The FA Cup returns this weekend and with it it comes a lot of discussion about the magic it brings to football across the country.

It used to be respected among fans and clubs across the world as a magical competition but now it appears to have lost its appeal, with many claiming the rise of TV rights and the money that comes with it has effectively sucked the life out of the world's oldest cup competition.

But has it really lost its magic? Or is all the money that comes with success in the Premier League masking the importance of success in the FA Cup? Our writers have had their say on the matter below...

Josh Challies

I think it probably has. Bigger clubs don't seem to focus on the competition as much and that affects it's stature. I'm not entirely sure how it can be improved but I'd definitely suggest removing the semi-finals from Wembley, as it plays down the occasion of the final.

The only way I can see the stature of the competition increase again is if they offer a Champions League spot for the winner, which is unlikely.

Christy Malyan

Nothing is permanent - but a lot of work needs to be done.

When I went to watch my beloved Charlton Athletic in FA Cup action against MK Dons last month, I was horrified to discover our four-stand stadium only had two tiers open, neither of which were anything close to full capacity. Admittedly, the Addicks aren't exactly drawing high attendances at the moment anyway, but it highlights how the FA Cup has lost its connection with those who should be most excited by it - fans of clubs outside the Premier League's top six.

Perhaps it's time we re-formatted the competition to give lesser sides more of a chance, but there is a worrying apathy from those at the top as well. It feels as if the 'big teams' simply play weakened sides and if they happen to get to the quarter-finals, suddenly decide to take the competition seriously.

In a nutshell, everybody involved in the FA Cup needs a greater incentive. Champions League qualification is the obvious option, but I'd also like to see the FA grant an added financial bonus if you beat a team seeded higher than you in the competition.

That should motivate both ends of the spectrum, which should catalyse better performances and in turn bring more supporters to create better atmospheres. Hopefully, that'll bring some of the sparkle back to the FA Cup.

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Alex Hams

It certainly has, for me. Nowadays I see the League Cup (or whatever it’s called now) as the more interesting tournament. The early-season schedule and mid-season final are entertaining, while more and more of the bigger clubs take it seriously, which has resulted in some great games over the past few years. On top of this, tedious replays are not an issue, with matches, excluding the two-legged semi-final, decided on the night via extra time or penalties, which adds to the excitement and removes that awkward last 30 minutes when teams are wary of really going for it if level.

The FA Cup feels like a tournament being left behind, and there’s only so long that the ‘tradition’ card can be played before people work out it’s actually not that good anymore. The fact that the semi-finals are held at Wembley is a joke, with that taking some of the gloss off of the showpiece game. A neutral venue for the games is needed, and if it weren’t for the FA seeking the cash I these matches would be played at Villa Park, Old Trafford or another good ground.

There’s still time to ‘save’ the competition, but something needs to be done.

Chris McMullan

The FA Cup hasn’t had been considered ‘magical’ for quite some time, which is a shame. It’s also fairly ironic. This century has seen two lower league sides reach the final, it has seen Portsmouth reach two finals, winning one of them, and it has seen Stoke City, Hull City and Crystal Palace reach the final. It has also seen Wigan Athletic beat the team that won the previous season’s Premier League title in the FA Cup final, before going on to be relegated from the top division.

And yet no one really seems to care. It’s too much to talk about a competition that thrives on giant killings and lower league sides making it into the latter stages, but there’s always a possibility of that sort of shock result when you pit the top sides against the lower ones in a straight knockout competition.

But there’s now a fetish for watching the best play the best - it’s a mouth-watering thought to imagine the top sides playing each other, but the thought of a lower league club taking on a Premier League side’s reserves doesn’t really whet the appetite in the same way. And it never will.

What do you think?

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