If City Win the FA cup does 6th get the europa league spot?

[Craig_H]

The last time there was any 'magic' in the FA Cup, Paul Daniels was on prime time tv.

[BigChief]

Huh? What? Who am I hoping we lose to today?

[Daniel 7]

The last time there was any 'magic' in the FA Cup, Paul Daniels was on prime time tv.

Naaaahhhh

Michael Owen x 2!

Gerrard from miles away!

[red g]

DAniel how could you forget..........

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD80XYD1FvU"]YouTube - Steven Gerrard VS west ham fa cup final 90th min 2006[/ame]

[Craig_H]

That's just footballing magic though - it's not 'the magic of the FA Cup'

In fact, i hate that expression - magic happens in football, full stop. Regardless of the FA Cup.

[Daniel 7]

DAniel how could you forget..........

YouTube - Steven Gerrard VS west ham fa cup final 90th min 2006

I had edited my post just as you must have posted that video

[Red_Polo]

That's just footballing magic though - it's not 'the magic of the FA Cup'

In fact, i hate that expression - magic happens in football, full stop. Regardless of the FA Cup.

I think it refers to the way the FA cup pits 'minnows' against big teams with more potential for upset than other cups, which is true really, although I do agree it's cheesy sentimental crap

[Craig_H]

You can get that with the Carling Cup too though Granted, not non-league sides, but still minnows vs giants.

And when a minnow beats a big club in the FA Cup, you get all this 'thats the magic of the cup' bull**** - when really, it's not. A minnow can beat a big club anytime, it's just that the majority of times they get to play a big club, is in the FA Cup

[Red_Polo]

You can get that with the Carling Cup too though Granted, not non-league sides, but still minnows vs giants.

And when a minnow beats a big club in the FA Cup, you get all this 'thats the magic of the cup' bull**** - when really, it's not. A minnow can beat a big club anytime, it's just that the majority of times they get to play a big club, is in the FA Cup

Well, yes, that's what I mean, that's what 'the magic of the FA cup' is

You're right though, it's a trite hackneyed expression often used to describe things that happen with no more an element of surprise or amazement than other games and competitions provide

[Craig_H]

It's up there with 'the best cup competition in the world', and how this is 'the best league in the world' and how wembley is 'the best stadium in the world' and all that other tripe

[Red_Polo]

I have to say, I think Wembley is utterly **** and uninspiring

[Helios Creed]

I have to say, I think Wembley is utterly **** and uninspiring

You weren't really aware that the games were being held there, like the old Wembley somehow... not in terms of the atmosphere or the size of the pitch (the old pitch seemed huge) .

[DannyMan2006]

You weren't really aware that the games were being held there, like the old Wembley somehow... not in terms of the atmosphere or the size of the pitch (the old pitch seemed huge) .

All the corporate seating ruins Wembley. To have a mass of empty seats in front of the TV cameras is always a bit of a let down. They should have had that seating on the other side so people were less aware of it.

[tsb]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...anchester-city

Tottenham Hotspur fear fixture change may benefit Manchester City
• Manchester City v Stoke City league game moved to 17 May
• Spurs believe City could gain an advantage in race for fourth

David Hytner
guardian.co.uk, Monday 18 April 2011 22.27 BST

Harry Redknapp will be hoping the Premier League reschedules the Manchester City v Stoke City league game. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Tottenham Hotspur will lobby the Premier League over the rescheduling of the Manchester City against Stoke City league fixture, amid fears of a potential carve-up of the result to influence European qualification. The two clubs were due to met at Eastlands on FA Cup final weekend but their participation in the showpiece has forced a rethink and the game is now set for Tuesday 17 May, in the final week of the domestic season.

Yet Tottenham are concerned that this could hand City an advantage in the fight for a fourth-place finish. If Stoke were to lose the FA Cup final at Wembley on 14 May, they could still qualify for next season's Europa League if City were to finish fourth in the Premier League. That would see City make the Champions League and mean that they would not need the FA Cup's Europa League place, which would go to Stoke.

However, if City were to win the Cup but finish fifth in the league, they would take the Cup's Europa League place, ahead of Stoke and England's third Europa League berth would go to the sixth-placed league finisher. Tottenham worry that if City won the Cup, it might be in Stoke's interests to lose at Eastlands, as it could improve their own chances of making Europe, and they would like to see the fixture rearranged to before the FA Cup final to remove any element of suspicion.

The Premier League, though, feels that would cast unfair aspersions on Stoke, whose integrity it does not doubt. The League have rules in place that deal with the selection of weakened teams and they would bring them into force if that became an issue.

City's victory over their neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final and the potential for a Europa League spot to go to sixth place in the Premier League has rekindled the European hopes of Liverpool, Everton and Bolton Wanderers. The situation adds a layer of intrigue to more than just the City v Stoke end-of-season fixture.

Liverpool face Tottenham at Anfield on 15 May, a match where, paradoxically, defeat could potentially improve their chances of earning a European place by helping Spurs into fourth, while City's trip to Everton on 7 May could carry an extra edge. City's final-day visit to Bolton Wanderers could also prove pivotal for both teams.

My brain hurts

[McDermotX]

All the corporate seating ruins Wembley. To have a mass of empty seats in front of the TV cameras is always a bit of a let down. They should have had that seating on the other side so people were less aware of it.

Its something they really didn't consider (TV purposes) when putting the seats there........doesn't matter what game it is, what competition it is or whatever.....come the 2nd half, all the la-de-das are nowhere to be seen and there, for the whole world to see, is a mass of empty seats.

Looks ridiculous.....it really does.