So it's Birmingham then.

[Bowman's Quiver]

Come on Coppell, surely you'd like to lead another team out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley!!!

Get your arse in gear, and put out our first team!!

"Que sera sera, whatever will be will be......"

How can it be hallowed? Nobody's played on it yet!

[SpaceCruiser]

Ever?

[Rawlie19]

When was the last time one of the big 4 clubs didn't win the F.A. Cup, and when was the last time at least one of the big 4 weren't in the final?

Answers on a postcard to: Steve Coppell, Reading FC, Madejski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, RG2 0FL

Last winner that wasn't Man U/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool = Everton 1995.

If you expand the top four to include Spurs and Everton as the top SIX teams in the country, then the last time a final didn't include any of them was 1975 ( ) - West Ham v Fulham...

Exactly. 12 years since anyone outside the big 4 had a sniff, and it was 1991 the last time none of the big 4 were in the final (Tottenham v Notts Forrest). I wouldn't include Everton as a top 6 side. They might have been just recently, but in the 90's they had a torrid time. Same can be said for Spurs really.

[readingbedding]

When was the last time one of the big 4 clubs didn't win the F.A. Cup, and when was the last time at least one of the big 4 weren't in the final?

Answers on a postcard to: Steve Coppell, Reading FC, Madejski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, RG2 0FL

Last winner that wasn't Man U/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool = Everton 1995.

If you expand the top four to include Spurs and Everton as the top SIX teams in the country, then the last time a final didn't include any of them was 1975 ( ) - West Ham v Fulham...

Exactly. 12 years since anyone outside the big 4 had a sniff, and it was 1991 the last time none of the big 4 were in the final (Tottenham v Notts Forrest). I wouldn't include Everton as a top 6 side. They might have been just recently, but in the 90's they had a torrid time. Same can be said for Spurs really.

In the mid 80's, Merseyside ruled football.
If it wasn't Everton, it was Liverpool for a good few years.

[floyd__streete]

Hurrah, a new ground for me. Nice chance to visit possibly the least pleasant bunch of mongs to visit the Madj.

[Rawlie19]

When was the last time one of the big 4 clubs didn't win the F.A. Cup, and when was the last time at least one of the big 4 weren't in the final?

Answers on a postcard to: Steve Coppell, Reading FC, Madejski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, RG2 0FL

Last winner that wasn't Man U/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool = Everton 1995.

If you expand the top four to include Spurs and Everton as the top SIX teams in the country, then the last time a final didn't include any of them was 1975 ( ) - West Ham v Fulham...

Exactly. 12 years since anyone outside the big 4 had a sniff, and it was 1991 the last time none of the big 4 were in the final (Tottenham v Notts Forrest). I wouldn't include Everton as a top 6 side. They might have been just recently, but in the 90's they had a torrid time. Same can be said for Spurs really.

In the mid 80's, Merseyside ruled football.
If it wasn't Everton, it was Liverpool for a good few years.

And Liverpool are included in the big 4.

Everton:
1979-80 D1 19
1980-81 D1 15
1981-82 D1 8
1982-83 D1 7
1983-84 D1 7
1984-85 D1 1
1985-86 D1 2
1986-87 D1 1
1987-88 D1 4
1988-89 D1 8
1989-90 D1 6
1990-91 D1 9
1991-92 D1 12
1992-93 PR 13
1993-94 PR 17
1994-95 PR 15

Apart from their run from 85 to 88, hardly impressive and not worthy of being called a 'top' club.

[Banjax]

Come on Coppell, surely you'd like to lead another team out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley!!!

Get your arse in gear, and put out our first team!!

"Que sera sera, whatever will be will be......"

How can it be hallowed? Nobody's played on it yet!

the builders played a game on it to test the flood lights

[Winchester Royal]

Hurrah, a new ground for me. Nice chance to visit possibly the least pleasant bunch of mongs to visit the Madj.

Its not that bad, when we went last year, there were a load of 14 and 15 year olds in the stand to our right who spent thier time trying to wind us up...

Nice ground though.

[higher]

Would have preferred Newcy but Birmongham will do.Be good for Sir Steve to up the anti re the cup.Not sure he will though.

[Barry the bird boggler]

If you expand the top four to include Spurs and Everton as the top SIX teams in the country, then the last time a final didn't include any of them was 1975 ( ) - West Ham v Fulham...

And the last time that none of those 6 won it was Coventry in 1987.

[papereyes]

Hurrah, a new ground for me. Nice chance to visit possibly the least pleasant bunch of mongs to visit the Madj.

At least they've got rid of the 5 to a bench seating that they had in the mid-90s. Wooden, cumbersome - can you say fire hazard?

[SpaceCruiser]

Wimbledon in 1988, surely?

[Barry the bird boggler]

Wimbledon in 1988, surely?

[Farnborough Royal]

If we beat Sheff Utd on Saturday then we will probably put out a stronger team IMO

[Stranded]

If we beat Sheff Utd on Saturday then we will probably put out a stronger team IMO

Personally thing it'll be pretty similar to Burnley with the Wigan game coming up on the 30th.

[skipper]

Coppell has said though that with t being a saturday, and no fixture conjestion that he's thinking of fielding a stronger team, anyway hen we played them last year in the cap - they were down and out and struggeling and still managed a draw at the Mad, we will get battered if we send a weekend team to brum!

Would love to win this, but it will be just as hard as our average Prem game!

[Rawlie19]

I saw Coppell say that, but it didn't make sense. Our original scheduled 3rd round game was a Saturday and the team that he gave out was weak.

[skipper]

I saw Coppell say that, but it didn't make sense. Our original scheduled 3rd round game was a Saturday and the team that he gave out was weak.

true but it was the 3rd round, and we we playing burnley, and we wernt as close to safety as we are, dunno but maybe once we confirm our status, we'll take it more seriously - provided were still in it?!

[Rawlie19]

I saw Coppell say that, but it didn't make sense. Our original scheduled 3rd round game was a Saturday and the team that he gave out was weak.

true but it was the 3rd round, and we we playing burnley, and we wernt as close to safety as we are, dunno but maybe once we confirm our status, we'll take it more seriously - provided were still in it?!

But he said those comments about fielding a stronger team for the 4th round BEFORE the draw was made, and before we had that ONE extra point. We could have drawn Southend. You really think that would need a stronger team than Burnley?

EDIT: No, it was after the game, which was after the draw, but before the 1 point

[royals pete]

What are the chances of this game being shown live on BBC?

What with B'ham's great result yesterday and the game being shown live on Sky last year?

All 4th Round games have been picked, we have the following to look forward to:

QPR/Luton V Blackburn (BBC) - Sat lunchtime
Man Utd V Pompey (BBC) - Sat Evening
Chelsea V Notts Forest (BBC) - Sun lunchtime (weird choice that one)
Arsenal V Bolton (Sky) - Sun afternoon

Language, Stranded. !! Its Nottingham Forest didn't y'know