Dougal asked us all last week if we were really bothered about the FA Cup. My reply was that I wasn't really and would prefer a top 6 place before another long cup run. The trouble is since Saturday's result I find myself getting involved in it all again. The truth is though, if we got to another final, I don't think I could cope!

3 gut wrenching Wembley trips was a nightmare and the thought of another final v Man Utd probably is just too much to think about. Of course we may not get that far but the question is do we want to?

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Answers

Do I want to? Yes

Do I think we will? No comment

Personally I think it might be better to concentrate on the league, but I'd hate to be put out by Darlington.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Oh yes absolutely - but there so many imponderables in the FA Cup that we have to prioritise the pursuit of a CL spot.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Go for broke I say. It's only four more games and we're in the final.

Is the fact that the makems are out, going to make it easier for them to pick up their season ? I wouldn't have thought so. I think we're currently in a good enough state not to have to worry too much about the effect the cup will have on the league and vice versa.

So, yes, go for it. Success breeds success, so I'm told.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Agreed, all the world's a stage and, the FA Cup (Final) is still a huge stage = a chance for the Toon to attract some new talent (as in players) and, a chance for our current players to attract their national coaches.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Lynda, the thought of Man Utd being on another roll and us having to face them in a Final makes me feel physically sick. I am sure we would at least get out of bed and try to win unlike the last Final but losing again would be almost too much to cope with. As Pit Bill says, though, we don't really want to go out to Darlo.... However, it's all revenue and I don't think being in two competitions should make that much difference to our form in either competition.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

No one here in Barcelona that I have spoken to has ever heard of the FA cup. So much for international reputation. These days only League or European honours count.

Mind, you, I'd love to see us win the cup but that's coz I'm a soft sentimental shite

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

I may have alluded to this before. So pardon the repetition. Until the advent of European contests, the Cup was by far the most prestigious trophy. Unquestionnably, we would have won the League in 1951, but the players were so scared of getting hurt that they lost or drew wvery game from the semi to the Final. Stan Seymour had ill- advisedly told the players after they beat Wolves in the semi that all the places were safe -- so everyone was more worried about getting injured than playing to win. To prove the point, the Wednesday after beating Blackpool, as I remember it, we had to go to Molyneux where we trouced the Wolves 4 -2 -- no mean feat in those days.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

In Australia the FA Cup Final is big, but when the Toon got there, I think many of them thought "who the fuck are they?". Mind you, they tend to think that about anyone outside MU, Liverpool, etc. So at least I had a chance to educate them.

I think it's a good laugh, the FA Cup, but also maybe a chance to get into Europe. The Troyes build up was my highlight of the season so far, even more than Man. U. & Leeds. Call me weird.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Floridian is right about the value of the cup in the old days. The league was secondary. I know that most of my mates thought that to win the cup was everything, to win the league was ...yawn. The situation is reversed today but for my money I'd still say go all out for the cup. The effect of a cup run on league chances, to my mind, is strictly one of the increased chance of injuries. You'll never convince me that the increase in the number of games would negatively impact on the performance of properly-conditioned players. They should be sharper with more games played. - phoenix

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

I caught the tail end of something on the radio about the Darlington game being moved to SJP. It ended saying that the game would only be moved for reasons involving safety and besides there was Peterborough to despatch first.

Can anyone shed any light on who has been suggesting the game to be moved. (Despite it being better for us I hope it's not our idea, the Stevenage shite still makes me cringe)

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

They used to show the FA Cup Final every year when I was growing up in Cape Town: that and the Grand Prix were my big sporting telly moments of the year. Everyone would be talking about the Cup Final at school and sides were picked during the fortnight before and fiercely fought over despite nobody having any idea who anyone was. We heard plenty about hooligansim and had a monthly league update in the papers but that was about it. I suppose it was only such a big deal because I was one of the ex-pats and it was partly done to provoke the Afrikaaners.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Reynolds was on Look North night before last and informed us that 'That nice Freddy Shepherd phoned and ask if we fancied transferring the tie to SJP' no pressure, no strings, no hassle, according to Reynolds, so if anybody tries to tell it otherwise, it's a typical scumbag journo stunt.

Incidentally, did anybody else catch our very own Dr Bill on Look North last night, sounding very convincing in support of that combined measles-rubella-whooping cough vaccine ?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Oh dear, I hoped to sneak that one through without anybody noticing. Still, thanks for the kind words, PB. I think that they say "never work with children or animals" in meeja circles - now I know why!

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

So, Dr Bill, did your kids have this combined jab??? Or would you prefer Tony to answer for you? ;-)

In all honesty, I dunno whether wor kids had it or not. I think not. Mrs Screach dealt with all things medical.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

PS. You're quite entiled to ignore this, not being an FA Cup related question ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Certainly did, Screach - although they were a little older than babies by the time that MMR was introduced. And I would make the same decision again. Think I burbled something to that effect in the interview, although it's difficult to remember under the circumstances - (a) live interviews are nature's best laxative and (b) gazing fixedly into Carol Malia's eyes is quite distracting!

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002