While we’re here, can I ask why the need for 2 domestic cups? Italy, Germany, Spain all have one if I’m not mistaken, even the French shut down their own League Cup.
2 Likes
The answer is greed. People with vested interest in making money off the cups won’t let them be diminished or cancelled
2 Likes
I suppose the defeat would have tasted even more bitter, if Baked Potato Head had still been their manager eh… :0)
3 Likes
Even with the performance we put in we would have won had the cosplaying Henry VIII been there.
2 Likes
“Never play fast and loose with the grand old FA Cup” says Phil.
“A compelling response to those who would to attempt to downgrade the magic and history of the competition.” he espouses.
Such grandeur and importance placed on a competition where in just a few hours time they will be conducting the fifth round draw live on the fucking One Show.
Whilst at the same time tonight’s cup game requires Palace fans to be in Doncaster, just the 8 hour round trip in a car, for a 19:45 kick off so the game can be shown live on iPlayer.
The “magic of the cup” but only when it suits.
6 Likes
And one match is taking place Tuesday the same day as the CL playoffs.
They are desperate for Liverpool to scupper that’s all, no other team not even the cheaty city have been able to go this long with the quadruple opportunity I believe and we know what happened last time.
That team should have been able to do the job, perhaps question why TNT and the PL have forced that Villa game when there are several free midweeks later in the season. We’ve been punished by doing better in Europe than others it feels.
So no Slot isn’t being taught a lesson, he is managing the resources to get results like when he lost against PSV and then beat Bournemouth.
If Spurs had beat us he may have risked a bit more but by securing one cup final he was willing to risk another which potentially may help us win the league.
My mate who is a Newcastle fan can see that and as he said they played a second ring side as did many others because they didn’t lose that’s fine. It’s the side that have much more on the table that should be shoving their first 11 out. Frankly get fucked.
5 Likes
Because the league cup exists and every conversation ever tentatively raised about whether it still makes sense it met by screams of “there is more to football than the CL you know? Do you not care about the pyramid?”
3 Likes
I like both cup competitions I just accept that its probably not possible to win everything in the same season.
9 Likes
Exactly I don’t mind but clubs need to be pragmatic.
If there is any manager this weekend that you could probably say was justified it was Arne Slot.
Of course if we were relegation threatened it’s very good decision making.
2 Likes
Don’t like us losing to anyone…said yesterday would have preferred the FA Cup to the Haribo Cup…anyway…those who played yesterday looked as if they didn’t know each other…so that little group should train together, play together, repeat repeat…We will probaby never know the reason for all the changes…match build up?, going for the PL?, going for the CL?..it didnt work and we are out…its all if’s and but’s, could’ve , would’ve, should’ve…I’m still not a happy bunny…but let’s get on…and go for the kill at the next opponents…that’s my rant…still not happy…suppose I’ll watch the Rovers tonight…
1 Like
Both seasons we already had significant injuries taking their toll on our team prior to this point though.
Would they even have gotten this far?
1 Like
More importantly it’s run by 2 different organisations FA cup the FA. League cup the Football league and its a big income stream for them.
2 Likes
4 Likes
I have had 3 front teeth knocked out in my time… 
3 Likes
Honestly, I think we should be. Not because we need to win the FA cup or because we should be sad because we lost to Plymouth (that is actually a good story and I am kind of happy for them) or that it’s a tragedy or anything overblown like that. I am not arsed because of that.
I am however worried about the strenght of our reserves and the lack of matching our second (and of course third) string players are getting under Arne. As I said,in the match thread, I don’t know if I should criticise it, we are top of the league and maybe we wouldn’t have been if we had rotated more, as as we know, we are not the team with the most blinged out second team cash-wise. But I do think it is actually prudent to worry about lack of matching for these players, because the quality was not there and it seemed rusty as fuck. On that note, I think it would be good to still be in the FA cup so there could be more matching for them since Arne seldom rotates in the Premier League.
Other than that, sure, no biggie. But I worry that if we get a fair few injuries, that the players that must then step up into the first team, will be too rusty. Also, under Klopp we saw very many players rise to “stardom” (or semi stardom) from the reserves, I don’t think that will happen under Arne really. Note, i am not critical of that (or at least, I don’t know if I should be) due to our league position, but I do think it is worth worrying about or at least keep in mind.
But yeah, congratulations Plymouth and their fans !
2 Likes
Never had a tooth knocked out as of yet, but as a young boy, I did knock out one of my mother’s front teeth 
Seriously though, it is amusing now, but it wasn’t then. I was a young boy and me and my mother were playing. I had a ski jumper figure made out of iron. It was snow, I slid it on a rock, she did it, I did it etc. Then 5 year old me threw it at her smiling, but unfortunately I hit her in the teeth. Today it is an amusing story from my childhood, but there was much crying that day. She was bleeding a lot and I was of course horrified and very afraid. She wasn’t angry of course, but it wasn’t a good day !
5 Likes
Interesting to compare this sort of measured article by Ogden with the histrionics of the McNulty article on the Beeb (Phil is a blue in case anyone doesn’t know).
6 Likes
Not sure about 2021-22, I remember it similar to this season to be honest.
After 68 games everyone looked done.
2 Likes
I nearly wrote to him in answer to that diatribe he couldn’t resist putting the boot in on Liverpool as he Has done many times before, then I thought I hope Slot gets vindicated and he gets a good result at Everton which will give us a huge boost for the other 4 PL games, our reward will be a quieter march period and a stronger April and may hopefully.
5 Likes