OK I guess this was always going to happen given the events of the past couple of days (Think we may need another thread for that though). Nevertheless, there has literally been no coverage of the FA Cup final tomorrow. Add to that that Mancini and Martinez were being asked questions on Ferguson and the availability of the Everton job ahead of their biggest game of the season, something just doesn't seem right.

We love the FA Cup at Chelsea and it is my favorite game of the year, despite being 20 I still believe in 'The Magic of the Cup'. Maybe because we have won 6 FA Cups in my lifetime, but my favorite footballing memory was going to both semi finals in 2006. My Dad is a Middlesbrough fan and despite us both losing, it was an unforgettable weekend.

This is also a fascinating Cup final as you have last years big spending league champions playing an unfashionable club with limited resources who at the foot of the table playing the biggest match in their history. Throw in the close proximity of the two teams and it's everything the cup could ask for.its final. If Wigan win it will be the greatest final upset since Liverpool v Wimbledon.

Do you think the unprecedented lack of coverage this year is due to the events of this week or is a continuation of the wider trend of the lack of importance placed on the FA Cup in the media. I think the fact it is not covered by Sky or BBC anymore certainly does not help.

I think it's a shame and agree it's to do with the fact that BBC don't cover it now.  And it's not the last game of the season now, wrapping the season up.  I remember when coverage started at about 10 in the morning and had features on the footballers' families, fans, how the teams had got to the final - and the papers all had pages and pages of stuff.  I kept a 4 page pull-out when I was a kid of terrace chants - there was two pages of Chelsea and two of - ? Leeds I think - it would've been the only final that fitted I guess, I would've been 8.

I agree with you the lack of coverage is shocking . Might be that it is seen as a very one sided final and everyone expecting City to just turn up and win it . I really hope this doesn't happen and Wigan win it .

have to say has a shocking conversation in the pub before the Rottenham game were pretty much the majority would rather a top 3 league finish than win the FA Cup .

it is the finest knock out cup competition in the world and the FA really need to do something to keep everyone's interest or it will slowly sink to level of the League Cup...

I agree Tea Bar Boy, the FA Cup is slipping the standard of the League Cup. When you see teams like Cardiff fielding reserve sides you really worry about it's future. We've been so successful in the competition recently because we are the only top team to treat it with respect, but City are changing this. I reckon one of us and City will be in the final for 4 out of the next 5 FA Cups.

Listen at 1:24 in this interview from Cole in 2010. Sums up everything that the FA Cup should be about

I know it's radical but I think offering a Champions League place would really spice the competition up. But you HAVE to win it to get the place and if the winners are in the CL then it goes to 4th place. We need to cherish the FA Cup in this country as it's fast becoming a non event.

OK I guess this was always going to happen given the events of the past couple of days (Think we may need another thread for that though). Nevertheless, there has literally been no coverage of the FA Cup final tomorrow. Add to that that Mancini and Martinez were being asked questions on Ferguson and the availability of the Everton job ahead of their biggest game of the season, something just doesn't seem right.

We love the FA Cup at Chelsea and it is my favorite game of the year, despite being 20 I still believe in 'The Magic of the Cup'. Maybe because we have won 6 FA Cups in my lifetime, but my favorite footballing memory was going to both semi finals in 2006. My Dad is a Middlesbrough fan and despite us both losing, it was an unforgettable weekend.

This is also a fascinating Cup final as you have last years big spending league champions playing an unfashionable club with limited resources who at the foot of the table playing the biggest match in their history. Throw in the close proximity of the two teams and it's everything the cup could ask for.its final. If Wigan win it will be the greatest final upset since Liverpool v Wimbledon.

Do you think the unprecedented lack of coverage this year is due to the events of this week or is a continuation of the wider trend of the lack of importance placed on the FA Cup in the media. I think the fact it is not covered by Sky or BBC anymore certainly does not help.

You can look back to when I was a kid and there were fewer distractions, competing with the cup for our attention, than today. There were three TV channels only, with programmes being shown from about 3pm onwards and the channels closing down at midnight. Because of this, the televised sports were truly national - you could guarantee that everyone else would be watching what you were watching (also, Mars bars were only 5p - awesome, young feller me lad - though off topic).

I think the other thing that's changed is that marketing people keep telling us what's big - the CL is shoved down our throats as being the pinnacle of club football and people believe the hype.

Lastly, ITV can't publicise the final, over multiple media, in the way the BBC can. The FA cup does suffer from being on ITV.

Edited May 10, 201313 yr by Thfc

The FA have ruined in. Starting with switching the semi finals to Wembley, allowing Man Utd to pull out to participate in World Club Cup or whatever it was called, allowing league games to be played on the same day or week after and switching the kick off time from the traditional 3pm.

Of course it is all money related. With the real focus now on the Champions League and the Premier League -winning the FA Cup is not the priority for most clubs now sadly.

Edited May 10, 201313 yr by DELBY

I think the other thing that's changed is that marketing people keep telling us what's big - the CL is shoved down our throats as being the pinnacle of club football and people believe the hype.

 

That's all very well for the top 4 but in theory the FA Cup should be of interest to all teams - that's what can make it special.  Someone like Wigan (without being patronising) should be really excited.

When it's such a one-sided final that has only one inevitable conclusion, it's hard to drum up any interest in it. I certainly won't be watching it. Couldn't give a toss about watching City win it. Only if it's two big teams will you get lots of build up and excitement, but in recent years it's lost its magic.

 

It comes down to two things:

 

A) The semi finals being played at Wembley.

2) It used to be the showpiece finalé to the season, but now it's played before the PL season is over, so everyone still has other priorities with their own teams to worry about.

That's all very well for the top 4 but in theory the FA Cup should be of interest to all teams - that's what can make it special. Someone like Wigan (without being patronising) should be really excited.

Agreed. What I meant to imply was that the largest audience for the FA Cup Final was the neutral Tv viewer. It's that neutral audience that is now fading, imo, due to people over-hyping things like the CL and giving less prominence to the FA Cup. Plus, there are so many other channels to watch/things to be distracted by, than in the 1970s.

When it's such a one-sided final that has only one inevitable conclusion, it's hard to drum up any interest in it. I certainly won't be watching it. Couldn't give a toss about watching City win it. Only if it's two big teams will you get lots of build up and excitement, but in recent years it's lost its magic.

It comes down to two things:

A) The semi finals being played at Wembley.

2) It used to be the showpiece finalé to the season, but now it's played before the PL season is over, so everyone still has other priorities with their own teams to worry about.

Some of the best games in FA Cup final history were Samson versus Goliath. 1973: The mighty Leeds v Sunderland 1976: Man Utd v Southampton

1986: Liverpool v Wimbledon

All won by the underdogs.

Because there is so much live football today compared to those days it is just not as special. But it is always great to see an upset unless Chelsea are the losers it course!

Edited May 10, 201313 yr by DELBY

I remember being invited to a birthday party on the day of Leeds Sunderland Cup Final and saying to my mum that I didn't want to go but she made me!  I overheard the latest score when Sunderland had scored and leapt in the air and all the "girly" girls rolled their eyes at me!

I think it's a shame and agree it's to do with the fact that BBC don't cover it now.  And it's not the last game of the season now, wrapping the season up.  I remember when coverage started at about 10 in the morning and had features on the footballers' families, fans, how the teams had got to the final - and the papers all had pages and pages of stuff.  I kept a 4 page pull-out when I was a kid of terrace chants - there was two pages of Chelsea and two of - ? Leeds I think - it would've been the only final that fitted I guess, I would've been 8.

Yes Beerqueen spot on. Watching the FA cup final in those days was a day long event. My wife loves her football and the FA cup final was the highlight of the season for her. Far more sterile coverage these days.

Espn are doing a full build up to the game from 8am it looks like, hopefully they do it justice. Used to love the old build ups, it was a proper all day event back in the day.

And we decorated the living room and had our rattles - pandemonium! And I'm fairly sure the drinking started at 10 too!

And we decorated the living room and had our rattles - pandemonium! And I'm fairly sure the drinking started at 10 too!

10? You lightweight.

10? You lightweight.

I was only 8 - does that excuse me?

I was only 8 - does that excuse me?

Depends where you lived....

Espn are doing a full build up to the game from 8am it looks like, hopefully they do it justice. Used to love the old build ups, it was a proper all day event back in the day.

Yes I think it is free as well which is good. ESPN coverage often leaves a lot to be desired though. I hope ITV don't waste too much time of their limited coverage make a cream sandwich over Ferguson.

Even as a Scot, I love the FA Cup.

My old man used to go down to my uncles (who lived in Ayrshire and they received reception from I think Northern Ireland )

to watch the FA Cup Final if Rangers weren't playing in the Scottish Cup Final.

Unfortunately , 4 1 to manx

Have turned over to ITV now our game is done, Whelan surely isnt doing all the punditry is he? Didn't know that he almost bought Man U (didn't in the end because he was worried no one in Liverpool would buy from JJB lol), 

 

Love the cup, hope Wigan win, doubt they will though

Everybody new THE football story of the day would be written at Villa Park...

Lol, apparently Joe Hart will start, this could get messy!

Just as well all the City fans are at Wembley, ITV doing a segement on Fergie leaving. Epic trolling!

Why are they talking about Ferguson ? It's the F.A cup final. Anything to please United huh ITV ?

 

Well if they can talk about Ferguson for 10 minutes how about they mention Lamps breaking the record.................no, of course they won't.

Edited May 11, 201313 yr by Scott Harris