Ever since Manchester United pulled out of the FA Cup in 2000 to enter the FIFA Club World Championship, the most famous domestic knockout competition has struggled to maintain its allure.
Many players and managers have tried to reassure sponsors and fans alike that the competition is still important, but Reading striker Dave Kitson made his feelings clear ahead of this weekend’s third round fixtures.
“We are not going to win the FA Cup and I do not care less about it, to be honest,” said the 27-year-old, whose side visit Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
“I care about staying in the Premier League, as does everybody at this club. Our league status is not protected by winning the FA Cup — simple as that.”
But with amateurs Chasetown, from the eighth tier of English football, playing the 1927 winners Cardiff City and fellow minor league side Havant and Waterlooville facing another Welsh team in Swansea City, the romance of the competition could again be in full flow this weekend.
The magic does not stop there, with holders Chelsea and Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich entertaining Championship (second division) side Queens Park Rangers and their illustrious board including Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore and the son-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal, the world’s fifth richest man.
Surely ties such as these mean the FA Cup still has an important role in the soccer calendar? Or do you think Kitson’s comments are more realistic?
Patrick Johnston, London
PHOTO: Chelsea’s Shaun Wright-Phillips and Salomon Kalou hold up the FA Cup after beating Manchester United, May 19 REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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7 comments so far
There’s a lot of talk about the FA Cup not being respected anymore but look at the stats. The last team other than ‘the big four’ to win was Everton way back in 1995 and even then they beat Man Utd. Liverpool and United also dominated in the decade before that.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsThe big four are still interested enough, Kitson is only acknowledging that Reading can’t compete with them. If anything it shows the FA Cup is still quite strong.
Platini’s idea of letting the Cup winners into the Champions League wouldnt change anything in England as the big four would be in CL spots anyway and I dont think many would suggest the cup runners-up should qualify
I agree with Mark’s point that the fact that the FA Cup hasn’t been won by anybody outside of the big four for over 10 years proves it is still respected.
I’m sure if you’d asked Manchester Utd’s fans in 2000 which cup they’d rather have seen their team play in that year they wouldn’t of hesitated to say the FA Cup. They only took part in the Club World Championship to build their foreign fan base and that competition hasn’t really taken off.
It’s disheartning to see players at mid-table clubs like Reading say they don’t care about the FA Cup. I don’t think that they are in too much danger of going down (or qualifying for Europe) so why not get the fans exicited over a cup run (other than the obvious reason of them getting a pretty tough 3rd round draw!).
I bet if you’d asked Kitson after Reading drew at Old Trafford in the 5th round last year, he woudln’t have told you that the cup didn’t matter…
- Posted by John KeightleyFair enough guys there hasn’t been a side out of the so called ‘big four’ to lift the FA Cup in 12 years but when you look at the teams they all put out they are regularly dilluted with reserve and youth team players until they inevitably reach the quarters or semi-finals.
- Posted by Betting Blue BoyI think the fans themselves still love this 3rd round weekend but it seems to be a different story when you look at the clubs themselves and although I don’t have any proof I think it’s fair to say that it revolves heavily around finances.
I disagree with the notion that a place in the Champions League qualifying round would not make a difference to the competition, just think of the difference it would make to the importace of good cup run for the likes of Newcastle etc.
It tends to be the relegation-threatened sides such as Bolton, Sheffield United, Readind etc in recent seasons who field weakened sides.
- Posted by warrenMourinho treated the Cup with respect but even a weakened Arsenal or Man Utd has a fair chance of progress.
It is all another sad reflection of the state of the game these days where the Premier League is everything. The way all the TV money is kept away from the lower clubs ensures that the top-flightg teams become ever-more obsessed with staying in the club.
The fans love the FA Cup, as do the lower league teams - but since when did anyone in the Premier League care about those two irrelevant parts of the modern game?
Absolutely spot on Warren, my sentiments entirely.The romance and tradition of the F.A Cup as been severely diluted by a needs-must sitution of struggling Premiership clubs.
- Posted by C.Ross of St GeorgeThey see the F.A Cup as a potentially disasterous distraction and field weak teams accordingly.
Most bigger clubs also devalue the F.A Cup as they exercise in keeping fringe players happy in large competitive squads.
It’s all very sad, but you can not blame them.
[...] Patrick Johnston asked on Friday if FA Cup fever was building and for many players and fans watching games this weekend they will now have memories to last a lifetime. [...]
- Posted by Will the real FA Cup please step forward please? - Reuters Soccer BlogI think the magic of the cup is still as strong today as it always has been you just have to look at teams like chasetown and havant and waterlooville. this competition is a lifeline for small clubs and the revenue generated can keep them going for several months. i have to disagree with warren i am a tottwnham supporter and i know our team and our fans value the FA cup very much. so yes teams do still care about the FA cup.
- Posted by GARY KNIGHT