FA Cup replays to be scrapped?

The Archer · 16th July 2010, 09:33 AM

Possibly - according to this:

http://www.fsf.org.uk/news/FA-plan-t...nter-break.php

Bang go the chances of a money spinning replay at a big club for the little fish. Surely they won't be tempted to reverse the venues citing 'crowd safety issues'....

Another nail in the coffin of a once great competition IMHO.

Quote:

FA plan to scrap replays won't be popular

15th July 2010

The FA’s main board is due to meet today for the first time post-World Cup and The Guardian is reporting that the idea of scrapping FA Cup replays will be floated. The proposal is one of a number of ideas being floated by the FA to revive the competition although how scrapping its unique selling point will achieve this isn’t clear. And it's a move that's likely to be unpopular with fans judging from discussions on the FSF's Facebook page.

One of the most popular theories for the failure of England in South Africa is that the lack of a winter break, which many European leagues have, leaves the Three Lions’ players in a poor physical state come the end of season. The last three England managers – Eriksson, McClaren and Capello – have all called for a winter break and some in the FA believe the Premier League will agree to that if cup replays are scrapped.

Fans however are likely to be less enthusiastic and a resolution was passed at the FSF’s 2004 conference opposing any further abolition of cup replays (register for Fans’ Parliament 2010, Wembley on Saturday July 24th here).

While there’s no doubt England’s so-called golden generation has failed and that we need a serious review of the reasons for its failure, there's no one quick fix. Winter breaks might be part of the solution but only alongside better youth development programmes, more home-grown talent being introduced to first-teams, better coaching of youngsters and pros, and a serious look at our football culture.

The prevalence of “heart and sprit” over technique surely has to be questioned along with the acceptance of children and young teenagers playing on full sized pitches in competitive games. It’s hardly conducive to improving youngsters’ skill and technique if they only get one touch every ten minutes. Is it any wonder physical strength then becomes more important to the game in Britain than other nations?

Let’s not forget though that FA Cup replays often bring in much-needed revenue to lower-league clubs. For example, both Burton Albion and Exeter City have earned much-needed money-spinning replays after holding Manchester United goalless in recent seasons.

Some of our most iconic cup moments have come in replays too. How many know Hereford’s amazing victory over Newcastle in 1972 followed a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park? Without replays we would have been deprived of Ronnie Radford's amazing strike which features on FA Cup montages year in, year out.

We have the world's most prestigious domestic cup tournament and one of the reasons is its replay structure, unique to Europe’s top cup competitions. Do we really want to sacrifice the FA Cup on the altar of the national team? The national team’s problems run deep and spoiling the FA Cup won’t solve them.

JAZMAN2 · 16th July 2010, 09:41 AM

Why not just scrap the League Cup. I've never warmed to that one

The FA CUP is not as popular as it once was because of the love in with the Prem League.

Attendances will confirm that and also the viewership of the final itself.

If a small club who need finances get a Prem Club in the draw then automatically all profits should go to the small club whether home or away

viccarlton · 16th July 2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAZMAN2

If a small club who need finances get a Prem Club in the draw then automatically all profits should go to the small club whether home or away

Sorry mate that's just tosh.

Sounds nice and P.C. and all that, but if they want to play with the big boys, they take what comes with it.

JAZMAN2 · 16th July 2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viccarlton

Sorry mate that's just tosh.

Sounds nice and P.C. and all that, but if they want to play with the big boys, they take what comes with it.

Yer see thats what I mean.
A number of big clubs give the smaller club the profits anyway, so it does happen. I just think that it should be compulsory

Onlyfoolsrushin · 16th July 2010, 10:30 AM

If we have a winter break, the fat cat clubs will fuck off on money-spinning tours and there will be no real break. They will merely play fixtures which are less competitive.

super-niall · 16th July 2010, 10:36 AM

Good, there's no point in replays if it finishes a draw. Just get the result end of.

There's no fun in watching a team try to defend for 90 minutes just so that they can get a replay to earn extra pennies.

16th July 2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAZMAN2

Why not just scrap the League Cup. I've never warmed to that one

The FA CUP is not as popular as it once was because of the love in with the Prem League.

Attendances will confirm that and also the viewership of the final itself.

If a small club who need finances get a Prem Club in the draw then automatically all profits should go to the small club whether home or away

The League cup is a joke. The teams the 'big clubs' put out are testimony.
The FA cup ( these days ) is only slightly less funny

Rik-Safc · 16th July 2010, 10:41 AM

The FA get slated for doing nothing, then they get slated if they think about changing something... they really cant win.

Of all the options they have scrapping FA Cup replays would be a good safe bet to go with, it could always give the competition a new lease of life as all teams will have to play for the win.

Loosing the League cup completely would give us (and similar clubs) even less chances of actually winning anything and personally I wouldn't want to lose football over winter as it can be a great time to get all the family to a match (not to mention the inevitable problem Onlyfoolsrushin states).

24/02/79 · 16th July 2010, 10:49 AM

The 'our players were tired' argument is absolute bollocks.

Kuyt and Tevez weren't tired.

England's players just weren't good enough. Sometimes things are just simple, you don't have to look for any other reasons.

Epping · 16th July 2010, 11:07 AM

scrapping replays will the final nail in the FA cups coffin..

Nothing better than seeing a small team get a replya against one fo the big boys

well there is.. its a small team beating a big boy.

A big replay against a big team can finance that team for a coupel of years.. once again the lower down the ladder you are the more your trounced on