Changes to the FA Cup?

[Ciderhead]

Don't mess about with the FA Cup.

Frankly, I reckon they should just shelve the League Cup instead - do we really need two domestic cup competitions?

This. I can't think of any other nation where this is the case (well, Scotland I suppose but they don't really count ). It just feels a bit pointless.

In 20 years time, no one's going to remember that Man City won today. They'll remember the FA Cup in 2011 that kicked them all off, but they won't remember the 2 league cups. Heck not even that long - who remembers Chelsea winning it just last season? I didn't until I just looked it up.

It's a trophy, yes, and their fans will be loving it today but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't hold all that much value. It doesn't have the history or the prestige of the FA Cup, there's little financial reward, no European place up for grabs anymore. There's no great incentive for the big clubs to go for it and the smaller clubs aren't really that bothered either. The 1st round's basically a glorified pre-season friendly. Even the JPT you could say it allows clubs a chance of a trophy and to play at Wembley that they wouldn't otherwise get.

Of course if you did away with it you'd still reduce the chances of clubs getting glamour, money-spinning ties; but with the grumbling over fixture congestion only increasing sooner or later something's going to give. It's not going to be the Premier League or the UEFA competitions with their big bucks, so if in order to retain the FA Cup as we know it we have to sacrifice the League Cup (and making it the only cup competition would surely increase or at least someway restore its prestige), then I'd be alright with that.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Don't mess about with the FA Cup.


This. I can't think of any other nation where this is the case (well, Scotland I suppose but they don't really count ). It just feels a bit pointless.

In 20 years time, no one's going to remember that Man City won today. They'll remember the FA Cup in 2011 that kicked them all off, but they won't remember the 2 league cups. Heck not even that long - who remembers Chelsea winning it just last season? I didn't until I just looked it up.

It's a trophy, yes, and their fans will be loving it today but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't hold all that much value. It doesn't have the history or the prestige of the FA Cup, there's little financial reward, no European place up for grabs anymore. There's no great incentive for the big clubs to go for it and the smaller clubs aren't really that bothered either. The 1st round's basically a glorified pre-season friendly. Even the JPT you could say it allows clubs a chance of a trophy and to play at Wembley that they wouldn't otherwise get.

Of course if you did away with it you'd still reduce the chances of clubs getting glamour, money-spinning ties; but with the grumbling over fixture congestion only increasing sooner or later something's going to give. It's not going to be the Premier League or the UEFA competitions with their big bucks, so if in order to retain the FA Cup as we know it we have to sacrifice the League Cup (and making it the only cup competition would surely increase or at least someway restore its prestige), then I'd be alright with that.

Excellent post sir...

 

[rudebwoyben]

Nope, doing away with the League Cup won't save the FA Cup. It would not sate anyone's hunger.
Also, for about 36 odd clubs in the Premiership and Championship they'd be left with one cup competition and it would dramatically reduce the chances of League 1 and 2 clubs of playing top flight clubs.
Lastly, I'd say that that the League Cup
Has undergone a revival in recent years and that while Man City supporters may not remember their triumph in a year's time, I'm certain that Swansea City remember theirs from a few years back and that Leicester City, Luton Town, Oxford Utd, Swindon Town and Middkesbrough remember theirs.

 

[silkyman]

It's the pressures and rules of the CL that are more damaging to the FA Cup.

http://www.footballrealist.co.uk/?p=97

 

[Ciderhead]

Nope, doing away with the League Cup won't save the FA Cup. It would not sate anyone's hunger.
Also, for about 36 odd clubs in the Premiership and Championship they'd be left with one cup competition and it would dramatically reduce the chances of League 1 and 2 clubs of playing top flight clubs.
Lastly, I'd say that that the League Cup
Has undergone a revival in recent years and that while Man City supporters may not remember their triumph in a year's time, I'm certain that Swansea City remember theirs from a few years back and that Leicester City, Luton Town, Oxford Utd, Swindon Town and Middkesbrough remember theirs.

It won't save it on its own. You'd need as well greater financial rewards and most importantly a CL place to the winner to propel it back to anything like what it used to be, but it would definitely help. Naturally if it's the only cup competition these teams are taking part in it would take on greater significance.

And I don't really see the need for 2 competitions with basically the same format. Yes of course it was more memorable for Swansea or Oxford or Birmingham, but there's equally as much chance of that happening in the FA Cup, as can be seen by Portsmouth, Wigan, Cardiff - Reading and Sheff Utd reaching the semis in recent years.

And yes it would halve the chances for lower league teams to face a Prem club, but though it's a fantastic experience to visit a Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd and great financially for the club, it's somewhat diluted when you just end up playing their Under-21s. You want the big sides to be taking it seriously as well otherwise it loses its sparkle.

And also, just speaking pragmatically, the way the top few dominate the way the game is run nowadays there's no way the status quo will be maintained. I'd rather have one cup competition with meaning and prestige that all participants take seriously than 2 that are reduced to mere sideshows.

 

[DarkSithLord]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36393608

Quarter Final replays scrapped from next season. Excellent move. Wouldnt go any further though.

 

[Laker]

Bad move. Again, English football suffers at the hands of elite European football.

 

[AtaturkOzgutson]

Seems a reasonable move, and relatively logical. If it goes some towards safeguarding the rest of the cup and other competitions, then why not.

Just pondering where the axe could chop next, and had the strange idea that maybe replays between teams in the same division could be scrapped. Hmm. Mainly because it seems that there's always a few teams who end up playing 3 or 4 times in a short space of time.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Seems a reasonable move, and relatively logical. If it goes some towards safeguarding the rest of the cup and other competitions, then why not.

Just pondering where the axe could chop next, and had the strange idea that maybe replays between teams in the same division could be scrapped. Hmm. Mainly because it seems that there's always a few teams who end up playing 3 or 4 times in a short space of time.

Yeah as long as they dont scrap replays in ties involving Non League clubs its all good.

 

[mente captus]

We scrapped our replays 25 years ago and i am happy with it. Much more likely for the lower ranked club to kill a giant in a shoot out rather then in a replay.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Obvious what sort of step this is, I give it 5 years before replays are scrapped down to the third round.

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

We scrapped our replays 25 years ago and i am happy with it. Much more likely for the lower ranked club to kill a giant in a shoot out rather then in a replay.

That is very true, but at the same time small clubs like a replay against a big club because it's a huge money spinner. Both ways have their perks.

 

[mente captus]

That is very true, but at the same time small clubs like a replay against a big club because it's a huge money spinner. Both ways have their perks.

yeah, but to scrap the replays would make it much more likely for smaller clubs to reach the latter stages of the cup. Damn, i can remember the reserve team of an second division club playing the cup final (1993)

 

[shotaway]

Always changes to help the rich.

Should always be Saturdays - and I for one think replays of replays should be bought back.

And 3pm KO for Final too.

It's the oldest competition in the world - we should be proud of it.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Outside of England does anybody care about the FA Cup? I certainly do not care about it!

Well that doesn't really matter considering the fact that the FA cup is the cup competition for England. I think Cardiff City, Swansea City, AFC Newport, Wrexham, Merthyr Tydfil and Colwyn Bay fans care about it too.

 

[Super_horns]

Extra sub allowed for ET now..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36904466

Just the start of having 4/5 subs in every domestic game?

 

[shotaway]

Pathetic. Go mess with some other competition that noboby cares about. Like the useless EL Trophy or Premier League 2.

Stuff the FA and PL. Ruiners of English Football Heritage and the Game.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

And by "go mess with the EFL trophy" i can only presume you mean "cancel that abomination".

 

[shotaway]

No that is a wonderful competition to play in and mess with rules. Why it's the English Football League with Premier League B teams too. The best ever.

Premier League rules - stuff the rest of football.

Hopefully in a year or two there will be only relegation between Premier League and Premier League 2. So we will see Chelsea B vs Man U A in the PL in five years.