Attitudes of Players towards FA Cup

[Luci]

Just been reading Robbo on thisis about FA Cup etc. and it reminded me the other day of Kitsons attitude towards the FA cup which I personally thought was disappointing, especially if I was  Reading fan.

I don't get the attitude of some players.  

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/display.var.1941663.0.im_dreaming_of_playing_here_but_not_until_the_quarterfinals_of_the_fa_cup_at_least.php

As a footballer the day you stop dreaming is the day you may as well retire", he said.

"Because if you have not got dreams and ambitions I don't see the point in playing the game personally.

"I would love to play against Arsenal. The likes of Chelsea, United, Liverpool would be great but for me the way Arsenal play their football is unbelievable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/7168675.stm

We are not going to win the FA Cup and I do not care less about it, to be honest," said the 27-year-old.

[janaage]

And that's why the magic of the cup has gone.  Players don't seem to be bothered about making themselves legends of their clubs anymore.  The Town side that took on Arsenal in 69 are all legends, and will be forever.

The Wimbledon side that beat Liverpool and the Covvie side that beat Spurs, legends.  Players like Kitson deserve nothing from the game, obviously not concerned about the history of Reading or the cup.

If I were a Reading fan I'd be disgusted with his comments.  Isn't he the bell end that asked the Reading fans to stop wearing those wigs a couple of seasons back?  Or was that Sidwell?

[DMR]

I think it's fair enough, at least he's honest.

Be honest, who is drooling at the prospect of Barnet at home? It's the same for fans, half of us don't give a shit. I'm only going to get a stub frankly.

That will all change if we get Chelsea away though  

[janaage]

Of course no ones drooling at the prospect of Barnet at home, but I am happy we have a chance of reaching the 4th round.  If at the end of the season

"6th round of FA Cup" is on our achievement list then we can be very happy with that.  

All cups should be taken seriously we should have given the JPT a proper go as well, it's been fair too long since this club has been at Wembley, a day out would be class.  Kingy blew it  a few years ago when we were close to a JPT final pay out!!

[Glostered]

It's becuase staying in the Premiership has become WAY WAY more important for teams like Reading.  All of their focus (rightly or wrongly) is about picking up enough points to stay in the top flight. Players getting injured or suspended in cup games against lower league opposition is a nightmare for most teams in the PL.

All about priorities for them.

I still think the 'magic of the cup' existis for the majority of players and fans outside the top league.

[sonic youth]

part of me would be embarrassed to be at wembley for the JPT final...

the league cup is what baffles me. arsenal started the trend by using it to give fringe/yoof players a run out and in that respect they haven't devalued the competition - it's clubs like us who ruin it by following suit!

i swear sky are running trailers with "the fa cup begins!" as adverts for the third round. says it all.





as for kitson, i'm quite surprised - judging by these comments in a recent interview, he hasn't forgotten his roots and i'd have thought that the early rounds of the fa cup were part of those roots:

"I would rather be regarded as a human being than as a footballer. I don't like being bracketed as a footballer.

"I don't own a car. I refuse to shell out the amount of money for a car that I should be worthy of playing at this level. If I spent more than £10,000 on a car, if you could see where I came from, and you could see what my Dad is driving around in and you could see my friends who I used to play football with driving round in their Sky vans, it just wouldn't be right. I'm no better than any of those.

"Some of those players were ten times the player I was. If I went back into my neighbourhood with a Porsche or Bentley there would be hell to pay. That's just cars. I have no jewellery. I don't wear any chains or watches. I wear plain clothes, no logos. I don't have a boot deal- I refuse to have one. I am just happy going along being me and I really don't want to be that fella what I see every day. I really want to avoid it.

"I'm not particularly good at communicating with [players] and talking with them because I just find I have nothing in common. It's difficult to be different. People think you're arrogant because you don't entertain the usual 'shag anything that moves'- but I hate all that. If one of the lads has a new watch I'll try it on and then say 'have it back'. If someone's got a new car, I might have a little sit in it, but I could never draw attention to myself unnecessarily, Why do people want to do that- to be a showman? It's on the pitch that I want to stand out from everyone.

"My biggest motivation is to say 'this guy cost £10m and he's won God knows what. Well I'm Dave Kitson, I cost £150,00 from Cambridge and I ran the show today".

[Marty McFly]

Kitson's comments shocked me. I understand that to a team like Reading that the Premiership is far more important but he still shouldnt have said that.

I think the main reason the magic of the FA Cup is gone is there doesn't seem to be as many shocks any more, main reason being that the standard of pitches in the lower leagues has improved which helps the better sides. I do think all clubs should take it seriously though and comments like these should not be made.

I just hope we get in the 4th round of the hat and for once draw a decent premiership opposition. Its about time!! Im still sick from when Oxford pipped us to an away day at Highbury.

[Lumps]

Covvie side that beat Spurs, legends.

Now that was a cup final.

I watched it in the bar of a huge working mens club in Coventry with one of my mates, the only Spurs fan for about 10 miles (it was in the middle of a general election and we were over canvassing for Dave Nellist).

Great game. Odd how many of the players have ended up at Swindon over the years, Hoddle, Ardiles, Allen, Bennett, and the Killer. I think if Gorman had been given any more money to spend he would have tried to collect the complete set.

[janaage]

Terry Fenwick?  Did he play in 87?  Did Terry Gibson play for Covvie back then?

[Lumps]

Terry Fenwick?  Did he play in 87?  Did Terry Gibson play for Covvie back then?

Nah.

I'm not sure he'd moved to them from QPR by that point? Sounds about the time he went there? Might have been cup tied I suppose?

[red macca]

Attendances show that the fans dont give a fuck as much so why should the players

[Marty McFly]

Attendances show that the fans dont give a fuck as much so why should the players

I think thats down to 2 things. Teams not playing their best players for these games so people dont want to waste their money to see the reserves and secondly the prices of tickets. Take tomorrow for example, it will be a low crowd because we are playing a team a league lower than us tomorrow but tickets are full price.

They should do what they did for Forest Green and lower the prices. Who wants to pay that amount to watch Barnet when they can see us play Forest in a couple weeks for the same price.

[red macca]

Its not just up to us what the prices are though and anyway the way everyone harps on about how magic the fa cup is whats the problem with paying full price?

[Luci]

I think it was mentioned though on another thread that it was Barnet who didn't want to lower ticket prices as they get a cut of revenue.............

[Marty McFly]

Fair enough I didnt know that as im new to posting on here. But i do think the fans that cant afford to go every week will be put off by the price, especially just after Christmas and I cant see it being much more than 5000 that turn up. That said, I will still be there.