I'm bored of the obvious topics & I was trying to avoid revision by browsing wikipedia, and noticed that we haven't won the FA cup since 2003/04. That's 8 years! I knew we hadn't exactly won it recently, but for the most successful club in England for the last 20 odd years, I find that quite incredible.
Now obviously Utd prioritise the PL at the top, and then the CL, with the FA cup coming in 3rd. Obviously this year we had a tricky draw, with City in the 3rd Rd, and Liverpool in the 4th, but looking back:
Year....Beaten by.....Round
2012....Liverpool......4th Rd
2011....City.............Semi Final
2010....Leeds...........3rd Rd
2009....Everton........Semi Final
2008....Portsmouth....Quater Final
2007....Chelsea.........Final
2006....Liverpool.......5th Rd
2005....Arsenal.........Final
2004....(bt Millwall)...Final
It's not like we've underperformed, as we often reach the later rounds but just seem unable to pull it off at the end
Is this because SAF/the players doesn't care about the FA cup any more? Are there more important priorities? Are we unlucky with the draw?
I've always loved the FA cup, grew up with it and would love to see Utd lift it again next year, not necessarily at the expense of the league, but 2004 was a long time ago. I mean that was when Rooney vs Ronaldo kicked off at the Euros!
So are you disappointed with our record? Do you even care about the FA cup any more, has it lost its magic?
The FA Cup....
posted on 23/5/12
comment by Mr Tea (U4302)
posted 4 minutes ago
The fact the FA sold out by not having the cup as the last game of the season is a joke i believe aswell.
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Also having the semi finals at Wembley as well.
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That and having divisional play offs at Wembly.
I used to love the days when the only way you would get to play at Wembley was internation duty or FA and League Cup finals. it made Wembley special for the players involved. And the fans.
posted on 23/5/12
Saw an programme on MUTV about the FA Cup last summer and it is a priority with many of the players who see a failure to win it during their careers as a blot on their CVs. Its not for the want of trying that United haven't won it for so long.
posted on 23/5/12
Hazard will make sure we win it this season.
Seriously, I don't think it has this same appeal as it used to do. I am not bothered about the FA Cup anymore.
posted on 23/5/12
They've changed the name to the Chelsea cup in recent years
posted on 23/5/12
We dominated both the 2005 and 2007 finals. Chelsea and Arsenal robbed us really.
posted on 23/5/12
The 2008 campaign was particularly disappointing. We could have added it to a treble and to lose at home to Portsmouth was a shame. But you could argue that had we not got eliminated we may not have had enough gas to win both the CL and the PL.
posted on 23/5/12
And I also do think the FA Cup is still a decent competition. Nothing like a cup final day.
posted on 23/5/12
I don't think the FA cup is a priority, simple as that.
posted on 23/5/12
So has the effect of opening Wembley up to every man and his dog, to pay its astronomical development costs, led to the downfall of the FA cup?
Or is it just a case of the prize money isn't worth it/more important trophies?
I HATE not being involved on an FA cup weekend whether its the 4th Rd or Final - always a good atmosphere,
posted on 23/5/12
Another thing that's limited the FA Cup's importance and specialness is the semi-finals at Wembley - just makes the final at Wembley less special.