FA CUP or second place?

[Henrik]

In the good old days the choise was easy, second place only got you into the UEFA Cup while the FA Cup was full of tradition, played at Wembley full of the finalist's real supporters and access to the Cup Winners cup for the winners, which was above in the UEFA Cup in terms prestige. I do miss those good old days of the cup winners cup.

Those days are gone now. The FA Cup winners these days only qualify for the UEFA cup and Man Utd even decided to opt out a few years ago to entertain some foreigners in a non important self proclaimed World Cup for club teams :p . That shows how much they care for the FA Cup. Keane even said at the time that he wouldn't be surprised if Man U pulled out of the FA Cup for good, back in 2000 I think it was!

So, it seems to me that the most important thing thses days are all related to either winning the league or qualifying to the Champions League.
The FA Cup presents itself with an opportunity to win silverware which is always nice, what would you rather do next season:

1) End up second and qualify directly to Champions league or
2) End up 3rd ( having to qualify) but win the FA Cup.

[Cannon]

In the good old days the choise was easy, second place only got you into the UEFA Cup while the FA Cup was full of tradition, played at Wembley full of the finalist's real supporters and access to the Cup Winners cup for the winners, which was above in the UEFA Cup in terms prestige. I do miss those good old days of the cup winners cup.

Those days are gone now. The FA Cup winners these days only qualify for the UEFA cup and Man Utd even decided to opt out a few years ago to entertain some foreigners in a non important self proclaimed World Cup for club teams :p . That shows how much they care for the FA Cup. Keane even said at the time that he wouldn't be surprised if Man U pulled out of the FA Cup for good, back in 2000 I think it was!

So, it seems to me that the most important thing thses days are all related to either winning the league or qualifying to the Champions League.
The FA Cup presents itself with an opportunity to win silverware which is always nice, what would you rather do next season:

1) End up second and qualify directly to Champions league or
2) End up 3rd ( having to qualify) but win the FA Cup.

I'd take the second option. The CL is great and not having to go through qualifying is important but winning the FA Cup is worth the difference between the two positions in the table. Now I know its implied but just don't add "finish behind ManU" to the second option or you'll test my love of the FA Cup. ;)

[mixmastermatt]

a bit late this question seeing as we are defo 2nd above malcomchester united!

why not both?

or even better..... first!

[juice013]

I would take the second option also. If the club can't come through a qualifier against some weak, regionally known club, then they don't deserve to be in the CL.

Does anybody know of any fairly major upsets pulled off during CL qualifiers out of curiosity?

[Henrik]

The problem is it can easily happen. In a qualifier you can easily get up against a tricky Scandinavian team or perhaps an unknown Turkish force. Its a gamble.

The problem is that the FA Cup is not as prestigious (sp?) as it once was, partly because of the intro of champions league, partly because Man U couldn't be bothered a couple of years ago, partly because it only gives access to the "Losers Cup".

Winning the league or coming second also means a longer holiday for the players which is better preperation for the next season.

Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

[phishy]

The problem is it can easily happen. In a qualifier you can easily get up against a tricky Scandinavian team or perhaps an unknown Turkish force. Its a gamble.

The problem is that the FA Cup is not as prestigious (sp?) as it once was, partly because of the intro of champions league, partly because Man U couldn't be bothered a couple of years ago, partly because it only gives access to the "Losers Cup".

Winning the league or coming second also means a longer holiday for the players which is better preperation for the next season.

Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

nonsense henrik... we are in the business of winning trophies mate!
2nd place is massive however...

[jwaldman11]

Nobody remembers who came in second (or who wins the Carling Cup for that matter). Give me the Cup and a trophy to get my picture taken with on the trip next year!

[Rima067]

Ack, I don't know the answer!

I'm leaning towards the second choice so we can have a trophy of course, but then what if we get a tricky/surprise match in the CL qualifiers.. w/ Arsenal, you just don't know...

Actually, we do, and it could be a BIG possibility to go out in the qualifying rounds!

Ack!

[Dave_M]

Id take the cup, but i think the need for a champions league spot just hows how money driven the sport is these days....

[Val1]

The. FA. Cup.

[splara10]

At the end of the day, I'd rather have won something than qualified for something. Gotta be the cup.

[martymarts]

Both! Gotta be both! ManUre beat us home and away this season. Kicked us off the park the first time and lead to the dip in form that cost us the title. Screw second place, screw the CL, screw what an amazing old tourne the FAC is; this is personal! We've beaten those freakin Mancs to second now lets give em a double dose of humble pie, and stuff to em in Cardiff?

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!

[Henrik]

OK, looks like the FA Cup is worth more than second place, provided 3rd or 4th place is secured. Under those circumstances Id probably go for the cup as well and gamble on qualifying on the back of our strength.

Anyway, its not really an issue for us as we always end up 1st or 2nd, and we win th FA Cup every other year it seems :D But the American investment company up north, "Disneyland United" are not that fortunate to have a say about the second spot, let alone winning the FA Cup :D

[Martin Daoust]

I went back and forth on this for quite a while and I finally decided on The Cup...

[ArsenalGooner]

FA Cup. Even if it doesn't have the same meaning and feel to it that it used to, in my mind it's still the most important and honored domestic cup competition in the world.

[Miles Brasher]

Has to be 2nd...


...Real men always come 2nd! :p (groan)

[arsenalgirl30016]

This year we don't have to choose guys! :p

[surfcam]

Has to be 2nd...


...Real men always come 2nd! :p (groan)

That's worse than my jokes. No, sorry, its about on par! ;) :D