| F.A. Cup Replays 14:08 - Jan 8 with 898 views | Miaow |
What do people think of them?
I think it’s a bit ludicrous to have some rounds with them and some without. It was understandable that they were scrapped in the 2020/21 season, but having them in the earlier rounds and then doing away with them in the latter stages when it’s mainly the big Premier League clubs left is, I think, wrong.
An average PL club, such as Crystal Palace, will play 38 league matches in a season, plus a minimum of one game each in the FA Cup and League Cup. If they were to be fall at the first hurdle in both competitions, they would play 40 games in total. A club outside the Premier League will play up to 46 league matches, potentially 2/3 more in a play-off campaign, at least one in the FA Cup - which they will enter before the top 48 sides if they play below Championship level - and also (provided they are in the Football League) at least one League Cup game (from the first round stage) and a minimum of three EFL Trophy games if they are in L1/L2. Non-League teams would be competing in the FA Trophy/Vase. As a comparison with a PL side which doesn’t progress far in the cups and plays c. 40 games, Bradford City played 64 games in 2012/13 (not quite the 66 of 80/81) when they won the League Two play-offs, reached the League Cup final, were knocked out in the second round of the FA Cup after a replay in each tie and also reached the area semi-finals of the Trophy.
It annoys me that the managers of the bigger clubs complain about the number of fixtures when they are the ones with the most finances, the very best (and often biggest) squads, the best facilities, top coaches, medical staff, nutritionists, etc. Yes, they are often competing in Europe, but I refer to the point made in the previous sentence. None of this is helped by the ridiculous new Champions League format where any team which qualifies for the “group” stage will play at least 10 matches instead of six - another move to placate the big clubs and try and stave off the joke of a Super League.
Yes, a top side which progresses far in all competitions will play a lot of games. We can make the point that teams did the same decades ago and just got on with it, although there were definitely complaints then about the fixture pile-up, and that surely led to us not winning the League in 1981. But, again, squad sizes and resources are so much better nowadays. Yes, the game might be quicker and players may cover more ground, but they are surely also better athletes now.
In terms of competition reorganisation, I wouldn’t be averse to scrapping the Community Shield and I think it would be reasonable if clubs competing in Europe were excluded from the League Cup. That would also give clubs which are normally less likely to win a trophy to enjoy some success - though hopefully not Norwich. They could even prevent Premier League clubs from playing in the League Cup altogether as they are not “EFL” sides, although that won’t happen.
But anyway, after rambling for a bit, back onto FA Cup replays. I think it’s wrong that some small, cash-strapped eighth-tier team should have to go through numerous rounds with the potential for replays just to reach the first round proper when a PL club could not have the inconvenience of any extra games if they manage to get to the fifth round or whenever it is that replays are no longer being implemented. The prospect of a replay at a big club can be so lucrative for a small team, and there have been some notable moments in replays over the years - Ronnie Radford’s famous goal was in one.
I know that replays are such a part of tradition in this country, but it seems the football authorities haven’t been too bothered with that for a good few years. The FA will big up the “magic of the Cup” despite doing and allowing a number of things which devalue it. If replays are to be scrapped altogether and replaced with extra time and penalties then so be it, but don’t continue this mess of allowing bigger clubs the luxury of not having to play them in the later rounds. It’s just not fair. |  |
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| F.A. Cup Replays on 14:14 - Jan 8 with 841 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
The top clubs complain they have too many fixtures.
As soon as there is a break in fixtures, they arrange a match in Asia.
It is about money and not about fixture congestion. Playing less attractive domestic matches (especially repeatedly against the same opposition) does not sell well.
There was a problem when replays went to the 3rd, 4th replay etc but 1 replay with extra time and penalties should be fine at each stage. |  |
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| F.A. Cup Replays on 14:38 - Jan 8 with 752 views | strikalite |
But rules re replays would need to apply to the likes of both Liverpool and Palace, irrespective of whether the big boys within the Prem are in the Champs league/ Europa or not...
Its all down to these European Leagues without doubt, and the fact that the Prem has become far far more important and money lucrative than any Cup competition sadly, gate receipts mean little to the Prem clubs now so replays for them is a massive hindrance. |  | | |
| F.A. Cup Replays on 14:40 - Jan 8 with 745 views | andytown |
Not to mention that they apparently can’t find a weekend for the 5th round, so have stuck it in midweek. |  | | |
| F.A. Cup Replays on 14:47 - Jan 8 with 707 views | BigCommon |
Replays are a big earner for small clubs... Unfortunately small clubs don't matter in the eyes of The PL. |  | | |
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