All I've seen about the FA Cup on this site is how this has been the greatest FA Cup, yada yada... Or how this captures the true spirit of the yada yada yada...
But be honest, When it comes down to it, the Cup is on the line and its a Championship match, will you be tuning in? Would you if it were Liverpool vs. Portsmouth? Or Manchester United vs. Chelsea?
Does it even matter?
Don't make me out to be a big four basher, I really think, for the betterment of the quality of the games played, that if the revenue where shared it would really help the whole league. But that's another topic for another article.
Here in America, we are concluding the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. a similar tournament to the FA Cup. Two years ago it was George Mason a small Patriot League team beating the then power UConn team in a thrilling game to make the Final Four.
Now the reason, I bring this up is because it was the worst rated Final Four in this decade. And this year, all four one seeds have made it. I'm willing to put money on this years final four, will be doing a huge number.
It's a question that needs to be asked with the tournament set to enter the home stretch this weekend. As well as the FA Cup concluding at Wembley wrapping itself up at similar dates.
Your thoughts?
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
David James about 1 year ago
I'm guessing Football isn't your forte. It is the most interesting FA Cup, not greatest, but shocking in terms of who makes up the final quartet and how Premier League teams no longer value its existence. Many clubs have come out and indicated that they no longer value the FA Cup because the financial incentives involved in a Premier League finish are greater than the value to them of the Cup. The magic of the Cup is ceasting to exist because of its financial incentive to football clubs.
The top four have the monopoly because they have, for many years, built up strong reputations based on financial foundations. Look at Tottenham, for instance, their financial base existed yet was never fully realised, till a new Chairman was installed and they now spend in excess of 100million within the past two years on transfers.
A College-level Tournament related to a Domestic Professional Competition, really? And if you realised none of the 'TOP FOUR' are in the FA Cup this weekend.
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Ken Foss about 1 year ago
thats not my point screw the fianacal aspect and the exuses for why the teams didn't make it are you going to watch it this year thats all im asking.
Also it not an apples to apples comparison but its an equally big deal with a similar structure thus the comparison.
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Ken Foss about 1 year ago
what I'm asking is has the gravitational pull of the "big four" consumed the entire FA Cup?
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Matt Binks about 1 year ago
The big 4s monopoly of the fa cup made it dreary and awful to watch. This years tournament has been a breath of fresh air, i will be glued to my seat as for once there are 4 teams competing who i am willing to win. To say its a let down to the fa cup goes everything a cup competiton is about.
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Matt Binks about 1 year ago
i misread the artice there a bit i think. It seems that the article regarding financial issues? For a start the FA cup is never ever played on pay per view basis. Subscription for sky television is the only cost. The fa cup is as loved as it is because this year because four teams who arent the richest in the world have done so well. Football is a sport who cares about the money??
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Ken Foss about 1 year ago
im outside the UK so thing are a bit different over here.
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Andrew McNair about 1 year ago
Well I'll be watching. I can't wait and hope for an all Championship final to shock the EPL into gear.
The FA Cup may not be important financially to the big sides but it is a lifeline for so many smaller clubs who draw the EPL sides. One good FA Cup run or one tie against the big four can remove a lower leagues financial worries and it keeps teams afloat.
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