The Football Thread - Page 1948

**mitchspur** · January 30th, 2017, 12:09 AM

Cologne was 8-0 and Alan Pardew 'trialled' for Spurs, along with a load of other Brighton trainees as it was played in Brighton, when Sugar took the p**s out of Uefa because we were MADE to play in the IntertotoCup!!

Derby was FA Cup and they were one of the best teams in the league at the time and that was only 3-5 after Spurs led 3-1. Roger Davies greatest ever game.

So 'NO' they don't count as I was talking about FA Cup results. I think Norwich were division 3. So I'm still waiting for the answer as Wycombe are the lowest ranked I can think of. But hey!!! Spurs didn't lose anyway...did they??? When the final whistle went I think it was 4-3, wasn't it??? Or did I dream it even happened

And I've just realised you are referring to Derby in division one 8-2 but it was also the year Derby
beat real Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup!!!! The week before they beat Spurs they also beat Finn Harps about 10-2 or 12-2.

Biggest 'ever' league defeat is 0-7 at Anfield__________________

**snowy25** · January 30th, 2017, 12:21 AM

I can understand why clubs do it when they have other so called bigger fish to fry, like league placings. However I would still like them to put out as strong side as they can for their fans. After all if they get to the semi-finals even, its a day out at Wembley.

In the future the FA should say to clubs do you want to take part in it yes or no? If yes you have to play a strong side. If no then give the spot to a non league side who would benefit from that extra place. If teams have no real interest in the cup then you may as well give their spot to someone who would jump at the opportunity.

I think its now at the stage where the only way a club will pick their best 11 is if the FA Cup winner got a CL spot. I think the desire to finish in the top 4 now overtakes everything, including European games the following season. The FA cup itself in my eyes is on its last legs. Its only the fact that lower league sides still give 100% that keeps it alive at all.

ginny76 · January 30th, 2017, 12:30 AM

I think the FA Cup should be scrapped. It's ridiculous that small clubs claim a 'famous' victory over bigger clubs reserve sides. Giantkilling is dead. The FA Cup, like the FA, is a joke. Kill it now.

**Motorboater** · January 30th, 2017, 04:31 AM

Hang on. At least wait til Everton gets one!

**countjimmoriarty** · January 30th, 2017, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devius

Result FA Cup:
Sutton Utd 1-0 Leeds Utd (KO 14:00)
Collins puts non-league side into the last 16 of the FA Cup. with penalty

Always good to see Dirty Leeds humiliated.

**gordian_knot** · January 30th, 2017, 01:54 PM

Isn't it a rule in football that you have to try and win? You could argue that some of these managers were actually trying to lose and were just using giving fringe players a chance or needing to rotate because of tiredness as an excuse. Of course they won't say that they were trying to lose but a lot will be glad they did.

I'm not convinced that it even works. The fitness gurus rule the roost but it could be a case of the emperors new clothes. We all know the importance of confidence and morale, but managers seem to ignore it, only listening to what the fitness people tell them. Yet the team leading the EPL this season is the team that has made fewest changes. And the team that won the title last year the same.

We'll see tomorrow how the teams that rotated themselves out of the cup fare. Personally I hope they all lose.

I agree with snowy: remove CL qualification from 4th spot in the league and give it to the FA Cup winners. But that won't stop the likes of Leeds, Hull or Brighton throwing the cup, so the FA need to come up with other ways of tightening the rules, maybe require teams to submit an 18-man cup squad at the beginning of the competition, with changes only for injury.

**victor meldrew** · January 30th, 2017, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowy25

I think its now at the stage where the only way a club will pick their best 11 is if the FA Cup winner got a CL spot. I think the desire to finish in the top 4 now overtakes everything, including European games the following season. The FA cup itself in my eyes is on its last legs. Its only the fact that lower league sides still give 100% that keeps it alive at all.

Imo handing a CL spot to the cup winners will just turn it into another PL. BT and BBC will abandon the minnows and relish the opportunity to flood our screens with the top six.

Hand the European spots to league positions.

**buttsie** · January 30th, 2017, 08:34 PM

The argument about what competitons have priority seems a simple one

The ones that give the most return

If finishing one place higher in the EPL is worth more than winning a cup
then the cups have no value other than a platform for out of favour players
or up and coming youngsters to show their wares.

Every club in the championship who has invested heavily is only interested in one thing - promotion to the EPL

The logistics of games in a season make the cups an unwanted distraction imho

Dalglish at Liverpool made 2 cup finals in the same year yet got sacked because the EPL form wasnt going to get them anywhere near qualifying for europe

38 & 46 games in the top 2 tiers without any cups is enough to test any squad
Probably about time the championship mirrored the EPL with teams and games

**snowy25** · January 30th, 2017, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Imo handing a CL spot to the cup winners will just turn it into another PL. BT and BBC will abandon the minnows and relish the opportunity to flood our screens with the top six.

Hand the European spots to league positions.

You are right and it would be a huge shame for the lesser sides. However I feel at this point offering a CL spot is the only way you will get the top 6-8 PL sides putting out strong sides. Otherwise we have to accept that the top PL sides will view it as a hassle and will run out their B and C teams in the cup.

Personally I don't give a shit either way. As I said before I would prefer the FA to ask each PL to opt in or out of the cup. Then offer those spaces to the small clubs who would normally miss out. If the PL teams opt in then they should be forced to make no more than 3-4 changes to their normal team for their cup runs. Yes the minnows would miss out on a potential big pay day against a big team. However I would if I was a non league supporter prefer to beat a full strength Championship or even League 1 side than the C team of a PL side. I know others may not feel that way though.

**mitchspur** · January 30th, 2017, 10:24 PM

I got annuver question!!!!

With all this talk about priorities.
How bad does this all make Klopp look??????

He had NO European Football. So the League Cup was a HUGE priority.

FAILED: losing home AND away to Southampton.

So now it's down to prioritising the FA Cup.

FAILED: losing at home to that Mighty Sleeping Giant Wolves.

OH! of Course I'm forgetting!!! He's prioritising WINNING the league??

Is limping into the Champions League gonna KEEP him the Presses darling???

Ps. How silly will I look if they beat Chelski tomorrow night.

But boy do I want them to win!!!!

January 30th, 2017, 01:54 PM	#19476
gordian_knot Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gordium Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 6,524 Thanked 13,823 Times in 1,209 Posts	Isn't it a rule in football that you have to try and win? You could argue that some of these managers were actually trying to lose and were just using giving fringe players a chance or needing to rotate because of tiredness as an excuse. Of course they won't say that they were trying to lose but a lot will be glad they did. I'm not convinced that it even works. The fitness gurus rule the roost but it could be a case of the emperors new clothes. We all know the importance of confidence and morale, but managers seem to ignore it, only listening to what the fitness people tell them. Yet the team leading the EPL this season is the team that has made fewest changes. And the team that won the title last year the same. We'll see tomorrow how the teams that rotated themselves out of the cup fare. Personally I hope they all lose. I agree with snowy: remove CL qualification from 4th spot in the league and give it to the FA Cup winners. But that won't stop the likes of Leeds, Hull or Brighton throwing the cup, so the FA need to come up with other ways of tightening the rules, maybe require teams to submit an 18-man cup squad at the beginning of the competition, with changes only for injury. __________________ - "The whole of anything is never told." - Henry James "Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." - George Orwell

January 30th, 2017, 12:09 AM	#19471
mitchspur Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,659 Thanks: 10,164 Thanked 87,379 Times in 5,774 Posts	Cologne was 8-0 and Alan Pardew 'trialled' for Spurs, along with a load of other Brighton trainees as it was played in Brighton, when Sugar took the p**s out of Uefa because we were MADE to play in the IntertotoCup!! Derby was FA Cup and they were one of the best teams in the league at the time and that was only 3-5 after Spurs led 3-1. Roger Davies greatest ever game. So 'NO' they don't count as I was talking about FA Cup results. I think Norwich were division 3. So I'm still waiting for the answer as Wycombe are the lowest ranked I can think of. But hey!!! Spurs didn't lose anyway...did they??? When the final whistle went I think it was 4-3, wasn't it??? Or did I dream it even happened And I've just realised you are referring to Derby in division one 8-2 but it was also the year Derby beat real Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup!!!! The week before they beat Spurs they also beat Finn Harps about 10-2 or 12-2. Biggest 'ever' league defeat is 0-7 at Anfield__________________

January 30th, 2017, 12:21 AM	#19472
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	I can understand why clubs do it when they have other so called bigger fish to fry, like league placings. However I would still like them to put out as strong side as they can for their fans. After all if they get to the semi-finals even, its a day out at Wembley. In the future the FA should say to clubs do you want to take part in it yes or no? If yes you have to play a strong side. If no then give the spot to a non league side who would benefit from that extra place. If teams have no real interest in the cup then you may as well give their spot to someone who would jump at the opportunity. I think its now at the stage where the only way a club will pick their best 11 is if the FA Cup winner got a CL spot. I think the desire to finish in the top 4 now overtakes everything, including European games the following season. The FA cup itself in my eyes is on its last legs. Its only the fact that lower league sides still give 100% that keeps it alive at all.

January 30th, 2017, 12:30 AM	#19473
ginny76 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 481 Thanks: 429 Thanked 4,565 Times in 477 Posts	I think the FA Cup should be scrapped. It's ridiculous that small clubs claim a 'famous' victory over bigger clubs reserve sides. Giantkilling is dead. The FA Cup, like the FA, is a joke. Kill it now.

January 30th, 2017, 04:31 AM	#19474
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,325 Thanks: 41,500 Thanked 38,255 Times in 4,299 Posts	Hang on. At least wait til Everton gets one!

January 30th, 2017, 08:34 PM	#19478
buttsie Porn Archeologist Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: earth Posts: 12,714 Thanks: 92,252 Thanked 241,301 Times in 12,746 Posts	The argument about what competitons have priority seems a simple one The ones that give the most return If finishing one place higher in the EPL is worth more than winning a cup then the cups have no value other than a platform for out of favour players or up and coming youngsters to show their wares. Every club in the championship who has invested heavily is only interested in one thing - promotion to the EPL The logistics of games in a season make the cups an unwanted distraction imho Dalglish at Liverpool made 2 cup finals in the same year yet got sacked because the EPL form wasnt going to get them anywhere near qualifying for europe 38 & 46 games in the top 2 tiers without any cups is enough to test any squad Probably about time the championship mirrored the EPL with teams and games

January 30th, 2017, 10:24 PM	#19480
mitchspur Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,659 Thanks: 10,164 Thanked 87,379 Times in 5,774 Posts	I got annuver question!!!! With all this talk about priorities. How bad does this all make Klopp look?????? He had NO European Football. So the League Cup was a HUGE priority. FAILED: losing home AND away to Southampton. So now it's down to prioritising the FA Cup. FAILED: losing at home to that Mighty Sleeping Giant Wolves. OH! of Course I'm forgetting!!! He's prioritising WINNING the league?? Is limping into the Champions League gonna KEEP him the Presses darling??? Ps. How silly will I look if they beat Chelski tomorrow night. But boy do I want them to win!!!!