Spring News

The chances of smaller clubs earning a replay at a big stadium and earning big money is halved at a stroke....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68844583

I think the FA should have held off on this decision until an agreement between the EFL and the EPL on the distribution of TV money.

 

FA Cup replays to end.....that will take the excitement out of the competition for the little guy.....no more getting the big guy having to go to a little tatty ground for a replay after drawing at home.....or the little guy drawing at home and looking forward to a big pay day away.
Stacked towards the elite as usual.

 

cats or Mr evans sensible ..

 

Rumours about departure of Brendan Galloway and Mickel Miller seem to have been premature:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-galloway-miller-contract-9231795

I did notice from the Sky Sports close-ups that when Mickel Miller went off injured during the Leicester game, he appeared to be crying. This article seems to suggest that he thought his injury was worse than it's turned out to be and he must have seen it as career disrupting if not ending.

 

Both ...........

 

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/club-statement-emirates-fa-cup-replays

 

A case of we know better from the FA.....not being consulted just shows how little respect they have for the majority of clubs....especially the little teams that start their Wembley journey as early as August.....yes the elite clubs are the only ones considered.

 

FA CUP FACES BOYCOTT THREAT.

Clubs are threatening to boycott the FA Cup in protest against the axing of replays after Downing Street demanded answers over a decision that has plunged the Football Association into crises,

The FA failed yesterday to quell a growing revolt against a deal with the Premier League that has also cost the Cup Final its traditional place in the calendar....furious English Football League teams warned they were ready to withdraw from the Cup.

As EFL clubs queued up to issue statements condemning Thursday's announcement by the FA and Premier League and demanding the decision be reversed pending full consultation...Mark Palios, the chairman of Tranmere Rovers... who was FA chief executive between 2003 and 2004...said he was ready to back a boycott.

"There needs to be further debate," he said...."But if that was the situation that most of the clubs felt that way, I'd support it."

Palios's comments came after the chairman of Accrington Stanley...Andy Holt, led calls for clubs to unite in fighting back.

"I would support a boycott if enough clubs feel the same," Holt posted on X after demanding the Premier League sign off on its stalled £900 million football support system before making any "concession's" over the Cup's future.

The boycott threat was compounded by government intervention courtesy of a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

"David and Goliath fixtures are a part of the magic of the Cup," he said, "We know replays have been a welcome source of income for smaller clubs throughout the years...These are...However... decisions for the footballing authorities...But clearly it's incumbent on the FA and Premier League to explain this decision and why it is in the interests of fans."

The FA was accused of trying to shift "blame" for that decision by the vice-chairman of its own FA Cup committee...Steve Kavanagh...the Millwall chief executive and EFL board member.

Kavanagh also sits on the Professional Game Board...which the FA claimed had "approved" a calendar that included no Cup replays from the first round because of the relentless expansion of the Champions League and Club World Cup.

He said..."It would appear the FA were trying to point the finger of blame at the EFL...which is beyond belief...I am incredulous.

"For the FA to not be prepared to take responsibility fot its own actions...its own agreements...is spineless.

Replays were sold off and the Cup Final moved to the penultimate weekend of the season in exchange for a £33 million-a-year payment from the Premier League and other concessions over scheduling.

Kavanagh said..."I am actually vice-chairman of the FA Cup committee...I didn't even get a notification on that committee...No real conversation took place on that committee regarding this.

"The FA are trying to shift the finger of blame...they need to take a long...hard look at themselves and think about whether they absolutely represent the full pyramid.

Article continues.............

The Daily Telegraph Sport supplement...20/04/2024.


What it is showing is that EFL clubs are being marginalised by these changes,.....and if this goes on then EFL clubs should claim compensation....especially for the loss of replays.

 

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/club-statement-emirates-fa-cup-replays

 

FOOK the european leagues .. boycott them

 

Adam Forshaw has done a hamstring....and its quite possible his seasons over.....and is that the end of his Argyle contract ?

Pardon the pun....but I don't think we're getting the rub of the green at the moment.

 

It's a shame, because when he plays well, he's a cut-above. Neil Dewsnip confirms here that Houghton needed a break:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/more-injury-frustration-plymouth-argyle-9239146

 

It seems our luck is being stretched to the limit.....the Referee AND the Linesman... who didn't see that the ball was out... leading up to the Coventry goal... will both be at Millwall to make sure that we don't win....you couldn't make it up could you.

 

Do you know I was thinking about that when reminded by Coventry’s exploits in the FA Cup.

How we could do with that point now……

 

Talk of Freddie Issaka being considered for Argyle's last two games....it would have been helpful if he had been given some minutes now and again before the pressure of the last two games.

 

Doesn't this make you feel old?

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/argyles-fa-cup-heroes-return-home-park-anniversary-event

A 13 man squad you'll note. That would save batteries for the electric subs board wouldn't it?

 

Hull our last home game of the season....won away at Coventry tonight 3-2....but Coventry had been through a hard game in their FA Cup semi on Sunday.

So I'm hoping it was more that Coventry where still knackered from that gruelling 2hr encounter...plus penalty shoot out....than Hull being that much better.

Their FA Cup opponents Man U where lucky to only have Sheffield U at home tonight and eventually won 4-2.

Although Hull are just outside the play-offs and something still to play for....so if Ipswich beat them at the weekend....that would put pay to them getting in the play-offs and make it easier for us when we play them. in our last game.

 

Yes I think it’s very important for us that Hull do not have a chance of the play offs when they come to Home Park. That win at Coventry is unfortunate to say the least.

Ipswich haven’t won since April 1st. when they beat Southampton. They’ve lost to Norwich and drawn with Watford and Middlesbrough. I’m not optimistic.

Millwall on the other hand have won three in a row, including a 1-0 win against Leicester. They are safe from relegation but Saturday is their last home fixture. They’ll want to sign off in style. I’m not optimistic.

 

It is looking likely that 48pts...plus hopefully a little bit of goal difference still left will be it for Argyle this season.

Just a reminder.

On Jan 20th after 28 games we had....33pts....and where 15th in the league.

16 games later we have added.....15pts...less than a point a game....and dropped to 20th.

 

Still in our hands though Plym.