Nowadays, many fans debate the worth and importance of the FA Cup. In one corner you have fans, often of smaller clubs or ones who find trophies harder to come by, revere the competition. For non-league clubs like Marine, there is the possibility of a dream tie against a Premier League side.
Bigger teams are sometimes quick to dismiss its importance, especially if they are in contention for the league or Champions League. The teams that Jurgen Klopp put out last year show that the FA Cup often falls along the wayside in the grand scheme of the season.
From a United perspective, our success record lately has not been great in the competition, even in the later Ferguson years. Before Louis van Gaal’s triumph in 2016, the last time United had won the competition was 2004, with some team selections and results in that time certainly being questionable.
However, Sir Alex did not completely disregard the competition. Even for someone who was guilty of occasionally overlooking it, Ferguson won five FA Cups. Notably, the FA Cup was his first trophy and set the stage for a glittering career at United. It is here that we can see the importance of the Cup and how it can help this current United squad.
The manager
Many recent successful managers, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola included, have used the smaller cup competitions as a launchpad for further success. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be desperate for a first trophy as United manager and having already knocked Liverpool out of the cup he will be hopeful that he can go far in the competition.
If Solskjaer wants to stay at United longer-term, he will need to address the problems that have seen his United teams lose four semi-finals during his tenure, including two League Cup, one FA Cup and a Europa League semi. Getting to the final would be an achievement in itself, and winning the competition would give the entire club a confidence boost. But it would also boost his own confidence, something that is perhaps overlooked, and his critics would have one less stick to jab him with.
Winning this season’s FA Cup could act as Ole’s stepping-stone for further successes at United. It does feel like we could be on the brink of a return to something nearer the United of old – now the team just needs one final push in the right direction.
Squad mentality
In a similar way, we must look at the squad when addressing the various semi-final defeats. In reality, the majority of the squad lacks experience of winning trophies at the top level, and this has been evident in these semi-final losses. But the latter stages of the FA Cup can serve as good experience for the players and can help to address United’s perceived mentality problem.
A trophy would go some way to solidifying United as one of the best teams in the country and would provide solid proof as to the improvement under Solskjaer.
In addition, it would give the players a huge morale boost and would hopefully fuel the hunger to win trophies that we haven’t properly seen for the past few years.
Unlike van Gaal’s win in the competition, one that always seemed like the typical ‘Arsenal-type’ FA Cup win (a win fuelled by kind fixtures and results that papered over the cracks of an otherwise vey average season), an FA Cup trophy this year would seem like the start of something more for this squad. Combined with the right signings and an improvement in morale and mentality, a win in this year’s competition could prove to be the start of something special for Ole and the players.
Squad experience
As much as the latter stages of the competition can provide valuable experience for recurring squad members, both the earlier and latter stages provide great opportunities to integrate youth players into the first team. While the earlier rounds do tend to feature a large mix of youth and first team players, the game against West Ham (and subsequent rounds, depending on the draw) offers an excellent opportunity for youth players to play on a reasonably big stage with first team players.
The recent news of Shola Shoretire’s first professional contract, and the fact that himself, Amad Diallo and Hannibal Mejbri are being drafted into first team training, gives an indication as to who we might see in the competition in the future.
If given a chance just to be part of the squad, the cups can act as excellent experience for these players at an age where it might be counter-productive to play them in Premier League games.
The FA Cup served as the first trophy for Rashford, Lingard and Martial (among others), so can clearly be used as a stepping-stone for players and staff at all levels of the club. It would be foolish at this stage of the season for Solskjaer to overlook it and not field a strong team tonight against West Ham. There might be a chance for the youngsters to enjoy it too, especially if United get past the Hammers and land an easy draw in the next round.
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