FA Cup 2015/16 Thread

[Colly]

Benteke really is rubbish isn't he, it's like someone paying £20m for Papiss Cisse based on that good 6 months 4 years ago.

[The Lusophone]

or £35 million for Andy Carroll.

[Adam]

Is Benteke rubbish? Or does he not fit Liverpool's style? I've always thought he was pretty good as the focal point of an attack, but yeah he hasn't been doing well this season. His confidence isn't there and he's missing plenty of chances he probably wouldn't have last season.

[Colly]

At least Carroll was on form at the time...

[DavidMarrio]

35 minutes ago, Adam said:

Is Benteke rubbish? Or does he not fit Liverpool's style? I've always thought he was pretty good as the focal point of an attack, but yeah he hasn't been doing well this season. His confidence isn't there and he's missing plenty of chances he probably wouldn't have last season.

Bit of both. Some of his play is baffling at times though in terms of when he makes a run or his positioning. 

[Cymbols]

Benteke is not rubbish, and the fact that people think that he is is laughable. His scoring record in a pretty poor Villa team shows that. It doesn't help that his confidence is shot because loads of shitty Liverpool fans are hammering him with criticism.

[DavidMarrio]

Can no one be criticised?  Some criticism of him is unfair but most of it this season is warranted. Last night he played well but he is wasting far too many chances. He had three good chances in extra time in which he really should have scored. 

[The Lusophone]

Benteke sortof strikes me as a Belgian Darren Bent. Great at smaller clubs but for whatever reason can't do on the bigger stage.

[Baddar]

42 minutes ago, Mad Jack said:

Benteke sortof strikes me as a Belgian Darren Bent. Great at smaller clubs but for whatever reason can't do on the bigger stage.

Darren Benteke, if you will.

[Hobo]

Benteke had a good game but he never took his chances. That was the sad part. 

Villa built around him and that brought out the best in him. Liverpool won't do that.

I don't think he's shit. I think he's better than Balotelli or Andy Carroll but I do think he's struggling to go from being the main guy to just a one attacking option. And what's more he's getting more focus on his performance now probably than ever before because he's at Liverpool

 

Lucas had an excellent game. A bunch of inexperience players had great games. Sturridge looked miles better than anyone. Coutinho came back. Origi is back. Lots of good stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lineker]

Can't tell if Barry Fry is drunk, or just being Barry Fry,

Anyway, extra time in this one.

[MDK]

'boro are looking good, I reckon they will nick it

[MDK]

Berahino far post, unmarked free header and doesn't even hit the target. Should have sold him.

[Lineker]

Pens!

[MDK]

Awwm poor Angol. Nice touch by Foster to walk up to him and give him a little hug.

[Baddar]

Didn't watch extra time, but that Fletcher equaliser was excellent.

[Lineker]

Quote

The Football Association has reacted to the rumpus over ticket prices by reducing the cost of attending the FA Cup final and semi-finals.

Following £5 cuts across the board, tickets for the 21 May Wembley showpiece will start at £45, excluding concessions, and semi-final tickets will begin at £30.

A statement from the FA read: “Following discussions led by chief executive Martin Glenn, the FA today confirms that ticket prices for the 2016 Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley have been reduced by £5 across all price points.

“In addition, tickets for this year’s semi-final matches revert back to 2014 prices. So far, this season’s competition has seen attendances close to two million and £13m distributed to clubs across the football pyramid. The FA is in a good financial position and lowering the cost of these showpiece matches is in recognition of the strong, continued commitment from fans supporting the world’s original cup competition.”

The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on 23 and 24 April.

The controversy over ticket prices has been much debated in recent weeks. Liverpool fans walked out of their draw with Sunderland earlier this month after 77 minutes, causing the club’s owners to back down and change their plans for a £77 match ticket from next season.

[METALMAN]

5 hours ago, Lineker said:

Quote

rumpus

So good.

[Baddar]

There's talks about scrapping replays and holding the competition during the week as opposed to Fri-Mon.

I don't think they should change up the days the matches get played. I do like designated FA Cup weekends, but replays could be looked in to.

I was thinking before that maybe, games between teams in the same division shouldn't go to a replay, but when it's clearly financially beneficial for the smaller team, they could stick around. I just don't see the point in, using games from a round ago as an example, Spurs/Leicester and Liverpool/West Ham needing a replay. In the case when a Championship or lower side earns a draw with PL opposition, I could understand their gripe if there were no replays any more. It's an interesting one, but one I think that will go no further than a discussion and we'll carry on as normal.

[The Lusophone]

Replays should definitely stay. The replay between Exeter City and Man Utd back in 2005 kept them in business long enough to secure a more stable financial base as a fan owned club and I'm sure there's other instances of that happening.