[Football] FA Cup Replays Scrapped

[Bold Seagull]

Why are the powers that be determined to wreck the Cup?

Thing is no one goes. Clubs don’t sell out cup games and need to offer cut price tickets.

Football is so expensive that fans make a choice and they generally prioritise league games over cups.

We can all shout and moan about replays, but of more concern is the empty seats for FA cup ties - not replays.

 

[Pevenseagull]

If Tranmere and Grimsby are against it and Todd Boehy is for it, I'm against it.

 

[zefarelly]

Ban the wankers?

PL super heros dont like it? then don't enter.

It's the best cup competition in the world, for the best clubs. If a few Chelshitteautd's can't be bothered, then abstain. We won't miss you!

 

[nicko31]

The FA are destroying the competition, really shameful

 

[Dave the OAP]

100% agree. I'd be eager for somebody with the time and inclination to work out the statistics of how often a lower-ranked team wins the replay (either home or away). I'd imagine it's extremely low.

I, for one, am really pleased. Replays are an utter waste of time for me. With very little football financial knowledge (and the fact that Darragh MacAntony (so?) from Posh is outraged may invalidate my point), I'm convinced that lower-ranked clubs would make more money from winning the tie on pens (rather than it going to a replay) and then making it through to the next round, with the money that comes with it, the media prestige etc.

I'll take Colchester Utd for an example, a club I follow since moving to South Suffolk. The COVID season saw them play Palace in the second round of the League Cup at Selhurst. It went to pennos and they won. There's a much higher chance that they'd have lost to Palace in a replay, even at home. Next round, they played Spurs at home. I went to the game and it was magical, the U's winning on pens, sparking a pitch invasion. It's still talked about today at the club. I'm even more convinced that if the tie had gone to a replay at the Tottenham Stadium they'd have been trounced. Before someone says "but their fans would have got their big day out and the money etc", the U's went on to beat Creepy Crawley in the next round and set up a Quarter Final tie with United at Old Trafford. 5000 U's fans went. In total, they must have made substantially more money making it through the rounds, than if they'd had a replay at home in the second round against Palace.

I fully understand that this is probably not the heart with which Premier League clubs pressed this decision, but nevertheless as a lifelong fan of a Premier League club in Albion, but also a follower of a League Two Club now (and obvs Albion have been a Football League club the majority of my 32 year life), it makes me more excited for the FA Cup.

There ladies and gentlemen is the perfect example of todays fan who knows f*** all about the history of the game …. So you really think that the vast majority of the efl etc clubs who veremently disagree with this are wrong, but you are right therefore its all ok!

well glad to see you are sat at the top table and I hope for your sake Albion don’t go on a mighty slide and drop out of the corrupt self serving top division

i take it you have forgotten that many of these clubs who voted for this without telling anyone below the premiershite also voted to create a super league and tell the rest of football to go and screw themselves.

 

[mile oak]

Club Statement - Chester Football Club

Chester Football Club is dismayed at the decision of The FA and the Premier League to change the format of The FA Cup, without consideration of the consequences their actions will have on clubs such as ours. The scrapping of replays from the first round proper onwards denies clubs access to...

chesterfc.com

Totally agree. Scrap repays from.say 4th rd onwards

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Why are they scrapping them from the first round? If it's to do with European fixture congestion then surely the third round?

Also, if you're going to deprive the lower league clubs of a replay then maybe all profits should go to the lower league team or they get the choice of whether they play at home or away.

 

[Shooting Star]

There ladies and gentlemen is the perfect example of todays fan who knows f*** all about the history of the game …. So you really think that the vast majority of the efl etc clubs who veremently disagree with this are wrong, but you are right therefore its all ok!

well glad to see you are sat at the top table and I hope for your sake Albion don’t go on a mighty slide and drop out of the corrupt self serving top division

i take it you have forgotten that many of these clubs who voted for this without telling anyone below the premiershite also voted to create a super league and tell the rest of football to go and screw themselves.

I think you've decided you don't like my opinion, ignored where I conceded that I could be wrong (see Posh comment) and also overlooked a relevant case study, all whilst being fairly rude in the process.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Had t realised Paul Barber is on the gaming committee that was part of this decision.

A bit surprising and disappointing…..

I think @fataddick idea was the best.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Keep the rules the same. If the competition demeans some of the Premier league teams then they can abstain. Best cup competition in the world - always was and always should be.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

How much say did the lower league and non league clubs have in this? It is them that will be most affected. For such clubs an FA cup replay at a big Premiere stadium can be the highlight of their career, and a financial lifesaver. I agree with the person who said to scrap them from the 4th round if you are going to.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Why not, when the draw is made, give home advantage to the lower ranked team?
Why not have a seeded draw?
Why not have the holders exempted til the following final?

Place other ludicrous suggestions on this thread.

 

[jackalbion]

I think 90% of match going fans don't want them to be scrapped, but this is what has happened its a shame. None of the top six will do anything about it and people like Boehly continue to try and throttle the English game. All in the same week when a precedent is set by FIFA for European games to be played in the US. The Super League by stealth.

 

[Eric Youngs Contact Lens]

I'm annoyed by this pandering. My issue with the whole thing is that despite all the apparent fixture hassles and concerns that their CL efforts might be compromised, the biggest clubs still always win the FA Cup.. since 1990 only 5 times has the Cup been won by a Club you wouldn't recognise today as the Big 6 (4 times if you remove Everton!) All of those wins were with "freak" results against..... the same big clubs! Its all stacked in their favour anyway.. Yes, we the footballing public have to accept that the early rounds might be played by the fringe players and stop arguing the competition is devalued, but to stop replays is a nonsense

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Why are they scrapping them from the first round? If it's to do with European fixture congestion then surely the third round?

Also, if you're going to deprive the lower league clubs of a replay then maybe all profits should go to the lower league team or they get the choice of whether they play at home or away.

It would only make any sense if they were to bring forward the date for the 3rd round when PL clubs enter the competition, (meaning potentially fewer games in the 2nd half of the season) however if that remains the same, i can't see the argument to support their being scrapped

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Easy way to compensate for this change, whilst also making for more giant killing and fun in general:

For the First Round (when the 48 L1 & L2 teams join) the 32 non-league qualifiers are all at home.

For the Third Round (when the 44 PL & Champ teams join) the 20 L1/L2/non-league teams are all at home.

Logistically a piece of piss to do: The lower teams are in a separate bowl that home teams are drawn from until it runs out.

All other rounds would be drawn as normal (with ensuing randomness). Only R1 and R3 are ‘rigged’ to give a decent home game and payday to tinpot sides like Charlton.

There’s already a precedent with league position giving home advantage in play-offs. This is just a reversal/twist on that.

Please write to your MP if you agree.

However the non league team players may find a game staged away to a league club may be their only ever opportunity to play in a league ground in their career, that rule would deny them that opportunity

Secondly, what if the non league team has a very small ground, which will limit income compared to playing at a ground which holds many multiples of that, so more gate receipts, etc - meaning they lose income

The loss of a replay will impact income too, lower gate receipts, etc.. (and the chance they get TV money if the replay is picked for coverage)

 

[Rookie]

The FA doubling down will go down as a PR blunder. Leave it and don’t say anything but don’t belittle concerns from a lot of clubs with a vague we will give you more details.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Anyone fancy joining a small protest next Thursday when we play City?

 

[Clive Walker]

i would say scrap all the international friendly bullcrap that gets in the way rather than this.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Would be interested to hear PB’s view on this, knowing he is one of the four from the premier League on the panel - doesn’t mean he’s supportive of approach but with the number of injuries we have had / player welfare I wouldn’t be surprised (I don’t agree btw)