Is the "Romance" for the cup still there?

Just want to get peoples opinions on this.

Do you still see the cup games as the fixture you "look out for" every season?

Are the league games more important?

Is the atmosphere still the same or better at your club?

For me personally the cup is always a great weekend, the chance to play non-league sides, the chance (in this seasons case) to play Premier division sides and something to take you away from the normal run of the mill league campaign.

I know a few years back the cup was massive, bigger crowds and better atmospheres but I would like to get the views of other fans on the matter.

seeing as pats havent won it since the 60s , i look forward to getting knocked out of the cup as early as possible so we dont have too much heart ache thinking that it could be our year....

Cup is still a big thing to Dundalk fans anyway,although the trip to Galway on a friday is unlikely to entice many of our fans to travel.Hopefully a big team at home in the next round will draw out more than usual.

I know from talking to a couple of the players that Dundalk would love a good cup run this year.

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Originally Posted by shep

Cup is still a big thing to Dundalk fans anyway,although the trip to Galway on a friday is unlikely to entice many of our fans to travel.Hopefully a big team at home in the next round will draw out more than usual.

I know from talking to a couple of the players that Dundalk would love a good cup run this year.

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Definatley.

Anyway, only a matter of time til we win our tenth one..:cool:

I have some ambivalance about the cup.

One one hand I would love to have a repeat of the thrills of being involved in a cup final, and would especially love for my ten year old son to experience what I enjoyed in 2002 (and in the 70's and 80's) - oh happy days!

The finance that goes with a good cup run and the likely increase in support for league games would be invaluable for the club.

With a small squad, the additional risk of injuries and suspensions is a major downside.

The reality is that, while there is a relegation battle, the league is infinately more important. Cup win in 2002 followed by 7 long years in the graveyard - there is no doubt where the priorities lie!

I'll tell you at about half 9 tomorrow night!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Danny

seeing as pats havent won it since the 60s , i look forward to getting knocked out of the cup as early as possible so we dont have too much heart ache thinking that it could be our year....

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Yeah we say that but deep down we're crushed every single time we lose.

Just let us win one, and then we'll leave it alone. 48 years since the last one...

from the point of view of a newer LOI fan the cup is a great thing. Our league cup run I know the lesser cup has done wonders for the support base in Wexford and hopefully an FAI cup run would imporve it more. Also for many teams it is there only way to compete to win a trophy in both divisions.

The romance of the cup is that any given day any team can beat anybody I know a lot of factors required but that the joy and romance of the cup and long may it countinue

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Originally Posted by Danny

seeing as pats havent won it since the 60s , i look forward to getting knocked out of the cup as early as possible so we dont have too much heart ache thinking that it could be our year....

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We'll try do you a favour Friday night so ;)

I always look forward to Cup games. However, the League Cup, especially at the latter stages is not that far removed from the Cup and I think takes away from it a bit.

I think the magic of the cup is still there. It obviously comes second in the list of priorities if you're challenging for the title but it's a prestigious competition and you can't beat the day of the final. I think in terms of being a football fan, the semis, the final, and to a lesser extent, the 'first' round of the cup, are all mythical days that everyone involved with the club looks forward to. The fact that you have one game with a winner and a loser guaranteed by 5:30 pm gives the whole day such a buzz and a feeling of tingling, nervous anticipation.

They're part of the magic of football- ask anyone about the history of their club and I guarantee you that while league triumphs will feature prominantly, most football fans will go most misty eyed over the save their keeper made in that penalty shoot-out in 1967, or the winning goal in 1983, or the time they put out the reigning champions against the odds in 1994. It still has the ability to create instant 'history' in a way the league can't do until the last few games of the season.

It's also a nice break from the relentless pressure of the league, (altough I think it's come at just the wrong time for us this season with us starting to build a bit of momentum!) and means you have the chance to play sides you wouldn't normally play, something that assumes even more interest when you think you have to play teams in the top flight 4 times a season. It's nice to (in our case) have the chance to play Ballymun United, or travel to Limerick.

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Originally Posted by thischarmingman

I think the magic of the cup is still there. It obviously comes second in the list of priorities if you're challenging for the title but it's a prestigious competition and you can't beat the day of the final. nervous anticipation.

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Second the above. winning the League is great but the one off day of the cup final is special. The chance of a decent crowd, the build up, the anticipation of the game, the guest singers ( maybe not) all make for a great day out. Always love the away days at grounds not usually visited in the earlier rounds.

Wanderers fans always think we have a chance of winning it so there are loads of us who get excited about it. It helps when we get easy draws in the earlier rounds.

Me, I'd rather stay up.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Yeah we say that but deep down we're crushed every single time we lose.

Just let us win one, and then we'll leave it alone. 48 years since the last one...

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At least this season you'll get the pain over with early. :D

"Romance of the cup" is a BBC coined soundbyte that was used to help revitalise a dying FA cup while they still had exclusive rights (and it worked too for a while, as witnessed by this thread).

Before that it was just the cup and over here it's no different. I don't buy into the "romance of the cup" hype at all. What was the cup like before the "romance"?

I mean thats not to completely disregard it, it's still the second most coveted prize in football on this Island and no club would turn their noses up at it but is there anything really special about it? In my opinion, no.

I think it depends on a lot though. As much as i'd love Waterford to win the cup, the league has to be out priority.

As Youths4Ever said above, the cup(s) offers the only chance(s) to win some silverware, so I am a definite fan of the Cup

Yes. :)

It must be still in Sligo. Our first sold out fans bus in a long time. And it's a 5 hour or so journey.

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Originally Posted by Hairy Bowsie

"Romance of the cup" is a BBC coined soundbyte that was used to help revitalise a dying FA cup while they still had exclusive rights (and it worked too for a while, as witnessed by this thread).

Before that it was just the cup and over here it's no different. I don't buy into the "romance of the cup" hype at all. What was the cup like before the "romance"?

I mean thats not to completely disregard it, it's still the second most coveted prize in football on this Island and no club would turn their noses up at it but is there anything really special about it? In my opinion, no.

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Seconded.

There's nothing particularly 'romantic' or 'magical' about the cup. It's the second most important trophy in League of Ireland football.

The League Cup, on the other hand - now that's magical..... :D