The FA Cup 2014/15 thread

[Matt]

That is a silly rule. It should go to the best referee that year, regardless of they've done it once or 9 times.

[The Lusophone]

Tough to decide best though, tbh, as well as breeding a political atmosphere within refereeing group (and the assessors as well. A bad assessment early in the season can take your rating for the entire year - which would prevent a ref who over the season has been outstanding from reffing the final).

[brenchill]

Annoying me usually.

Owen is a strange one. He should be a legend who's universally loved by all given his England form and everyone thinks he's a cock. He should have just stopped playing at 21.

[Gazz]

Everyone hates him.

Everton fans hate him because he signed for Liverpool despite professing to be an Everton fan. Wales hates him for choosing England over them. Liverpool hates him for forcing a move to Madrid. Newcastle hates him for playing 12 minutes in 4 years, fucking off first chance he got and that fucking dossier. Man Utd fans hate him for not even trying to win a place in the first team and acting like he was integral to their success. Stoke hates everyone anyway and whoever is left hate him because he is a black hole of charisma and is treated with reverence by the media despite being an extremely average footballer who could run really fast and when that disappeared, he was nothing.

He was also a wanker to that kid with Neville Southall. Prick.

[brenchill]

I thought Liverpool fans hated him because he played for Man Utd. Didn't Rafa pretty much force him out of Liverpool because he had Cisse?

[Gazz]

Probably. He's still a cunt though.

I seem to remember that he wouldn't sign a new contract, hence Madrid getting him for only £8m.

[TCO]

Don't remind me of that dossier. What a complete and utter wanker.

[Lineker]

I've forgotten this dossier?

[brenchill]

It's too long to post.

[Rafael]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1194209/MICHAEL-OWEN-BROCHURE-The-complete-32-page-agents-dossier-fallen-Newcastle-star-England-striker.html

Knock yourself out, Linekles.

I actually used to really like Owen as a player when I was young because of FIFA 04, started following Newcastle the other season when he signed. Safe to say my opinion of him changed as time passed.

[Baddar]

I still chuckle every time someone calls him a horse shagger. I don't care how petty it is.

[Thrilla]

I'll always love him for being great on ISS Pro.

[DavidMarrio]

A wet flannel has more personality than him. Said flannel would probably provide better analysis as well as a commentator.

I never really liked Owen when he was at us. Was more of a Robbie Fowler guy. Moving to United never really fussed me cause tbh he was never going to do much their because he was perma-injured and he's not the type of player who gives the vibe of loyalty to a team and wouldn't join their direct rivals.

[Baddar]

The FA has agreed a £30m deal to rename the FA Cup the Emirates FA Cup for the next 3 years, and it will be announced today, according to The Sun.

[Whisper]

Uproar over this on the radio this morning. Can't say it makes any difference to me really.

It's been sponsored for years now without the name changing, and everyone will still call it the FA Cup anyway.

[Baddar]

I mean, wasn't it McDonalds for a few seasons?

[The Lusophone]

And Eon.

[Matt]

I don't see how that's any different to the current Budweiser FA Cup, people will just complain about anything

[Bobfoc]

The only difference I can see is that the ribbons on the cup might be a different colour.

[Baddar]

"Because Arabs" is the reason people think of but are too afraid to say, I imagine.