So as we are without a game this weekend, the FA Cup is in sharp focus. For some clubs, the cups are as important as anything else in the game. For others, mainly for practical reasons, they are considered somewhat extraneous.
Looking at the Premier League as it is today – a powerhouse of financial income and expenditure – it is easy to see why the cups have taken a back seat. After all, for many clubs, the cost of relegation runs far deeper than pride, with many clubs in serious financial danger should they do the unthinkable and go down.
As we know, Financial Fair Play was brought in to try and remedy some of the issues with regard to massive spending, but this season TV revenue went up from £50m to £80m per club per season. For a club like Villa, that TV revenue money is over half of what the club makes total. In that sense, the club’s occupancy of the Premier League has become something to retain at all costs – regardless of the fallout from these situations.
Unfortunately for us – the paying public – it has meant that some games have ended up dour, poor quality affairs with the teams involved so worried about dropping points, that entertainment seems like a secondary notion.
Add in the fact that games that used to be important to the clubs and fans alike – the cup matches played out this week – now seem to be inconvenient interruptions, yet another reason that leaves the fans feeling disconnected. Did I miss the memo when football became about money rather than the game itself? Sometimes I have to shake my head at the sheer craziness of it all.
Getting back to the cup, as many readers know, we have a partnership deal with EA Sports, and the regular columns of football pundit and former Manchester United player Gary Neville. In his column this week, he has talked about the issue I’m describing – the idea that things get prioritised at clubs.
Speaking on the involvement of the top four in the league, Neville said:
“The FA Cup fifth round draw between Arsenal/Liverpool and Manchester City/Chelsea are ones that those clubs would not have wanted. Losing against your rivals, even though it’s not in the league, still has that psychological effect at this time in the year. I think that is why all four teams will treat it with the utmost respect as they know that it could have lasting implications. I have never seen a team that benefitted through losing football matches and no team ever wants to lose in order to concentrate on another competition. The idea of losing football matches and having a free week doesn’t make sense – the loss of momentum and the psychological impact of losing has a huge effect.”
Perhaps the above illustrates the difference between being a player at a club and being someone directly hired to fulfil the work of the board. Yes, the players have to play a role in how the team develops, but for most footballers, there is something to be said for success over financial rewards, despite what the modern game might suggest.
Yes, we can all see that the game is awash with cash, and many players get paid far more than they realistically deserve, but I still think the real footballers – those who came to the game from pure love – would rather finish their career with a hatful of trophies prioritised over just earning cash.
For others, money is the biggest point of interest. As an observer, I can’t blame people who want to earn money first rather than success, but it does seem a little sad to think that the money obsession may be filtering down to the players as well, rather than the penny pinching accountants.
To finish, I wanted to get the views of readers on the cups themselves. Do they still mean something for you? Would you rather win a cup, even if it potentially caused a risk of losing places in the Premier League? Or are you happier that Villa have stayed up for the past 20+ years?
Ladies and gentlemen, it is over to you.
Gary Neville was speaking in his fortnightly column for EA SPORTS FIFA 14 Ultimate Team. Read his full column at http://www.easports.com.
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