The all-new FA Cup 2004 thread

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

It's third round day, boys and girls! Are you excited? And Watford are already 1-0 up against Chelsea!

Who will win? Who will lose? Will Kidderminster take out Wolves? Who here thinks Yeovil are going to do Liverpool tomorrow? Talk about it here.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 3 January 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Chelsea have just equalised. Shit.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 3 January 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

And ditto some more - 2-2 at HT, a very lively game. Watford's first should never have been given, though.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 3 January 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, but that's the magic of the cup.

― Matt (Matt), Saturday, 3 January 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Doh, dumm delay, their still up 1 here on a goal that never went through. I can see why the assistant flagged it through, he wasn't on the goal line to judge properly.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Same old Charlton, losing cup games... 3-1 down at Gillingham.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

2-0 after 20 mins ...Where will we be without Kanoute ?

― darren (darren), Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Up shit creek without a paddle, obviously. 5 Live compared Dalmat's run leading to the second goal to Ricky Villa, but then again every mazy run at Spurs gets compared to Ricky Villa.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Earlier on, Stan Collymore said that he'd only seen Manchester United and Chelsea pass the ball around better this season. The team he was talking about? Kidderminster Harriers.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

It bemuses how much pressure is being heaped on Liverpool's game tomorrow. Yeovil haven't a prayer, but still ppl are speculating wildly on Houllier's future etc. Yawn.

― pete s, Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, at least we know how spurs would do against 1st division sides.....

― pete s, Saturday, 3 January 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

As no-one seems to be giving them credit, Telford have pulled off an absolutely fantastic result. And Kidderminster very nearly did!

Oh and Charlton are out

― fletcher dexter, Saturday, 3 January 2004 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Poor Kidderminster. I suspect they'll go to Molineux and lose now :(

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 3 January 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

When you're watching the cup this year, spare a thought for the teams that arn't there, that despite fighting gallently, were just too shit to make it to the 3rd round this year. Spare a prayer for Oxford United, who fell WAY before the 3rd round. Top of the 3rd division is no good to anyone if you ain't in the cup.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Sunday, 4 January 2004 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

and now its the mightly Yoevil against strugglers Liverpool.

Maybe this is the game that will finally put an end to Houllier's meddling at the club that can still legitimately claim "above us only sky" (for the time being!)

― Dave Beech (run it off), Sunday, 4 January 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)

imagine there's no Heskey, it's easy if you try

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 4 January 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeovil looked better in the first half. Almost marauding, to use a pundits adjective of choice.

― Matt (Matt), Sunday, 4 January 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Heskey comes on and turns the game!

Just like starting over

― Dave Beech (run it off), Sunday, 4 January 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

but you've got to feel sorry for the Villans! One up against Man U only for Fergie to bring on Nistelrooy and Keane off the bench. Off the bench!!

And the Villans sing: "I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round"

I'm going to stop this now.

― Dave Beech (run it off), Sunday, 4 January 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Why was Greg Proops presenting the highlights last night?

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 4 January 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Leeds lead. I'm keeping everything crossed.

― pete s, Sunday, 4 January 2004 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Cobblers

― pete s, Sunday, 4 January 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

(that was not a qualification of my previous sentence)

― pete s, Sunday, 4 January 2004 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Michael Owen has obv. been giving Kewell diving lessons

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Sunday, 4 January 2004 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't be cheeky!

Kewell is entirely self-taught!

― Dave Beech (run it off), Sunday, 4 January 2004 17:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeovil played really really well, but well done Mr Em, sensational as ever - my hero

― chris (chris), Sunday, 4 January 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Yoevil played magnificently for the full 45 minutes!

― Dave Beech (run it off), Sunday, 4 January 2004 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Somewhat unrelated to the topic at hand, but...do Coventry still have cheerleaders?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.martinwildig.com/pictures/nadine.jpg

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeovil certainly didn't LOOK like a 3rd Division team, they were passing the ball around well, getting some deft little touches in there, dominating posession forcing some fantastic saves from Dudek. Rubbish haircuts, though.

Liverpool were very poor in the first half. Henchoz is toss now, out of position or otherwise, he used to be class - what happened? And I think the penalty decision was a bit harsh. But yeah, Heskey turned the game, there was no directness, Liverpool still can't play wide and Diouf can't cross the ball to save his life.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

There was no directness BEFORE, is what I should have said.

Anyone else amused that Yeovil were playing a bloke called Pluck?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes! Up the Arse!

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Post Pluck pics NOW.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I like that there was a player for Yeovil called Way too. You could shout out stuff like "no plucking way"

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Colin Pluck is on the left.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 4 January 2004 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Serious looking chap.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Used to play for Watford.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:06 (twenty-one years ago)

That explains it.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

TS:

colin-large-ftl.jpg>

vs.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I think you'll find that Mark Kermode is actually Mark Viduka.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

ha ha, ciderspace

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

That Coventry cheerleader... There a late night football chat programme with Danny Kelly that used to have cheerleaders on. I specifically remember this very cheerleader, thinking she bore a striking resemblance to Gareth Southgate.

― Daniel (dancity), Sunday, 4 January 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Sweet Under the Moon memories....

― pete s, Sunday, 4 January 2004 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeovil also had a player called Gall. I wanted to post something along the lines of "Yeovil played with pluck and gall" but was worried that a) no one would get it, and b) it would be k-lame.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 4 January 2004 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

no-one would get it? WHAT DO YOU TAKE US FOR???

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 4 January 2004 22:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Pluck and Gall...didn't they used to do Spitting Image?

― arf, Sunday, 4 January 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

why didn't they do the draw today?

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 4 January 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Because it's always been done on a Monday lunchtime (apart from a few recent years when TV execs managed to get the FA to roll over)

Idea is we all crowd round our transistor radios in the playground, although in reality it just means we all surf the net from work tomorrow...

― fletcher dexter, Sunday, 4 January 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Apparently that Santa of the King's Road, Roman Abramovich, has just donated £25,000 to Scarborough ahead of this weekends tie. That should ensure victory nicely, then.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 23 January 2004 10:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 18 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I'd take a wild guess that Arsenal vs Chelsea might make it onto the TV. Also Man U vs City or Spurs. I guess Liverpool will do, as they always seem to be on TV, and they have Premiership opposition.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 26 January 2004 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

Quarter-Final Draw

MILLWALL v TRANMERE

MAN UTD v FULHAM/WEST HAM

SUN'LAND/B'HAM v SHEFF UTD

L'POOL/P'MOUTH v ARSENAL

i swear this thing is rigged! will be good to see either Millwall or Tranmere in the semis (although i don't like either club much). reckon Utd will win this now seeing as the league is surely beyond them now (not mathematically i know but come on)

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

They use hot balls and cold balls. Everyone knows this.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The thought of Sunderland maybe making the semis gladdens me lots.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 16 February 2004 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

They SHOULD have rigged the fucking thing. This means that either Sunderland, Tranmere or Millwall will be playing in Europe next season. Millwall in Europe. Oh god... could you imagine?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Millwall in Europe

This is simoultaneously the funniest and most depressing thing I've heard all year. Perhaps ties against Lazio and Galatassary await?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

come on Tranmere!

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

whoever it is they are destined to go out in the first round of the UEFA Cup to Skonto Riga

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Nope. They will get the seeding of England, so they will be a top seed, arfity arf.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Except... did this not happen before, with the UEFA position being given to the next highest-finisher in the Premiership?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Coca-Cola Cup final a couple of years ago, when Birmingham lost to Liverpool and the Blues were still in the first division - they didn't get into Europe.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

When was the last time a non-top flight team was in the final? Liverpool Sunderland in 1991?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Also League Cup is a different kettle of fish, I think.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Sunderland were top flight then, weren't they?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Nope.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt DC - yes, before that it was when West Ham won in 1980 vs Arsenal iirc.

Also you're right about league cup v fa cup, runners up will get UEFA berth.

Millwall vs Partizan Belgrade in first round of UEFA next season?

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Aha. I stand corrected.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

My team QPR were in Division 2 when they got to the final in 1982(losing to Spurs after a replay)
Tranmere vs Dukla Prague in the Uefa Cup would be a tie for Half Man Half Biscuit fans to savour

― Joe Kay (feethurt), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

will all English clubs be seeded then? it would be weird if the FA CUp runners-up got the berth but 5th or 6th in the Premiership didn't (likely to include Liverpool - so Tranmere ranking higher in Europe would be highly amusing)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:49 (twenty-one years ago)

It would be weird and also good. Regardless though, the winning team may well have to play the game at another ground (sunderland excepted) due to UEFA licensing requirements...

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Millwall may also have to play their potential European match(es) at a neutral, less troublesome location, for example Tel-Aviv...

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

In Scotland, the last non-top-flight team to get into Europe was Raith Rovers after they won the League Cup in 1994.

They were, at one point, 1-0 up against Bayern Munich in Munich. I am disappointed that I can't find a picture of the scoreboard online - I thought everyone in Kirkcaldy had a copy of that picture, and was sure I would find it somewhere.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"Tranmere vs Dukla Prague in the Uefa Cup would be a tie for Half Man Half Biscuit fans to savour"

Or Honved for that matter

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I sense in this thread, and it saddens me, an acceptance of the conceit that "big" clubs deserve to get preferential treatment to little clubs. I think it's fucking great that Tranmere could end up in a later round than Liverpool - it's so much of what football's all about. We've got to fight to preserve the rights of the little guy, on whatever level, financially or on the pitch.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Mark, I consider you a man of great integrity, but only in you relations with football.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Not when the little guy is Millwall, we don't.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

you = your.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

a couple of seasons ago Calais who i think were non-league at that point (tho French probably smaller than English one) qualified for the UEFA Cup after reaching the cup final in France. I think they played Paris SG in the final and lost - not sure how well they actually did in Europe - anyone know or shall i go-a-googlin?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Also I think everyone agrees it's great that a lower league club will be playing in Europe, even Millwall who may be getting some outdated hostility here based on a reputation of a faction of their supporters that in reality is no worse than a number of other London clubs (Chelsea, West Ham...). Millwall have a good chance of promotion also but I'm rooting for Tranmere anyway precisely and solely because they are lower down the league.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Is John Aldridge still playing for them?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Mmmm, the possibility of Sunderland making the finals overlfoodeth me, needless to say, with myrrhy waves of immoderate mirth.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Is John Aldridge still playing for them?

No, but my cousin Gary is. Big strapping lad. Hard to spot the family resemblance.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Calais wuz robbed.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I blame those asylum seekers.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never been keen on runners up getting into the UEFA competitions, and the likelihood of it being a First Division side (though one of the Narionwide clubs could of course win it) this year doesn't change that. I've alwaya felt that if the winner is already qualified, it should go to the next league placing.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Why?

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh Lord, don't start - you'll have me working out all the various permutations under which Spurs will fail to get into Europe again, like I do every season.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Getting to the final of a major tournament like the FA Cup is a greater achievement IMHO than finishing sixth or seventh in the league, especially if you've had to beat considerably 'better' opposition to get there.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

but, Martin, surely that's still just letting a runner up into Europe by a differerent name.

(x post)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Spurs are too big a club for the UEFA cup.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

There is already the concept of letting the top X league teams in. I always thought that winning a cup should come with a further reward, but it always seemed lame when the runners up made it. What would have happened if Arsenal and Man U had been drawn apart and won their semis? Would we have had to have a 3rd place playoff for a UEFA place? How far down does this go?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Manyoo Arse final would've meant an extra league position.

I have no idea if the bar will drop down a further space if Liverpool fail to make 4th place, but win the UEFA Cup.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's quite simple - the winners go into the UEFA Cup, unless they're already in the Champeens League; runners-up go in instead. If Runners-up already in Champeens League of UEFA Cup, UEFA place goes to highest Premiership team not already qualifiying.

Anyway, didn't Ipswich get in one year for the fair-play gubbins? ie England got given a fair play place, and that was given top the fairest playing team, which turned out to be Ipswich who'd be relegated? Or did I dream it? This was how Man Citeh got it wasn't it?

Talking point - should the winners of the Cup go into the Champeens League? I can see the argument, but it's addressing a structural problem with a gimmicky solution. However, there's no chance of the structural problem getting sorted structurally, so fuck it, lets have it as its a part solution, however gimmicky.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Can a budding Statto out there let me know who's top of the Fair Play League at the moment? Is there a Fair Play position this season?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm pretty sure Motherwell once could have qualified via this route as well but didn't.

What about the Intertoto Cup?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

i agree with Martin regarding the cup runner-up qualification issue actually, but am still pleased it lets lower teams in - just a shame if they can't actually win the cup (which is of course possible but highly unlikely)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

N. is fab.

― the spurfox, Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Can a budding Statto out there let me know who's top of the Fair Play League at the moment? Is there a Fair Play position this season?

OH THE HUMANITY

As for how the fucked-up shite that is the Fair Play crapola stuff is worked out, I bow to the wisdom of the When Saturday Comes messageboards... which have a thread on this very topic.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Quoted:

"Included in the calculations are sendings-off in European competition. Which makes it prima facie unfair, as England has to carry the can for Keane or Vieira getting sent off in the Champions League.

Two countries (top place and a draw of lots from the next 11, I think) send teams into Europe. Then within each domestic league, a fair play table is worked out amongst its top division. Last year, Man City went into their final league match knowing that England had been allocated a place, and they were in pole position (they weren't actually top, I think Liverpool, Newcastle and Man United were the top three, but were already in Europe, etc). Anyway, the upshot was that City knew that all they had to do to guarantee European football was give away less cautions and direct free kicks on the final day than Middlesbrough (who were a whisker behind them in the "fair play table").

So City could have lost 11-0 on the final day, making no tackles all afternoon long, and celebrated a European place. Ironically - no, bizarrely is surely a better word - I remember that City actually DID have a couple booked, but Boro had someone sent off, or something similar, so City still got the place. So maybe the clubs involved also thought "stuff tihs nonsense" as well?"

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

What's cool is the real, albeit slim, possibility that each of the north-east teams wins a trophy, though Newcastle would have to be a little more convincing if they had to meet Barca or Celtic in the final.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.