Which would you choose?

[swaledale]

I know...but it isn’t worth the bother or spoiling a perfectly good thread over.
Like you, I find it interesting where people’s priorities lie.
I do take your point that promotions are more common place, for the likes of us (DCFC), than Cup wins and, in that sense, less memorable.
For me though...success or survival in the League takes priority and some of my best Derby memories include those semi final wins over Millwall, Southampton, Brighton and Leeds...even though 3/4 of them ultimately ended in disappointment.

I have to admit I've been surprised by the general view about promotion/avoiding relegation, rather than winning the Fa Cup, maybe its because its been a long time since Derby were an "established mid table premier league team" but I've grown more and more disenchanted with the premier league, well tbh with football in general as money corrupts and distorts everything.

I had thought that more and more fans, outside those of the rich clubs, were becoming cynical about a league that is slowly eating itself. Kind of hoping that 6 clubs sod off into a European super league and leave the prem to clubs that matter.

The FA Cup provides jeopardy that no other competition can, even the European "cups" are evolving into leagues, the new format coming soon seems basically a euro super league in everything but name and will further disrupt the domestic programme.

I still maintain thought that given a guarantee of winning the FA Cup or promotion this year, the FA Cup would be more desirable, as one would win a trophy and a permanent place in history, even more so given we are a league 1 team! No matter how many playoffs or promotions one experiences, nothing surely is better than winning a trophy??

But its all about opinions, and its been interesting, good to know a grow up debate can be had with most on here.

[ramAnag]

I have to admit I've been surprised by the general view about promotion/avoiding relegation, rather than winning the Fa Cup, maybe its because its been a long time since Derby were an "established mid table premier league team" but I've grown more and more disenchanted with the premier league, well tbh with football in general as money corrupts and distorts everything.

I had thought that more and more fans, outside those of the rich clubs, were becoming cynical about a league that is slowly eating itself. Kind of hoping that 6 clubs sod off into a European super league and leave the prem to clubs that matter.

The FA Cup provides jeopardy that no other competition can, even the European "cups" are evolving into leagues, the new format coming soon seems basically a euro super league in everything but name and will further disrupt the domestic programme.

I still maintain thought that given a guarantee of winning the FA Cup or promotion this year, the FA Cup would be more desirable, as one would win a trophy and a permanent place in history, even more so given we are a league 1 team! No matter how many playoffs or promotions one experiences, nothing surely is better than winning a trophy??

But its all about opinions, and its been interesting, good to know a grow up debate can be had with most on here.

Can’t disagree with much of that, especially the bit about money and the ‘rich clubs’.
I even suspect that there are fans of Liverpool, United, City and Newcastle etc who are quietly sickened by the amount some of their stars receive each week. It’s unacceptable.

The difficult bit is suppressing our ambition. I know ambition is relative and the Stockports and Stevenages of the football world have different ambitions from the likes of Derby, Wednesday, Bolton and Portsmouth but like me...you were anxious for us to avoid relegation last year...again like me...you would love us to go up this season.

Without, I hope, being patronising, Burton Albion are a case in point. A well run club, or so I’m led to believe, they did magnificently to hold their own in the Championship and are still probably punching above their weight. Where they were...possibly even where they currently are...probably represents the limit of their ambition.

Our ambitions are greater...formed by a combination of tradition, potential and previous achievement...but without ambition in football what is there left? We all want our clubs to be performing at the highest level possible and you and I are no exception to that...we just happen to want a more level playing field and in that context I do share your enthusiasm for the ‘jeopardy’ provided by the FA Cup and God forbid that it should ever become ‘seeded’.

[macstheman]

I have not contributed to this debate on the premise that I am totally biased based on my privileged position to have witnessed first hand the Rams being crowned the best on two occasions! Indeed, in our first season crowned Champions of England I attended every game.
My father in law had the pleasure of two Championships and watching our Cup Final win in person. Bearing in mind that he had not long been back in blighty after fighting the Japs the pleasure of going to Wembley was obviously huge so for him the Cup success remained long in his memory!
As I mentioned my privileged position dominates my thinking......an FACup would be the icing on the cake so is a no brainer! Sod promo, give us that great big Cup

[Andy_Faber]

Sod promo, give us that great big Cup

That's told us!

Those two Championship years were such happy times for me as a ****ager, All I can think about FA Cup runs is failure (especially the Cup Semi against Man U)

[ramAnag]

I have not contributed to this debate on the premise that I am totally biased based on my privileged position to have witnessed first hand the Rams being crowned the best on two occasions! Indeed, in our first season crowned Champions of England I attended every game.
My father in law had the pleasure of two Championships and watching our Cup Final win in person. Bearing in mind that he had not long been back in blighty after fighting the Japs the pleasure of going to Wembley was obviously huge so for him the Cup success remained long in his memory!
As I mentioned my privileged position dominates my thinking......an FACup would be the icing on the cake so is a no brainer! Sod promo, give us that great big Cup

Interesting and informed perspective, mac. Swale will be pleased. For me...I’ll still go for promotion over FA Cup success. Mind you, an unlikely double would be very welcome.

[Geoff Parkstone]

So, one for Tricky - would you rather win the League Cup or avoid relegation this year?

Financially there seems little doubt as to the best outcome, but as a fan?

[SithHappens]

So, one for Tricky - would you rather win the League Cup or avoid relegation this year?

Financially there seems little doubt as to the best outcome, but as a fan?

it's still called the milk cup in notts

[swaledale]

So, one for Tricky - would you rather win the League Cup or avoid relegation this year?

Financially there seems little doubt as to the best outcome, but as a fan?

I'd think with the money they have spent, relegation could be a big issue financially. Which seems to prove the point, is the aim of a football club to actually try and win a trophy? Or is it now accepted that barring the odd exception, the big 6 or 7 clubs will win everything and its now ambition is just a case of being able to watch your team play those clubs twice a year?

[SithHappens]

I'd think with the money they have spent, relegation could be a big issue financially. Which seems to prove the point, is the aim of a football club to actually try and win a trophy? Or is it now accepted that barring the odd exception, the big 6 or 7 clubs will win everything and its now ambition is just a case of being able to watch your team play those clubs twice a year?

Yeah think its a different question. If we somehow (we wont i know) got to the final this year id be happy to lose in the play off final / miss out on promotion and think we have a good chance of going one better next year. If Notts Forest get relegated with the money they have spent they could find themselves struggling with FFP even with the parachute payments and competing in the championship would be far from a given, history has shown its not easy. So in their position i probably would say stay up rather than win the league cup.

[ramAnag]

Which seems to prove the point, is the aim of a football club to actually try and win a trophy? Or is it now accepted that barring the odd exception, the big 6 or 7 clubs will win everything and its now ambition is just a case of being able to watch your team play those clubs twice a year?

Sadly I fear that’s the case, Swale. Indeed you only have to look at our own case to see what is happening. Only two stands open for Barnsley in the 3rd Round, but we draw top flight opposition at home in the 4th and suddenly ‘Cup fever’ takes a hold and we’re looking at a full house against West Ham...or we were until ITV4 moved it to a Monday evening!

Had we drawn Walsall or Wrexham I very much doubt there’d be the same enthusiasm.

Broadening the debate a little. I’ve enjoyed this season more than any other in recent years...probably for three reasons.
1. We’ve won much more than we’ve lost.
2. There’s an atmosphere of expectation and the ‘fear’ has been removed.
3. We’re owned by a seemingly decent man and represented by more ‘ordinary’ individuals who seem to want to give their all each week.

Question may be...if (and I don’t expect it to happen) Mr. Clowes was suddenly to be approached by those responsible for a ‘Newcastle type’ takeover - and remember they were seemingly nailed on for relegation this time last year - how many of us would be able to resist such ‘temptation’?