Kitson don't give a toss about FA Cup

[Victor Meldrew]

They might bother a bit more if no supporters bothered to turn up.

Like a lot of others who pay for the away season ticket I have already paid for this match and have this sense of feeling cheated.
If I want to watch our reserves I'll go along to a reserves' match but the idea of spending another £50 plus on petrol to see whether our reserves can put on a decent show doesn't grab me.

I thought we were a Premiership side and club but on days like Saturday we are suddenly a 3rd division club playing away to the big boys in the hope of getting a replay at best so that we could see top players at our home ground.

I don't know what the answer is but it does seem a shame that the oldest and most famous competition in world football is now treated in such a disparaging way and not just by Reading.

[purleyroyal]

Didn't West Ham almost beat Liverpool in the final a couple of years ago when they'd just come up from the CCC?

[Flyingkiwi]

Personally, I see value in the FA cup.

1st: It's a chance for fringe squad members to force the manager and supporters to watch them and, with the porous defence we've exhibited recently, a chance for many to stake a claim.

2nd: There is always a chance of a run.Remember last year? 2 wins over lower div opposition and we were getting all excited about the last 16, quarter finals etc

3rd: If we draw much lower division teams away it's a chance for younger fans to have a day out and get some sort of idea what it was like to support Reading, week in week out, all those years ago.

But, ultimately, I've got to agree with Kitson but, as many have already said, perhaps he didn't need to say it.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Why don't they offer the cup winners a gauranteed place in the Premiership the following season.... that would get the bottom Prem teams and lower league teams fighting to win it and actually beating top Prem teams who believe they are above relegation . It's controversal, In many ways it's such a stupid idea it might work.

Not that silly mate , it was muted recently that the FA Cup winners would go into the Champions league instead of the UEFA Cup , to me that's a great idea and would certainly boost the FA Cup . I think it was out voted by the big clubs as usual , for fear of them losing another few squillion quid .

[muppet_]

I'm sorry but i think all this has been taken out of context, kitson probably said one small thing about Reading wanting to concentrate on the league rather than the cup too much and then it all got blown out of proportion. Coppell obviously does care about the cup, wait and see if he plays a strong team on saturday because i bet he will. As much as i'd like to see cox and henry etc play, i really don't think they will..

[papereyes]

The odd thing about that Manchester United link is that Kitson comes across as more in-touch than most footballers.

We aren't going to win it. We all know we aren't going to win it.

And its not us, its every club outside of a very elite group. I am not surprised that its fans of one of those sides failing to see this very simple issue.

I'm more impressed with him saying that than any amount of trite bollocks about looking for a cup run.

[Vision]

They might bother a bit more if no supporters bothered to turn up.

Like a lot of others who pay for the away season ticket I have already paid for this match and have this sense of feeling cheated.
If I want to watch our reserves I'll go along to a reserves' match but the idea of spending another £50 plus on petrol to see whether our reserves can put on a decent show doesn't grab me.

I thought we were a Premiership side and club but on days like Saturday we are suddenly a 3rd division club playing away to the big boys in the hope of getting a replay at best so that we could see top players at our home ground.

I don't know what the answer is but it does seem a shame that the oldest and most famous competition in world football is now treated in such a disparaging way and not just by Reading.

To be fair though ,did you honestly expect anything different given our policy over the last few seasons? Can't see how people can feel cheated when its been the same for the last 4 seasons.

I still believe that the side he puts out will actually have just as good a chance of victory (if not better) than playing the same team thats player the last 8 or 9 games in the League. It was certainly competitive last season.

Of course the transfer window has a lot to answer for as well in my opinion. Teams now have to effectively carry 2 teams (even more so with the top clubs ) to avoid problems when the window is closed IE most of the damn season. As a result the top clubs stockpile players and an awful lot rarely get a look-in on a weekly basis. Most clubs (not ourselves obviously) dont tend to play senior pros in their reserve teams. The cups become an outlet with which to give them matches.

Also the moment league matches started being screened live the allure of the FA Cup started to wain gradually. When i was a kid the cup final was the only live domestic game shown on the box so as such was a huge event. Even cup highlights of the 2 selected games on MOTD and the Big Match were a big deal. With the total saturation of TV coverage its lost its magic.

I agree that it's a real shame modern football has come to this but i can't see why people (and I'm not including you) are having a pop at Kitson for telling it like it is.

[Don Finch]

I'm more impressed with him saying that than any amount of trite bollocks about looking for a cup run.

As much as I like Kitson and what he normally has to say, I think he should have kept his views to himself in this instance. They serve no purpose other than to piss people off who are paying money to follow them in the cups.
He speaks the truth but people don't always want to hear that.

[papereyes]

I'm more impressed with him saying that than any amount of trite bollocks about looking for a cup run.

As much as I like Kitson and what he normally has to say, I think he should have kept his views to himself in this instance. They serve no purpose other than to piss people off who are paying money to follow them in the cups.
He speaks the truth but people don't always want to hear that.

And?

[ankeny]

Didn't West Ham almost beat Liverpool in the final a couple of years ago when they'd just come up from the CCC?

Yes,almost,says it all .

[Don Finch]

I'm more impressed with him saying that than any amount of trite bollocks about looking for a cup run.

As much as I like Kitson and what he normally has to say, I think he should have kept his views to himself in this instance. They serve no purpose other than to piss people off who are paying money to follow them in the cups.
He speaks the truth but people don't always want to hear that.

And?

I just can't see any merits in Kitson coming out and saying what he did. Smokers know they're risking their health, doesn't mean they want someone telling them the risks of cancer each time they spark up. Similarly I know I'm going to spend a fair amount of money to watch the reserves up in London play a match that certain people don't care if we win or lose, don't really need to be told that by a well paid footballer.

[Kevin Doyles Right Foot]

pisses me off abit tbh because i have payed fair money to get to/watch this game and if he won't bother to play it pisses me off, thats like at work saying nah im not going to bother working this week because the work isnt as important.

[Adrian's Fool]

Anyone who has bought a ticket for Saturday's match on the premise that we woul be playing a first team is an idiot, or at least has not been following Reading properly for the last couple of seasons.

I am a Reading fan no matter who plays. I for one am excited about seeing some fresh and emthusiastic players playing on Saturday. If anyone thinks those players are going to take the blindest bit of notice of Kitson's comments, again they are an idiot.

[Ian Royal]

Anyone who has bought a ticket for Saturday's match on the premise that we woul be playing a first team is an idiot, or at least has not been following Reading properly for the last couple of seasons.

I am a Reading fan no matter who plays. I for one am excited about seeing some fresh and emthusiastic players playing on Saturday. If anyone thinks those players are going to take the blindest bit of notice of Kitson's comments, again they are an idiot.

spot on.

[peeping_bernal]

Kitson has been slated on talksport tonight for his comments about the cup, but I totaly agree with him, I also think it his comments are been taken out of context to make him look a premiership knob like all the others, as in recent weeks he has become a media darling to some. The PL is where we/he wants to stay. We are in a relegation dogfight, albeit we are at the top end of it, and teams which have used the FA cup as a distraction to there league form have done to their peril, and gone that litttle bit further in the cup but slipped down the table as players have one eye on the cup.

[Vision]

pisses me off abit tbh because i have payed fair money to get to/watch this game and if he won't bother to play it pisses me off, thats like at work saying nah im not going to bother working this week because the work isnt as important.

FFS theres enough ill informed bollox about Kitson's comments in the media as it is, without our own fans joining the chorus.

Kitson won't play because he wont get picked as he is currently a first team regular who has played in every game for the last 4 months. Coppell has had the same selection policy for the last 4 seasons, why on earth do you think he was gonna change for Spurs away when he didn't for Man Utd away?

You're talking as if Kitson's refused to play which isn't the case.

[Stranded]

pisses me off abit tbh because i have payed fair money to get to/watch this game and if he won't bother to play it pisses me off, thats like at work saying nah im not going to bother working this week because the work isnt as important.

Dear God!

If we was selected he would play. He won't be selected. So his comments are actually totally irrelevant at this time.

EP today suggests that only Convey and Cisse from the starting XI against Pompey will start.

[The 17 Bus]

Of course if teams took the competition seriously and played their first teams the tickets would be full price.

[Dirk Gently]

Anyone who has bought a ticket for Saturday's match on the premise that we woul be playing a first team is an idiot, or at least has not been following Reading properly for the last couple of seasons.

I am a Reading fan no matter who plays. I for one am excited about seeing some fresh and emthusiastic players playing on Saturday. If anyone thinks those players are going to take the blindest bit of notice of Kitson's comments, again they are an idiot.

Yep - the attraction of this game to me is to hopefully get a look at Henry and Pearce in first team action. Winning the game isn't a realistic expectation, but it we do that'll just make things superb!

[Don Finch]

Anyone who has bought a ticket for Saturday's match on the premise that we woul be playing a first team is an idiot, or at least has not been following Reading properly for the last couple of seasons.

I am a Reading fan no matter who plays. I for one am excited about seeing some fresh and emthusiastic players playing on Saturday. If anyone thinks those players are going to take the blindest bit of notice of Kitson's comments, again they are an idiot.

Yep - the attraction of this game to me is to hopefully get a look at Henry and Pearce in first team action. Winning the game isn't a realistic expectation, but it we do that'll just make things superb!

Definitely, the reserves showed what they are capable of last season, really hope the youngsters get a run out tomorrow.