At first glance there is no reason why the FA Cup should be considered so special by so many. Most big clubs rest players for early rounds and consider Champions League qualification to be more important than winning the Cup. (Tottenham and Leicester made seven and eight changes respectively for their match on Sunday). Furthermore, a lot of the games are played on pitches which look more suitable for female naked mud-wrestling than for football and in weather conditions that make north-west Kazakhstan in February look like Malibu in May.
Many people cite the tradition of 'cup-shocks' as being a vital part of the FA Cup, but surprise results happen frequently in other less-regarded cup completions around the world. For example, in 2008 Real Union knocked Real Madrid out of the King's Cup and in 2009 EA Guingamp, then of French League Two actually won the French Cup. So the FA Cup is nothing special in that regard.
It might be the rich history the competition has, but who actually knows much about that? I certainly wouldn't be able to tell you when Yeovil beat Sunderland or when the Matthews Final was and I doubt most other fans could either. Perhaps the idea that the Cup has a history is what's appealing rather than the reality of the nitty-gritty details.
Lastly, some people suggest that the FA Cup has 'romance'. But those people are just 'tards. Romance is red roses, candles and an Italian restaurant before a quick snack in the bush isn't it? But what's romantic about red noses, floodlights and a mobile burger-van before a quick whizz behind a bush? Nothing!
So, why are people so enthusiastic about the FA Cup? The only reason I can think of is the enthusiasm people have for it, despite everything. Despite the cold and crapness of England in January, despite the fact that the big clubs don't take it seriously and despite the fact that it is on the surface so mundane and unremarkable. How quintessentially English.
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