I think the counter is that the big 6 have the resources to field teams in both and if in doubt play their academy. Not our problem if they want to play 20 games in Europe a season.
All the demand for more European matches, be it in a league, or in further competitions, is driven by the desire to get more TV coverage (for the rest of the world). Football sold its soul to television, mostly Sky, and now it has to dance to the paymasters' tune. Meanwhile, the Old Corinthian spirit exuded by the aged men in dusty FA boardrooms is slowly being consigned to the wastebin of history. I'm not in favour of football being run by a bunch of geriatric Old Etonians, but I'm not in favour of TV being the controlling partner, either. Football is now a business, so maybe the answer is to make the FA Cup as valuable as the European competitions. Unlikely, I know.
Championship and Prem don't come in until the third round that's when, if they must, games should be decided on the day.
So vaguely picking the Replay story apart. FA claimed all parties agreed the need to stop replays. Sounds like the following might have occured. 1. Preliminary discussions - Clubs outside the PL are open to cancelling replays pending a financial settlement with the PL. 2. PL fails to agree financial settlement. 3. FA meets with PL alone and decides that based on the preliminary discussion they can just cancel replays regardless. Extremely cynical and underhanded if true, if EFL and Non-League clubs aren't adequately compensated next seasons FA Cup should be boycotted imo, its not just about replays, its almost more about the way the FA have done business here.
Devil's advocate here; getting rid of replays will increase the number of upsets. Often lower league teams get a plucky 1-1 against a big club, but then get spanked in the replay. ET and pens will give the underdogs a better chance.
That's true, but I think in this instance it is about more than just the Replay issue. Its about the way the FA who are meant to be stewards of the pyramid have just frozen out all but the top 20 clubs from the decision making process, the EFL and Non-league are in a position where they may need to take action against the FA to show them this behavior wont be tolerated.
I find it funny how they've tried to make a big point about moving all rounds to weekends like it's a big thing when they only started that a few years ago and nobody wanted it anyway. Also one of the rounds now will have games Friday to Wednesday so there's still a midweek round for many teams. Interesting that they've scrapped the winter break too and doesn't seem much discussion on that but seems odd after it was pushed for for so long. Seems a lot of anger about the lack of consultation among the EFL. Would love to see teams to group together and threaten to withdraw but extremely unlikely. The final being permanently moved to the week before end of PL season is a huge shame.
It’s all come down from UEFA following the expansion of the UCL, EL and ECL. There simply aren’t enough midweeks for replays to fit, and similarly by moving R5 back to a weekend that round of league fixtures needs a new place. The only option was to fill the winter break back in. I personally don’t believe this is just a case of big clubs don’t want replays so now there’s no replays.
Interesting game on the last day of national league. Currently Boreham wood drawing nil nil with Ebbsfleet.Boreham wood are in the relegation zone whilst the team in the safe spot above them Ebbsfleet have 2pts more.
If we're going on the handball - United v bmouth that's a pen all day! Every weekend different decision! Joke
