... : O(
So for those who argue that the FA cup is losing its gloss & superiority since the introduction of the Champions League is wrong - My arguement put forward to you is - What other tournament in the world enters more than 600 clubs & can produce ties such as Farnborough v Arsenal or ... Read review
Advantages: Exciting & entertaining Competition - More than 600 teams can participate Disadvantages: Cup tournament is under threat due to the demands of Champion Leagues
...giant killing heroics that the FA Cup has produced over its long & proud history. - This is what makes the FA Cup so unique. Non-league Hereford United produced one of the greatest FA Cup upsets ever when they beat Newcastle & Wimbledon`s (crazy gang) famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 Cup Final will go down as one of the cups biggest shocks.(Trust me , I was absolutely gutted). : O(
So for those who argue that the FA cup is ... ...only be seen in the FA Cup , producing exciting ties that you can only dream about. This element alone is what makes the FA Cup stand out from other football tournaments & that is why this majestic event which dates way back to 1871 will continue to be the worlds greatest football competition.
SO NO ...THE FA CUP IS NOT LOSING ITS LUSTRE ...
&
No matter who the finalists are the FA Cup final is ... more
Hands up if you love football? ...... I would be the first person to raise my hand if that question were put to me. I guess it must run in the family , we are all football crazy and cannot get enough of it. My mum & my aunt are Arsenal supporters , my dad is a Barcelona fan (always watching the Spanish Primer Liga - freaky) , my brother & sister who both team up on me are Man United supporters. My boyfriend supports Chelsea & I support Liverpool. Put us all in one room on match days and we all turn into a Jekyl & Hyde (only for 90 mins though , unless the match goes into extra-time & that is when it really gets rough - f-ing & blinding if you know what I mean ) Yet , there is one thing we all have in common apart from supporting rival teams , we all look forward year in and year out to the oldest & most famous football competition in the world , The F.A Cup. Together we have witnessed the tears & excitement that makes the F.A Cup so special - unforgettable football & classic F.A Cup finals that will remain long in the memory.
•• So what makes the F.A Cup so special & exciting? ••
Giant killing Heroics is what people speak about when they talk about the magic of the F.A Cup & YES these fairytale dreams do come true. A host of upsets over the years prove why the F.A Cup will always have a place in the hearts of millions. Lets take a trip down memory lane & relive some of those great cup upsets (or not so great).
• Whitley Bay 2 - 0 Preston North End (1989)
• Wrexham 2 - 1 Arsenal (1992)
• Bournemouth 2 - 0 Man United (1984)
• Hereford 2 - 1 Newcastle (1972)
• Liverpool 0 - 1 Wimbledon (1988)
These are just a few of many giant killing heroics that the FA Cup has produced over its long & proud history. - This is what makes the FA Cup so unique. Non-league Hereford United produced one of the greatest FA Cup upsets ever when they beat Newcastle & Wimbledon`s (crazy gang) famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 Cup Final will go down as one of the cups biggest shocks.(Trust me , I was absolutely gutted). : O(
So for those who argue that the FA cup is losing its gloss & superiority since the introduction of the Champions League is wrong - My arguement put forward to you is - What other tournament in the world enters more than 600 clubs & can produce ties such as Farnborough v Arsenal or a Yeovil v Chelsea. These type of fixtures can only be seen in the FA Cup , producing exciting ties that you can only dream about. This element alone is what makes the FA Cup stand out from other football tournaments & that is why this majestic event which dates way back to 1871 will continue to be the worlds greatest football competition.
SO NO ...THE FA CUP IS NOT LOSING ITS LUSTRE ...
&
No matter who the finalists are the FA Cup final is the biggest annual football match in the world - Try & equal that Champions League
& ... It is every players dream to play in an FA Cup final.
Underdogs & non-league clubs is undoubtedly the biggest attraction of the FA Cup spirt , but this fantastic tournament can also produce mammoth fixtures , clash of the titan finals that remain long in the memory. The following matches are memorable to me & I`m sure many of you out there will have your own favourites.
Lets take another trip down memory lane & relive some of those great FA Cup finals: ......
OR NOT SO GREAT
• Liverpool 3 - 2 Everton (1989 Final) - This is one final I just couldn`t miss - The blue side of Merseyside versus the red side of Merseyside. WOW! , what a dream tie & a final at that. Wembley was rocking & I was there to witness this truly amazing match. Everton were on the attack and things were not turning out as I hoped for , Liverpool were trailing 2-1 and so something had to give. On came Ian Rush , the master at putting the ball in the net ....GOAL .....2 - 2 ...... Wembley erupted and the fans started singing "you`ll never walk alone" .. Rushie was a hero and his goal took the game into extra time. A pulsating 90 mins of football was to follow by an unforgettable moment ... It was that man again Ian Rush ... GOAL ... .Liverpool took the lead 3 - 2 & eventually won the FA Cup final , a final that took 149 mins of genuinely entertaining football. It was all too emotional that day , a day where both sets of fans embraced and mingled together inside the stadium -The Hillsborough disaster in 1989 left both sets of fans empty and sad and so it was fitting to have an all Merseyside final, I guess it was meant to be.
• Arsenal 1 - 2 Liverpool (2001 Final) - I saw this FA Cup final on the box (doesn`t compare to Wembley , I know ) & it is definetely one for the scrapbook. What happened on that day , nobody could have forseen the events that were about to unfold before us. Arsenal who approached the game in menacing style ripped Liverpool to pieces & it was only a matter of time before they took the lead ... GOAL 1 - 0 to Arsenal. (Freddie Lungberg) ...... By this stage Arsenal had a good firm grip on the game & it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the second goal was scored. Chance after chance was spurned , appeals for penalties were overlooked , spectacular saves denied the Gunners from getting that vital second goal. Arsenal were now running riot & Liverpool had no answers , was history going to repeat itself. Liverpool who have already fallen to Arsenal in two previous FA Cup finals looked like they were set to make it three.
OR WERE THEY ?
Arsenal`s domination was in vain as the forces & magic of the FA Cup had one final twist - With only 10 minutes remaining Michael Owen`s inspired performance saw Liverpool to victory .. GOAL 1-1 ... 2 minutes remaining on the clock & many onlookers/spectators were expecting extra time BUT someone was smiling down on Liverpool that day & nobody could have written the script better for all Liverpool fans. The 88th minute ....... Berger looks up and launches a long ball for Owen to latch on to , Owen takes it in his stride , skips past Tony Adams and slots the ball low and hard into the far right corner ... The hapless Seaman can only watch. ......GOAL Liverpool 2 - 1 Arsenal.
With only seconds remaining Liverpool clinched victory and won the FA Cup .. WOW! Was this really happening ..... Another unforgettable moment , an FA Cup romance come true. The Millennium Stadium came alive as Liverpool fans sang "you`ll never walk alone" , the joy that I felt that day was amazing. ...... What a dramatic turnaround ... & who said there isn`t magic in the FA Cup.
Criteria on the FA Cup: ••••••••••••••••••••••
•Prize Money: £2,000,000 + a UEFA Cup place •Number of Clubs Entered: 580 + •Venue: Cardiffs Millennuium Stadium •Sponsored by: AXA •Year FA Cup started: 1871 •Rounds Played: 6 knockout Rounds/semi-finals/final •Final Played : Early May
Note: All fixtures are drawn out of a hat ......This format makes it fair & exciting - its what the FA Cup is all about.
All time FA Cup Wins: •••••••••••••••••••••
Man United •••••••••••••••••••• 10 Arsenal •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 Tottenham •••••••••••••••••••••• 8 Aston Villa •••••••••••••••••••••• 7 Blackburn Rovers ••••••••••••• 6 Liverpool •••••••••••••••••••••••• 6 Newcastle ••••••••••••••••••••••• 6 Everton ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 5
Wembley Stadium has been staging FA Cup finals since 1923 - Chelsea`s 1 - 0 win over Aton Villa (1999/2000) was the last FA Cup final to take place beneath the famous Twin Towers. Many argue that the FA Cup is not the same without Wembley , this symbolic stadium , the "Theatre of Dreams" is the nucleus of the FA Cup , after all its every players dream is to play at Wembley. The history of Wembley & the FA Cup is an incredibly rich one , so the idea of replacing the home of football with another stadium did not go down to well. As the song goes "whatever will be will be , we`re going to Wembley" .....So for now the Wembley chants will no longer be heard from the thousand fans on FA Cup day. Instead , it will be the Millennium Stadium that will be hosting the oldest & most famous football competition in the world. It too will create football history in its own way because so long as the FA Cup continues no stadium can deny the magic & excitement this tournament brings.
Since changing venues there have been two FA Cup finals at the Millennium Stadium:
• ~ Liverpool 2 - 1 Arsenal (2001 Final) ~ Goal Scorers Michael Own ( 2 ) - Freddie Lungberg ( 1 ) -
2001 Winners Liverpool
• ~ Arsenal 2 - 0 Chelsea (2002 Final) ~ Goal Scorers Ray Parlour ( 1 ) & Freddie Lungberg ( 1 ) -
2002 Winners Arsenal
Bottom Line: ••••••••••••
Scrap the FA Cup .... No way! ..... This domestic football tournament that brings magical & unforgettable moments has to be preserved for many years to come. The talk of Champions League & Super European Leagues de-valueing the FA Cup can be a threat to this competition. Whats going to happen to the lower & non-league clubs , whom many rely on the cups revenue. A big fixture for a non-league/lower league club is equivalent to a seasons wages - the difference between survival or extinction. What tournament produces giant -killing heroics , spare a thought for your Hereford`s , your Wrexhams , your Yeovils ...
Whats going to happen to them ?
I hope the long & proud history of the FA Cup continues to bring us all exciting DREAM FIXTURESMy prediction for 2003 FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium
•• Arsenal 1-2 Southhampton ••
The last time Southhampton won the FA Cup was in 1975/76 ~ They beat Man United 1-0
Advantages: Excitement, Drama, Unpredictability Disadvantages: Doesn't pay the money of other competitions
...couple of years about the FA Cup losing its ‘magic’. Much of the blame has been laid at the door of Manchester United, claiming they devalued the competition by withdrawing a couple of years ago so that they could compete in the World Club Championship. In my opinion, that was a poor and unnecessary decision on their part – BUT, lets get one thing straight, Manchester United are not responsible for any perceived decline in the attractiveness of this ... ...hearing how they destroyed the FA Cup. Nonetheless, I recognise there has been a change in attitude towards the competition – so if I don’t blame Manchester United then where do I point the finger?
First, some basic history
The Football Association Challenge Cup, to give it its proper title, is widely recognised as the oldest and most famous domestic football competition in the world. It began in 1871 when a mere 15 clubs entered. Now, approx 600 ...
averagepunter 16.01.2003 (20.05.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fa Cup competition
Advantages: Teams for the lower leagues also get a chance, Provides magical moments, Most watched cup competition in the world Disadvantages: Some bigger teams have downgraded the value , Only a UEFA Cup place for the winners
The F.A. Cup has a long and proud history, although in recent times some of the bigger clubs have been known to give it slightly less preference in view of other schedules and tournaments, these being the regular Premier League and the Champions League. However to me personally the F.A. Cup means a great deal and I still consider it, alongwith many others, to be the finest cup competition in the world.
The F.A. Challenge cup, is presently sponsored ... ...competition in the world.
At it's onset in 1871 the number of teams that participated was a mere 15. In the inter-war years the number of clubs that took part was a massive 600. Today there exists a standard of ability and ground facilities that must be achieved before the respective club is given permission to enter the F.A. Challenge cup. In the year 2001/02 the number of successful clubs entered were 596, which proves that these standards are ...
vinodgm 28.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fa Cup competition
Advantages: great cup competition,traditional, Small teams can beat the biggest teams Disadvantages: semi finals at Wembley? not good idea -should only be final!
The Fa Cup is the oldest football competition and is steeped in history. It is such a great tradition in English football and is run by the FA (Football Association) in England. The first Fa Cup final was all the way back in the 1871-72 season. The reason why the Fa cup is so special is because it involves clubs of all standards including non-league clubs. This allows meetings of top teams against so called 'giant killers' who are the lower league ... ...Wembley.This is just so the Fa can make more money as the stadium was so expensive to build and they need to pay for it somehow! Between 2001 and 2006 the Fa Cup final was played at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt. It returned to Wembley Stadium ,London in 2007 when Chelsea became the first team to win the Fa Cup at the new Wembley and also were the last team to win it at the old Wembley in 2000. I have experience ...
ajbluestar2 08.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fa Cup competition
Advantages: Old fashioned classic Disadvantages: Lucky, Arse-nil b.......
...that money the clubs and FA could have made.
The stars
Rooney was immense again and with the tenacious strength of Gazza and the confidence of ‘Besty’ im sure he will go onto be great. But he does have a small brain that demands he whacks the leather of the ball with every shot. If he can find Linekars finesse and thought then we may well be world champions next year. Van Nistelroy still hasn’t scored from outside the box for ... ...him being frustrated and a possible move if Alex can’t find another good winger to feed him in the summer.
The failures
The only new deal Kleberson deserves is the one that most of Salford and Moss Side are on down the dole and im sure they could find room for David` Bellion, a man who has the touch of the Elephant man. As for putting a man in goal with Tourettes syndrome? Well you couldn’t get more ironic if you consider Alex Furguson ...
beachbumdude 22.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fa Cup competition
...nothing to do with the FA cup there was nowhere else to put it.
My review is about footballers getting too much for so little money. People who safe lives and help people are getting less money than people who can kick a ball better than them. It's an outrage. Some footballers get paid over £75,000 a week which is more than most surgeons get in a year.
When the tsunami disater struck every team in the FA premier league gave £50,000 each to make ... ...£10million.
I think the FA should put a salary cap on the clubs the same as sports like rugby league. A salary cap is when a club is only allowed a certain amount of players above a certain amount of money. Like in rugby league a team is not allowed any player earning more than £20,000 a week. Also if you look at it rugby players work more than footballer yet get less money. I know it isn't the same as what firefighters or doctors do but it is more ...
afro_mikey123 20.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fa Cup competition
Physical Effort
Skill
Are they fun to watch?
Quality of defence
Quality of management
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