FA Cup

[fergo]

A few shocks yesterday in the 3rd Round. And some really good games.
With the top 4 still competing in Europe and the league will they be able to keep up a challenge for the Cup as well? Is one of the smaller Premiership teams going to sneak in?

 

[Soupdragon]

Is one of the smaller Premiership teams going to sneak in?

I doubt it... cant see it going anywhere other then the Big 4 yet again... and to be honest i don't think it means that much to them anymore... they're more interested in the Champions League and the big cash payouts from that.

as Hansen pointed out last night... the top teams are fielding weakened sides because they are more interested in the Premiership and thus the Champions League.. the bottom Premiership teams are fielding weakened sides for the Cup so they can concentrate on survival in the Prem and the middle teams are more interested in qualifying for the EUFA Cup... the FA Cup is just a nuisance to them.

I suggest next season that no Premiership teams should be in the draw, just teams from the Championship and below. Its not as if the Prem teams need the small amount of cash it generates.

waits for the incoming.................

 

[rest have risen above me]

I doubt it... cant see it going anywhere other then the Big 4 yet again... and to be honest i don't think it means that much to them anymore... they're more interested in the Champions League and the big cash payouts from that.

as Hansen pointed out last night... the top teams are fielding weakened sides because they are more interested in the Premiership and thus the Champions League.. the bottom Premiership teams are fielding weakened sides for the Cup so they can concentrate on survival in the Prem and the middle teams are more interested in qualifying for the EUFA Cup... the FA Cup is just a nuisance to them.

I suggest next season that no Premiership teams should be in the draw, just teams from the Championship and below. Its not as if the Prem teams need the small amount of cash it generates.

waits for the incoming.................

How about going the other way, and insisting that the big guns start in round 1.
That way they could repay the little clubs back, by gracing some of tiny stadiums around the country with their presence and generating cash for the little guys which in turn allows the little guys to nurture a little more home grown talent. All for the price of 3 extra matches. (That they don't or wouldn't field strong teams for anyway)

 

[Soupdragon]

How about going the other way, and insisting that the big guns start in round 1.
That way they could repay the little clubs back, by gracing some of tiny stadiums around the country with their presence and generating cash for the little guys which in turn allows the little guys to nurture a little more home grown talent. All for the price of 3 extra matches. (That they don't or wouldn't field strong teams for anyway)

A good point and worthy of consideration....

probable downside would be the claims from the larger teams of fixture congestion, i believe the teams involved in the Champions League get exemption in the Carling Cup because of congestion, and to be honest i dont think the big clubs give a toss about the lower league teams..

 

[propersplitbrainme]

A good point and worthy of consideration....

probable downside would be the claims from the larger teams of fixture congestion, i believe the teams involved in the Champions League get exemption in the Carling Cup because of congestion, and to be honest i dont think the big clubs give a toss about the lower league teams..

I suppose one way to help avoid fixture pile up if the bigger clubs started earlier would be to eliminate replays in the FA cup as they have been in the CC.
The problem with that proposal is that it removes yet another element that makes the FA cup what it is. The chance of a small club drawing at home with a bigger club and then going back to the larger ground with the cash bonus that this attracts.

 

[rest have risen above me]

I can't see fixture pile up being that bad and anyway they get paid exorbitant wages to do the job. The only people who might end up worse off are the poor backroom boys and girls who never see a camera or a huge paycheck.

 

[fergo]

as Hansen pointed out last night... the top teams are fielding weakened sides because they are more interested in the Premiership and thus the Champions League.. the bottom Premiership teams are fielding weakened sides for the Cup so they can concentrate on survival in the Prem and the middle teams are more interested in qualifying for the EUFA Cup... the FA Cup is just a nuisance to them. QUOTE]

I dont think it is a nuisance to them but the Premiership and Cl is such a big cash cow for them.

The TV money etc involved in the Premiership is crazy and dwarfs everything else. For the teams sitting in the bottom half, IMO all a few results away from being in the mire i can understand their predicament. A cup run might dent their chances of survival throygh injury or too many fixtures.

I think completely weakened teams are a joke but playing lower league teams should mean the big boys can blood the odd player.

I would like to see someone outside the "Big 4" win it TBH.

Off Topic Not that long ago, Parma were in contention for the UEFA Cup and were feilding weakened teams in the latter rounds to try and survive in Seria A

 

[fergo]

Full run down of fixtures:
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Barnet v Swindon, R3,
Bristol Rovers v Fulham, R3,
Bury v Norwich, R3,
Liverpool v Luton, R3,
Millwall v Walsall, R3,
Reading v Tottenham, R3,
Sheff Wed v Derby, R3,
West Brom v Charlton, R3,

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Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Havant and W v Swansea, R3,
Hereford v Tranmere, R3,
Man City v West Ham, R3,
Newcastle v Stoke, R3,

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Saturday, 26 January 2008
Arsenal v Stoke/Newcastle, R4,
Coventry v Walsall/Millwall, R4,
Derby/Sheff Wed v Preston, R4,
Luton/Liverpool v Swansea/Havant, R4,
Mansfield v Middlesbrough, R4,
Oldham v Huddersfield, R4,
Peterborough v Charlton/West Brom, R4,
Portsmouth v Plymouth, R4,
Southampton v Norwich/Bury, R4,
Southend v Barnsley, R4,
Swindon/Barnet v Fulham/Bristol Rovers, R4,
Tranmere/Hereford v Cardiff, R4,
Watford v Wolverhampton, R4,
Wigan v Chelsea, R4,

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Sunday, 27 January 2008
Man Utd v Tottenham/Reading, R4,
Sheff Utd v West Ham/Man City, R4,

Potential for some cracking games and definitly losing a few more Premiership teams.
I can the draw opening up quite dramatically for someone outsdie the top 4 to get in there.

The FA Cup third-round replay between Manchester City and West Ham United will be screened live on BBC One on Wednesday 16 January.
The BBC's fourth-round coverage starts with Mansfield v Middlesbrough (1230 GMT) on Saturday 26 January.

The all-Premier League game between Wigan and Chelsea follows at 1715 GMT.

BBC One's third live game of the weekend is between Manchester United and either Reading or Tottenham on Sunday 27 January (1400 GMT).

Sky Sports will televise the third-round replay between Liverpool and Luton Town at 2000 GMT on Tuesday 15 January, followed by West Ham or Manchester City's trip to Sheffield United on 27 January (1600 GMT).