In the late 1980s, Liverpool legend John Aldridge scored four goals in two consecutive FA Cup semi-finals for Liverpool. Both games were played at neutral venues, but things have changed since then, and semi-finals are now played at Wembley. Like many others, Aldridge disagrees with change, and he's slammed the FA allowing money to get in the way of tradition.
In his column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge - who scored a brilliant goal in the 1989 FA Cup final against Everton - argued:
"Having the semis there [at Wembley] just devalues the competition. Sadly, football is a business these days and it’s all about money. The FA only play the semis there to generate cash to pay the huge mortgage on Wembley.
"Hopefully it will be an all-Merseyside affair. If Everton get through, you’ll have 90,000 Reds and Blues heading south to watch their teams face each other. That is just stupid".
I totally agree that having the semis at Wembley 'devalues' the competition. Wembley is supposed to be the reward; the enticing final destination, and it's been that way for decades.
There was always something magical about semis being played at neutral venues like Villa Park and - dare I say it - Old Trafford. The atmosphere always seemed just a little bit more electric, and the games benefited from that.
Liverpool will face either Everton or Sunderland in the semi, so where is the sense in making tens of thousands of fans make the torturous journey all the way to London for the game?
On a special one-off occasion like the final then it's understandable, but for the semi, it's just ridiculous.
Jaimie Kanwar
In his column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge - who scored a brilliant goal in the 1989 FA Cup final against Everton - argued:
"Having the semis there [at Wembley] just devalues the competition. Sadly, football is a business these days and it’s all about money. The FA only play the semis there to generate cash to pay the huge mortgage on Wembley.
"Hopefully it will be an all-Merseyside affair. If Everton get through, you’ll have 90,000 Reds and Blues heading south to watch their teams face each other. That is just stupid".
I totally agree that having the semis at Wembley 'devalues' the competition. Wembley is supposed to be the reward; the enticing final destination, and it's been that way for decades.
There was always something magical about semis being played at neutral venues like Villa Park and - dare I say it - Old Trafford. The atmosphere always seemed just a little bit more electric, and the games benefited from that.
Liverpool will face either Everton or Sunderland in the semi, so where is the sense in making tens of thousands of fans make the torturous journey all the way to London for the game?
On a special one-off occasion like the final then it's understandable, but for the semi, it's just ridiculous.
Jaimie Kanwar
even if it was held at a neutral location like say villa park or old trafford, and it turned to be an all merseyside derby, the fans would still be making the journey to those respective stadiums. so i don't really see how it makes a difference? except for the fact that it's being played at wembley twice.
ReplyDeleteOld Toilet is alot closer to Liverpool than London. It would be easier for the supporters to get there.
ReplyDeleteI dont see it as a bad thing to be honest at it means more tickets being available so more supporters can get to see thier club play in a cup semi final.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it does devalue the thrill of getting to wembley at little (it doesnt devaule the competition btw) but having more than double the amount of tickets available is worth it imo.
The geographic location of the clubs in the semis will change every year so i dont think any argument can be placed on that.
As Pastor says, the distances are much less. 30-odd miles to Manchester, and about 100 to Birmingham. Plus, believe me, there's a world of difference travelling from Liverpool to Birmingham vs. traversing the hellish transport system of London.
ReplyDeleteregardless..You're missing the point..The prestige of going to Wembley should only be for the final..travelling 25 mins to manchester, or an hour to birmingham is definitely better than all the way to Wembley.The difference is that the whole "fun" and "excitement" of going to a neutral ground has disappeared.
ReplyDeleteAnother way that the domestic cup's prestrige has decreased. Pity.
ReplyDeleteliverpool and everton in the fa cup final... lol.... what a sh1t match that would be. neither of them have any class style quality etc. no one would bother watching it apart from scousers to poor to pay for a trip to wembley. just stay home and watch it on your stolen tellies scousers, london doesnt like your kind devaluing the great city
ReplyDeleteNice intelligent response there. And love the handle. Also good to know that you've been entrusted as the voice of London. I'm sure all of London shares your opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think a fair few tellies were stolen during the London riots. Were they all stolen by scousers, I wonder? Rather doubtful.
ReplyDeletethis is motivated by the FA needing to recoup there losses in building the new wembly stadium. Should have been built in centre of the country and shouldnt have cost what it did. Having been recently for the 1st time it is without doubt a special place and should be kept for special events, that does not include in my opinion cup semi finals. Ours via Sunderland or Everton should from a logistic point of view be at Old Trafford. Do the FA not realise the extent of the current recession
ReplyDeleteWasn't a Liverpool fan stabbed in London after the CC final?
ReplyDeleteLondon Riots ? Ring any bells? Looting?
How many pictures of Londoners with flat screen TVs!Think Londoners
themselfs devalued the capital world wide!
facts are facts, liverpool is a dump, the people are uneducated crims / junkies. its a national disgrace... and then there's the delusion of littlepool fans thinking they are a big club. you are not, you are minnows, mid table muck. give it 2 years and you'll be in admin and relocated - MK Pool anyone?
ReplyDeleteare any of you actually from scumpool? considering you can type and use words like "rather" I seriously doubt it. Or maybe you're just about to pawn off your stolen lappie for a bag of gear
Completely agree with Aldo. Playing the semi's at Wembley devalues the competition and is nothing more than a money grabbing excercise. Added to which it also reduces the costs for all those teams from the capitol having to spend extra by having the venue every year in their own back yard.With the tragic exception of Hillsboro the old system worked well. Now that all the grounds have been brought upto very high safety standards, we should revert back to the original format !
ReplyDeletebillwhizz, your name says it all - why not just go with pikey gear head or crack whore as a name?
ReplyDeletethe city / clubs motto should be "Liverpool, a City & Club without style"
ReplyDeleteMaybe when you go into admin next season you can relocate to a pikey halting site, its where the club and fans belong
why does stanley advertise at unfield / goodison? lol - duhhhhh - pikies
ReplyDeletebill skanky, kenny dirtbag dalglish, rafa the peasant beneathus... classy lol
ReplyDeletewho do u support u coward
ReplyDeleteThe FA can pay bigger prize money with the revenue from playing semifinals at Wembley and pay for Wembley! Can't really see how Aldridge can say anything about the semifinals at Wembley when we all want to finish 4th and the financial win fall from CL football why should the FA miss out on their own money spinners?
ReplyDeleteThen why are you so BITTER?
ReplyDeletewtf are you saying pikey?
ReplyDeleteyou're not from liverpool are u J75? you are not even from england, we both know that so you can hardly comment on what goes on in liverpool dogboy
ReplyDeleteI look from a height down at the peasants of liverpool, occasionally i feel charitable and throw a few coppers in their direction. you should see the fighting it causes, all for a few 2p's. I would hate to think if the riots that would erupt if I threw a quid into the kop, it'd be like a swarm of flies on a cows arse
ReplyDeleteIt's okay internet troll we can get you help.
ReplyDeleteThe post is about playing FA Cup semifinals at Wembley okay! Your post was about Liverpool, I think you are confused and should go and lay down in a darken room for an hour or two.
'Liverpool and England' capital letters my English fellow, called proper nouns in English grammar.
ReplyDeleteWow! The intelligentsia are out in force today. And you are the spokesperson for? Can't be London, as ScousersRscum has already been entrusted with that role.
ReplyDeleteHow did so many 10 year olds get on this website?
ReplyDeleteThey must've turned off NetNanny when Mummy wasn't looking.
ReplyDeleteOnly reason the domestic cup's have lost prestige is the prize money, which can't match winning the League or Champions League football. To players though winning medals is important and until the FA and Football League start dipping into their pockets more, the domestic cups won't be seen as being as important.
ReplyDeleteWe can't moan about the prestige of trophies when we all want CL football and the money it brings in ,the players and midweek football.
jk there are some degrading points made below by burnpoolburnand others I would appreciate it if you removed them. They are insulting ill informed and predjudiced.
ReplyDeleteyou are a nerd, is that the best you have? listen up cybergeek, i decide when and where I put my capitals and liverpool certainly doesn't deserve one what a MONG - does that have enough capitals for ya??? ooohhhhhh quick, use your spell checker before you post a message lol... i bet you never even played football you fcukin nerd, go back to the chess club you loser
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Aldo, stupid idea to have the semi's at Wembley, doesn't surprise me much though.....lol.
ReplyDeletethanks jk
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, much rather have CL football than win domestic cups. But even then, would be nice to win a trophy once in a while as its a nice memory when successful.
ReplyDeleteWhere have all these idiots come from on here today? They certainly are not speaking for London or anywhere else, that is for sure. It's sad to see how clueless and malicious some people are.
ReplyDeleteCan see both arguments, really, the fact that another 20,000 odd can get to the match has to mean something. But the extra travel is ridiculous and probably not worth it if there are two northern teams playing. Having the final, onlly, at wembley makes the venue more special also.