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Fans Disrespecting the FA Cup


Saint Charlie
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Sad to see.

 

Burnley, Yeovil and Sunderland (away) crowds were lower than all league games this season.

 

Despite reduced prices.

 

Yet fans think these games were more important than the league games and have been goading the Manager because of it?

 

Lots of fans keen to go to the final but none of the games before - dare I say fans disrespecting the cup before the Club did?

 

LOL.

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Apart from the simple difference that fans have to pay extra to go to Cup games whilst the players, coaching staff and manager get paid to take part in the competition I suppose you might have a minor point. However if you had a job of work which involved three tasks and you only concentrated on one of those tasks would your bosses and colleagues have something to say about that ?

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Apart from the simple difference that fans have to pay extra to go to Cup games whilst the players, coaching staff and manager get paid to take part in the competition I suppose you might have a minor point. However if you had a job of work which involved three tasks and you only concentrated on one of those tasks would your bosses and colleagues have something to say about that ?

 

Playing football is the same whichever game you play. Professional footballers are contracted to play cup games as well as the league. Playing a game is much better than just training. Players have bonuses for various competitions. What would happen if your contract stipulated occasional weekend working and callouts, would you refuse?

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Chicken and egg, innit. I know a lot of regulars who would have gone otherwise but they're not going to sit in the corners when they're used to a top-class seat.

 

When you say a lot, how many are we talking? 5? 10? 20?

 

Have you been to all the cup games?

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Chicken and egg, innit. I know a lot of regulars who would have gone otherwise but they're not going to sit in the corners when they're used to a top-class seat.

 

Kind of backs up Charlie's point regarding the general apathy towards the cup though. If people don't bother going to a game just because they have to sit in a different seat, it doesn't exactly scream cup fever.

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It's not financially viable for me to attend cup games as well as having a Season Ticket and also going to away games at the prices that this year's cup games were at. Low attendances were also down to the draws not being particularly glamorous - look at how quickly our FA Cup game against Man Utd sold out in the L1 promotion season - a couple of days wasn't it? And the game against P*mpey too, which shall not be mentioned further. If we had drawn bigger teams and the tickets had been more fairly priced, we would definitely have drawn bigger crowds. With the cost of supporting a Premier League team though, it's no surprise that many of the "regulars" stayed away from some of the games we've had in cups this year - especially in the earlier rounds.

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Playing football is the same whichever game you play. Professional footballers are contracted to play cup games as well as the league. Playing a game is much better than just training. Players have bonuses for various competitions. What would happen if your contract stipulated occasional weekend working and callouts, would you refuse?

 

Are you agreeing with me or not with that response ?

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It's not financially viable for me to attend cup games as well as having a Season Ticket and also going to away games at the prices that this year's cup games were at. Low attendances were also down to the draws not being particularly glamorous - look at how quickly our FA Cup game against Man Utd sold out in the L1 promotion season - a couple of days wasn't it? And the game against P*mpey too, which shall not be mentioned further. If we had drawn bigger teams and the tickets had been more fairly priced, we would definitely have drawn bigger crowds. With the cost of supporting a Premier League team though, it's no surprise that many of the "regulars" stayed away from some of the games we've had in cups this year - especially in the earlier rounds.

 

So you prioritise the league over the cups?

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Low attendances were also down to the draws not being particularly glamorous - look at how quickly our FA Cup game against Man Utd sold out in the L1 promotion season - a couple of days wasn't it?

 

SAT 29 JAN 2011

Saints 1-2 Man Utd

Att. 28,792

 

Not a sell out.

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Let's accept it for what it is. It is a knock-out competition leading to a semi-final and final at Wembley. Nobody with any sense would blame the fans for not turning out in their masses to watch us play a lower division team like Yeovil when the Club believe that they can charge those prices for watching our second team play somebody like them. However, had we met Yeovil in the semis, then there would be some justification for fans attending and being prepared to pay much steeper prices. Had we met some glory team in the Cup and played at home, then no doubt higher prices would be acceptable and a fuller stadium attendance would ensue.

 

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that had we reached the final, we would be able to sell our seat allocation three or four times over, which rather shoots down the argument that the fans are disrespectful of the Cup. And it is also true that the closer we would have got to being there at the final, the higher the crowd levels would be as expectations rise.

 

It isn't rocket science. It's the simple law of supply and demand, with additional factors like fans having already paid for season tickets and entrance to other away matches, convenience of the fixture in terms of its timing and distance, etc.

 

Had the club decided to employ a policy of cheaper tickets in the early stages against lower division opponents, then they would have achieved higher attendances, even when playing our second string players. There was the opportunity to encourage parents to bring their nippers to indoctrinate them into the Club, at the same time improving the atmosphere and increasing the take from the catering and merchandising.

 

I do hope that the new regime will be more inclined to consider these things than the last one did. It is disrespectful of the fans to take them for mugs.

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Let's accept it for what it is. It is a knock-out competition leading to a semi-final and final at Wembley. Nobody with any sense would blame the fans for not turning out in their masses to watch us play a lower division team like Yeovil when the Club believe that they can charge those prices for watching our second team play somebody like them. However, had we met Yeovil in the semis, then there would be some justification for fans attending and being prepared to pay much steeper prices. Had we met some glory team in the Cup and played at home, then no doubt higher prices would be acceptable and a fuller stadium attendance would ensue.

 

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that had we reached the final, we would be able to sell our seat allocation three or four times over, which rather shoots down the argument that the fans are disrespectful of the Cup. And it is also true that the closer we would have got to being there at the final, the higher the crowd levels would be as expectations rise.

 

It isn't rocket science. It's the simple law of supply and demand, with additional factors like fans having already paid for season tickets and entrance to other away matches, convenience of the fixture in terms of its timing and distance, etc.

 

Had the club decided to employ a policy of cheaper tickets in the early stages against lower division opponents, then they would have achieved higher attendances, even when playing our second string players. There was the opportunity to encourage parents to bring their nippers to indoctrinate them into the Club, at the same time improving the atmosphere and increasing the take from the catering and merchandising.

 

I do hope that the new regime will be more inclined to consider these things than the last one did. It is disrespectful of the fans to take them for mugs.

 

Wise words Wes.

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If we'd got to the semi-final how many tickets do you reckon we would sell?

 

Every single one at a neutral ground, and probably most, if not all of them for Wembley. The Final we would easily sell out. Just look at the JPT final. We are starved of success, so when we get that close, most will grab it will both hands.

 

Look at my situation this season, our best season for years and I have not been able to get to a game. You could bet your life, if we got to a semit final and final, I would have found the way of getting to the game and find the money. I could also justify it, but cannot justify going to league games at the moment.

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Let's accept it for what it is. It is a knock-out competition leading to a semi-final and final at Wembley. Nobody with any sense would blame the fans for not turning out in their masses to watch us play a lower division team like Yeovil when the Club believe that they can charge those prices for watching our second team play somebody like them. However, had we met Yeovil in the semis, then there would be some justification for fans attending and being prepared to pay much steeper prices. Had we met some glory team in the Cup and played at home, then no doubt higher prices would be acceptable and a fuller stadium attendance would ensue.

 

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that had we reached the final, we would be able to sell our seat allocation three or four times over, which rather shoots down the argument that the fans are disrespectful of the Cup. And it is also true that the closer we would have got to being there at the final, the higher the crowd levels would be as expectations rise.

 

It isn't rocket science. It's the simple law of supply and demand, with additional factors like fans having already paid for season tickets and entrance to other away matches, convenience of the fixture in terms of its timing and distance, etc.

 

Had the club decided to employ a policy of cheaper tickets in the early stages against lower division opponents, then they would have achieved higher attendances, even when playing our second string players. There was the opportunity to encourage parents to bring their nippers to indoctrinate them into the Club, at the same time improving the atmosphere and increasing the take from the catering and merchandising.

 

I do hope that the new regime will be more inclined to consider these things than the last one did. It is disrespectful of the fans to take them for mugs.

 

Excellent post.

 

If I had to choose to go to one game this season, I was waiting for the semi final, then if we won I am sure I could have found the money for the 2nd game. As it is we are out, so now I am looking at the remaining games and I will choose one. That is because of my situation this season. I would love to be able to afford to go to every game, believe me!

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As someone who celebrated the 1976 final (aged one, decked out in blue dungarees and a yellow top) I am disappointed to hear about the lack of respect our fans have shown toward this competition in recent years. Somewhat seriously, the grounds look half-empty most places you look unless the tie throws up a big game, and it's not just us.

 

As I understand it, the money is paid out differently for cup games. Doesn't each team get half the gate, irrespective of where it's played?

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Sad to see.

 

Burnley, Yeovil and Sunderland (away) crowds were lower than all league games this season.

 

Despite reduced prices.

 

Yet fans think these games were more important than the league games and have been goading the Manager because of it?

 

Lots of fans keen to go to the final but none of the games before - dare I say fans disrespecting the cup before the Club did?

 

LOL.

 

Quite. It's funny how 2 trips to wembley at c£100 a pop would suddenly become "financially viable" when st Mary's at £15. It's a matter of priorities in the same way as it is for the club. Lots of hypocrisy being displayed as usual. I personally didn't go to any of the cup games because I just didn't fancy it yet would probably have gone to the semi and final had they made it. If that makes me a bad fan so be it but no one could argue, based on the numbers, that the same doesn't go for 90% of the fanbase. The team at Sunderland probably should have got a result but didn't on the day. That's the nature of sport

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Not only that, what about the poor atmosphere at so many stadiums for the cup games? (Not just Saints games)

 

The atmosphere at grounds has not been the same since terracing went, it has got worse not better and the Cup is nothing to do with that, clubs prioritizing over Cup with League games and possible Champions League has devalued it hence the fans reaction to it, that said no one complains whatever the size when they win it.

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Quite. It's funny how 2 trips to wembley at c£100 a pop would suddenly become "financially viable" when st Mary's at £15. It's a matter of priorities in the same way as it is for the club. Lots of hypocrisy being displayed as usual. I personally didn't go to any of the cup games because I just didn't fancy it yet would probably have gone to the semi and final had they made it. If that makes me a bad fan so be it but no one could argue, based on the numbers, that the same doesn't go for 90% of the fanbase. The team at Sunderland probably should have got a result but didn't on the day. That's the nature of sport

 

Thats obvious as you play at larger venues for the Final, so more people can go, the ground size caters to the business needs, its has done this since its inception so nothing new there.

Edited by Barry Sanchez
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If we'd got to the semi-final how many tickets do you reckon we would sell?

The "Semi Final ticket allocation is so unfair" thread would have been amusing, as it would have exposed the Gobshoites who pontificate on here, but through supporting Saints from behind the safety of a keyboard didn't have enough matchday purchase history to secure a ticket.

 

 

Times have changed, leisure time is more valuable as many of us all work harder and longer hours than in the past, and leisure activities are more plentiful, folks put different priorities on their leisure time and will easily opt for the least line of resistance, and a Cup game for even long established season ticket holders I know, even at £15 is a good excuse to not to attend and do something different that interests them.

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I'm disagreeing. They are paid to play as many games as necessary so they should always give their best effort.

 

Aah, I see, but I was referring to the manager and his selection not the players. I have no doubt that Jos, Guly etc did their best, but as we know by now their best is just not good enough at this level.

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Last time you went to a game?

 

Dont know what that´s got to do with it?

But if you really want to know, Reading at home in Championship.

Yours?

 

Does that help me assess the atmosphere at Goodison Park and other stadiums that has had FA Cup games the last few weeks?

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Dont know what that´s got to do with it?

But if you really want to know, Reading at home in Championship.

Yours?

 

Does that help me assess the atmosphere at Goodison Park and other stadiums that has had FA Cup games the last few weeks?

 

So youve not been to a game for 2 years, but still feel qualified to comment on recent stadium atmospheres??

 

Man U away this season btw

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It's allowed on forums or anywhere, but having opinions on things you know nothing about just dilutes the opinions you might have on things you do know about.

 

I don't understand the obsession with having an opinion on everything, no-one has the knowledge to do so and it's only attention seeking idiots who do it. I come on here because I don't know about a lot of things and want to, and look for posters with more info who are better placed to have an opinion that me.

 

If you watch a lot of games, live or on TV then you're reasonably well placed to have any opinion you like, but atmosphere is going to be better judged by people attending games, clearly.

 

Dont think I´ve ever said something about having opinions on everything (but perhaps you were talking in general terms).

 

Yes it´s easier to judge atmosphere in place at the stadium but I was talking about atmosphere generally for cup games (not only Saints games as I also said) and all reports has said that it has been quite poor at most places and that´s also my impression of it from looking at the games on tv.

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