Quote:Fulham didn't seem to be very interested in winning the game. I don't understand the incentive.

These days, the F.A. Cup isn't as good as it used to be.  It has always been a chance for clubs from a lower league to go up against the bigger teams in a knock out competition with the chance for a big pay day!  These days the bigger teams field their younger players/reserve teams against the first teams of lower league opposition - they are either concentrating on winning the league (as I may have said previously only five teams have won the Premier League), getting a European place (the winner of the F.A. Cup also gets a place), or surviving relegation if they are down near the bottom of the league!  Sheffield United are two leagues lower than Fulham so they probably thought we could save our better players for the League which matters more as they are likely to make more money!

 

Quote:For the teams in the lower ranked leagues, a chance to become giant killers. For all, the winner gets to compete in the Europa League's next season.

 

Last, but not least, national pride. That actually still matters there. Everybody has some connection to a local club that will participate. Every match is broadcast on TV. If you think we love sports here, their love of association football is on a different level.

Unfortunately that's not the case.  There were 16 F.A. cup games this weekend, only five at the most were televised, eleven games kicked of at 3pm on Saturday.  There is a blackout type rule for games played mid afternoon on Saturdays http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_foo...lackout.22

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