The Case For The Cup

[Katzenjammer]

Like most, I consider the prime objective for this season to be promotion to the Premier League, and back in October/November when the injury list was growing exponentially, I would've preferred an early exit from the cup tournaments, so as not to hinder our prospects.

But that assumes that there is a zero-sum relationship between the league and the FA Cup, that pursuing one means sacrificing the other.

I'm not entirely convinced that this is the case, as last night demonstrated that if we get the squad selection right, then we are more than capable of mounting a challenge on both fronts.

And so we should. Because realistically speaking, we're probably always going to be a club that operates in a constant cycle of trying to get promoted to the Premier League and then trying to stave off relegation afterwards, at least for the foreseeable future.
As such, there will never be a 'right' time for a cup challenge if our sole focus is the league, but by the same token, the cup tournaments represent our only chance of tangible success, however slim.

Suffice to say that with the FA Cup semi final in touching distance, we should take it seriously. As I said, promotion is the number one priority, but it shouldn't be the exclusive one.

 

[Freddie]

Let’s just do both. Sick of the either/or bullshit.

 

[ZLB]

Hear hear.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Fuck it, eh?

 

[Geordie Blade]

As I’ve always said, if I get to sit at Wembley in a Blades shirt and sing “Abide With Me”, I will die happy.

 

[steve26272]

We should now be looking at both, success breeds success - beat Blackburn twice isn’t impossible, then we should be very strong favourites for promotion and we have a Wembley date.

The back up lads looked strong, we have a great defence and in Illy we have a game changer

Whatever happens PH and the team have done an amazing job

 

[Chezzy Blades]

If we managed to make it through it’d be our 6th cup (League Cup included) semi final appearance as a second or third tier club since 1999. I don’t know the stats but I can’t believe any other team has got anywhere near that many non-top flight semi appearances in that time.

That said, I’d love to see us in a cup final in my lifetime and with the team we’ve got now if we did manage to get through and by even bigger miracle draw Brighton or Grimsby I think we’d have a great chance.

 

[Sneinton Blade 1952]

We have the squad to win both the championship title (Burnley, we're coming for you) and the FA Cup this season. Let's go for it Blades!

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Squad depth on full display last night. Mcburnie, Norwood, Egan, Jebbo and Bogle didn't even play which is half our first team.

The confidence and excitement of a cup run could galvanise us. Now, had we been vying for a play off spot I'd suggest competing on both counts would be a stretch too far but as we're favourites for 2nd spot we should go for it.

There's 2 nice midweek gaps in April to rearrange the West Brom game. Onwards to Wembley, maybe even twice

 

[Gin&Juice]

I don’t think we raised our game last night a la Clough. Just think Spurs were shit and unmotivated.

 

[Gin&Juice]

that’s a good thing by the way

 

[Blademan18891889]

If we managed to make it through it’d be our 6th cup (League Cup included) semi final appearance as a second or third tier club since 1999. I don’t know the stats but I can’t believe any other team has got anywhere near that many non-top flight semi appearances in that time.

That said, I’d love to see us in a cup final in my lifetime and with the team we’ve got now if we did manage to get through and by even bigger miracle draw Brighton or Grimsby I think we’d have a great chance.

Brighton are probably no easier than man utd. Being in a cup final is irrelevant unless we win, winning the fa cup would be the pinnacle watching us, it's all I ever hope for, watching us in Europe would be amazing but actually winning a trophy would be a different level.

 

[HVR]

We've also got to look at this not just from a fan's perspective. What about the players? The owner?
Take Illy - what a journey he's been on. A World Cup, a promotion (hopefully) and walking out at Wembley in a Blades shirt!
This could change a few player's minds regarding up-coming contract decisions, if we get anywhere near an FA Cup Final.
Then there's the Charity Shield if we actually won the damn thing!

 

[Charlieblade]

Listening to PH presser before the Spurs game, he comes across as having promotion as a priority, and anything we get out of the FA Cup is a bonus.
He still maintains the line that we want to win every game.
After beating Spurs, it seems that we have the squad to do both.
Those who did take part definitely got an energy lift that can only come from a big FACup game.

The league and promotion gets more attention because, even if we go on to win the FA Cup, we still have more games to play in the league.
Let’s do both.

 

[Revolution]

Brighton are probably no easier than man utd. Being in a cup final is irrelevant unless we win, winning the fa cup would be the pinnacle watching us, it's all I ever hope for, watching us in Europe would be amazing but actually winning a trophy would be a different level.

Speak for yourself. We haven't been in a final since 1936. We've lost 7 cup semi finals in a row.

I'd love to be in a final.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

As I’ve always said, if I get to sit at Wembley in a Blades shirt and sing “Abide With Me”, I will die happy.

Same here

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

As I’ve always said, if I get to sit at Wembley in a Blades shirt and sing “Abide With Me”, I will die happy.

Or stand.

 

[corner_flag]

Being 2nd and 4 points clear means we have more to gain than to lose by winning the next cup game. And try telling the players that they shouldn't want to win
Things that are rare have more value than things that are common - 46 league games, an FA Cup semi-final doesn't come our way very often

 

[WestYorksBlade]

Like most, I consider the prime objective for this season to be promotion to the Premier League, and back in October/November when the injury list was growing exponentially, I would've preferred an early exit from the cup tournaments, so as not to hinder our prospects.

But that assumes that there is a zero-sum relationship between the league and the FA Cup, that pursuing one means sacrificing the other.

I'm not entirely convinced that this is the case, as last night demonstrated that if we get the squad selection right, then we are more than capable of mounting a challenge on both fronts.

And so we should. Because realistically speaking, we're probably always going to be a club that operates in a constant cycle of trying to get promoted to the Premier League and then trying to stave off relegation afterwards, at least for the foreseeable future.
As such, there will never be a 'right' time for a cup challenge if our sole focus is the league, but by the same token, the cup tournaments represent our only chance of tangible success, however slim.

Suffice to say that with the FA Cup semi final in touching distance, we should take it seriously. As I said, promotion is the number one priority, but it shouldn't be the exclusive one.

People act like good cup form doesn’t translate to the league - remember in the 2013-14 season when our success in the FA cup went hand in hand with our improved league results

Winning games of football breeds a winning mentality, regardless of the tournament

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Being 2nd and 4 points clear means we have more to gain than to lose by winning the next cup game. And try telling the players that they shouldn't want to win
Things that are rare have more value than things that are common - 46 league games, an FA Cup semi-final doesn't come our way very often

3 times in the last 20 years if we do it I doubt many sides who have only been in the premier league for 3 years have a similar record. Many who have had long stays won't have that!

 

[Paisley Blade]

The slight downside to beating Blackburn would be the possibility of a semi against a Manc team. Getting dry bummed in the sunshine by either would be grim.

 

[Blademan18891889]

Speak for yourself. We haven't been in a final since 1936. We've lost 7 cup semi finals in a row.

I'd love to be in a final.

Well yes I'd love to be in one but to win it is all that matters, you aren't gonna remember being in one fondly are you if we lose, it would just join the list of every semi final and playoff final we've lost wouldn't it. But let's Hope we get to see that opportunity one day, hopefully on June 3rd.

 

[Revolution]

Well yes I'd love to be in one but to win it is all that matters, you aren't gonna remember being in one fondly are you if we lose, it would just join the list of every semi final and playoff final we've lost wouldn't it. But let's Hope we get to see that opportunity one day, hopefully on June 3rd.

Again, speak for yourself.

If we make it we'd be seeing something no Blade has seen since 1936. It would be a highlight of my Blades fandom.

it would not join the horrible list, because we'd have won a semi to get there.

 

[Blademan18891889]

Again, speak for yourself.

If we make it we'd be seeing something no Blade has seen since 1936. It would be a highlight of my Blades fandom.

it would not join the horrible list, because we'd have won a semi to get there.

Good point that winning the semi would be remembered fondly, just like the forest playoff, Liverpool semi at home, those 2 games would probably come high on a lot of blades lists of most enjoyable games as would winning an fa cup semi final but to lose a final I just feel it would feel like the same old story, we've all seen loads of big game losses, I've seen England lose a euro final and a world cup semi, we've never even experienced a playoff final win. Winning a final is all that matters imo, losing in one won't go down as any highlight for me, it will just join the long list of near misses.

 

[sufc323]

People act like good cup form doesn’t translate to the league - remember in the 2013-14 season when our success in the FA cup went hand in hand with our improved league results

Winning games of football breeds a winning mentality, regardless of the tournament

The same in 2002-03, I can't think of a time that we've had a good cup run which has hampered our league form.

We got knocked out in the league cup SF in 2014/15 in January so still had plenty of time to put a league run together and get promoted, but we were massively inconsistent.

 

[beatific blade]

I really really really hope we beat Blackburn 3 times this season.

Fucking come on you red and white bastards

 

[Houston_Blade]

I want us to get to the semi-final now because my son and daughter want to go to Wembley, it will be difficult to beat Blackburn in the Quarters but I'd love to. Semis would be hard though as we'll be facing either a top 3 or top 8 full strength PL side.

 

[Chilttheblade]

Don’t let’s forget that the winner of the FA Cup gets into Europe automatically.
Shove that up your Piggy arses !

 

[Stu_Blade]

Brighton are probably no easier than man utd. Being in a cup final is irrelevant unless we win, winning the fa cup would be the pinnacle watching us, it's all I ever hope for, watching us in Europe would be amazing but actually winning a trophy would be a different level.

Just on a curious note as don't want to get too far ahead. Say if we beat Blackburn in the cup and drew Brighton/Grimsby and beat whoever in the draw. The 2 Manc sides are likely to qualify for the Champions League this season. Does the FA Cup runner up get a random Europa League spot as the winner definitely will?

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

At this point the FA Cup represents now, at most, 2 extra games before the end of the league season. They're professional footballers ffs, of course they have capacity to play in both. It shouldn't even be a debate imo