Dave Kitson: another out-of-touch football "star"
Dave Kitson rubbishes Cup
By Chris O'Brien
January 2 2008
Dave Kitson has dealt a shocking blow to the F.A Cup, Reading FC and football fans everywhere by completely dismissing the tournament. He claims that he doesn't care how the Royals fare in the greatest club competition of them all. His words are another example of how 'out of touch' players are from the supporters.
Last week, ManUtdWeb scrutinised Sol Campbell's pathetic comments that claimed over-paid pre-Madonnas on the pitch needed more protection from the fans on the terraces.
We reached the fairly obvious conclusion that more and more players are losing touch with the fans who line their pockets each and every year.
As we head into 2008, another shocking example of how "out of touch" players are has landed on our desk here at ManUtdWeb towers. Dave Kitson, Reading's towering frontman, has totally dismissed the F.A Cup by claiming it simply does not matter to him and is not important to his football club.
"We are not going to win the FA Cup and I do not care less about it, to be honest," said the 27-year-old, ahead of Reading's cup tie at Spurs.
"I care about staying in the Premier League, as does everybody at this club. Our league status is not protected by winning the FA Cup - simple as that."
Simple as that? I wonder if the Royals fans think it's that "simple" - particularly the ones who will be paying over the odds to travel and watch your struggling football club not give a toss at White Hart Lane on the weekend.
The F.A Cup is the greatest cup competition in the world. It provides entertainment that is second to none and often provides a welcome distraction from league action. Manchester United will be backed by a huge following at Villa Park this weekend; all of whom will be desperate to see their team progress.
The same will be the case at White Hart Lane where Reading fans will be hoping their team can gain revenge for a recent 6-4 mauling against Juande Ramos' men. Judging by Kitson's comments they should stay at home and save their hard-earned pennies.
Its a great competition with great history but it is no longer a priority for anyone. Those battling relegations no.1 priority is staying up. The big fours priority is winning the league or CL. Those in the mini league below the big four is to secure a European place and the rest know they arent good enough to win it so focus on the league as it is much more beneficial to the football club.
Every Utd fan wants to progress in the FA Cup but it is a distant third in our ambitions this season along with every other season.
Reading can win the Cup. Why shouldn't they be able to? Millwall reached the final a few seasons ago. They're a decent Premiership team and should, on their day, be able to beat anyone else in the league.
The point I'm trying to make is imagine if you're a long-suffering Reading fan who has booked time off work, tickets, transport etc. to go to the cup tie on the weekend. How are these comments going to make you feel?
Every fan - from Chelsea to Harrogate Railway's supporters - enter the competition with belief, even a sneaky suspicion, that this could be that time. If everyone took Kitson's attitude then the best team would always win everything and football would be boring.
Only 3 teams outside the top four have won the cup in the last 20 years. So although Reading could win the cup as soon as one of the big four are out of the title race and/or out of Europe they step it up in the FA Cup and the chance teams like Reading once had is almost extinguished.
Staying up and perhaps pushing on to europe is much more important than the FA cup to reading.
For us though its a different matter. If a player slated the FA cup he'd be crucified given our status. However, no one can claim its anywhere near as significant as the other two trophies, or be devastated if we didnt win.
Kitson is totally down to earth and is one of the more intelligent footballers around.
I think it is a bit rich for a ManU supporter to be criticising ANYONE for putting the FA Cup low on their list of priorities as it was in large part due to your clubs' pulling out of the FA Cup to play in that rubbish tournament in S. America using reserves a few years ago that started the decline in importance of the FA Cup.
It is also a incredible that a ManU supporter could be having a go at any player from another club for being out of touch when ManU possess virtually a whole squad of players who think they can say and do as they please on and off the pitch.
Lastly, it's amazing that Sol Campbell's comments can be described by you as "pathetic" when every time we play ManU away from home at Old Trafford or elsewhere, Arsene Wenger is subjected to the most vile, pathetic and totally moronic chanting from thousands of neanderthals who support your club.
Instead of having a go perhaps you should stop and think about what goes on in your own club.
Boohoo can Mr Wenger not handle some derogatory chants. He must realy struggle to get to sleep at night.
He's the real whinger.
They really should get their stories straight, but I know which one I believe and it isn't the one who has the well earned reputation for being a sour faced, foul mouthed, bully boy, ranting, raving little baby.