Oh don’t get me wrong I’m not suggesting that this has been to help anyone but the big clubs, but the schedule in the football league is absolutely daft and this will help that a little bit.
I’d also agree that it’s **** that the rest of the pyramid wasn’t consulted.
However replays aren’t unique to the FA cup. The league cup had them for about 30 years, until they got rid of them.
If The number of fixtures and scheduling was going to be an issue they shouldn’t have added extra teams and expanded the European competitions. What they’ve done is exoand those then say oh dear we’ve got too many fixtures now, but we’ll fix it by removing some from the FA cup
Fans are an after thought these days.Surely if all the EFL clubs band together and issue a statement saying they condemn this decision and they were not consulted the matter will have to be reconsidered. Football is 92 clubs (+ all the non-league ones who will have a massive interest in the outcome of this), not just the elite 20 or super-elite 6. Football should be about the fans and the combined number of fans who support the 72 EFL clubs is surely more than those who support the 20 Prem clubs?
Surely if all the EFL clubs band together and issue a statement saying they condemn this decision and they were not consulted the matter will have to be reconsidered. Football is 92 clubs (+ all the non-league ones who will have a massive interest in the outcome of this), not just the elite 20 or super-elite 6. Football should be about the fans and the combined number of fans who support the 72 EFL clubs is surely more than those who support the 20 Prem clubs?
I agree that moving the semi - finals to Wembley killed the magic of the final. Great past memories of semis at neutral grounds. Not sure why they stopped replays from the first round but on the flip side if smaller teams can play out a draw with the big clubs they have a chance of winning on penalties on the day.I used to love the FA Cup, but now I couldn't give a ****. Some of my best memories are cup replays, Ipswich a few times, Middlesbrough and Shrewsbury in the 6th round to name but a few. I can understand no replay in the semis as it's a neutral ground and is best finished on the day.
Coventry was really annoying at the time, but am I missing an overpriced trip to Wembley this Sunday? Not at all.
For me it died when they moved the semi-finals to Wembley.
Totally fair enough pal, and I actually remember that game, although I have to point out it was well over 20 years ago. Our last exciting replay was probably Sheff Wed in the 90s.One of Tranmere's most memorable ever games is being 3-0 down at half time in an FA Cup replay to top flight Southampton, which they then won 4-3. I think you are being short sighted, and I normally agree with most of your posts.
He’s not wrong.
Hostile crowd at Shrewsbury? There's an oxymoronTotally fair enough pal, and I actually remember that game, although I have to point out it was well over 20 years ago. Our last exciting replay was probably Sheff Wed in the 90s.
As I say, accept I’m in the minority, but I just don’t particularly like replays.
We went to Shrewsbury in the cup under Nuno, played ****, salvaged a draw. Replay, which we win despite John Ruddy playing like a clown.
If that first game, in front of a pretty hostile crowd, at Shrewsbury had gone to pens instead of a replay, they would have had a far better chance of getting into the next round.
Haha to be honest there were a few naughty boys about that day.Hostile crowd at Shrewsbury? There's an oxymoron
Had a conversation yesterday with someone from Walsall football Club .....he said the only thing they were angry with , was not being consulted.....he said they would have agreed to ditch replays if consulted ....most of the clubs agree there is too much football across the board ...I wonder how many Championship clubs also want to get rid of replays. A fair few play weaker teams in the FA Cup and want to focus on getting promoted.