FA Cup TV Games

[AustrianAndyGull]

In rounds 1 and 2 the ITV choose non-league teams in their live games basically by default as the Prem and Championship sides don't come in til round three. Today we revert to type by showing Man City v Man Utd as it's obviously a massive game and will no doubt have pulled in a huge TV audience ( mainly of Man U fans who have never been to a game in their sorry lives ). This makes sense and i can understand it, THEN we are treated to Peterborough v Sunderland. I can't miss that one!!! If the TV companies really care about the essence of the FA Cup thenshow the Manchester derby followed by Sheff Utd v Salisbury, Everton v Tamworth or even Macc v Bolton. Thats what the cup is all about and they are contributing to nobody above league 1 giving a shit about it. Have you seen all the empty seats at London Road for a 'big club' clash. The only reason the Manchester derby was sold out is because its a derby. If those two played a friendly with the winner getting a bag of minstrels each then the stadium would still be full. I would have much rather have watched one of the games i mentioned than Posh v Sunderland.

[gullintwoplaces]

Agreed, so long as this doesn't result in Fatty and Cheat from Crawley getting more TV coverage. Anyway, luckily they have drawn Hull away, which will hopefully take place on a cold, wet Hull day, attracting a record low crowd and resulting in a 6-0 win for Hull.

[bobby93]

I always think the FA Cup coverage should seek to go to the smallest grounds, for two reasons:

1) Home fans probably won't stay away to watch it on TV, and in any case because it's a big occasion the place will be packed.

2) They keep telling us it's a 'magical' competition, where 'anything can happen', yet today they show us Utd vs City, a game which already seems to take place about ten times a season, and is always televised. Not like the clubs need the money. Hardly representative of the magic of the cup.

[ferrarilover]

I agree. What does Peterborough v Sunderland really mean? Two teams who mean nothing to each other and very little to anyone other than the supporters of the respective clubs. Sure, it might have raised a smile from a dozen or so Newcastle supporters had The Posh won the match, but it's hardly what you'd call a giant killing.

We see all Premier League ties all the time... IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE! Everton v Fulham, I have a vested interest in Fulham, so I'd watch it, but I can imagine the vast majority of people turning over to the international pain drying jamboree. Yet if you offer ITV that match, or Wrexham v whoever, they'll pick the former, because it's Premier League, which automatically suggests to stupid TV people, quality football which it so very rarely produces.

Matt.

[Stoke_Gull]

What I was surprised at was that Fleetwood v Blackpool was not televised by ITV or ESPN. The clubs are about 5 miles apart, haven't played each other competitively for god knows how long and you're guaranteed of a full house with plenty of atmosphere. But no, we decide to put Birmingham v Wolves on which was a horribly dull game with vast swathes of empty seats at St. Andrews. In the end I watched the Fleetwood game on a Danish stream and they seemed rather excited about it, more so than if ITV had been doing it.

As for the Posh v Sunderland. Why on Earth did they put it on?

[Trojan 67]

I watched the whole of the Fleetwood v Blackpool game yesterday. Wonderful thing is the intertit. I googled "free football" and the intertit brought up various games. I chose Fleetwood v Blackpool to watch ahead of all the other games because, and not only, it was a local derby and potentially a giant killing.

It was closer than the 1-5 scoreline suggests, however there was some clinical finishing from Blackpool.

[Scott Brehaut]

At the end of the day, regardless of whether you agree with it or not, the TV companies, and ITV in particular, are in it to make money.

What's more attractive to an advertiser? Fleetwood v Blackpool (for eg), or a Manchester derby..........

[ferrarilover]

Then give the FA Cup back to the BBC and let them show the little game.

It's not the Manchester Derby with which I disagree, it's the garbage shown after it.

On a side note, thanks must go out to Bristol Rovers for portraying L2 to all the world as the sort of division with pitches and football of that God awful standard, a real advert for the division.

Matt.

[AustrianAndyGull]

...................oh and by the way, why have the Cup played over 4 days? All games should be done and dusted for fourth round draw time. They're just taking the p**s now. What if, for example the Monday night tie was Carlisle v Fulham and the draw for the fourth round had already been made with the winners to face Man Utd at Old Trafford? Fulham will play Carlisle with a weakened team anyway and be mindful that even if they beat Carlisle they are probably going out in the next round. Carlisle see this as an opportunity not to be missed and go for the Fulham jugular. It can and undoubtedly does have a psychological effect on the players knowing who their opponents will be in the next round. Can i just say well done also to Sheffield Wednesday for having a crowd of 18,000 nearly for their tie with West Ham at Hillsborough, the FA Cup is still special to some clubs thank God. Wednesday could easily have 'rested' players especially as they have a vital game at home to Charlton coming up. West Ham did rest players. Going up into the Championship is just as important to Wednesday as going up into the Prem is for West Ham. Disappointed with Big Sam.

[tktufc91]

I think it's a shame that some of the magic of the FA Cup has been lost by some of the big clubs. I always regard our FA Cup matches as a big deal because it's the FA Cup! Our record in recent years is nothing short of brilliant for a Club of our stature. I remember our ties with Blackpool and Coventry a few years ago, the excitement i had that we managed to pull a shock over the tangerines and then get suckered punched by a late winner against Coventry when the least we deserved was a replay. Our luck in the draws when the big boys come into play has been disappointing but I'm sure we will get that big tie one day. If they put a champions league place up for grabs, I'm sure many clubs will take more interest!!

As for itv's coverage, the less said the better.

[happytorq]

When I was a kid we always used to play Wembley singles in the park - you'd imagine yourself getting to the FA Cup final. I bet they don't play UEFA Champions League Singles in the park.

At least, I hope not.

[AustrianAndyGull]

I think it's a shame that some of the magic of the FA Cup has been lost by some of the big clubs. I always regard our FA Cup matches as a big deal because it's the FA Cup! Our record in recent years is nothing short of brilliant for a Club of our stature. I remember our ties with Blackpool and Coventry a few years ago, the excitement i had that we managed to pull a shock over the tangerines and then get suckered punched by a late winner against Coventry when the least we deserved was a replay. Our luck in the draws when the big boys come into play has been disappointing but I'm sure we will get that big tie one day. If they put a champions league place up for grabs, I'm sure many clubs will take more interest!!As for itv's coverage, the less said the better.

This is actually the ONLY way of saving the FA Cup now. Even then the cynic in me would believe the only reason teams would take the cup seriously would not be solely for the chance to get into the Champions League but to earn all the money that comes with being in the group stages. If the Champions League wasn't worth anything financially to the clubs then that would then become unattractive to them and they would treat the FA Cup once more with contempt. Money has killed the beautiful game along with many people in the game, agents, chairmen, managers, players who have no backbone, no morals, no respect for anyone else and no concept of honesty. They should be in the cabinet really.

[ferrarilover]

It Surely cannot be long before there is a Champions League spot on offer for the winners of the Devon Bowl.

FFS it's the CHAMPIONS League, not the 'oooh look at me I finished 19th in L1 but got to the fourth round of the Jonhstone's Paint Trophy League'

It is supposed to represent the absolute pinnacle of European footballing talent, not be an enticement to make teams want to win the oldest, most famous and greatest domestic cup in world football. If, as a player, manager, executive, supporter, or any other concerned person, you don't want to win the FA Cup, then you have absolutely no business associating yourself with the beautiful game.

Matt.

[cambgull]

Well this is rare, I actually completely agree with your last paragraph Matt.

Cup competitions shouldn't need an extra incentive to make the big teams want to win it. The incentive is simple, its a cup competition with a decent prize pot at the end, the glory of winning it and an excuse for an open top bus parade at the end of the season. What more is needed? A berth in the champions league won't help get the big teams to go for it because you'll just end up with the same 4 out of 6 anyway.

[tktufc91]

I agree that the FA Cup shouldn't have an extra incentive such as Champions League qualification, however I believe that IF a spot was made available to the FA Cup winners, then we would see most of the top teams taking it more seriously.

I mean for the premier league clubs who hover from the bottom of the top half down, the chance to some silverware, a day out at Wembley and a possibility of a European cup run should require no motivation. I enjoyed when Portsmouth and Cardiff played when there were shocks left right and centre that year. It was a refreshing change to the likes of Man U and Chelsea fighting for the honours every year.