RIP The FA Cup

moulesy
moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited April 20 in Sports #1

So the FA have bowed to the wishes of a small number of so-called "elite" clubs and decide to scrap replays after next year's first round.

Already having ruined the "magic of the cup" by spreading earlier round matches across the week to satisfy TV demands, this marks the beginning of the end for what is internallionally recognised as one of the great sporting events.

What I don't understand is why these "elite" clubs are crying over fixture congestion when they have large enough squads to put out 2 or 3 completely separate teams.

I read that there has been almost unanimous criticism of the decision from lower league clubs who had no say in the matter - dare we hope that their voice will be heard and this decision reversed? frown

Comments

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,030 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 21 #2

    Agree it’s a disgrace M. Not so long ago, the PL clubs weren’t that bothered about the FA Cup, but it’s enjoyed a decent come back. The lower league club’s are able to earn lots of much needed income, that can keep them going, if they get a replay say at a PL Club. And of course it’s fantastic for the fans to see their team and players playing on a much bigger stage.

    I have little time for the likes of the FA and UEFA. Wouldn’t trust them with the milk money.😡

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 24 #3

    There was something on BBC East tonight about this decision. They mentioned smaller Clubs like Cambridge United who had a replay against Manchester United and it was worth about a million pounds to them which went a long way towards securing their financial situation.

    David

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 25 #4

    Whilst agreeing with the sentiments made above I do think the governing bodies of Uefa and Fifa need to take some blame for this by expanding their own tournaments. Everyone is after more money and this decision, cack handed though it is, was inevitable.

    Maybe the Premier League could sweeten the deal by giving a bigger slice of the gate receipts to the smaller club, maybe even 100% of all receipts and TV money if the PL club is the away team to a club sitting in League 1 or below.

    Unfortunately greed has long overtaken sentiment and respect for tradition.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,030 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 25 #5

    There are a number of petitions around. This is the best supported, so consider signing on behalf of the smaller Clubs.

    https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-replays-in-the-fa-cup-or-initiate-a-vote-among-participating-teams?source_location=search

    Share as much as you can. Mighty fiefdoms like the FA, UEFA, FIFA can be toppled if enough folks get on board. That idiot from Spain was made to go!

  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited April 26 #6

    I agree 100% with moulesy's sentiments, but take issue with the comment that this latest change "marks the beginning of the end [of the FA Cup]".

    The beginning of the end started 30 years ago and continued with subsequent changes:

    1) Only one replay was allowed - with drawn replays to be settled by penalties (from 1991/1992)

    2) Manchester United did not enter (1999/2000)

    2) Semi-finals were moved to Wembley (2007/2008)

    3) Wembley finals were scheduled at 5:30 instead of 3 o-clock (except last season and this season exceptionally) to satisfy the TV companies (2010/2011)     

    4) Replays were ended altogether from the fifth round onwards with ties to be decided by penalties (2018/2019)

    By stealth through the years, games were moved to accommodate TV, some whole rounds were scheduled for week days, kick off times were in some cases bonkers and, perhaps worst of all, clubs started playing second or third teams in the FA Cup, knowing that the best money was in maximising their league position.       

    On a micro level, when there is a giant-killing, for example, people say, and especially TV commentators say, things like "who says the FA Cup has lost its magic"? This is understandable.

    But look at things as a whole, on a macro level, and there's absolutely not one jot of doubt in my mind that the FA Cup has lost all of its once great romance and cachet. I used to long for my team to win the FA Cup. I witnessed three defeats at Wembley in the 1960s,  the first on TV, as I was still young, but the others in person at the match, and I used to imagine how amazing it would feel to be on the winning side. When we finally won it, I did not even watch the whole of the game.

    Of course, it's all about money. Money has destroyed a once great game. Not that Manchester City fans (other clubs are available) would agree with that!   

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