Whilst I still consider no replays is unfair on smaller clubs there is no doubt yesterdays game certainly for neautral audiences round the world was so much better because of it. 2 sides going for it substitutes made by away side to try and win rather than happy to draw and get them at home for the replay
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[Football] FA Cup Replays.
- Thread starter amexer
- Start date
I tend to agree. People tend not to like change, but this is a good thing IMO.
I do wish the FAC winner was given a UCL place and the runner up a Europa League spot though. I know that's not in the FA's hands, but if it was, you'd see interest in the cup absolutely skyrocket.
Washie
Well-known member
I would have replays up until 4th round, 5th round onwards no replays
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 9,427
Once you get this far, yes no point in replays, it's mostly just PL teams and nobody needs the extra fixture
But it's for the earlier rounds, for those David and Goliath encounters they should exist for. What it should do is encourage the bigger team to go full strength to avoid the need for a replay.
Physical fitness is in such a different place for a National League club than it is for a PL club, that they have almost no chance of surviving the 120 mins. But they might survive 90
But it's for the earlier rounds, for those David and Goliath encounters they should exist for. What it should do is encourage the bigger team to go full strength to avoid the need for a replay.
Physical fitness is in such a different place for a National League club than it is for a PL club, that they have almost no chance of surviving the 120 mins. But they might survive 90
Washie
Well-known member
Look at Spurs in the third round. Were second best all game, went to ET and spurs then were fitter so able to out last them and win in ET, meaning non-league Tamworth missed out on going back to to Spurs with a draw. Think of the money they would have made.
Milano
Well-known member
120 mins with no replay is normally a big advantage for the home team, too big IMO, so I believe that it should go straight to pens after the 90 minutes.
Jack Straw
I look nothing like him!
I feel very sorry for fans of lesser Clubs, whose only chance of seeing theirs play at a big stadium would have been by holding a big club to a draw at home in the cup. A Club that springs to mind this season is Exeter. I'm sure they would have loved an amazing day out at Forest, but the new rule put paid to that.
I also don't like going to Wembley for the semi-finals. There's enough large capacity grounds to hold those ties.
Wembley should only be for the final only. You could throw my thoughts on Cup replays back at me, as it gives fans a day out at Wembley if they reach the semis, but Wembley is the Holy Grail of football and should be sacrosanct.
As an aside, I am quite old!
I also don't like going to Wembley for the semi-finals. There's enough large capacity grounds to hold those ties.
Wembley should only be for the final only. You could throw my thoughts on Cup replays back at me, as it gives fans a day out at Wembley if they reach the semis, but Wembley is the Holy Grail of football and should be sacrosanct.
As an aside, I am quite old!
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
I agree. When we played Man City, there were hardly any of their fans there because they were so sure of returning for the final, so it’s not even generating money.
There are good neutral grounds available in the south, midlands and north.
m20gull
Well-known member
I missed the City semi-final because it felt wrong. I did go to the United one but that was first game back after over a year of post-Covid. If we beat Forest I shall have to face that question again. I'm also quite old so I'm sad with the loss of replays. Big club squads are fatter than ever so fixture congestion is no defence. Of course I get that the Wembley days out don't need a replay but the earlier rounds were definitely enhanced for smaller clubs.
I used to think the same about Wembley, but have changed my mind as those semis have been fantastic days out. I can tolerate Wembley as a semi final venue when the ground is full. It feels like an occasion, and because it is a semi rather than a final, there are fewer seats reserved for corporates and more for the fans.
It was a bit soul destroying seeing big gaps at Man City's end because they had two even bigger games coming up in that coming week, but I doubt that will be an issue this season, whoever gets to the semis.
Dick Swiveller
Well-known member
- Sep 9, 2011
- 9,781
Might as well go the whole hog with modernising it and allow an extra sub in extra time. Games these days are so much more athletic that there were a lot of players out on their feet. Clubs will go back to rotating if they lose vital players with extra time injuries due to fatigue. I love the way the FA Cup used to be but football has changed irreversibly. Better to make the FA Cup work within the modern game than not adapt and see it relegated to a side show.
happypig
Staring at the rude boys
Instead of penalties, if the teams are from different divisions then the lower team should go through after extra time.
- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,551
Agreed, maybe they could make no replays from round 5 but still keep them until that point?
withdeanwombat
Well-known member
Maybe after the draw is made for whatever round, the clubs could toss a coin to see who goes through?
There’d be far less injuries, fewer yellow or red cards, and less fixture congestion.
There’d be far less injuries, fewer yellow or red cards, and less fixture congestion.
Perhaps normally but 4/8 ties went to 120 mins yesterday and none were won by the home side in that time. Obviously Forest and Bournemouth won their shootouts but were held by the away side for the full 120 mins.
The FA Cup is a funny old competition and whilst it has lost a little of its glamour, it still rarely adheres to normal.
If people had a big interest in watching the replays, they'd still be around, because big interest = big money.
But in reality there was usually massive drop-offs in attendance. Being sad that they're gone is a bit like when a small local business gets replaced by a big international chain: massive outrage about losing something people couldn't bother with.
As for smaller clubs losing out on money, there's solutions to that. In some countries the bigger club can buy the home advantage if both clubs agree, and then split the income from the game, benefitting both. Fear of "losing the magic of the cup" can't be a factor in 2025 as a non-league side, which would be the ones most interested in giving up their "home advantage", can't beat a PL team.
But in reality there was usually massive drop-offs in attendance. Being sad that they're gone is a bit like when a small local business gets replaced by a big international chain: massive outrage about losing something people couldn't bother with.
As for smaller clubs losing out on money, there's solutions to that. In some countries the bigger club can buy the home advantage if both clubs agree, and then split the income from the game, benefitting both. Fear of "losing the magic of the cup" can't be a factor in 2025 as a non-league side, which would be the ones most interested in giving up their "home advantage", can't beat a PL team.