RIP 'Deadly' Derek Underwood, one of Englands greatest bowlers and great servant of Kent. England's most successful spin bowler in Test history has died (msn.com)
Rubbish decision about no replays in the FA cup from next season Bring back neutral semi final venues Restore replays Final at 3pm at the end of the season The FA and Prem need to be reminded that there is football outside of the premiership and league
The ever increasing gaps between various tiers in football - PL to Championship and Championship to League One, in particular - have ruined the romance of the cup competitions. Upsets are increasingly rare, although thankfully still do occur. This move makes it clear that they are just a sideshow. It will increase those gaps because smaller clubs will lose those big paydays which come from drawing a well supported club and getting a replay. The income from two games home and away against is massive for these clubs. Especially if they get a live TV game out of it too. They can earn as much from a replay at a big club as they do from a whole season of home games in their league. Once again, their interests are secondary to the convenience of the big boys.
All about the money. No money in the FA cup for big clubs so no replays has been long coming. Ruins it financially for smaller clubs though.
Perhaps the lower league teams could be given the option of playing away, as a compromise? If drawn at home obviously.
I think in Spain the lower league side is always at home. I think that would be a better model although I see how sometimes that would result in less money for the lower league side.
The best players play too many matches but the solution isn't to have fewer matches...it's to limit the number any player can play.
They could distribute the revenues generated more fairly, that may help. But it’s more than just money for fans of smaller clubs competing in the cups. There are their only chance to see their team compete against the top clubs. Taking a big club to a replay and looking forward to a sell out home game or trip to a famous stadium is a huge part of being a fan. It’s part if the magic they want to dilute and make the Cup pretty soulless