Prestige is all well and good, but it won't pay for that £40 million striker who could bag you 20 goals next season.
Another idea would be to award the winner a Champions League position. At this point, the fourth placed team in the Premiership will qualify for the Champions League playoff round. Given that fourth place isn't even a podium finish, it seems a mockery of the competition that they be given the opportunity to qualify for a tournament that, supposedly, pits champions against each other. Give our fourth berth to the winner of the FA Cup, and we could see Premiership teams regain their interest in a tournament that holds a great deal of historical significance in English football.
If not these options, then something else needs to be done to arrest the decline of this once-feted tournament before it goes the way of the League Cup and England friendlies—viewed as something little more than a distraction from the Premiership.
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Premiership Round-Up - Saturday, September 15
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Liverpool Liverpool's impressive start to the season continues with a fine win over Spurs. It's not been a fantastic week for the North London club, with captain Hugo Lloris convicted of drink driving and sentenced to a 20 month drinking ban and a £50,000 fine. Shortly after his conviction, he picked up a thigh injury which ruled him out of this weekend's fixture. In steps Michel Vorm, whose errors contributed to Liverpool's victory. Spurs were sloppy in possession, often giving the ball away. Lucas Moura missed a decent chance to put Spurs ahead before Wijnaldum and Firmino gave Liverpool a two-goal lead. Lamela pulled one back with a fine strike in injury time, but it was Jurgen Klopp's men who returned to Merseyside with all three points. Liverpool were touted pre-season as the most realistic challenger to Manchester City's dominance, and on the basis of this performance, it's not too hard to see why.
By Ben Crabbe6 years ago in Cleats
Mastering the mind games of Mourinho..
In the bustling streets of London, amidst the roar of fans and the clash of football boots, there existed a man whose tactics transcended the pitch. José Mourinho, the mastermind behind many a football triumph, possessed a unique ability to wield not just the tactics board but also the minds of his players.Cesc Fàbregas, a gifted midfielder, found himself under Mourinho's spell during their time together at Chelsea. As he reflected on those days, he revealed the intricate web of influence Mourinho spun around him."I think with Mourinho, he played with my mind in a different way that nobody else played before," Fàbregas recounted, his voice tinged with both admiration and a hint of bewilderment.Their relationship was not merely coach and player; it was a complex dance of manipulation and inspiration. Mourinho, with his charismatic persona and keen understanding of psychology, knew exactly how to push Fàbregas to new heights."He would send me messages, he would speak to me nearly every day," Fàbregas recalled, painting a picture of relentless communication that kept him perpetually engaged, perpetually focused.Mourinho's words were not just casual chatter; they were strategic maneuvers designed to shape Fàbregas's perception of himself and his role within the team. Each conversation, each message, carried with it the weight of affirmation and importance."He would speak to me in a manner where he makes me see that I'm one of the most important players in the squad," Fàbregas revealed, the memory still vivid in his mind. Mourinho's words weren't empty praise; they were calculated strokes that bolstered Faàbregas's confidence and sense of belonging.And it worked. Under Mourinho's guidance, Fàbregas flourished, his performances on the pitch reflecting the belief instilled in him by his coach. He became a linchpin in the team, a maestro orchestrating plays with precision and finesse."That always had a really powerful message in my brain," Fàbregas admitted, acknowledging the lasting impact of Mourinho's manipulation. The coach's words weren't just fleeting encouragements; they were seeds planted in Fàbregas's mind, blossoming into a steadfast belief in his own abilities.As Fàbregas reminisced about those days, it became clear that Mourinho's influence extended far beyond the tactical realm. He wasn't just a coach; he was a mentor, a confidant, a master of the psychological game.Their time together at Chelsea may have come to an end, but the imprint Mourinho left on Fàbregas's psyche remained indelible. Even now, years later, Fàbregas found himself reflecting on those conversations, those messages, and the profound impact they had on his career.In the world of football, where physical prowess and tactical acumen reign supreme, Mourinho stood out as a master manipulator of the mind. His ability to understand his players on a deeper level, to tap into their emotions and motivations, set him apart as a coach of unparalleled skill.For Fàbregas, Mourinho's influence was a double-edged sword, simultaneously empowering and enigmatic. He had been both puppet and prodigy, a willing participant in Mourinho's intricate game of psychological chess.And yet, despite the complexities of their relationship, Fàbregas couldn't deny the role Mourinho played in shaping him as a player and as a person. The lessons learned, the confidence gained, were invaluable gifts that would stay with him long after the final whistle had blown.As Fàbregas gazed out onto the pitch, the memories of his time under Mourinho flooded back, a testament to the enduring power of the coach's voice. In the world of football, where triumph and defeat hung in the balance, Mourinho's words had been a constant, guiding Fàbregas through the highs and lows of the beautiful game.
By Eric anexis 7 days ago in Cleats
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