What changes would you make to the FA Cup?
For years people have been saying the magic of the FA Cup has gone. For the first time I am really feeling that, as a Newcastle fan, who have not won a trophy since 1969, I should be gutted about going out of the FA Cup so early again surely? But in a way losing against another PL team in front of a crowd 20k less then normal doesn't seem to hurt as much as it should for a competition of such prestige.
After the comments from the Villa manager and West Ham not seemingly fussed about going out, it really makes me wonder when will the powers that be step in before the competition losing all its 'magic'.
My suggestions would be
1. Get rid of the League cup, a trophy clubs are seen to disrespect right up until the final. Just adding to a packed calendar, this may add some importance for to the FA Cup if it is the only domestic competition for clubs to compete in.
2. Scrap replays and just have games go to extra time and penalties. Adding another game to a packed calendar is often not what either team wants, although I can understand the added finance for thee lower league teams.
3. Probably the most important for me, scrap the Europa league place for the winner and give the 4th CL place to the winner of the FA Cup. Could you see Allardyce, Lambert or Pardew taking a 3rd round exit in their stride if this was the prize?
The FA Cup can still throw up some wonderful games and moments but some changes might just bring the excitement and commitment from managers but to the cup.
After the comments from the Villa manager and West Ham not seemingly fussed about going out, it really makes me wonder when will the powers that be step in before the competition losing all its 'magic'.
My suggestions would be
1. Get rid of the League cup, a trophy clubs are seen to disrespect right up until the final. Just adding to a packed calendar, this may add some importance for to the FA Cup if it is the only domestic competition for clubs to compete in.
2. Scrap replays and just have games go to extra time and penalties. Adding another game to a packed calendar is often not what either team wants, although I can understand the added finance for thee lower league teams.
3. Probably the most important for me, scrap the Europa league place for the winner and give the 4th CL place to the winner of the FA Cup. Could you see Allardyce, Lambert or Pardew taking a 3rd round exit in their stride if this was the prize?
The FA Cup can still throw up some wonderful games and moments but some changes might just bring the excitement and commitment from managers but to the cup.
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Comments
Make winning the Europa give a CL spot and suddenly its actually worth competing in
It started losing its magic in 2000 when Man United pulled out to take part in that meaningless competition in Brazil (under the misguided belief that not taking part in it would harm our chances of getting the 2006 World Cup.)
They tried to do that a few years ago - but the backlash from the smaller PL teams caused them to change their minds.
From the 2015/16 season, the Europa League winners *will* be in the Champions League.
Other than that I wouldn't change anything
I've often wondered what it would be like if everyone went in at the same time (all 700+ teams)
The League Cup is the one to bugger about with.
Increase the prize for winning a 3rd round match from the current £67,500 to £1,000,000 and then Paul Lambert might take it seriously. If the teams take it seriously then the fans will too.
Lottery style entertaining draws
No replays, instead do something like a golden goal
All teams start in one big draw
Change it to Sunday evening games
All games on terrestrial tv
Let the Premier League run it
Get some sort of football pools type betting game created for it
Up the prize money to encourage teams to take it seriously
Axe the League Cup
The Premier League would tell the FA to run and jump.
Stop teams from fielding out weakened teams. Nothing cheapens it more than having a team of kids and reserves turning out and not caring if you lose. If teams are worried about the league, then perhaps make any winners exempt from relegation (??? not sure about that ???).
Play the semi finals at neutral grounds, and keep Wembley special for the final.
Have the Wembley final back to its traditional time and date - after the regular season has ended, at at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, not all this 5:15 nonsense with 2 or 3 PL matches left to go.
Show a greater variety of teams on TV - lower league v PL games, rather than just show the same old Man Utd/Chelsea/Liverpool every single round, regardless of opposition - go for games that capture the magic of the cup rather than ratings chasing. I can watch Man Utd and Chelsea live most weeks anyway.
Stop smaller teams switching the fixtures when they get drawn against a large club. Half the fun is hearing about the likes of Manchester Utd's megastars having to change in a portacabin.
Get the League cup out of the way earlier in the season - with the final over the Xmas period.
No Wembley semi finals
No ITV
Certainly scrap replays for the early rounds, but maybe keep them for the semi-final (though to be fair that is the time of the season when certain teams least want them) and keep the semi-finals away from Wembley unless it's two of the big London teams.
I'm definitely in favour of the FA cup winner getting the final CL qualifying place. That along with some better prize money would focus the minds of a few mid to lower table PL teams.
Yes, but that was long enough ago that these teams thought they had a chance at the 4th spot. Most of the PL teams now have little hope of getting in the top 7 let alone top 4.
Agree with 1 and 2 but no way with 3. Getting 4th is a super achievement imagine Newcastle if they got it 2 years back and Chelsea didn't win CL, Chelsea would have gotten a play off v Newcastle despite finishing 6th. No way should winners get chance get through to CL
Surely the lower league winners (if there was to be a lower league winner) don't deserve to get the champions league spot over a top flight league team that have managed to finish respectably in 4th place after playing 38 games, FA Cup is a mere 5/6 games?
not the answer imo
Also, Burn Paul Allan's sweater.
If they were to do this, then they would have to change the rules all over Europe so that domestic cup competition winners from each country get a place in the Champions League. You couldn't have the qualifying criteria being different for England than all other European countries.
Question: What happens if both teams (2015/2016) who contest the Europa League final have already qualified via their leagues?
Yes, but no country gives a Champions League spot to a Cup winner.
That would be quite insane. Presumably you'd have the first round contain either 256 or 512 teams, and just use the qualifying rounds to get it down from 730+ to that? Would be amusing to see PL teams end up playing against teams like Ilkestone Town in the first round though. Might see some 10-0 scores...