Posted May 12, 201114 yr http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3575180/Final-insult-to-the-famous-FA-Cup.html Have to completely agree with Harry on this one - this game should be the showpiece at the end of the season. Any idea why they decided to move it?
May 12, 201114 yr http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3575180/Final-insult-to-the-famous-FA-Cup.html Have to completely agree with Harry on this one - this game should be the showpiece at the end of the season. Any idea why they decided to move it? I agree it's a disgrace, the FA Cup Final has to retain it's importance in order to continue. Having said that, I think the reason the final has been brought forward is because the Champions League Final is also due to be played at Wembley, and I heard on the radio last week that the venue for the CL mustn't be used for a specific length of time before the match, maybe two weeks. Whether that's true or not I'm not sure, but it kind of explains the moving of the FA Cup Final (though why it couldn't have been played at the Milennium Stadium just for this season is beyond me).
May 12, 201114 yr It's disgusting that the stadium is held to ransom by Uefa for 2 weeks, just because they want it to stay clean after it's inspection 2 weeks prior to the match. One message to Uefa, this is London, not Tbilisi.
May 12, 201114 yr Have to agree the FA Cup should keep its place as the last match of the season. Though wasn't our final in 1970 moved forward due to the world cup or something?
May 12, 201114 yr If they did have to move it 'cause of the Champs League, then I guess that's fair enough. 'arry's suggestion that there shouldn't be any other games on the day they moved it to is quite ridiculous, though. If you didn't play those matches this weekend, then there just isn't enough time left to fit the rest of the games in before the end of the season. EDIT: Have to say, I expected this thread to be about this: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/863133-afghan-soldier-drops-fa-cup-and-dents-it-watch Edited May 12, 201114 yr by deg0ey
May 12, 201114 yr Its a joke isnt it, the biggest club comp in world football relegated to an also ran.
May 12, 201114 yr Though wasn't our final in 1970 moved forward due to the world cup or something? I think you're right, something to do with England players having to get used to the climate and altitude in Mexico. Having said that, we played three league games after the Wembley match (on 11 April), and then had the Final replay on 29 April. Peter Bonetti and Peter Osgood were both in the England squad, yet played at OT, so it doesn't quite make sense - unless they were both given permission to join up with England later on. I can't remember, long time ago!
May 12, 201114 yr I think you're right, something to do with England players having to get used to the climate and altitude in Mexico. Having said that, we played three league games after the Wembley match (on 11 April), and then had the Final replay on 29 April. Peter Bonetti and Peter Osgood were both in the England squad, yet played at OT, so it doesn't quite make sense - unless they were both given permission to join up with England later on. I can't remember, long time ago! Yes, Steve, but men were men back then, weren't they?
May 13, 201114 yr Yes, Steve, but men were men back then, weren't they? Very true, moi, and they had the sideburns to prove it :D
May 13, 201114 yr It's going to be the same next year as well, because they want to leave 4 weeks before Euro 2012 apparently.
May 14, 201114 yr Was just coming on here to post a message about the Sanctity of the FA Cup being tarnished. If they really do want to keep the pitch free for the CL, then why can't they play the FA Cup at the Millenium stadium this year? I think someone said this already, but it needs to be said again
May 15, 201114 yr Was just coming on here to post a message about the Sanctity of the FA Cup being tarnished. If they really do want to keep the pitch free for the CL, then why can't they play the FA Cup at the Millenium stadium this year? I think someone said this already, but it needs to be said again 'cause that would be even worse? The Millenium Stadium was borderline acceptable when Wembley didn't exist, but it would be a joke to play it there now. I appear to be in the minority, but I feel that the cup is less devalued by playing at Wembley mid-season than by playing in Wales at some later date.
May 15, 201114 yr 'cause that would be even worse? The Millenium Stadium was borderline acceptable when Wembley didn't exist, but it would be a joke to play it there now. I appear to be in the minority, but I feel that the cup is less devalued by playing at Wembley mid-season than by playing in Wales at some later date. Don't agree I'm afraid, the FA Cup has to be a standalone game not just trotted out like any other Saturday fixture, Wembley has the name, aura (and kind of history), but the Millenium stadium wasn't too shabby either, decent ground, better ticket allocation for fans IIRC just the location lets it down a bit.
May 15, 201114 yr Not a lot they could do with the CL final being played at Wembley as well. I can't even imagine how much work needs to go into preparing these stadiums for matches like that. I think Harry just likes to complain. I refuse to believe its some deliberate insult to football - its a logistical issue, nothing more.
May 15, 201114 yr Money That's why the FA Cup was moved. Money. The cost of building a new national stadium has meant that it now has first place in the pecking order for everything that brings in the dosh. Just look at the crappy internationals it's booked, and the cup semi-finals that are played there now. I realise that it has to be paid for, but they should have kept the Cup special. Off at a slight tangent here - what happens if Swansea and Cardiff reach the play off final ? Common sense says play it at the Millenium Stadium. Money says play it at Wembley. Would I not want to be the old bill on that day lol !
May 15, 201114 yr It's disgusting that the stadium is held to ransom by Uefa for 2 weeks, just because they want it to stay clean after it's inspection 2 weeks prior to the match. Considering the problems they've had with (new) Wembley's pitch over the years, I'm not surprised that they want to protect it.
May 15, 201114 yr http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/FA-Cup-countdown/2011/May/Bluffers-guide-to-City Edited May 15, 201114 yr by Andreas
May 15, 201114 yr An unfortunate & ill-concieved decision but it will be forgotten quickly enough I'd say: to move the date etc.
May 15, 201114 yr UEFA wants the final of their flagship to be played on a weekend to get most out of the occasion. If they still played the UCL final on a Wednesday night, these kind of special arrangements probably wouldn't be needed. If there weren't so many official international match days on weekends during the season, the Premiership season could have been over before this weekend.
