Topic: The FA Cup.

[Son of Spion]

I don't normally start threads, but something rather sad struck me today.

I genuinely didn't know that it was FA Cup Final day today until I read it in the morning paper. OK, I have reigned in my football viewing and football media watching in to the extent that I only really bother watching highlights of our games now then I switch off. VAR and desperately poor officiating have killed live games for me. Yet, I don't live in a bubble with my eyes and ears shut either.

When I was growing up the FA Cup was magical. You looked forward to the final for a long time in advance, even if your club wasn't playing in it. The build-up was immense and quite thrilling. It really, really meant something. Even though the old Empire Stadium was a shithole, getting there was the Holy Grail. I know the appeal has been on the wane since maybe the 90s, but I think this might be the first year I didn't even realise what day/date the final was on or who was playing in it.

I know there are so many contributing reasons why the FA Cup has lost its way and its status, but it's still sad. There isn't even an FA Cup Final thread on here, and that says a lot.

Younger people may not feel the loss, but as an older fella I find it quite sad to see what has become of this once magical trophy, which has provided so many fantastic memories, the occasional heartbreak and some epic fan experiences.

[Cu Chulainn]

Nice post, SoS. I'm a younger poster but I still love the Cup; one of my first Liverpool memories was the 'Michael Owen final', and of course we had the Stevie G final 5 years later. I can't turn my back on that.

It's especially sad as this year is the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup starting. Wanderers went on to beat Royal Engineers 1-0 in the final in 1872, and remain to this day one of only two teams to have won the trophy 3 years in a row (the other being Blackburn Rovers). So much history in the competition that a lot of people simply do not appreciate.

As for today, come on the Foxes! 

[Cu Chulainn]

Also, the FA themselves are a lot to blame. For starters, the final should not be on the same day as league games; it should be the final game of the domestic season.

[RedSince86]

Used to be an all day affair when i started watching the finals.

Seemed to be a big build up in the mornings, then interviews with the players on the coach, then the pre match in the stadium that built up the excitement.

Maybe when i was watching it was highlighted more with the European ban so it elevated the FA Cup, i have no clue what it was like prior.

FA ruined it as well with the semi finals at Wembley as well.

[Son of Spion]

Nice post, SoS. I'm a younger poster but I still love the Cup; one of my first Liverpool memories was the 'Michael Owen final', and of course we had the Stevie G final 5 years later. I can't turn my back on that.

It's especially sad as this year is the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup starting. Wanderers went on to beat Royal Engineers 1-0 in the final in 1872, and remain to this day one of only two teams to have won the trophy 3 years in a row (the other being Blackburn Rovers). So much history in the competition that a lot of people simply do not appreciate.

As for today, come on the Foxes!

Now I know who's actually playing in the final, I'm rooting for Leicester too. I have no thoughts on them one way or the other really, but I'd like to see Brendan lift the cup, especially at the oil club's expense.

Talking of past finals, the 1-2 defeat to Arsenal in '71 was, I think, the first and only game that made me cry. I was just a kid, but it really hurt. I hated Charlie George and his celebration for years after that. Trouncing Newcastle in '74 made up for it though. 

[Son of Spion]

Also, the FA themselves are a lot to blame. For starters, the final should not be on the same day as league games; it should be the final game of the domestic season.

Absolutely.

Semis at Wembley also dilutes the grandeur of the whole thing too.

[Chakan]

Stopped watching football after the derby game. Now I just check results. Much easier. I couldn't tell you who was in the FA cup final if my life depended on it.

[The North Bank]

Loved it, still love it, gutted we are not in the final.
Cant wait to get back there again.
Come on Leicester!

[sinnermichael]

Hope they mention a few more times that Lineker is a Leicester fan. Jesus wept.

[Son of Spion]

Used to be an all day affair when i started watching the finals.

Seemed to be a big build up in the mornings, then interviews with the players on the coach, then the pre match in the stadium that built up the excitement.

Maybe when i was watching it was highlighted more with the European ban so it elevated the FA Cup, i have no clue what it was like prior.

FA ruined it as well with the semi finals at Wembley as well.

Yep, it was always an all-day thing when I started watching at the start of the 70s.

The team coaches driving to the ground in a sea of fans before the game. All the pomp and ceremony.

If your team was in the final you'd be crapping yourself the night before, but full of hope and excitement too. If your team wasn't in it, you could sit back and enjoy the game knowing you didn't have to worry about being heartbroken afterwards. The whole thing was a big occasion across the country, and not just about the finalists.

[Speedy Molby]

There are plenty of reasons for its demise, but there are two I feel are key. Until 1983 it was the only club match to be televised live, which gave it a novelty value that justified the six-hour pre-match build-up on the BBC. This diminished as live TV league games were introduced, then gradually increased in number. This made the FA Cup final less of a national event and more one for the participating clubs.
Secondly there was the admission of non-champions into the Champions League (in 1996 I think). A high league placing quickly became more important than cup glory, which has led to clubs routinely fielding weakened sides and a rapid devaluation of the competition.
There are other factors: semi-finals at Wembley and it no longer being the conclusion of the season have detracted from the occasion of the final.
It's a shame, but times change and we'll always have those childhood memories.

[jackh]

Also, the FA themselves are a lot to blame. For starters, the final should not be on the same day as league games; it should be the final game of the domestic season.

Unusual circumstances this year, though.  I imagine the league would usually be finishing this weekend, and the FA Cup Final would take place next Saturday.  They did have a few years (certainly for 2001 & 2012) when the Final was the penultimate weekend of the season, but I think they corrected that at some point.

[oojason]

.
Same here SoS (in that I didn't know it was the FA Cup Final either) - and was surprised to see it sandwiched between 3 Premier League games today.

I even had took up the two teams playing and kick off time; Chelsea vs Leicester, a 5.15pm ko. I wonder what the UK TV viewing figures are like since it was moved from 3pm to 5.15pm? (back in 2012?)


2011 had a 3pm kick off - www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/14/fa-cup-final-manchester-city-stoke

2012 Us vs Chelsea was 5.15pm ko  - www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-fans-blast-515pm-kick-off-3306128

2013 a 5.15pm ko too (and likely since?) - www.theguardian.com/football/2013/apr/16/fa-cup-final-late-kick-off



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The 2021 FA Cup Final is live on UK TV on BBC1, BBC iPlayer, and BT Sport 1 (a 5.15pm kick off) - www.live-footballontv.com/live-fa-cup-football-on-tv.html

BBC iPlayer link (UK only - unless using a VPN?) - www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09h5vxm/the-fa-cup-202021-fa-cup-channel

TV stations around the world showing the FA Cup Final live (+ great for IPTV etc) - www.livesoccertv.com/match/3984934/chelsea-vs-leicester-city

60+ Streams - www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=345769.0 (in the 'Some useful info for following the football + TV, Streams, & Highlights info' thread)


Chelsea XI: Kepa - Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Rudiger - James, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso - Ziyech, Mount, Werner.
Subs: Pulisic, Zouma, Mendy, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Gilmour, Havertz, Emerson Palmieri.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel - Castagne, Soyuncu, Evans, Fofana, Thomas - Ndidi, Tielemans, Perez - Iheanacho, Vardy.
Subs: Morgan, Maddison, Albrighton, Ward, Amartey, Choudhury, Ricardo Pereira, Mendy, Praet.


www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup : https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cup : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_FA_Cup_Final


21,000 fans will be at the Final - www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/05/15/how-many-fans-are-at-the-fa-cup-final-leicester-vs-chelsea-sees-spectators-return-to-wembley


Betting Odds: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/fa-cup/chelsea-v-leicester/winner : Chelsea 8/7 : Leicester 7/2 : Draw 30/13.


Full Match Replay & Highlights - www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2021/05/15/chelsea-vs-leicester-city-highlights-full-match-2

& https://hdmatches.net/2021/05/15/video-chelsea-vs-leicester-city-highlights-full-match-15-may-2021

& https://old.reddit.com/r/footballhighlights/comments/nd277v/chelsea_vs_leicester_city_fa_cup_15may2021


BBC Match Of The Day is on BBC1 at 11.20pm tonight (after the Premier League MOTD - which starts at 10.20pm).

[ScouserAtHeart]

2012 was also the last Final I watched

[Cu Chulainn]

Now I know who's actually playing in the final, I'm rooting for Leicester too. I have no thoughts on them one way or the other really, but I'd like to see Brendan lift the cup, especially at the oil club's expense.

Talking of past finals, the 1-2 defeat to Arsenal in '71 was, I think, the first and only game that made me cry. I was just a kid, but it really hurt. I hated Charlie George and his celebration for years after that. Trouncing Newcastle in '74 made up for it though. 

For sure, there's plenty of pain with this competition too. The 2012 final still winds me up, especially after Andy Carroll came on and was basically unplayable for 20 minutes. We've had some really tame exits in recent years for one reason or another - 2015, 2017, 2018 spring to mind the most - and I hope we can make a better fist of it next year with supporters back in the stadiums.

[John C]

Nice one SoS, it is still magical mate, I genuinely think people have just decided to be miserable about it. Today would be magnificent if we were in it, I'm so envious.

And I'm loving these two posts.

Nice post, SoS. I'm a younger poster but I still love the Cup; one of my first Liverpool memories was the 'Michael Owen final', and of course we had the Stevie G final 5 years later. I can't turn my back on that.

Loved it, still love it, gutted we are not in the final.
Cant wait to get back there again.
Come on Leicester!

FUCKING COME ON BRENDAN LAD, WIN THE FA CUP.

[4pool]

For sure, there's plenty of pain with this competition too. The 2012 final still winds me up, especially after Andy Carroll came on and was basically unplayable for 20 minutes. We've had some really tame exits in recent years for one reason or another - 2015, 2017, 2018 spring to mind the most - and I hope we can make a better fist of it next year with supporters back in the stadiums.

Andy scored v Chelsea and we were robbed.  I was in line with the goal line and saw the ball cross the line. The Lino was running back to get in position but was still up the pitch by 5 yards or more and..imho..guessed. Another decision against us..lol. We'd have went on to win that.

Edit:

http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2012/05/05/video-andy-carroll-disallowed-goal-vs-chelsea-fa-cup-final-2012-petr-cech-save/comment-page-1/

If you watch until the end you can see the lino 8 yards up the pitch when Suarez sends the ball for Andy to head in. The camera angle for the goal is still up the pitch a bit and not in line with the goal line.

I still stand by my statement..it was a goal.

[jillcwhomever]

I would like to see Brendan win this, anything but Chelsea win something else.

[rocco]

Don’t see it , but rooting  for Leicester to win

[Cu Chulainn]

Look at these winners from the first 12 years of the competition

1871-72: Wanderers
1872-73: Wanderers
1873-74: Oxford University
1874-75: Royal Engineers
1875-76: Wanderers
1876-77: Wanderers
1877-78: Wanderers
1878-79: Old Etonians
1879-80: Clapham Rovers
1880-81: Old Carthusians
1881-82: Old Etonians
1882-83: Blackburn Olympic

Olympic were the first professional (and northern!) team to win it in 1883, ending the dominance of the southern old boys teams, and no amateur team has won it since. 

After 1883, Blackburn Rovers won it 3 years in a row, and since then all the winners have been familiar names, with Tottenham Hotspur being the last non-league team to win the Cup in 1901.

That Royal Engineers team is said to be the first in England to focus on passing rather than dribbling as the main means of moving the ball - pioneers of football as we know it today.

Doing some digging, and Wanderers dissolved in 1887 but have a phoenix club formed in 2009. Oxford University, Royal Engineers, Old Etonians and Old Carthusians are still going but I don't think enter the FA Cup any more. Clapham Rovers and Blackburn Olympic are defunct.

God I love this trophy and I really want Leicester to become the 44th club to lift it.

[Ray K]

Perez starting ahead of Maddison is a puzzler. I know that Maddison hasn't been great after his last injury, but Perez has gone less than nothing this season.

[RedSince86]

Yep, it was always an all-day thing when I started watching at the start of the 70s.

The team coaches driving to the ground in a sea of fans before the game. All the pomp and ceremony.

If your team was in the final you'd be crapping yourself the night before, but full of hope and excitement too. If your team wasn't in it, you could sit back and enjoy the game knowing you didn't have to worry about being heartbroken afterwards. The whole thing was a big occasion across the country, and not just about the finalists.

I think 1987 was the best final i saw as a neutral, and 1991 not far behind when Gazza did his knee injury early.

The finals i've seen us in have all been nerve wracking affairs, never enjoyed watching the games, as we never blew away a team in the final, even 1992 against Sunderland who were in the old 2nd division was a nervy affair, the semi final games with Portsmouth that year as well were not good for the nerves.

And Giant killing just doesn't have the same gravitas anymore, most PL teams play weakened teams so when they get knocked out it barely registers, I remember Sutton United knocking out Coventry which was huge national news, and Wrexham knocking out Arsenal in the early rounds which was seismic, Cambridge United had a few big scalps one season as well with Dion Dublin making his name that season.

[Cu Chulainn]

Perez starting ahead of Maddison is a puzzler. I know that Maddison hasn't been great after his last injury, but Perez has gone less than nothing this season.

I must admit I've barely watched football this season (empty stadiums), and no games Liverpool are not in - but I'm watching this one. Do you think Leicester have much of a chance? I think Brendan's done really well on the whole, but they just seem to lack something in the crucial moments (should've wrapped up 4th last season, should've done it by now this season, poor in the Europa League, etc). A bit like Tottenham.

[Norse Red]

At least it won't be another Arsenal win. Sick of them winning it like four times in six years.

[scouseman]

I used to remember better times as a kid when there was not so much football on TV and the Cup Final was an all day event on Grandstand with Des. Just does not feel the same now sadly.

[oldman]

uesd to start friday night with "who'll win the cup " and quizzball cup final special

then on the sat it was cup final breakfast from the teams hotels

jumpers for goalposts etc

great days - remember being glued to the the tv all day in 1965

[jillcwhomever]

At least it won't be another Arsenal win. Sick of them winning it like four times in six years.

I would sooner have had them winning it than Chelsea, if not us.

[lamonti]

Are they going for a world record for the amount of pre-march dicking around or something?

[lamonti]

Would be delighted for Brendan if he wins this.

[Norse Red]

I would sooner have had them winning it than Chelsea, if not us.

Yes, but lets hope for a Leicester win here, and Brendan's first thropy.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha


#EDIT : I honestly thought this was City v Chelsea

========================


Arf


Come on LEICESTER!!!!!  Though if Chelsea win it then fair play.



But I'm still watching it. I've got some good friends that are Chelsea fans and they are good people.

This is the FA Cup final. Anyone saying that they aren't arsed whether we're in it or not I treat with a bit of suspicion. Fair play if you don't go, but I want us to be in all the finals ever year.

In 2001 winning the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League final in one season and going to all three games  was an amazing experience.

When I've argued that that's an achievement in 'real life' with people then it's easy to judge people that think it's micky mouse or shite - the fact is that people that think like that don't go to the games. They have no idea what a cup final is like and they are just gloryhunting plastics.

Getting to the final for any competition would be amazing. I admit that I have gone 'meh meh meh' myself online sometimes - but let's be fair - we all chat shite in the interweb at times - especially when trolling opposition fans.

Stop being miserable, get some ale in you, have a cheeky curry and hope to see a good game of footy. If this got binned then you'd miss it. What do we want? Soulless never-ending league games and nothing else?

[dmorgan]

C'mon Brendan!

[jillcwhomever]

Yes, but lets hope for a Leicester win here, and Brendan's first thropy.

I can agree to that. 

[Libertine]

Hope this is a decent game, i.e. at the very least not one that Chelsea run away with.

Come on Leicester. Win today, knock lumps out of each other on Tuesday and then hopefully Chelsea will make up for the disappointment in some game that is apparently happening in Portugal in a couple of weeks that nobody will be watching.

[Cu Chulainn]

Vardy, Schmeichel and Soyuncu to have stormers.

[vicar]

I don't normally start threads, but something rather sad struck me today.

I genuinely didn't know that it was FA Cup Final day today until I read it in the morning paper. OK, I have reigned in my football viewing and football media watching in to the extent that I only really bother watching highlights of our games now then I switch off. VAR and desperately poor officiating have killed live games for me. Yet, I don't live in a bubble with my eyes and ears shut either.

When I was growing up the FA Cup was magical. You looked forward to the final for a long time in advance, even if your club wasn't playing in it. The build-up was immense and quite thrilling. It really, really meant something. Even though the old Empire Stadium was a shithole, getting there was the Holy Grail. I know the appeal has been on the wane since maybe the 90s, but I think this might be the first year I didn't even realise what day/date the final was on or who was playing in it.

I know there are so many contributing reasons why the FA Cup has lost its way and its status, but it's still sad. There isn't even an FA Cup Final thread on here, and that says a lot.

Younger people may not feel the loss, but as an older fella I find it quite sad to see what has become of this once magical trophy, which has provided so many fantastic memories, the occasional heartbreak and some epic fan experiences.

I think we may be a similar age, Cup finals in the 70s were great (well apart from 77!)
The build up in the morning on TV, running out and playing with your mates after it had finished. Great memories.

Sadly the financial drivers of football have relegated this to just another cup.

[Dr. Beaker]

Just hope this thropy doesn't go to pelanties.

[Fabulous_aurelio]

It's nice to sit down and watch a game with fans. I obviously want Leicester to win this but hope its a good, entertaining game.

Also, is that Chelseas new kit for next season?

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Just hope this thropy doesn't go to pelanties.

You can get some cream for those thropy's

[Fabulous_aurelio]

Just hope this thropy doesn't go to pelanties.

I do. Knacker both these teams out for the run in!