The FA Cup is still billed by television broadcasters as the oldest and greatest cup competition in the world – one steeped in glorious tradition that evokes memories of English football’s most decorated moments. Just take Ricky Villa’s jinking run for Tottenham, Lawrie Sanchez’s flick header to stun Liverpool or Ryan Giggs’ mesmeric dribble against Arsenal (not to mention that hairy chest).

But, as I sit here watching Sunderland-Southampton being played in front of a sparse crowd characterised by row after row of empty seats and an atmosphere that wouldn’t look out of place in a reserve team match, it’s impossible not to ask the question; does anyone really give a damn about the FA Cup?

The crowds alone speak for themselves. People just aren’t as interested in the FA Cup as the Premier League or the Champions League. Which is probably no surprise given that the latter two of those competitions have been re-branded and revitalised to help capture the imagination of a modern day audience.

The FA Cup, however, remains a bit of a dinosaur in comparison. Even if figures from the third round of this year’s competition suggest somewhat of a renaissance in interest, there are still plenty of examples to disprove the theory. West Brom’s 12,000 crowd for their game with Crystal Palace, Fulham’s measly 10,000 attendees for their replay against Sheffield United – or even Sunderland’s diminutive population for the weekend’s tie with Southampton.

Then there’s the team selections. The monetary value and intense pressure of performing in the Premier League dwarfs the weight of expectation to progress in the cup – and managers can use that as a way to offer playing time to slightly less experienced or under-utilised members of the squad.

The truth is, revenues dictate that while a successful cup run is nice, the rewards of avoiding relegation or finishing in the top four hold a greater priority. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger even went as far as saying that finishing in the top four was equal to winning a trophy (although when you go eight years without one, I suppose it would do).

So, how can we start caring about the cup again? Here are five things that could do the job.

Make it the showpiece of the season

How are supporters or clubs alike meant to respect the FA Cup when the Football Association themselves do their best to de-value it? For three consecutive years, the FA Cup finale has been played before the end of the regulation league season. Thankfully, this year the FA have restored the Final to its traditional slot at the end of the campaign. Let’s just hope the change is a permanent one.

Scrap the replays

Replays have always been a mainstay of the FA Cup but with fixture pile-ups and the increasing cost of match tickets, nobody wants replays these days. Scrap them and make one-off ties more eventful by encouraging teams to play for the win.

Go straight to penalties

By scrapping replays you could develop the potential for cup drama further by ruling that a penalty shootout would ensue if teams were still level after 90 minutes. A little bit controversial, admittedly, but perhaps a dramatic shake-up in the format is just what the cup needs.

Slash ticket prices

While most clubs do offer a slightly smaller cost on tickets for cup games, the competition’s meager attendances demonstrate why more can be done to get greater numbers into stadiums.

Generate a better incentive

At the moment, the prize for winning The FA Cup is a place in the qualifying stages of the Europa League – a competition often considered more of a burden than anything else with its low revenue stream and high quota of matches that can diminish the fitness of a small squad. Offer a place in the prestigious Champions League tournament, however, and you  may see a seismic shift in the way players, supporters, managers and clubs treat the competition.