FA Cup is a modern football paradox

Yeah, if they want to make the FA Cup important, attach one of the Champions League spots to it.

Oh god, it's Johnno making crap up again.

it about money..that all get into Champion league group stage for English teams is about 20 to 30 million euros from TV staying in the EPL is about 50 million plus from TV each year what do they get for winning FA cup...chance to play Europa league and get about $2 to $3 million euros from TV deal ITV pay about £45 million a year for FA CUP, £45 million would buy ITV about 9 EPL matches, that why ITV puts all-Prem clash on...it simple value for there money

It's just a shame none of the non-league teams were televised in England in the fourth round. Although both the Macclesfield-Wigan and Norwich-Luton games were shown around the world, they weren't shown in England which means both teams miss out on £130,000 TV money. How they can put on two dull encounters in Stoke-Man City and Man Utd-Fulham over those two beggars belief. Finally, although Macc have gained a significant sum from their run, that 130k would have been massive for the club and now that they're out (unfortunate as it turns out, having dominated most of the match), they miss out on that money. There's a whole hypocrisy with ITV and ESPN. They talk about the 'magic of the cup' but put on a dull all-Prem clash because of the apparent commercial benefits.

What a strange article. Liverpool and Chelsea played extremely strong teams against Oldham and Chelsea respectively. Yes, Coates played and so did Jones, but there was also Sturridge and Suarez. Surely, if it wasn't a priority then Rodgers would have rested those two strikers? And for Aston Villa, that FA Cup tie was huge for them, to try and banish the League Cup memories which, by the way, was also of massive importance to them. Not so much for Norwich and QPR but they were still at home and, on paper, should have had enough to beat their respective opponents. But I believe it just shows how competitive the English game is. There are very good teams thoughout the system with some very good players. For example, Premier League teams will very rarely come up against awkward customers like James Hanson and Matt Smith. Although they probably won't go to the top on a purely technical level, they give these teams something different to deal with.

Towser, more like 760 clubs in the FA cup, and when a non league club makes it to the third or fourth round, it becomes part of the folk lore and fills the coffers, which is great for grass roots Football and as you say very different from the league in its appeal, but obviously no match nationally or internationally to the champions league.

Leeds have defeated 5 EPL clubs in cup comps this season.

A rather quaint image of some lower league towns and cities and their clubs. And a surefire way to raise the ire of any Englishman not from London! I don't think anyone could find an English hotel, especially one frequented by even a lower league club playing an away game, without heating. I've stayed in some horrible dives in my time, but never had a room without a radiator! As for this weekend's shock results: Liverpool probably wouldn't have stayed away the night before their match against Oldham, who were a Premier League team themselves not that long ago, as the town is less than an hour's drive from Liverpool. Similarly, the Chelsea squad could probably walk to Brentford, so close the 2 clubs are. In fact, in days gone by, prior to Abramovich's input, they would have considered themselves to be local rivals (Brentford fans probably still do). So no 3 star motels there either. I imagine that the Tottenham squad stayed in Leeds, but Leeds is quite a smart city with decent hotels, and has arguably the best shopping in Northern England (something for the WAGs there). In fact, I'd go so far to suggest that Leeds is a much nicer part of the world than Tottenham. Elland Road is also larger than White Hart Lane, so no small ground syndrome there, and again, Leeds were a Premier League club themselves very recently. QPR and Norwich played at home, so couldn't use your small ground, cheap hotel defence, although they do both play in relatively small grounds themselves! In fact the only Premier League club that may have had a culture shock this weekend would be Villa, but even then Millwall's New Den is a smart stadium, and once again, Millwall were a top flight team in my lifetime so would have entertained Villa and their fans in recent years. The Villa squad, if they did stay locally prior to the match, would have been in a top-notch Docklands hotel, not a B&B on the Isle of Dogs.

As a youngster I stood in line with the family to line up for FA Cup tie tickets. Usually if I remember on sale on a Sunday morning at our home ground. The queues stretched out of Hillsborough & formed a massive line down the Penistone Road end(opposite to the tragic Leppings Lane end). The draw as each round came up was waited for with much anticipation(unfortunately in my lifetime it's never reached the climax as a winner at Wembley). For me as lad the FA Cup was a magic competition.,Very different from the league in its appeal. So given the factors mentioned in regards to the ECL being the focus of the top EPL clubs can the FA Cup keep its old fashioned charm & drawing power. Well judging by last weekend it has. Problem with looking at English football from afar in Australia is that most of the time you could believe that ManU,Chelsea,Arsenal,Liverpool are English Football,simply due to the media coverage of those clubs here,because their top of the Football food chain in England. Truth is theres 88 other clubs who have fans like me who dont give a toss about the big 4 & thats where the FA cup comes in & why it can still be a vital cog in the Football wheel in England.

Brilliant weekend of FA cup Football which l was able to watch via ESPN. It is being talked about in England as one of the greatest FA Cup weekends of all time...with 1 non league, 2 x 3rd tier and 2x 2nd tier teams knocking out Premier League opposition...plus 3rd tier Brentford drawing with(and unlucky not to beat) a full strength European Champions Chelski! No other team sporting competition in the world can match this...not bad for a 140 year old competition.

The back up players should still be able to do the job vs these lower divisions. But soccer is a funny game. and these small stadiums, small clubs really lift for a 1 off, the intensity is hard to play against. And often a small ground is more loud and daunting and intimidating than a big ground like wembley. The fans bang on the fences loud, you hear all the abuse especially the opposition goal-keeper, its hard to keep focused for these clubs. Not to mention they probably have to spend 1 night in not a plush hotel. Some chilly 3-star motel, or bed and breakfast, both lacking heating , in a cold UK winter. And probably have to make do with a good old hearty breakfast, bacon and eggs, and baked beans, over there protein shakes and coconut milk or latte's that they have in London.