The FA Cup final

[Solid at the back]

Really looking forward to it as the atmosphere should be fantastic as both sets of fans are very vocal.
Should be an intrigiung game as well, will Man City be able to withstand Stoke`s onslaught?
All the pressure will be on Man City so i`m predicting them to bottle it and Stoke to win 2-1.

Also Bournemouth v Huddersfield to warm up before hand.

who is that fitty in ur avatar

 

[Chamberpot]

Stoke to win, it's nice that two teams aren't usually in contension for the FA cup. At least if stoke won we can say we lost to the winners.

 

[Brovion]

I reckon it'll be worth watching and yes I too would like Stoke to win. Apart from anything else they knocked us out. However the fact that Man U will have only just won the Premier League just before kick off has made the Cup Final less important than it used to be. Of course it all went downhill when Man U decided that playing a game in Japan that most of the known World couldn't care less about was more important than a cup run. Frankly they should have been banned from all domestic cup competitions for five years. The years in Cardiff didn't help much either. I just hope this is a great game to help re-establish the credibility of the FA Cup Final as the event is once was.

I know it's fashionable to blame the big clubs for the demise of the Cup (and they've definitely played their part, ditto the FA for holding the semi-finals at Wembley), but fans have played their part too. Time was that an FA Cup game between two teams in the same division would attract a much higher crowd than the corresponding league fixture, now it's exactly the opposite. Some of it is Cause and Effect (the big clubs don't care so the fans don't care) but some of it is due to the fact that nowadays the League, even in the third tier, is seen as the Be All and End All. Witness the people on here who wanted us to lose to Woking or FCUM so we could 'concentrate on the League'. The view that a humiliating defeat by a non-league side is a price worth paying for League success would have been unthinkable ten years ago. (I still think it's disgusting now but I know I'm in a minority).

 

[Tricky Dicky]

City are undoubtedly favourites, but I don't think they're going to find it easy. My city-mad mate is very confident, bit I don't think it's going to be a pushover at all. Would not be surprised to see Stoke win. Makes a change to have different teams in it.

 

[Bish Bosh]

Not sure Mancini will be too fussed about this game tbh, having secured a Champions' League place.

The fans will love it of course and Stoke's are loud!!

 

[Domsdad]

I hate Stoke so I'm always glad to see them lose.
But, since before they played us I've been predicting them to win the cup. And it would be a laugh for me, working as I do surrounded by Man City fans, to see City fluff it again.
I think it will be a good final, but its a tough one for me.

 

[crodonilson]

I know I'll get shot down for this but I think this could be an absolute belter, just a shame the showpiece occasion of English football is not standalone with EPL fixtures taking place on the same weekend.

I also think it's hilarious that on the verge of City winning something for the first time in ages United will steal the headlines with winning the EPL moments before the kick off.

 

[Brovion]

I know I'll get shot down for this but I think this could be an absolute belter, just a shame the showpiece occasion of English football is not standalone with EPL fixtures taking place on the same weekend.

I also think it's hilarious that on the verge of City winning something for the first time in ages United will steal the headlines with winning the EPL moments before the kick off.

I must admit I DO think it's funny that what could be Man City's first trophy in umpteen years will be overshadowed by Man U winning the Prem (even though it's a forgone conclusion).

It reminds me of what an old friend of mine, staunch Evertonian and Goodison STH, used to say in the days when Liverpool used to win everything and grabbed all the glory for the city: "Bleeding Liverpool! If we won the league they'd finish above us!"

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think the omens are good for Man City.

In 1968 they won their first title for over 30 years, only to be overshadowed by Man Utd being the first English club to win the European Cup a week later. Then, in 1970, they win their first and only European trophy - the Cup Winners' Cup - but the match wasn't televised because all the focus was on the Chelsea/Leeds Cup FA Cup Final Replay that night.

Therefore, Man Utd are bound to win the Prem - their 19th title thus overtaking Liverpool - and totally overshadow City winning the Cup.

For the record I'd like to see Stoke win an extra-time thriller.

 

[alan partridge]

Like a lot of you I think it could be a really good game. I've always really liked City but the rich owner thing kind of ruined that. Always got to go for the underdog too so come on Stoke.

Didn't even realise it was tomorrow.

 

[Easy 10]

I don't think Manure winning the title the same day would overshadow a City win in the slightest. I'm bored off my TITS watching that red scum whinge and whine their way to yet another pot. I'll be much more interested in watching a couple of teams who have been starved of success finally pick up a major trophy, thats where its at.
My iteniery for tomorrow:

11.00 - meet some chums, pick up betting slips, persue in the Whistle Stop till about 12.30
12.30 - put on bets, saunter along to the local
12.45 - plant arse on barstool, forlornly hope for Bournemouth v Hudds on the tellybox but resign self to Blackburn and the plastics show
15.00 - watch the BIG game
17.00 - stagger out and start the pub BBQ

Could get messy from there on in. But what a CRACKING day in prospect.

 

[El Presidente]

Having just caught the train from Piccadilly home the GIDDY-O-METER reading in Manchester is already at 11. I am genuinely torn, I used to watch Citeh a lot at Maine Road as most of the lads I played with on Sunday mornings are blues, but on the other hand I now work with a Stoke nutter who is a genuine top bloke.

May the best team win on the day, and let's hope it doesn't get Pwopa Nawty after the match in the service stations, as both teams have tasty crews.

 

[Questions]

It gets better next year.

No escape for 2012 FA Cup final from date clash with Premier League | Football | The Guardian

 

[Easy 10]

It gets better next year.

No escape for 2012 FA Cup final from date clash with Premier League | Football | The Guardian

So Premier League fixtures will have to be played the same day as the FA Cup Final....because of Euro 2012.

What did they do in 2010, or 2008, or 2006, or 2004, or 2002, or 2000, or 1998, of 1996, or 1992, or 1990, or any other year we were in a summer tournament ?

I'm confused.

 

[northernblue]

I think the FA cup attracts far less interest compared to recent years, and putting on the same day as other massive fixtures will eventually result in the FA cup being same in prestige as the league cup!

 

[Kazenga <3]

Potentially a great match. In all reality, a 0-0 bore draw with City winning on penalties is what will probably happen.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Potentially a great match. In all reality, a 0-0 bore draw with City winning on penalties is what will probably happen.

It would actually be quite safe to offer odds of a million to one on 'city' not winning.

 

[Kazenga <3]

It would actually be quite safe to offer odds of a million to one on 'city' not winning.

whoops Man City I meant

 

[Lincoln Imp]

whoops Man City I meant

Not being picky - everyone does it.

 

[bhaexpress]

I know it's fashionable to blame the big clubs for the demise of the Cup (and they've definitely played their part, ditto the FA for holding the semi-finals at Wembley), but fans have played their part too. Time was that an FA Cup game between two teams in the same division would attract a much higher crowd than the corresponding league fixture, now it's exactly the opposite. Some of it is Cause and Effect (the big clubs don't care so the fans don't care) but some of it is due to the fact that nowadays the League, even in the third tier, is seen as the Be All and End All. Witness the people on here who wanted us to lose to Woking or FCUM so we could 'concentrate on the League'. The view that a humiliating defeat by a non-league side is a price worth paying for League success would have been unthinkable ten years ago. (I still think it's disgusting now but I know I'm in a minority).

For a start when a League Side gets beaten by a non league side quite often the players from the non league team are better and they play non league as it's more lucrative given that they get a wage from the club as well as having a day job. The actions of Man Utd devalued the competition at a stroke and I think that playing so many finals at Cardiff was a factor. Also, yes I do blame the Premier League clubs as there's far more money to be made from that league than the FA Cup. The Carling Cup has now become little more than an excuse for Premier side to give their reserves a run out. I would wonder if England's recent poor form in the European and World Cups has had an adverse affect on cup competitions also. The fact that next year's cup final kick off has been changed to suit advertisers gives the average individual the justifiable impression that it's all about money and to hell with fans.