The FA are at it again - messing with the FA Cup once again.

[Nottseagull]

Yep, the FA are doing what they do best; slowly chipping away at the tradition of the FA Cup. Here's the latest suggestion for "improvements"...
FA Cup - FA Cup could be midweek event - Yahoo! Eurosport



FA Cup could be midweek event

The FA Cup could be remodelled with matches being staged in midweek, Ian Watmore, chief executive of the FA said.

The world's oldest football cup competition, which began in the 1871-72 season and was once the glamorous highlight of the English calendar, has paled in recent seasons alongside the Champions League and Premier League.

The major clubs regularly field weakened teams in the early rounds and, although the final at Wembley is still one of the season's highlights, the competition has lost much of its old sparkle.

"With some rounds it may be better to look at midweek fixtures rather than weekends," Watmore told Talksport Radio. "The third-round weekend, the first week in January, is one of those iconic weekends of the football calendar and I wouldn't want to mess with that.

"The FA Cup final on the second or third Saturday in May at three o'clock is a fantastic day so I wouldn't want to mess with that for any reason.

"But if there's a really good reason to change some of the format and to bring it back to the sort of glory that it had when you or I were growing up then why not?

"We do have to do something with the FA Cup to turn it around and make it become more relevant, particularly for the younger generation of fans."

This season the cup has produced some big shocks, with Leeds United, of League One, winning 1-0 at Manchester United in the third round and Reading of the Championship winning a third-round replay 2-1 at Liverpool.

Reuters

 

[Easy 10]

FA Cup in midweek....REVOLUTIONARY !
I mean whoever heard of a domestic knockout cup competition being played exclusively during midweek until the Final, which is at the weekend. Its GENIUS.
Who thinks of these things ?

 

[IKDRF]

Have to say that the competition may have to be altered because its lost its spark. That is a genuine shame because it always meant so much. If by making changes it can be made more appealing we must accept that or it will just rust.

 

[IKDRF]

FA Cup in midweek....REVOLUTIONARY !
I mean who ever heard of a domestic knockout cup competition being played exclusively during midweek until the Final, which is at the weekend. Its GENIUS.
Who thinks of these things ?

yeah..at least it would be in contrast to the league cup.............

 

[Diatribe]

a better fix would be to have a clear week after fa cup ties (at the weekend) in which replays would be played, that way there is no reason for clubs not to take a game seriously with their team selection.

 

[skipper734]

That's better. The Sky idea of what fans want.

 

[Barry Izbak]

I like what they did with it this year, giving us a game after Christmas.

 

[Gwylan]

The best way to improve the allure of the FA Cup is to give the winner a Champions League place - that would get clubs taking it seriously.

 

[IKDRF]

or totally scrap the league cup and make the fa cup bigger over the season with group systems involving 128 teams (including 36 non league)

32 groups seeded (top two)

16 groups seeded (top two)

then four rounds to the final.

maximum ten matches to the final. All teams in at the start. No replays.

e.g Eastbourne could play Liverpool in the first round.

starts in september

 

[smudge]

Why not make clubs play the quarter finals over 2 legs at Wembley.....midweek.......at 3 in the morning?

 

[IKDRF]

Why not make clubs play the quarter finals over 2 legs at Wembley.....midweek.......at 3 in the morning?

as the australians probably pay more for tv rights...good idea

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The best way to improve the allure of the FA Cup is to give the winner a Champions League place - that would get clubs taking it seriously.

Rubbish, The top clubs do take it seriously... just look at the winners and even finalists over past few years.

Having a Champions League place isnt going to make Teams like Bolton field a stronger side.

Fines as are in the LDV is the way forward.

Anyway, what is wrong with the FA Cup?

 

[Diatribe]

Anyway, what is wrong with the FA Cup?

attendances are in freefall.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

attendances are in freefall.

Thats the same with most of the said clubs in the league. How many would Wigan Vs hull attracted in the premier league? not many more.

Was at Spurs last night, wasnt full but 32k is pretty decent

 

[drew]

a better fix would be to have a clear week after fa cup ties (at the weekend) in which replays would be played, that way there is no reason for clubs not to take a game seriously with their team selection.

Agreed, back to what it was before. The Police should just get their arses into gear. Afterall, when the draw is made, they can all draw up contingency plans for replays.

or totally scrap the league cup and make the fa cup bigger over the season with group systems involving 128 teams (including 36 non league)

32 groups seeded (top two)

16 groups seeded (top two)

then four rounds to the final.

maximum ten matches to the final. All teams in at the start. No replays.

e.g Eastbourne could play Liverpool in the first round.

starts in september

Am assuming the groups are of 4 and you only play 3 games. Who plays at home and who plays away? Some will have two home games and some will have 2 away games. It will also lead to meaningless fixtures. One would have hoped that having seen how dull the champions league can become until the knockout stages this sort of idea could never be contemplated let alone suggested on a football forum. Assuming of course you aren't being sarcastic.

 

[beorhthelm]

kite flying, see what happens. at the end of the day, what possible improvment can this change bring about? moving to midweek isnt going to change attendance and im not sure it would even interest Sky much - they can only show one, two games at a time and they can do that presently.

what i dont understand is why he thinks it has lost its "relevency" or needs turning around? if its based on poor premier leauge team's crowds, he might want to look at ticketing costs and bare in mind the little matter of the economy.

 

[Gwylan]

Rubbish, The top clubs do take it seriously... just look at the winners and even finalists over past few years.

Everton? Portsmouth? Cardiff? Millwall? West Ham? Southampton?

if the big four took it seriously, they would supply every year's finalists

 

[Coca-Cola Kid]

:US:

 

[Diatribe]

Thats the same with most of the said clubs in the league. How many would Wigan Vs hull attracted in the premier league? not many more.

don't have the figures but the gist of what I read was that those kind of games were getting bigger attendances in league than cup, at all levels.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Everton? Portsmouth? Cardiff? Millwall? West Ham? Southampton?

if the big four took it seriously, they would supply every year's finalists

Really? Millwalls draw was non league and same league till final
Everton and Portsmouth had bloody good sides.

Shocks happen, just because they lose doesnt mean they are not trying. Everton beat Man Utd in the semi last year and then last week... does that mean man utd where not trying in league?