It could have been worse but it’s not ideal.
The FA wonder why their trophy is losing it’s attraction. If they stopped fucking around with kick off times and draw times, maybe fans would buy back into it.
Every time the kick off is a pain in the arse for match going fans (ie Friday night is popular with some, but for many it’s an inconvenience) those fans lose a little bit of interest in the competition.
When a Semi between two northern clubs is at Wembley, fans lose a tiny bit of interest in the competition.
When the final is a stupid kick off time and fans have no public transport to get home, they lose a small bit of interest in the competition.
Those pieces add up over time. I was delighted when we got Huddersfield at 3pm, I wanted it to be like old times, but you know what, it was great going back to a ground we haven’t been to for a while but the magic of the FA Cup was nothing to do with it.
The FA have continually eroded the competition over time. I’ll wait to see if we get past Huddersfield before deciding whether to bother with ‘Boro or not, but I’m seriously considering dropping the FA Cup scheme next season – and no, I won’t moan about not getting a ticket for the semi’s or final if we get there – look at this seasons possible line up, do I really want to be in London for a 5pm kick off against Spuds / Millwall / Arsenal / Rags /Chelsea where the majority of fans have been on the piss all day?
So, your team gets knocked out. Do you watch the games from the next round on ‘telly? Not when there’s no magic left you don’t.
I’ve never been more excited watching City but the way they fuck the fans in the FA Cup is killing it.