FA Cup

Good to see the Blunts getting knocked out.

But I just heard them say the semi finals are at Wembley.  Why?

Surely just wait and see what the draw is?

It could be Man U Vs Man City  and Arsenal Vs Chelsea, why drag the two Manchester teams down to London when you could play it at Liverpool or something?  Seems really odd in the current circumstances.

If you end up with north v south just play them in the midlands.

Its just a contractual rule now that the semis are played at Wembley. Sullies the competition at the best of times, but playing in an empty Wembley will be even worse.

If it's a Manchester derby in the semi, now that the fans aren't a factor it'd suit both teams better if they played it at Stockport. 

It's so Wembley can make money off the fans.

Oh.........

Shame it’s all without fans.

Those last 4 could produce 3 cracking games from here and really given the competition the lift it needs 

Newcastle v Man City

If this was a boxing match, someone would have thrown in the towel.

Bruce must have shown his players Ali v Foreman. 
 

Stay on the ropes and then knock them out.

It’ll need a proper smash and grab for Newcastle to get anything.

Penalty now - right on cue.

To be honest, Bruce wants stringing up for this.  It's a cup game, you don't get a point for a draw!

12 minutes ago, ReadingOwl said:

Newcastle v Man City

 

If this was a boxing match, someone would have thrown in the towel.

 

Bruce must have shown his players Ali v Foreman. 
 

Stay on the ropes and then knock them out.

 

It’ll need a proper smash and grab for Newcastle to get anything.

 

Penalty now - right on cue.

Makes for really boring games - when we played them at Hillsborough I could have fallen asleep. Not a contest. 

I thought the semis we're played at Wembley until it was paid for and that happened a while ago? 

11 minutes ago, darra said:

I thought the semis we're played at Wembley until it was paid for and that happened a while ago? 

Not with you Darra?

33 minutes ago, mattitheowl said:

To be honest, Bruce wants stringing up for this.  It's a cup game, you don't get a point for a draw!

They should go out all attack and throw the kitchen sink at them. Like we did.

What a miss.

* Bruce rips up game plan.

People understandably point to clubs not taking the cup seriously as part of the devaluation of it. What makes it even worse for me is that, without even trying, it’s invariably 4 of the big 6 in the semi finals.

4 minutes ago, Ever the pessimist said:

People understandably point to clubs not taking the cup seriously as part of the devaluation of it. What makes it even worse for me is that, without even trying, it’s invariably 4 of the big 6 in the semi finals.

Surely Newcastle could have given it a bigger go than they have.

Is the gulf that big?

Its like Man City are playing someone from the UniBond league.

Whilst I'm glad they got knocked out, is it just me that thinks it would have been fun to see them get to Wembley in the semis (only to get knocked out) for a trip that none of them could make due to Covid restrictions.

Definitely would have been one for their honours board!

"2020 We went to Wembley, only we didn't"

7 minutes ago, ReadingOwl said:

Surely Newcastle could have given it a bigger go than they have.

 

Is the gulf that big?

 

Its like Man City are playing someone from the UniBond league.

Of course they could and should. It’s just that, to me, the ultimate insult is that the big boys don’t even need to try to get to the semi finals. It used to be a competition that all the top division felt they could have a good shot at.... now it’s a chance for the elite to rest some players and start to take it seriously from the quarters on.

That’s not to say I don’t agree that the PL, TV etc aren’t part of the problem, just find the ease which the elite coast into the semis is overlooked.