The magic of the FA Cup
Friday, August 14, 2009 at 9:15AM Wishlist for the 2009/2010 Season
Continuing my preview of the season, here's the second entry in the wishlist for the year ahead. It's the FA Cup.
First in the series was about our wonderful enigma, Jermaine Jenas. Read it here.
The Magic of the FA Cup
I'm not asking for the moon on a stick. Just a 9th FA Cup final win. It's been a while. Too long, since we graced the final of this great competition that is no longer as great as it once was thanks to the post-Champions League era dominating football priorities. I remember the days when you could look back and re-call every Cup final. The scores, the scorers, the drama…everything. Whether it was Man Utd pulling out of the competition or the move to Cardiff or perhaps (grudgingly) the amount of finals the scum got to, the aura was not quite the same. Still isn't today. Has football changed that much or is it simply the way I'm perceiving things? Arguably, clubs (and fans) obsess over the dream of CL qualification rather than picking up silverware. Shouldn't the latter be the priority? Winning the league would be the ultimate, but that's hardly realistic for most clubs, other than possibly three (at a stretch four) clubs in the Prem.
You know how you sit down to play the latest 3rd person shooters on your PS3 or Xbox and sit in awe of the stunning HD graphics and 5.1 surround sound, but feel a little empty as the game-play is somehow lacking. For all it's photo-realism, the playability bores you after a while. Far too much style, not enough substance. You then think back to when you were a kid, playing Jet Pac on your Spectrum 48k and how much fun that was, with its basic as it gets graphics and sound effects of blips and fragmented notes that vaguely resemble music. Next thing you know, you're installing an emulator and downloading a rom. Then 30 seconds later you're bored shitless. It's actually crap. It was addictive and playable back in the early 80's but it's basically fundamentally shit beyond comparison to anything in today's super-advanced world. Games on your mobile phone are vastly superior and more playable.
The memory of something old is best kept in the past. Time have changed, everything has moved on. Well, this maybe the case for computer games, but it's not the case with the FA Cup.
Cup finals were better back in the day. They will stand the test of time. Most cup finals in the 70's and 80's were and still are classics. Meant something to win it. Meant something big. You can't honestly say it means as much nowadays. But then I couldn't tell you because we haven't paraded the cup since '91. Such is the intensity of the Top 4 and their lust for the title and for cementing their positions in the CL, that the FA Cup (and even more so the League Cup) are deemed as nice add-ons. Which they've also pretty much managed to dominate too. Mostly with second-string teams making their way to the finals.
The odd giant killing here and there might have commentators spewing out the ever so popular sound-bite referencing how the romance of the Cup is alive and kicking, but it's just not the same. I might have this all wrong. Maybe I'm just bitter. Jealous. I just want us to reclaim our top spot in FA Cup most-wins table. History and silverware says more than how many times you've managed to finish 4th (something else we can't lay claim to in the Premiership years).
It's time we had our white and blue colours back on the Cup.
This was once upon a time our cup. Ossie's Dream. That goal by Villa. The comeback against Forest. Even the games leading up to the final were superb. Hoddle's chip against Watford. The free kick from Gascoigne that left David Seaman very disappointed. Even that agonising defeat to Coventry in what was a brilliant game summed up just how great a competition this is (was). There was a buzz about it.
I want us to reclaim that buzz. A winning one.
Our Carling Cup adventures have been very welcomed, but it's the FA Cup where our true pedigree is, laying dormant, waiting for the return of it's kings to reclaim their throne.
With no European football to distract us from the league, the FA Cup should be as much of a priority as finishing in the Top 6. Open bus parade…is that too much to ask for?
More to come:
The next Lilywhite prodigy
Fortress Lane
Defoe the Prolific
5-0 wins please
Relentless and Ruthless
Top 6 challenge (no bottom half of the table antics)
Huddlestone - The Immovable Object
Love-in for Wilson and Luka
Reader Comments (26)
we are definately in with a shout this year.....all london final
Would love a proper cup run in this rather than the League cup.
Too greedy to ask for a cup double?
'You know how you sit down to play the latest 3rd person shooters on your PS3 or Xbox and sit in awe of the stunning HD graphics and 5.1 surround sound'
No. I'm afraid I don't Spooky. I remember the ZX 80 though and I'm guessing you're aged around the mid to late 30's.
Time to hang up the joystick?
Bang on about The Cup though.
Keep up the good work.
I didn't mind too much not qualifying for Europe last season...but only on the basis we should be looking for a cup double this season.
I don't think it's too much to ask for....
It's been way way too long since we've had this back on our trophy cabinet. Got a good squad this season and we can definitely look to continue our recent cup tradition in the Carling but would prefer the FA Cup. Part of our history part of our identity.
Still think it's going to be shockingly hard to win this. Probably get Man Utd away in the 3rd round.
Play the 'kids' in the Carling and let's go hell for leather in the league and The Cup.
Sorry to be pessimistic but Sound Guy is spot on. Would love a good FA cup run but EVERY YEAR we end with Man U in the 3rd or 4th round who always put out their best 11 against us. Its gona be difficult
What about Street Fighter 2 for the Super Nintendo. Still as much fun now as it was back then. It is the perfect video game and cannot be improved
If Portsmouth and Cardiff can contest the final then so can we. Still a bit of a lottery though.
Time to hang up the joystick?
that's just a mean thing to say , it s like grow up and go get yourself some adult hobbies , party pooper :-)
Fa and League cup this year ... yes please !
CL qualification and no cup win .... yes please even more ?
Or is that the exactly the kind of mentality you are trying to counter ?
It's all about Manic Miner.
Still dont think our squad is strong enough, not enough goals in the team, so as soon as we come up against a top four club which we will, Man U or Liverpool away anyone !!!! we will end up short, just like England in next years world cup.
WE NEED ANOTHER QUALITY STRIKER + 2 MIDFIELDERS FOR US TO COMPETE AT TOP LEVEL
did anyone see how dodgy the carling cup draw was? they pre picked half the teams beforehand! "hmmm lets see how we can furthur relegate a once great(ish) cup in the nations hearts... i know! lets remove its integrity!"
also, i would love the FA Cup. although Man Utd away in the 3rd round is a distinct possibility.
I was more 'chuckie egg' and 'Daley Tompson's Decathalon' on my speccy Plus (oh yeah I had the + versio, get me and my bad self).
Still as for a cup final win, well there was blue on the cup a couple of years ago (won by a team under the stewardship certain Mr Redknapp).
As for our chances they need the following soundbites:
'you sometimes don't have to be a good manager. just a lucky one'
'lucky of the draw'
'once again drawn at home'
'you have to play the good teams to get to the final, but it helps if the good teams have other priorities when you face them'
'on our day we can beat anyone'
'winning the cup is not about consistency, it's about who wants it more on the day'
'it's a game of two halfs'
'it may have bee na stonewll penalty against us, but if the ref didn't give it, it makes up for the years of persistent diving by ronaldo / van nistel hosre / pires / henry / fabregash / lumpolard / drogba * that has cost us so much before' (*delete as applicable)
and finally
'triffic'
If we can be on the right side of them, then yeah why not. Cup run, it's not like we have too many other distractions this season. sod it why not a cup double.
ps. the goons ruined the 2005 cup by boring us all to death for 120 mins so they could win on penalties, now I'm no united fan, but football fans all over were robbed of a decent game that day. Odd that it is that win which their fans cling on to so preciously as 'their last piece of silverware'.
won't there be an 01 in the year?
LOL grow up u muppets!! being delusional gives you a bad name,you should stick to the micky mouse cup and consentrate on the fight AGAINST RELEGATION.
Harry's got a twitch..... because he was in a car accident where three other people died. So, well done, nice post and a good articulate argument there to go with the well thought out user name.
Thanks im glad you like it twitchy :)
And did you think of that all by yourself ? I wish i could come up with this kind of arguments but unfortunately i will never be able to achieve your level.
Feel free to share all of your sharp witted well thought of stabs ...
But here's an idea :
go back to your inflatable girlfriend i bet she's missing your sweaty teenage odour ...
I guess I shouldn't be that surprised twitchy twat.
After all every set of fans has those who are eloquent, considered and can construct both a logical arguement in presenting their views on how the season is liekly to progress and can equally 'banter' without having to resort to childlike automatic gamesaying.
You just don't happen to be one of them.
TwitchyTwat, judging by your lack of English skills and an immaturity that suggests you've yet to hit puberty I'm guessing that you play for Arsenal.
Belgian Spur,
I've spent some good times in Belgium, and believe me, if that's your idea of party, you really ought to get out in your own country some more.
i enjoy and the good party/pub/club as well as the occasional gaming time , just found it a harsh thing to say , like there would be a certain age limit for gaming ...
BTW glad you enjoyed our little country :-)
Twitchy needs to "consentrate" on his spelling, do one peanut.
I think Jet Pac is vastly underated, and also please don't knock two other spectrum 48k classics....Chucky egg and Manic Miner :) You can download an emulator and play them on any old netbook for free. Regarding spurs this year, with Harry at the helm I think a top 4 finish and qualification for the champions league is distinctly possible.