Steve Crook

The major competitions like the European Cup are only open to teams that have won national cups or done well in league championships (AIUI)

The more interesting one here though is the FA cup which is open to just about every professional team in the country. It's a knockout competition with pairings drawn at random. There are no real seeds to guarantee that the "better" teams get through to the later rounds. Each pair of teams plays just one match and the winner moves on to the next round.

There are some preliminary rounds for the very lowest teams. The Championship and Premier League (top-flight) teams only join in round three so they do have a slight advantage. But they then have to battle their way through to the sixth round then the semi-finals and finally the FA Cup Final. There can be 5-700 teams starting in the various qualifying and preliminary rounds of the competition and, in theory, any one of those minor clubs can finish up playing, and maybe even beating, some of the best in the world!

It doesn't matter too much what a team's past history is, if the team from the lower league is having a good day and the team from the higher league is having a bad day there can be some interesting upsets

Steve

penfold

A Pedant Writes;
By The European Cup, Steve means The Champions League, whereby the top teams from every European National Premier League play each other in a mix of knockout and league formats at various stages over the season. Not to be confused with the European (Nations) Cup which involves all the National teams in Europe, initialy on a league qualification basis before a final three/four week festival in a host nation,where a final 24 or so are whittled down to an eventual winner, again, mini leagues followed by knockout games, like the World Cup.
The FA cup, far from being limited to professional teams (And I believe all pro teams enter), include semi-pro and amateur teams as well. Only the top 110/120 football teams in the country could be classed as fully professional.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Steve Crook

Thanks, I've often said that organised sports are a mystery to me
I never knew the details of these things but I do like the way that the FA Cup allows a relatively minor team beat one of the major teams.

Steve

Marky B

Looks like the Boro are getting defeated.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

batman

Well done Cardiff ...... what a great competition this year! I am looking forward to watching The Baggies v Bristol Rovers.

I am sticking to my prediction of a Pompey win in the competition .... I have my kipper ass to think of.

I wish I had claws.

Marky B

You never know,it might be a non-Premiership final.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

batman

Well done Baggies ... a comprehensive thrashing of the unfortunate Bristolians. If they can avoid each other in the draw a Baggies v Pompey final sounds good. I really enjoyed the match today, a good old blood and thunder British cup-tie.

Another mention for Barnsley, whose defending during the latter stages of the Chelski debacle was, as Harbottle said, outstanding.

Avram has done a really good job of steadying the ship but I can't help agreeing with those who reckon his days are numbered.

Who next for the Bridge?

Big Sam - no chance, Little Sam - hahaha, The Wally with the Brolly - don't make me laugh, Riijkaard - maybe, Jose - if only ..... I have a hunch a certain Dutch gentleman with Russian connections could rear his head at some point.

I wish I had claws.

Marky B

The general consensus amongst Boro fans is that the team didn't play badly - they didn't play at all.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

David Brent

My thoughts exactly Bats.
A Baggies v. Pompey final could be a beauty.
Albion have scored ten goals in their last two cup ties. Great stuff.
Unfortunately the Baggies game v. Bristol Rovers was not covered over here so I still have to see the goals.

Mourinho came out in a recent interview and stated that he would love to have his old job at Chelsea back.
The Avram Grant experiment has been a dud. I still cannot understand why Mourinho was pushed out.
Having said that, with Arsenal dropping points and Chelsea having games in hand, it could be that the Blues are the dark horses to win the Premiership this season. They certainly seem to have the easier fixtures in the run in to the end of the season.

Dave.

Harleybloke

The cup weekend may benefit my Watford. Albion, Barnsley & Cardiff may end up playing league games with half an eye on Wembley. So that's just Stoke, Bristol City, Charlton, Palarse, etc etc to worry about then............

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Brigger

Hi Dave,
After the draw it could be a repeat of 1912, and sorry mate; but if it is I hope it`s a repeat score the one and only time my home town team have won the cup If I`m not mistaken we are the only team to win the cup in Yorkshire as it was in a replay at Bramhall Lane.
Regards, Brigger

Harleybloke

With a Gran from Fareham it's gotta be..................

PLAY UP POM-PEY, POM-PEY PLAY UP'!!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Harbottle

Shame you could not see it, WBA were pretty impressive particularly in the second half when they controlled the game fairly easily, and only brought on Phillips and Gera for the last twenty or so. The lad Miller looked very impressive a real handful and took his goals so well, the first being the pick of the bunch followed by his third. What a pity they have now been drawn with Portsmouth, I think that would have made a good final.

TimR

Thanks to you and Steve - this fills in the details to Steve's comments. It is even more complex that I had thought.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

TimR

No, I didn't know - sounds interesting. Please proceed...

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you