Coates against potential FA Cup changes

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...p-changes/article-3233928-detail/article.html

STOKE chairman Peter Coates has vowed to oppose any plans to scrap FA Cup replays or introduce seedings to the competition.

City expect a crowd of more than 20,000 for their fifth-round tie at home to Brighton on Saturday – but the Football Association are considering widespread changes to revamp the 139-year-old cup.

Coates doesn't sit on the FA Cup committee which will make the recommendations for changes.

However, he is one of 114 FA councillors who will vote on the recommendations, which could come into force by the 2012/2013 season.

Scrapping replays would help clubs in European competition find room in their fixture schedule.

Seeding teams would give smaller clubs more chance of money-spinning ties against big sides in the opening rounds.

And it would improve the chances of the Premier big guns making the later stages by avoiding fixtures such as this season's third-round clash between Manchester United and Liverpool.

However, Coates, below, says replays and the cup's open draw are traditions worth keeping.

He said: "I am totally against seeding because I think it would devalue the competition. I also think replays are all part of the cup. They give teams another chance and can be exciting.

"Quite a lot of people in the Premier League will be in favour of scrapping replays. But Stoke City don't play too many games in a season."

Coates says he does have some time for a proposal to stage FA Cup ties in midweek, rather than a weekend.

He said: "You would have the attraction of a night game under lights which adds to the atmosphere. That is worth some consideration."

Coates says the ideas have been debated at Premier League meetings where he believes many chairman would be happy to scrap replays.

He said: "People see crowds declining, but my argument is to price people in by making tickets more attractive."

Stoke have reduced prices for the Brighton game, making advanced tickets £15 for adults and £5 concessions (season-ticket holders) and £20 adults and £10 concessions (non-season ticket holders).

Coates is looking forward to a tough game against Gus Poyet's League One leaders, who are expected to be backed by 3,000 supporters.

The Stoke chairman added: "It is a big game for us – and a very exciting one.

"Brighton are a good side, so our lads will need to be up for it. I am sure Tony Pulis will play a strong side to try to win the game.

"It was a huge disappointment last season when we got to the quarter-finals, only to draw Chelsea away.

"But we aren't counting our chickens and thinking about the next round."

 

Agree with PC the cup if we are not careful it will just allow the top 4 to stroll into the quarter finals.keep with the tradition of the finest cup competition in the world of which replays are apart of this.In the 70's you used to get 3 replays sometimes.

Like i said on the bbc forum we have a great chance of progressing to a quarter final yet again and hopefully the draw will be kinder this time out.

Its been a strange campaign in the cup this year with the emphasis on the Prem and without playing our strongest team we have still made it .

 

Agreed, Conroy Not as good as last years F.A Cup run (yet!) but still promising. I just know it'll be Man United @ Old Trafford next round :/