The gloss has gone off the FA and League cups since Euro leagues were formed and teams started putting out 2nd and 3rd string teams, it's ruining the game here. FA should step in and say, must field at least 9 regular first team players. It's ok people saying they don't give a toss about the cups, but that leaves one avenue left, promotion from Championship, if we fail at that we do it all again next season, plus playing second string teams with fringe players in the cups again, and we'll just go around in circles, again and again. Fans will continually moan while continually saying "stuff the cups" and we'll continue on merry go round till we at least start taking the cups seriously and remember they're doorways into Europe, more cash = bigger and better players. TC will again put out second string teams, then we'll slip up and get beat by a lowly team, and everyone will say, we're concentrating on promotion. It'll be the same old story if we don't get promoted this season.......personally, it's getting boring.....
Thats exactly what itll be like. You cant blame tc or any other championship team putting out weakened teams though. They know their first teams even will be dismantled by the likes of City, Arsenal etc if they meet them.Perfect example being the Wallies debacle last season against spuds. They could have made up a team from their bar staff that would have mullered the wallies, such is the gulf in standard. Theyre not going to ever admit that to the fans. All managers go with the line "were taking the competition seriously" then field a team of reserves. I believe scum started the fa cup downfall when they refused to play in it but played world club thing instead
In regards to the FA cup, deduct £1m or even £2m from evey team in the PL out of their Sky money pot and put it into the FA cup. Increase how much you get for reaching a final and give bonuses to any team beating a higher division team. If two Championship teams play each other, 50/50 split. If Championship and div 1 play each other then 50/50 split if Championship team wins, if they lose then 75% to the Div1 teams and only 25% to the Championship team. When it comes to PL teams make it even larger, they get zero losing to a lower division team
Great idea but sponsors provide all the cash,its different sponsors and sure say sky and BT won't want to give money to the cup sponsors.
When we put out our weakened team its actually our first team bench, and therein lies the problem. Too many for the future players who are ill equipped for this league. Premier league has destroyed the FL & FA. Parachute payments reward failure which gives a huge advantage to relegated teams. Too many foreign players means nobody understands the heritage anymore England, Wales, NI & Scotland will never do anything on the International scale because not enough home grown players in top football Sick of women commentators, pundits on BBC 5 live, BBC match reports, Football Focus .........
That Juliette Ferrington, ****ing hell she even sounds like a nagging witch announcing team line ups.....
