⚽ Match Thread vs. Shrewbury Town FC 01.12.23 [FAC R2]

[countygump]

Exactly how I felt then and now. I've got used to coping with disappointment over the years, but this one was hard to take.

Shrewsbury didn't win it, we lost it.

Lost it or threw it away? Think I'd go with the latter.

[Old_pie]

Re-read what I wrote not what you think is there

You said "... the Cup competitions need to be taken seriously by the club and players, anyone (including your trusted sources) who pays to get in deserves a 100% effort by the club and players."

So are you saying they gave 100% effort but didn't take it seriously?

[upthemaggies]

Maybe we could say that they weren't "mentally at it", but the fans and football attitudes in general are a factor in that, not just the manager's team talk and starting selection. There is a very obvious problem with the FA Cup and has been for a very long time.

[durhampie]

Maybe we could say that they weren't "mentally at it", but the fans and football attitudes in general are a factor in that, not just the manager's team talk and starting selection. There is a very obvious problem with the FA Cup and has been for a very long time.

Its the same with every cup competition that we are in. I call it " Taking the piss"

[Observerpie]

Its the same with every cup competition that we are in. I call it " Taking the piss"

Exactly this. If they're not taking it seriously then they shouldn't expect us to fork out to watch it.

[upthemaggies]

Its the same with every cup competition that we are in. I call it " Taking the piss"

Our cup is really bad of late, but having said that we went out of every cup competition at the first hurdle from 1965 to late 1970, which wouldn't have been for a lack of trying.

If we go on to make the play offs at least, then Friday night will be forgotten (by most). If we end up mid-table and it becomes apparent that we don't have the cash to improve the squad without selling prized assets, then Shrewsbury takes on a whole new significance. Whatever we think of the FA Cup today, there is still money to be made for clubs lower down the levels.

[Elite_Pie]

So are you saying they gave 100% effort but didn't take it seriously?

It's possible for both to be true. The players on the pitch gave 100%, but the team selection treated the FA Cup as being of secondary importance. We played nowhere near our strongest side, so we didn't take it seriously. We prioritised the league instead.

[upthemaggies]

It's possible for both to be true. The players on the pitch gave 100%, but the team selection treated the FA Cup as being of secondary importance. We played nowhere near our strongest side, so we didn't take it seriously. We prioritised the league instead.

Supporters should know the deal by now when it comes to the FL Trophy and League Cup.
FA cup wise, it's been less obvious where our priorities lie - Hardy sacked a manager after an FA Cup defeat - but since the current owners took over it seems we take the FAC no more seriously than than the lesser cup competitions.

This is the most upset a cup exit to a FL outfit I can ever remember seeing on here. It rivals some of the exits to non-league clubs.

[upthemaggies]

FA Cup Attendances under current owners, from highest to lowest......

1. Sat 19/Oct/2019 5,729 v Belper Town
2. Sat 15/Oct/2022 5,060 v Coalville Town
3. Fri 1/Dec/2023 4,551 v Shrewsbury Town
4. Tue 16/Nov/2021 4,460 v Rochdale
5. Sat 4/Nov/2023 3,952 v Crawley Town
6. Tue 19/Oct/2021 2,594 v Tamworth

Average: 4,391

With those figures in mind, it could be argued that the numbers turning up for this competition are dictating the club's attitude towards it.
Friday was the 27th lowest ML FA Cup gate of all time. Of the 26 lower, not one of them dates back before the latter half of the 1990s.

[keldsyke]

You said "... the Cup competitions need to be taken seriously by the club and players, anyone (including your trusted sources) who pays to get in deserves a 100% effort by the club and players."

So are you saying they gave 100% effort but didn't take it seriously?

The replies above 👆🏻 explain my thoughts better