ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16668, 25 February 1922, Page 10

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE LIKE OF THE CUP. (Special to the Star.”) LONDON, January 11. We speak of the lure of the Cup, the great football carnival, and it is undoubtedly very real. hut what the magnetic attraction is about the knockout match is a mystery that no one can explain. Certainly this type of football. with all the burly burly and excitement, is often very poor from the spectacular point of view. Players are over-keen, and under the tense conditions, fail to do themselves justice. Still, ns soon as the Cup tournament opens, there is a marked quickening of interest in the game. Gates are bigger than ever, and evryone is talking not only about the immediate matches, but those which a future draw may decree, as well as speculating as to the ultimate winners. The first round of this season’s tournament- that is the first round proper after all the hundreds of junior clubs who entered have been eliminated as the result of preliminary rounds—has just been decided. There were thirtytwo ties, and these attracted threequarters of a million people, who paid over £50.000 at the gates. It is an astonishing sum, considering the distressing unemployment that prevails and the general scarcity of money. They say that the miner will find food for his dog even if the family have to go short. It is the same with these Cupties. Men who are drawing the unemployment dole must see their favourite team if they have had the good fortune to be drawn to play at home. There has been a marked shrinkage of gates for the ordinary League matches in all parts of the country. On the average the receipts are down by twenty-five per cent as compared with last seasqn. But with the start of the Cup-ties they have suddenly jumped up again. And the tournament is just as important to the clubs as it is interesting to their supporters. Last season Tottenham Hotspur, the winners, made a huge record profit of £15.000, and even to win two or three rounds means several thousands of pounds to the fortunate clubs. Victory, too. is important to the players. For every win they are now paid a bonus of £5, in addition to their weekly wage of £9, so that a team who win the cup earn an extra £35. The money-making side of the tournament may be an unfortunate phase, hut happily it does not. appear in the actual play. There is still good and healthy sport about the. games.

Who is going to win this season? One is always rash in attempting a prophecy. But the history of the event proves that courage and resolution on the part of a team are big assets. Sound defence, too. is an important factor. A side who keeps the other fellows from scoring usually go a long way. Taking these matters into account. no club seem to have a better chance than Liverpool. They have proved themselves to be a very downright team in the League, and they are particularly well served by their defenders. Moreover, they have accomplished a notable performance in the first round. They were drawn to play at Sunderland, and claiming a draw there they triumphed on their own ground by the overwhelming margin of five goals to none. They have- not been lucky in the draw for the next round, inasmuch as they are pitted against A\ est Bromwich Albion, who have accounted lor Chelsea, but this time they will l>e playing at home, and this will make all the difference.

Then what of Tottenham Hotspur, the holders? It is significant that they have just run into their best form. At last the forwards have begun to score the. goals that their fine mid-field play entitled them to. They, too, have a fine defence. But not for many years has a club carried off the Cup in consecutive years. This, however, is about the only reason why one cannot lancy their chances. The fact remains that they are one of the best sides of the day, and so lar they have enjoyed their usual luck in the draw. In the first round, it is true, they were drawn away from home, but Brentford were not a serious obstacle, and in round number two they will be at home to unpretentious AYatford.

Of course, Aston Villa, who have set up the record of having won the cup six times, also come into the reckoning. The team at present does not embrace the stars of former sides, but they are a good level lot. with fine scoring forwards. They drubbed Dernv County mercilessly by getting six goals against them.

But the tournament is a great lottery. Already there have been several startling results, which have completely confounded form. Crystal Palace, new members of the Second Leaguo, went to Ever ton, and they must have feared what their experience would be. As a matter of fact, they overwhelmed the famous Liverpool club, scoring six goals to none. The staggering result will be remembered for many years. \\ e knew there was a screw loose in the Everton team, but their utter failure cannot be explained. It only proves that it is still impossible to buy sucOne of the wealthiest clubs, Everton, has spent over £30,000 on players during the past year, but in several cases the swans have turned inlo geese. This is not altogether a new experience. Other clubs equally ambitious to command all the talent have paid huge transfer fees, hut they have never achieved the result desired. There was one other result that set everyone talking. 1 his was the downfall of Middlesbrough nt Hull. They lost by five goals to nil. Middlesbrough, with Andrew AVilson. Scotland’s leader, as < centre forward, have perhaps the best forward line of the day. five men superlatively clever and resourceful. But it is their great handicap that the half-hacks are weak. So in this match Wilson and his colleagues did not get

a chance. The side were forced on to the defensive, and they gave way under severe pressure. Hull City owed their success to speed, to which was allied purposeful vigour. TTiere is nothing polished about their football. They do not even attempt to he clever. Bit against Middlesbrough they were astonishingly effective. There were other surprises, and one must mention the defeat of Burnley, the Dengue champions, who are again contesting the headship of the competition with Liverpool. They seemed set fair for a safe passage into the second round, being drawn at home. That was thought to he all that was necessary to ensure their success, no matter who their opponents might he. But. Huddersfield knocked these calculations all aw ay The A orkshire club managed to draw at Burnley and then to win »n their own ground. The champions are

still a fine side, hut some of the men are beginning to log a little. Their three half-hacks, for instance, represented the club eight years ago. when (he Cup was last won. and. resourceful

as they are, it is a hard trial for men of their years to keep up with the For those clubs who have already failed the outlook is now tame and ordinary. They must go hack to humdrum League fare, and it is not very appetising, particularlv if the chance of winning & championship has gone.