anotherharboroughfox Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 what a cvnt. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25579811 Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert believes the majority of top-flight clubs would rather not have the distraction of the FA Cup. Speaking before Saturday's third-round game with Sheffield United, Lambert was asked whether the FA Cup was something Premier League clubs could do without. "I think if you asked the majority of them, if they were being honest, they probably would do," he told BBC WM. "Not just because of the money but survival in the league is vital." The Scot added: "It is realistic. That is the nature of it. If anyone says any differently then I am not so sure they will be telling the truth because the Premier League is the most vital thing that anyone wants to get into and we are no different." Lambert's side are six points above the Premier League relegation zone and it is survival - rather than the visit of the League One Blades - that is his priority. "Cup competitions, if you can get through, then absolutely I want to get through. I don't want to not get through but your main one is the league," he said. "We don't have a massive squad and points are really important. If you are honest enough people will say the same." Aston Villa have won the FA Cup on seven occasions but have not lifted the trophy since 1957 and last reached the final in 2000. Last season, Wigan became the first team to win the FA Cup but also be relegated from the top tier in the same season. FA Cup win over PL for me any day.
Guest Bilo Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 We all know who we want in Round 4 if we dispatch Stoke then.
bovril Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 Agreed. I'd much rather win the FA Cup than get promoted. But as a manager he's just being honest.
DennisNedry Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 Can we get promoted this season? Yes it is our best chance in a decade Can we win the FA Cup this season? Highly highly unlikely Might as well put more into going for something you can actually win.
Kitchandro Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 Agreed. I'd much rather win the FA Cup than get promoted. But as a manager he's just being honest. But as a manager he should realise a) He's doing shit in the league so the cup is a chance to ease some pressure b) He can only achieve midtable with Villa anyway so it's not like he's going to get any glory from that.
Kitchandro Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 Can we get promoted this season? Yes it is our best chance in a decade Can we win the FA Cup this season? Highly highly unlikely Might as well put more into going for something you can actually win. From our point of view fair enough, but Villa have no such excuse. The FA Cup is their only chance of silverware and if they're not interested in it what exactly are they interested in?
Tincy Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 Agree with him, much rather a league game this weekend than the F.A Cup
Harry - LCFC Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 Disappointing but unsurprising. Such is the importance attached to the league today.
bovril Posted 2 January 2014 Posted 2 January 2014 But as a manager he should realise a) He's doing shit in the league so the cup is a chance to ease some pressure b) He can only achieve midtable with Villa anyway so it's not like he's going to get any glory from that. The amounts of money invested these days mean that traditional glory goes out the window. It's either try and get top 4 or just try and stay in the league. Every manage has his remit and it doesn't involve the FA Cup unfortunately.
Captain... Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 To be honest it is the way things are going attitude wise, I do think it is time to ditch the league cup, or make it an U23 competition or something and spread out the FA cup ties over the season rather than all in the second half. It really is seen as a distraction to any club in a relegation battle, a title chase, looking for a champions league spot, or even promotion. The ironic thing is though it is teams like Villa that should be targeting the FA cup, just that this season Villa are crap and getting drawn into the relegation battle. I know that it shouldn't have to change but if things don't then it will become just a meaningless distraction.
Guest MattP Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Not sure if we could do it but give the fourth place CL spot to the FA Cup winners and you restore every bit of prestige it yearns for.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Shouldn't be managing in England if you're not wanting to win the FA Cup.
Captain... Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Not sure if we could do it but give the fourth place CL spot to the FA Cup winners and you restore every bit of prestige it yearns for. Was going to suggest that, this season aside it has been pretty much a given the Chelsea, Manchester x2 and Arsenal will qualify, the fact that at least one of them would miss out in the league would force all 4 of those sides to take the FA cup seriously. As well as giving Everton Spurs and Liverpool a reason to take it seriously. Would it even be possible with UEFA? At least they have set it as the end of season showcase, and not piss around with stupid start times or having it before the season finishes, but you can't expect managers and teams to take it seriously when the FA don't.
Guest MattP Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Was going to suggest that, this season aside it has been pretty much a given the Chelsea, Manchester x2 and Arsenal will qualify, the fact that at least one of them would miss out in the league would force all 4 of those sides to take the FA cup seriously. As well as giving Everton Spurs and Liverpool a reason to take it seriously. Would it even be possible with UEFA? Pretty sure UEFA will have something in the rules to stop it. Shame as it's a fantastic idea.
Kitchandro Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 The amounts of money invested these days mean that traditional glory goes out the window. It's either try and get top 4 or just try and stay in the league. Every manage has his remit and it doesn't involve the FA Cup unfortunately. But realistically Villa won't go down or finish in the top 4. Besides, how hard is it playing a bloody FA Cup match? It's either that or have a week off.
ScouseFox Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 How distracting can a game of football actually be to a football club and it's players? He's making it sound like half way through a relegation battle the FA are gonna send half his squad to Afghanistan and the other half on a Carnage bar crawl in Magaluf. It's a game of football, what else would a football club be doing at a weekend.
Corky Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Why do people in football not want cup runs, medals, trophies, trips to Wembley? Have we become so brainwashed that the Premier League is the be all and end all? Fvcking hell, we managed to combine cup runs with comfortable league positions for several years. Distraction, pile of shit. You are a mid-table Premier League who won't go down so give the fans something to look forward rather than the crap you serve up in the league, mate. Or try a bit harder in your league games rather than settling for 15th and a couple of weeks off during February.
Aus Fox Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Is ask the question what are you plying for? Realistically Villa are a middle of the road premier league club, they will never challenge the top 4 and will always be safe from relegation, so if you don't want to win a cup or two why bother showing up? Would anyone take gaurenteed finishing 10 th year after year in the PL and always going out early in both cups? It's a good job Lambert will be sacke before the end of the season.
Strokes Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Not sure if we could do it but give the fourth place CL spot to the FA Cup winners and you restore every bit of prestige it yearns for.I would love that......wish the governing bodies could understand that a cup gives the possibility of a wild card situation......that's all we fans dream of.
Dan Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Money money money. Sad times for English football. Not sure if we could do it but give the fourth place CL spot to the FA Cup winners and you restore every bit of prestige it yearns for. Said for a while it's about time they put the cup winners in the 'Champions' League, as wrong as it may be, it would sort that cup out in no time at all. Pathetic how money motivated seemingly every club is.
foxfanazer Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 To be honest it is the way things are going attitude wise, I do think it is time to ditch the league cup, or make it an U23 competition or something and spread out the FA cup ties over the season rather than all in the second half. It really is seen as a distraction to any club in a relegation battle, a title chase, looking for a champions league spot, or even promotion. The ironic thing is though it is teams like Villa that should be targeting the FA cup, just that this season Villa are crap and getting drawn into the relegation battle. I know that it shouldn't have to change but if things don't then it will become just a meaningless distraction. I quite like those ideas
davieG Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Was going to suggest that, this season aside it has been pretty much a given the Chelsea, Manchester x2 and Arsenal will qualify, the fact that at least one of them would miss out in the league would force all 4 of those sides to take the FA cup seriously. As well as giving Everton Spurs and Liverpool a reason to take it seriously. Would it even be possible with UEFA? At least they have set it as the end of season showcase, and not piss around with stupid start times or having it before the season finishes, but you can't expect managers and teams to take it seriously when the FA don't. Platini is for it. Regarding the subject of Champions League qualification, which is currently restricted to where teams finish in their domestic leagues, Platini backed plans to also include winners of domestic cup competitions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25235277
foxfanazer Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 Would be good if in the league cup you had to field at least 8 English/British players or something like that
RowlattsFox Posted 3 January 2014 Posted 3 January 2014 The problem with having fa cup winners in the champions league is there will be very little chance of anyone outside the big clubs winning it. But I suppose that's the case now anyway. First step for me is to get the fans back in love with the fa cup by getting bigger crowds in.
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