The FA Cup 2014/15 thread

[Matt]

I agree, it's going to be incredibly annoying having to flick over to Sky every now and then to check on the score

[Colly]

Ah, the magic of the Cup.

[MDK]

I agree, it's going to be incredibly annoying having to flick over to Sky every now and then to check on the score

I never realised just how bad it was up north

[DavidMarrio]

3pm on a Sunday isn't too bad. Could be a lot worse.

[Thrilla]

Yeah, means all the Scousers can have a nice lie in before watching Rovers kick Villa's ass.

[DavidMarrio]

That won't happen. Its DESTINY for Gerrard to win the FA Cup final on his birthday.

Plus we won't be playing on our potato field of a pitch in the replay.

[Thrilla]

Nope, you'll be playing on the cabbage patch instead.

[Thrilla]

West Brom will be wearing a throwback kit in their Semi Final tie with Leicester. The Baggies will don a replica of the 1968 kit that they wore in the Final against Everton. This will be done as part of Jeff Astle Day. Astle, who scored the only goal in the '68 Final, died of brain injuries linked to heading the heavy footballs used in those days and his family will be starting a foundation in his honour on the day to raise awareness. The kits will be numbered 2 - 11 with the keeper's jersey being blank, as it was on the day.

The FA have also said that to fit in with the kit West Brom won't be allowed to make any substitutions and all players will have to have a couple of fags and an ale at half time.

[Colly]

I love Jeff Astle, mainly for Fantasy Football, but what are they raising awareness of? The fact that footballs used to be really heavy?

[Kyle]

I imagine its something to do with brain damage in athletes or the like.

[Twist]

That won't happen. Its DESTINY for Gerrard to win the FA Cup final on his birthday.

Plus we won't be playing on our potato field of a pitch in the replay.

It's destiny for Gerrard to cost Liverpool the FA Cup on his birthday.

[Adam]

I love Jeff Astle, mainly for Fantasy Football, but what are they raising awareness of? The fact that footballs used to be really heavy?

Concussion awareness in sports and athletes, and they want the game's laws rewritten to outlaw heading in grassroots/amateur/youth football (delete as applicable) I believe.

[lanky316]

Yeah there's been some plan for a while about banning heading the ball, aren't FIFA in court over a group of Americans suing them due to concussions? They were talking about limiting under 17s to something like 10 headers a game or something at one stage but it keeps being revised.

Has there been a massive link to other players being brain damaged from heading the ball? I can see the logic behind the argument but Astle seems the exception to the norm from that era or did I just miss the large number of old players suffering severe brain damage and early deaths?

[Colly]

I think a lot of players from the very very early days suffered neck problems etc, but looking at the balls they used it's no wonder. I'd like to see some studies based on the 70s and later, I find it hard to believe the number of headers would be an issue. One unlucky one could probably do horrendous damage, but consecutive headers done right?

[Colly]

Also,how impractical would that rule be? Smash ten long balls in, let the centre half clear them all, then stick one more in and nod home unchallenged. Big Sam would love it.

[Matt]

I think there were a few other possible/probable cases, in all honesty though it's hardly the same now that footballs don't weigh half a tonne the second it starts to rain

[9 to 5]

Footballs are the same weight now as they used to be, they are just made better and retain less water.

[Thrilla]

Liverpool never! Blackburn forever!

[Berober]

Go Blackburn!

[Baddar]

This or The Masters Par 3. Hmmm.