Fa, look closer to home..

[kevtherev]

The Fa should look a bit closer to home when looking at what can be done to breath life back into the Fa cup and stop it dying on its feet. The first nail in the coffin was holding semi finals at Wembley. When I was a kid, getting to Wembley was almost as big a prize as winning the cup itself. Semi finals should be played at neutral grounds, at the same time. Seeding the cup would only be another nail in the coffin imo. The only way that could work would be to seed the top 32 clubs in the third round, in order of league posion and give them all an away draw.This would give the lesser clubs a guaranteed bigger club at home, giving them the chance to pull off a shock and an even better chance of getting a payday replay, away from home.After the third round the draw could go back to normal, with no replays and a result on the day with extra time and pens.Keep a europa cup spot for the winners/runners up.And clubs as like in the premership should have to feild a srongish side, to give the cup the respect it deserves. Yes Man Utd won yesterday so job done, but Blackpool gave Villa a close game in the prem and got fined (not that I agree with that ruleing) but it one rule for one and one for another and fans paying their hard earnt money should not be the ones to miss out, weakend teams are surely another reason for poor cup attendences..Thoughts??

 

[Marc]

ditch the league cup....'nuff said

 

[Aldo]

If a team wants to field a weakened side, then let them.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

The FA, presumably, still have a large bill to pay for Wembley, so I can't see them going back to neutral grounds for the semi-finals. Sadly.

If a team wants to field a weekened side, then let them.

What about a midweek side?

 

[Aldo]

The FA, presumably, still have a large bill to pay for Wembley, so I can't see them going back to neutral grounds for the semi-finals. Sadly.



What about a midweek side?

Edited it as soon as I sent it, not quick enough obviously

 

[kevtherev]

I am well aware why the semis were move to Wembley and why they will stay there. But the Fa should realise this is/was a major factor for devalueing the greatest cup competion in the world and the jewel in there crown. Its not the same for fans and players alike, Wembley itself is no longer a prize. They should do whatever they have to, to change this and get revenue in by some other means. Its only two games a year, put two more concerts on in July!!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

As mentioned in another thread, what if teams that reached the quarter finals received two bonus league points? It would reduce the incidence of clubs fielding weakened sides.

 

[tonymgc]

I think its more a case of 'the magic' dying in the fans eyes.
If Wigan & Bolton fans can't motivate themselves to watch their teams in what could be for either team a winnable competition then what hope is there?
For me personally i've loved every minute of our cup run, Even the shitty freezing night when we were 2-1 down at Woking.
The magic has to come back. Perhaps offer a champions league spot to the winners? That would motivate the fans a bit more.

 

[brunswick]

saturday 3pm for all teams, if draw at 90 mins then next goal wins and 2 man rush goalies. no seeds. end of.

 

[BensGrandad]

I have said it else where on another similar thread.

1. Ditch the JPT
2. Make the League Cup what it is the Cup for the Football League which doesnt include The Premiership that is run by the FA not the FL.
3. Give the FA Cup winners the place in the Europa Cup that goes to the present League Cup Winners.
4. Revert back to a 2nd replay on a neutral ground with that match decided on penalties igf needed as both sides have had the opportunity to win at home. The problem with this is the Police want 10 dys notice of matches to cover the overtime etc.

 

[Djmiles]

As mentioned in another thread, what if teams that reached the quarter finals received two bonus league points? It would reduce the incidence of clubs fielding weakened sides.

Horrendous idea.

 

[Djmiles]

3. Give the FA Cup winners the place in the Europa Cup that goes to the present League Cup Winners.

FA Cup winners already get a Europa Cup spot though, do they not?

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Horrendous idea.

Yes, it's crude. But it would work. Every club would take the competition seriously. It would tackle the 'Let's concentrate on the league. The cup's a distraction' viewpoint.

 

[BensGrandad]

FA Cup winners already get a Europa Cup spot though, do they not?

Sorry got confused meant to say give them the extra spot for the Champions League that the FA are after rather than the League cup Winners or 5th place club.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Bring back the Anglo-Italian Cup.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It is all a bit stale really.

Since I was born in August 1980, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool have accounted for 70% of the three major cups.


Nine different teams have won the FA Cup since the 1980/81 season.

Man Utd 7
Liverpool 5
Arsenal 5
Chelsea 5
Tottenham 3
Everton 2
Coventry 1
Portsmouth 1
Wimbledon 1

Top flight winners since I was born...

Eight different sides have won the top flight. The last 15 titles being snaffled by three different clubs.

Man Utd 11
Liverpool 6
Arsenal 4
Chelsea 3
Everton 2
Aston Villa 1
Blackburn 1
Leeds Utd 1

60 trophies - 46 of them shared between Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal.

90 trophies (including the league cup) and those 4 account for 17 of the 30 league cups. So they have cleaned up with 70% of all trophies in the last 30 years.

 

[Djmiles]

We seem to rest players for FA Cup ties if we have a midweek game coming up just after, so why not guarantee a game-free midweek after each round? This could be acheived by playing a few more midweek games earlier in the season.

Take this season, for example. We played 2 midweek league games in the first 3 months, but we now face ourselves playing 5 midweek games in the next 6 weeks. Madness.

 

[Giraffe]

Definitely get rid of Wembley Semi Finals. Introduce a proper European place for the winners or runners up.

Get rid of the JPT.

But the route of the problem is the power of the premiership and I have no idea how you tackle that one.

 

[BensGrandad]

Why do Premiership sides take part in the League Cup when they are not in the Football League?

 

[Philzo-93]

Why do Premiership sides take part in the League Cup when they are not in the Football League?

All Premier League teams out of the League Cup, agreed.

Introduce a winter break as a result of not entering into this cup.

Then international players/premiership managers can stop moaning about not ahving a winter break anymore.