F.a Cup Discussion Thread 2021/22

Well there's a pretty strong rivalry between Millwall and Palace but Hull vs Everton seems to be an entirely random pick, other than the fact that Everton are a well known if underachieving Premier League club.

 

Millwall/Palace: possible shenanigans off the pitch Hull/Everton possible shenanigans on it.

The TV companies are crazy these days to immediately leap on the 'Big 6' teams' ties as early as the 3rd round. We all know they will only put out half a team, if that, but still in all likelihood canter through. They would be much better sticking to the 'romance of the Cup' line they use up till now for a few more rounds.

 

Why on the pitch? Certain players of theirs?

 

I meant the slaying of a 'giant', not fisticuffs.

 

Oh I see, but I maintain it seems pretty random - there must have been a better and more inspiring choice for a David vs Goliath tie.

 

City I understand as at least there away at a smaller team that needs the money. Hull vs Everton is a chance of an upset. Millwall vs Palace will be quite lively.
Man Utd is just a boring game

 

Honestly couldn't remember who we had in the cup.

 

I'm not interested.

 

Chins for the FA Cup enthusiasts among us...

 

So pleased I bought my tickets while pissed last night. Sigh.

 

It’s the closest game for me too, but I’ve resisted the ‘temptation’ to buy tickets so far.

Might ask the mrs to give me some jobs to do around the house just to be doubly sure.

 

Lucky sod, you might get to see Morris play.

 

Hah! They may have us totally beat on scoring goals, not conceding goals, and earning points via overall team performances, but when it comes to sending out a crackpot load of old shyte to represent us in a competitive fixture? They can't even touch us.

They have merely adopted the dark. We were born in it.

They won't know what hit us.

 

Even worse, I got mine sober! But I'll be pissed from the moment I set foot in Dublin Airport at 6am that morning.

 

This will be the first time since 1971 that I've wanted Watford to lose a match.

 

From the very first Watford match I went to, I always bought a programme mainly as a sort of proof of attendance. I would sometimes read part of it at the game but most of it usually days later. This became a habit both for home and away matches. Then about 15 years ago I realised that away programmes held little interest for the away fan and what there was about Watford tended to be a cut-and-paste from one game to another, so I stopped buying them. Then about six years ago I finally weaned myself off buying home programmes. They provided no news that could not be found elsewhere in the internet age and the articles of course followed the club party line. I still have hundreds of programmes dating back to the 70s, which no doubt will be dumped in the end but I’m happy that they are not being added to any longer.

The whole point of this preamble is so that I can admit I have another similar Watford football habit: the FA Cup. This one I cannot kick and Mrs Willis (poor woman) and I will be at Leicester next week. Why? I know that nobody cares about the Cup anymore. Only a few regular first-teamers will be playing. Big clubs don’t even try until at least the semi-finals. Most fans want their team to be knocked out as soon as possible so they can concentrate on avoiding relegation or whatever (and I can’t even argue against this). The whole rhythm of the tournament with its indefinite replays, which I used to love, has been trashed by the demands of the modern game and is a mere shadow of what it used to be. But I still can’t stop loving it.

I know it’s mainly because I’m an old traditionalist, but it’s also because of the win or bust nature of knockout football. How long can they keep the run going? 2019 was great with a tie at a non-league team, a long away trip and two local derbies before the contrasting visits to Wembley. I still loved it, even though it wasn’t quite the same as the 1984 run in the days when it really mattered. However, behind it all I suspect the reason I still can’t leave the FA Cup behind in the way I did with programmes is the dream that it provides the only real possibility of seeing my team lift a major trophy. I’ve seen Watford captains lift play-off ‘trophies’ as well as divisional ones, but it would mean the world to see one lift the Cup.

Can anyone help me kick this cursed habit? Or maybe some of you feel the same way.

 

A programme seller at Pompey told me not to worry about the content as they always put pictures in for the away fans.

 

Still no match thread for the Leicester game? Can't say I blame anyone...

 

Don't worry mate, there's not a cat in hells chance of us coming out of this still involved

 

Positive Covid tests meaning that we're still in the hat for Round 4?

 

Good job Kelso isn’t around here anymore otherwise you’d have a ‘fight’ on offer with talk like this.

 

Especially with our old mate Stewart in charge of VAR for this match, he'll probably award a ghost goal for Leicester, despite the aid of the video replay system

 

Can we not just forfeit the game? What's the point of losing 4-0 with a team of academy/reserve players?

 

Always been more of an aft-fit guy, myself.

 

I think Ranieri will go strong and it'll be Leicester with the academy/reserve players. They'll still win 4-0 though.

 

I'm well hard and will take on anyone less than 8 stone and 5 foot tall. (Other units of measurement are available)

 

Bayli Spencer-Adams hattrick and a Deeney own goal for Leicester, which will be greeted with mock crying by the Leicester fans

 

I will LOL when we play Sarr on Saturday.