From the article:

"Thirdly, the ending of semifinal and final replays and deciding ties
on penalty kicks just saps the last of the drama out of the
tournament. Who can forget the marathon replays between the likes of
Arsenal, Liverpool and United in the 70s and 80s let alone the '99
match between the Red Devils and the Gunners. This game contained
everything that made the FA Cup the magical, storied competition it was."

Yeah, and why did they ever get rid of laces on the ball and heavy
woolen shirts? Who can forget when there were no substitutions allowed?

Heaven forbid we not milk the customers out of money for replay after
replay after replay.

But everything was always much better back in the day, no matter what
sport you're talking about. Sheesh.

--- In usopen@yahoogroups.com, "brio_oops_i_mean_hps"
<lightning86@y...> wrote:
>
> I saw this and thought it may be interesting to forward it to this
> list to see the reaction.
>
> --- In US Open Cup, InWoodbridge> wrote:
> What happened to the magical FA Cup?
> Nick Webster/ Fox Soccer Channel
>
> Now the Cup is nothing more than a distraction to the elite that is
> the Premier League. The explanation for the oldest knockout
> competition in the world losing its luster is incredibly simple and
> the English Football Association is solely to blame. Firstly, the
> move from its traditional home, Wembley, to the Millennium Stadium in
> Wales was nothing less than sacrilege. No more Twin Towers, Wembley
> Way and you've got to schlep to Cardiff instead of a day out in the
> Capital. Yes, Wembley did need to be rebuilt but for it to take
> almost six years, well that's simply unacceptable.
>
> More --> http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/3395554
>
> I am not sure if any of you have read this on the Fox Soccer Channel
> website. It was an interesting read considering that this incluldes
> some of the same issues that many of us have stated about the USOC
> (not playing the top players, final not in a traditional location,
> midweek games). Is it possible that these type of competions are not
> that popular with the public?
>
> For the newer memebers of the list, the FA Cup is the cup competition
> that was the model for Sir. Thomas Dewar's vision for what has become
> known as the U.S. Open Cup.