I think in terms of reaching 8 semi finals and no finals power has a point. If you look at the 8 matches; 2 v Arsenal, 2 v Chelsea, and 1 each against Newcastle, Everton, Porstmouth and Man Utd. The 2 against you were quite tight we were the better side in the first and in most peoples eyes unlucky and you were the better side in the 2nd. In the 2 v Chelsea the first looks like it was a turkey shoot (5-1 to them), but that ignores the fact that at 1-0 with us well in the game they were awarded a goal that was about a foot in the front of the goalline and goals change matches, and we did get back 2-1, but once the 3rd went (against the run of the play) we were done and collapsed. The 2nd Chelsea semi was a fabulous match between 2 good sides that really could have gone either way until Matic of all people scored a worldie. The worst match was Everton beaten 4-1 we didn't turn up. Newcastle was a really tight match goal-less after 90 mins Shearer scored twice in extra time but it was a match both sides had chances to win in normal time. Portsmouth we battered but couldn't score, I recall Crouch scoring but it was chalked off, what for I don't remember, they scored twice in extra time again. Last one V Man U we were playing well and deservedly took the lead, and then they scored when Sanchez headed home after Pogba had fouled Dembele, Dier then hit the post with De Gea stranded, Herrera scored their winner in another match that could have gone either way. So it is a wretched record to lose 8 successive semi finals, but lady luck has singularly failed to smile on us in any of them, in fact the last time she did was when we beat you in 91 - when you were much the better side, but we took our chances something we have failed to do in all the ones since.
I take your point, and fully accept that poor officiating/wayward finishing or the opposition scoring a screamer (especially when you were the dominant side) can contribute. But I'd argue fans of many teams who have been knocked out of a cup competition will feel like they've been hard done by in these situations, too. These aren't factors that are unique to Spurs. Sometimes you're up against superior opposition, sometimes you've been tactically outmanuevered, sometimes the game hasn't been identified as a priority by the manager, depending on various other factors, and sometimes, your players simply haven't been up to it on the day. And although you've had some bad decisions go against you (e.g. the Chelsea semi-final in 2012 when Mata's 'goal' shouldn't have stood), to suggest 'luck' or 'chance' is one of the key reasons for not winning an FA Cup for as long as 30 years, seems a bit farfetched.
Sure - but you've cited it as a massive contributor, when I think there are other reasons that are more relevant.
Certainly you can increase the chances of winning a semi final by being one of the top few teams when you might get the probability up to two thirds but for many of those 8 semi finals we were mid table and our chance of winning them was more like a third.
I can't disagree with that, but in terms of losing 8 successive semi finals I am not sure anyone else has that experience!!
Since drawing Spurs, Marine have fielded media enquiries from Russia, Australia and Thailand, while Everton boss and Crosby resident Carlo Ancelotti has sent his local team a good luck message - as well as an invitation to Mourinho. "I have to invite Mourinho for a drink after the game if it will be possible - it is not far from me," said the former AC Milan, Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich boss. "I have to talk to him about the beach and the nice area that Crosby is."
Tonight they are drawing 4th and 5th rounds so do we want? I an ideal world Chorley followed by the winners of Crawley v Cheltenham would seem good, but the gods have smiled down on us a lot recently so I am expecting Arsenal away followed by the winners of Liverpool v Chelsea
Got Chelsky in the League cup and Nemesis rewarded Spurs with an easier draw to the final. Perhaps the same will happen here ...
Yeah I think we’re now “owed” a toughie to be honest. We’ve had some fantastic fortune in the cups this season. The Orient bye and two of our other three League Cup games were against lower league opposition, then with Marine in the FA Cup I think the law of averages are surely bound to chuck us a big London Derby or an away trip to Manchester.
The question is more do we want a potential banana skin tie again or a tie in which we can say it is okay to lose to ''them''? Crawley or Chorley and we are nervous it could be an embarrassment. Man City, and we can say expected ,but we'll get you back in the CC final. Other PL team, and it's -okay . Not great but nothing new.
Hey! We also played some hard teams like Coventry, Wigan, Hull, Preston, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Leeds & Portsmouth... Not always been plain sailing for us!
Probably prepared you for your tough Europa League group this season. One of those teams was full-time and everything! Picking a keeper that's so **** that you want to sell him four months after signing him may not have helped, either.
Arteta subtly admitted in his press conference today that Runarsson was a panic signing based on Martinez leaving, as they weren't expecting it. Obviously he didn't say it like that, but it was fairly obvious what he was suggesting. Really bad planning and lazy recruitment. We only signed Runarsson because our goalkeeping coach worked with him in Iceland several years back. A stupid reason to sign someone. And then put him on £40k a week Even if we draw Chorley or Crawley, I wouldn't want us to play him again.