I dunno about everyone else but I'm struggling to get enthusiastic about the Cup. Tomorrow is a horrible banana skin and it would be depressing to go out to Palace but overall, I just can't get excited about it. I know there's revenue from future home games etc to consider and also the fact that the lads seem to go to pieces after breaks so a run may help protect our league form, but it just seems to lack the old sparkle. How does everyone else feel?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

Answers

the Macbeth family is fairly excited, we spent last night looking at all my old shirts deciding which one Isla would look coolest in (2 years ago, last S&N, blue trim, with FERGUSON on the back).

It's always difficult to feel excited about a 'mundane' game after you've played top games, like the Saturday after CL games, I've heard. Having played the top teams over xmas this has to seem flat. Come April and a semi final you'll feel excited again.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

how about stuffing Trevor Francis 10-0, that would be nice, no?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

I'd forgotten the Francis Factor.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

It woudl be great to see Francis lose the plot again, has there ever been a managerial petulance to match his at having to take penalties at the other end from where he wanted ?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

The thought of a replay....Selhurst Park, midweek. Hmmmmm.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

FAC is our only chance of silverware this season, but I don't mind losing out. With our limited depth in the squad, any injuries picked up in extra games will harm our CL challenge (yes, that's right - we're challenging for a CL spot!).

Anyone else rather be in the CL than have a good cup run? OK, if we win the pot, I'll be ecstatic, but we're not gonna are we?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

IMO, we must give top priority to a CL spot, even at the expense of the FAC. For that reason I would not play either Robert or Dyer tomorrow - or Lee and Speed if they are less than 100%.

If we put a scratch team out tomorrow we could be out anyway - I can't see Palace being a pushover.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

I don't see why not. If we win tomorrow we'll be in the last 32. This means that we'd only have to win another 3 games to be in the SF. So in total 4 wins put us in the SF. We could very easily not have to face a descent team to get into the SF. We could get 4 home draws and we Will beat ANYONE at home.

I hope Sunderland and ourselves win and we get them at home in the next round!

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

I'm naturally excited about it. It marks the 40th anniversary of my first game and that alone is enough to get me very excited about this one.

Leaving personal interest aside, the Cup is a great competition and a good money spinner if we advance especially to quarter and semi stages. Lots of luck in the draw and you can go out the competition on a single ref's mistake but the rewards are high enough for me to be interested.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

money wise, if we had four 40,000 gates then we'd probably rake in about £4m that would go very nicely to finance Marcelino's end of year bonus

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

I'm not even in my usual seat and have to do some mountaineering in the Gallowgate to get to the new seat. Grumble. Mumble. Grumble.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

Maybe if we got knocked out and had a couple of away games round the next Cup break, we could relay the pitch?

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

We have been sooooooooo close in 3 out of the last 4 seasons. FFS we went to 2 finals! (Still can't believe that) yet we didn't win. I just think we had our chances and didn't take them.

A cup run is a mixed blessing. I don't think we can win it so what's the point of a long run, extra games, stretching the squad etc. I'd rather we got a Champs League place.

I know it's unromantic of me but that's how I feel.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002