As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Isn't that a sad indictment of the modern game?...Sweet FA about the Cup Final, all talk about the playoffs for teams not good enough to be properly promoted.
man utd did not help when they went for a lucrative matches abroard...but TBH it was in decline even then...very sad
It was the most romantic of all the competitions and every football, supporter, indeed the whole country, used to watch it, regardless of who was playing. Now it’s reduced to a virtual afterthought. Heartbreaking.
It was the most romantic of all the competitions and every football, supporter, indeed the whole country, used to watch it, regardless of who was playing. Now it’s reduced to a virtual afterthought. Heartbreaking.
it dominated the whole country...no one was out or driving on the road...it was massive....times changed
It was the most romantic of all the competitions and every football, supporter, indeed the whole country, used to watch it, regardless of who was playing. Now it’s reduced to a virtual afterthought. Heartbreaking.
Exactly.
It was like THE UK's "Special" Football Day in the Summer. The Build-Up (on both ITV & BBC) Started at about 9am(ish) on the Saturday Morning; I remember me and my now Dearly Departed older brother Michael being sat in our Jim-jams eating Tea & Toast and watching all the previous goals of the Two Finalists...Then the Roving Reporters and of course the TV Celebs who supported either team being interviewed... and at some point they would switch to the (Old) Wembley Stadium where either a comedian or Magicia or whatever would do a "Turn"...I recall Freddie Starr being dressed as Hitler; but with shorts and wellies.. walking around telling the Early Arrivals to "GET OUT OF MEIN STADIA"... (it seemed funny at the time)..Then at least one of the teams singing their New FA Cup Final song...Then both teams being filmed leaving their respective Hotels...and attired in their New Suits they would wear whilst inspecting the pitch...
Those indeed were the days when Our Beloved Football was a 'Sport' and not about Money and Business .
FA Cup medals being presented around the necks of the players. The old way of presenting them in a commemorative box added to the pageantry of FA Cup Final day.
Isn't that a sad indictment of the modern game?...Sweet FA about the Cup Final, all talk about the playoffs for teams not good enough to be properly promoted.
man utd did not help when they went for a lucrative matches abroard...but TBH it was in decline even then...very sad
our recent record is appalling ..
did not even know it was on today...TBH
Definitely as holders Manchester United should have defended the FA Cup in 2000. It was a disgrace that they withdrew, they blamed the FA for pressurising them.as far as I can remember.
FA Cup medals being presented around the necks of the players. The old way of presenting them in a commemorative box added to the pageantry of FA Cup Final day.
Another tradition needlessly lost to football.
It’s hard to explain to the younger guys how big the FA Cup used to be.
When I grew up in the 80s it was everything ( and that was after its real peak in the 70s).
In hindsight it was a gradual decline from 92 (when the Premier League started).
I think the knocking down of the old Wembley killed it a bit, then when they moved replays to a week after the original game, and then the moving of so many matches for live TV coverage.
The abolition of replays killed it for me this season to the extent I only watched 1 and a half matches - Arsenal v Man United and the second half of Plymouth v Liverpool.
Oh and I listened to the last 10 minutes of the final on the radio.
Wasn’t sure where to post this, but if you want to have a laugh at some horrifically bad football takes then look no further than Arsenal supporters believing Jesus was world class before his injury -
Fourteen points separated Sheffield United and Sunderland after 46 league games. Sheffield United achieved 90 points throughout the 46 game season , Sunderland achieved 76 points. 46 games played over nine months in all sorts of conditions. However that isn't enough for modern football. No let's have a play-off and have a Wembley final complete with cup final suits and open top bus celebrations, let's call it the richest game in the world. To do this let's abandon any principles we have over the tried and trusted integrity of the league process. Let's do it for drama and for TV audiences.
Then let's cry over the demise of the beautiful FA Cup competition, let's shoe-horn that in at 4.30pm on a Saturday afternoon on a weekend of other games.
You can call me an old fashioned moaner if you wish, however remember this in ten years time when you are watching The Premier League Grand Final between Manchester City and Newcastle United live from The UAE..
