Quote: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!

For most, it's a simple economic equation. The millions earned playing Champions League are vastly more important than the relatively small payday of the FA Cup, so winning in their league is more important than in the Cup. Of course, if you're in a lower league you don't get a shot at the CL anyway so the Cup becomes the main price and moneymaker.

---