Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Once again we have some high profile managers complaining about the tactics of some teams (Blackburn) when involved in a cup match. Some even field a ‘weaker’ team (Man U) against perceived lesser opposition and come unstuck when a draw is the result. They do this to conserve their ‘better’ players for a forthcoming important match. Strange, but I thought that all matches were important. Then they complain about a fixture pile up and the effect it would have and vaguely suggest that a cup-tie should be a one off affair.

In response to some of these complaints a Peter Scott of SR2 in a letter to ITV’s Teletext Sports Letters Page today (ITV1 Page 546) broached the idea that if all cup-ties are to be settled in just the one game the match should be played on a neutral ground. Not an unreasonable suggestion! In fact I think that it is a splendid idea.

In years gone by the final and semi finals would go to not just one replay but several if the need arose, until a result was achieved. I’m not suggesting that we go back to those days but I find the idea of a one of match at a neutral ground for all cup-ties intriguing.

Well the final and semi finals in the FA cup are one off affairs these days so why didn’t the FA think just a little bit outside the box when the change was introduced?

First of all it would probably encourage managers to play their ‘first’ team when facing what is seen as lesser opposition. Secondly the one off match would produce a result after 90 minutes plus extra time plus penalties and thus alleviate a possible fixture pile up.

I don’t suppose that the supporters would be too keen on having to travel to a neutral ground for a cup match but in the event of a draw they would have to travel to the opposition’s ground if they wanted to support the their team. However with proper organisation and financial help from the FA it could be done if the will was there.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

They should leave our game alone. Sick to death of one or two jumped up trainers thinking they should dictate our national sport. If they don't like it then get the hell out of it.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Yes Sir Alex did field a weaker team but so did Steve Coppell,so no real excuse there,I also can't blame Sir Alex with the Champions league game against Lille on tuesday night,its just he could have done without the replay.As for neutral gronds for all cup ties this wouldn't work due to the police,it will be nearly impossible to make sure rival fans are not playing near each other e.g. Blacburn, Burnley. Preston, Blackpool.Man.Utd,Man.City etc etc.I just dont think it would work although in theory it does sound good.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Wow! Such venom!

Just who are these ‘jumped up trainers’ that you claim are dictating our national sport?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Steve Coppell didn’t field a weaker team. He fielded the team that had got Reading that far as a reward for their efforts to date as he stated during an interview before the match began. It just happened not to be what some people would say was his stronger team. As it turned out his team selection was spot on, whereas Ferguson’s was not and now he has a replay to contend with. What’s the betting that the Man U team for that match will be his ‘first’ team? I’ll also bet that Steve Coppell will play the eleven that played at Old Trafford.

With a one off cup-tie the chances are that Man U would have fielded their strongest team knowing that it was just a one off chance to win. By fielding a ‘weaker’ team he was not paying the FA cup the proper respect.

Wouldn’t work because of the police? I’m not too sure what you mean. Surely problems are there to be solved not encouraged to grow. The two teams would play at a neutral venue if that venue’s team was also had a match in that round and of course that team would be ‘away’ at some other neutral venue.

If Blackburn were due to play Preston the match could be held at Bolton, whilst Bolton playing say Hartlepools could play at one of the Yorkshire grounds and so on. If Bolton were out of the cup then a different venue would have to be selected. There is no problem for the semi-finals. You often get a semi-final at Old Trafford when Man U are out of the cup or Hillsborough or Birmingham etc.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Simply wouldnt work, not enough grounds to go around, also the amount of fixtures being played in leagues & other ties that to play it at a neutral ground would probably be more than hard work to organise & to sort for definate fixtures that required it as priority for use of grounds should be the league fixtures& teams fixtures in place nevermind another set of teams pinching yer ground! As for many teams the main priority is the league concentration everything else are bonuses. The great thing about the FA cup is that it gives smaller teams a chance of taking the big boys plus also the money generated which should be generated between the 2 teams playing. I think the FA cup should stay as it is, why fix something that ain't broken.

How often do u go to footy matches Jambutty??

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Quote:

Simply wouldnt work, not enough grounds to go around,

How do you work that out accymel? If 500 teams enter into a knockout cup competition there have to be 500 grounds. As two teams play on one ground that leaves 250 grounds free.

Quote:

also the amount of fixtures being played in leagues & other ties that to play it at a neutral ground would probably be more than hard work to organise & to sort for definate fixtures that required it as priority for use of grounds should be the league fixtures& teams fixtures in place nevermind another set of teams pinching yer ground! As for many teams the main priority is the league concentration everything else are bonuses.

Eh?

As I already explained if two teams play at a neutral ground of another team still in the competition there is no problem. There is problem for Luddites though.

Quote:

The great thing about the FA cup is that it gives smaller teams a chance of taking the big boys plus also the money generated which should be generated between the 2 teams playing.

Very true but the ‘smaller’ teams will still play the ‘big boys’. How many smaller teams opted to use a neutral and larger venue just for the extra revenue that it would generate? It happens all the time.

Quote:

I think the FA cup should stay as it is, why fix something that ain't broken.

Fine so that’s your opinion, mine happens to be different. In any case who says it’s not broken?

Quote:

How often do u go to footy matches Jambutty??

What has that got to do with it?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Fine JB that is my opinion & can say im not that far wrong either, ok to critise something or improve it when u have no idea on the subject matter anyhow as it seems. Going to footy gives u more an idea on how it works from ground level than sat comfy watching sky/bbc tv as an armchair supporter - hence i asked as your arguement is all hypothetical!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Arsene Wenger is the first one on my list. It's okay for him to sit in his ivory tower suggesting our national game is structured but at the end of the day they make most of their money from the Champions League. ( Thats the competition where the non-champions outnumber the champions , strange concept :confused: )

To a lot of clubs in the football league the revenue from an FA Cup match can provide finance for a full season. It's not just about playing on the piece of grass you normally play all your home matches it's about revenue from off pitch sources as well.

It's also about the supporters. The average man in the street is already being priced out of the game. Extra expense of attending neutral grounds in the early rounds is something lots wouldn't do, and therefore the clubs themselves wouldn't make as much money as they do now.

The police were mentioned earlier as being an objector and I have to agree with that. No way would they sanction 32 matches at neutral grounds in early January.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

My - you are being presumptuous.

You know diddly squat about my football spectator credentials - yet you presume so much.

If you had read the opening post you should have noticed that it is not my argument but a suggestion put forward by Peter Scott SR2 in a letter to ITV’s Teletext Sports Letter page (546) that I happened to agree with and that it was worth looking at. I put my reasons forward why I agreed with they guy.

All you have done is voiced your objections and your reasons for them have been shot down in flames so, like so many other people on this forum, you make the issue personal.

It may have escaped your notice but all discussions on this forum are hypothetical because none of the contributors have any sway whatsoever on a topic.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

What I was saying was Steve Coppell did not field the same 11 from the last few Premier matches,same with Fergie,He has kept basically the same 11 thruoghout the FA Cup campaigne which for these 2 teams in question has only lasted 3 games.The other comment is that various police forces up and down the country would not allow certain teansto play within a certain radius ofcertain rival teams.If Man U drew Bolton and Man City drew Blackburn try puting them in grounds were rival fans can't ge at one another,then god forbid but Burnley draw Blackpool with Preston getting Acc Stanley,all in the same round,you have to allow for things like that happening.THats all I meant

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Mmmmm JB really!!

So how exactly is having neutral grounds for FA cup matches going to benefit the playing clubs exactly ???? more to the point how is this going to be arranged with he 'neutral ground club' to arrange this fixture?? Not always the case that smaller clubs will get more money if played on a bigger neutral ground - that has got to be within distance or equal distance of both teams concerned??? Also pricing on tickets for entry to grounds vary vastly so how will that be fairly adapted & not always the case that the fixture will fill the ground??? [prime example man u versus reading - mmm ground wernt packed out:rolleyes:] I can see a lot of problems as with sods law of footy is that like of recent weather conditions many games were called off & had to be re arranged which vreates backlog - regardless of league status!! Also the simple fact that u say is that the teams out of the cup will be able to be host ground for the FA fixture - sounds great but what about those teams fixture list - sorry far too much hassle & money wasted on organising it would make the FA more of a farse IMHO!!

Easy theorectically but in practice all leagues have their own problems to deal with without this on top!

Again primadonnaship is trying to take over quite literally & sorry it wont be at expence of lower leagues!!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

If all this is to stop rilvary between fans certainly derby grudge matches where poss trouble could occur this still wouldnt solve that problem anyway!!!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

what do we think the great teams of the past did we should keep the game as it is and if they play weakened teams they should reimburse the fan if you pay to watch a team you should get the same team you seen the week before and if not we should go to trade and standrds commission and get our money back:mad: sick opf death of murdoch foreign managers trying to dictate our national sport when england won the world cup they still had fa cup replays so why change them now its like moving the goalposts oohh weve got all these games but i want it easier tell wenger [winger] to do one if he dont like it do one its managers like him that are destroying the british game how many british players has he got in his youth system not very many:Banane18: :Banane18: :Banane18: :Banane18:

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

JB get a life will ya!!! why do u presume everything is personal, i was commenting at the poor arguements u have with it, also to assume yourself that contributors to this discussion haven't any sway on this matter only simply means that u presume to be right above all else - so not really a disscussion either! I can say that the contributors to this thread so far are actually regulars to going to watch their teams in person to support them pitchside not sat there in armchair support!

So i ask again do u go to watch a footy match regularly?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Quote:

Arsene Wenger is the first one on my list. It's okay for him to sit in his ivory tower suggesting our national game is structured but at the end of the day they make most of their money from the Champions League.

Pardon me but Arsene Wenger is a bona fide manager of an English football club and as such has as much right to criticise the FA as any other manager, player or spectator.

Quote:

Thats the competition where the non-champions outnumber the champions , strange concept

I have to agree with you that the ‘Champions’ League as it is today is misnamed. However that has nothing to do with this topic.

Quote:

To a lot of clubs in the football league the revenue from an FA Cup match can provide finance for a full season. It's not just about playing on the piece of grass you normally play all your home matches it's about revenue from off pitch sources as well.

If it’s not about playing on your own piece of grass, then where’s the problem in playing on someone else’s piece of grass especially if the ground has a larger capacity than the home ground? Many of the ‘smaller’ teams, knowing that they have little or no chance of achieving a result, have agreed to switch venues for the extra revenue to be gained at playing at a big ground would bring.

Quote:

It's also about the supporters. The average man in the street is already being priced out of the game. Extra expense of attending neutral grounds in the early rounds is something lots wouldn't do, and therefore the clubs themselves wouldn't make as much money as they do now.

Another prediction of what will happen. You and your crystal ball could make a fortune. However spectators are also my concern but I did suggest that the FA could help out financially. But then there is the extra expense of attending a replay at the opposing team’s ground.

Quote:

The police were mentioned earlier as being an objector and I have to agree with that. No way would they sanction 32 matches at neutral grounds in early January.

It’s comforting to know that you are privy to the police’s view on which match to sanction and which not to. The police don’t seem to have a problem with the semi-finals and they are played at neutral grounds. Not forgetting the final itself!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Have u considered pitch wear tho??? JB !!! Over playing on pitch can subsequently damage the pitch - what if that happens??? who pays, smaller teams couldnt afford that nor to lose the revenue nor could the club concerned either as it will effect their plays. Gee JB u havent thought about this properly have u?!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I said it's not just about playing on your own piece of grass, I said it's not just about that.

The practice of switching grounds is rarely done these days. Clubs have to jump through hoops to be able to do that these days.

As a football fan you tend to know which matches police sanctions are made for. For example I will be attending a match in a couple of weeks where the kick off time has been moved forward 3 hours on police instructions. It was the police who forced replays to be played at least 10 days after the original match instead of the following week like it used to be. The grounds used for semi-finals and final will have a police force who are used to dealing with those matches.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Quote:

The other comment is that various police forces up and down the country would not allow certain teansto play within a certain radius ofcertain rival teams.

So the police would not allow Man U to play at Old Trafford because a rival team Man C play in the same city? The only time that the police step in is when both teams from a city have a scheduled match at home on the same day. They either re-schedule one match to start early and one late or make one match be played the next day.

Quote:

try puting them in grounds were rival fans can't ge at one another

It happens every week at every ground. Rival fans could get at one another except for the fact that they are segregated. And so would the two lots of fans playing at a neutral venue, as they do at the semis and final.

Quote:

Burnley draw Blackpool with Preston getting Acc Stanley,all in the same round,you have to allow for things like that happening.

If Burnley were due to play Blackpool the match could be played at Preston. If Preston drew Accrington that match could be played at Bolton. And if it so happened that Bolton drew Man U that match could be played at Birmingham and so on.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Preston drew accystan & it gets played in Bolton ??????? WHY? geez u will be doing this lark for league matches next & what will Bolton be doing?????? musical grounds, if we drew Preston it would be here of at theirs as it should be im afraid which ever is police suited.

NOPE the buck stops here!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

jambutty, as you are in agreement with this idea can I ask who you think will benefit ?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Quote:

Clubs have to jump through hoops to be able to do that these days.

That’s because the clubs make the request for a change of venue. I cannot remember when a club made such a request that it was turned down. In any case if the one off cup-tie at a neutral venue did come about, clubs wouldn’t be making requests but the FA will tell the clubs where they are playing and they would liase with the police.

Quote:

It was the police who forced replays to be played at least 10 days after the original match instead of the following week like it used to be.

Really! Fixture congestion didn’t have anything to do with it then? The FA and Football League run football in this country and it is they who decided which match is played when and where. However they do listen to police advice, and that is all it is – advice - if forceful, if there is a potential security problem and will act on it accordingly. It’s called cooperation between the football authorities, clubs and police.

Quote:

The grounds used for semi-finals and final will have a police force who are used to dealing with those matches.

But they couldn’t deal with those same grounds being used as a neutral venue for other rounds?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Forget it he'll argue over the colour of the sky next! JB = Jambutty cos im wasting my breath!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I think that the clubs will benefit in reducing fixture congestion not to mention additional wear and tear on pitches. And not forgetting the wear and tear on players.

The FA and Football League would also benefit in not having to make allowances for possible replays so the year’s fixture list could be made more even throughout the year.

The spectators, though, might get a bit of a raw deal in that they would all have to travel for cup-ties. But that is where the FA could step in and use some of their vast reserves to easy the financial burden.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

your having a laugh they are only interested in lining their own pockets:Banane09: :Banane09: :Banane09: are they going to pay my bus fare dont be silly

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I would imagine most supporters don't mind replays..some of the best games I've seen have been FA cup replays. Who will this proposal benefit?.. managers, the FA? I don't think it benefits the fans. when the FA cup final was allowed replays I know of some supporters who could not get tickets for the first game but got the opportunity to watch the replay.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

You really dont get it do you,its not just playing games at home,well they wouldn't be under your scheme,they are all playing at neutral venues.They wouldn't allow City to play at Bolton at the same time United play at Ewood either.Or the same sort of thing with Burnley and Blackburn.Its not just the teams your fixture has you up against these days,but your rivals who are playing fairly close to you.
E.G. Little non league FC United played Silsden yesterday which is naer Kiegthly Yorkshire,whose fans happened to turn up? Leeds Utd because of the bad blood between them and Man.Utd. It happens,sad I know,but it does thats life:(

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

You know and I know what they meant.He/she feels its unfair on the fans ,with all the extra expense.You pointed the finger and started calling me the other day on a different thread about answering questions in a facetious manor and yet you feel its OK for you to do so?Where's the difference?Are you so high and mighty that the rules are different for you?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Quote:

You know and I know what they meant.

Really! What you really mean is that just because you allegedly knew what they meant, I should do also.
Unlike some people I am not so presumptuous to know what someone meant when the words were quite clear. Nor do I presume to assume that everyone should think like me.

I would also point out that I have never STARTED getting personal but I reserve the right to respond in the same vein when someone gets personal with me.

If you think that is high and mighty then maybe a re-appraisal of your thinking might be called for.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

No I'm not getting personal with anyone and I never do as other people on here including moderators will verify.But if thats how you feel its going I wasn't the one starting it.Diving Diva's thread post's #19 & #24,enough said.Accyweb is not a place for petit little childish squabbles:D :D :D

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Which clubs will benefit in reducing fixture congestion ? You mean the elite 4 who have a minimum of 6 extra matches which gains them countless revenue, and revenue which is more than they will make from an away match at Torquay or Hartlepool. Heaven forbid these smaller clubs should get in the way of the money making machines.

Interesting point that there is a realisation that the spectators may get a raw deal. That will be on top of the raw deal they already get at most grounds then ?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

That may not be the case if the 4 big clubs are in all competitions.. Man Utd played over 60 games in all competitions the season they won that treble..but it happend and no one gripes about it.. plenty of money and plenty of entertainment.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Not one of your better ideas Jambutty.If Norwich got drawn against Ipswich,where would they play? sorry i just dont get it! And as for fixture congestion 90% of teams would be happy for more games-it equals more money.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

So would the FA. The more replays they have in the FA Cup the more money they make.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

In case you haven’t noticed it wasn’t my idea. That comes courtesy of someone called Peter Scott SR2 who had his letter published on ITV’s Teletext Sports Letters Page #546 a couple of days ago where he broached the suggestion that FA cup replays should be abolished to prevent fixture congestion. He then added that all matches would need to be played on neutral grounds to prevent one team having a home advantage.

My response was that it was not an unreasonable suggestion and I thought that it was a splendid idea and then gave my reasons why I thought so.

What about Ipswich and Norwich playing at Reading?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I can think of a few more like that norwich stanley.For one,what would happen if Morecambe qualified and drew Carlisle Utd ? :confused:

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

And could you imagine Accrington Stanleys ground playing host to Manchester United vs Chelsea?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I’m sure that you could mthead and so could I but instead of being negative about the issue try being positive as well. It’s all too easy to knock something but its not that easy solve the problem.

Norwich v Stanley – how about a midlands ground?
Morecambe and Carlisle could go over to Darlington.

No I can’t imagine Man U v Chelsea at Accrington shillelagh but it wouldn’t be very neutral, would it? About 30 miles for Man U to travel and about 200 for Chelsea. A midlands venue would be more suitable.

Maybe one off matches with no replays for all cup-ties would be beyond the FA’s ability to cope but fixture congestion doesn’t start to take effect until after Xmas. Maybe starting with the fourth round?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

By the way didnt they try this a few years ago and it went down like a lead balloon so they changed it back?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I know that my recent memory isn’t quite what it used to be but I don’t remember the FA trying out a one off cup-tie with no replays scheme during the last 40 years.

It may well have happened but I can’t remember when it was.

Perhaps you would like to produce some evidence just so you can prove me wrong?

Or is your claim just a red herring?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

An interesting development in the National debate on the “no replays in the FA Cup” issue.

Neil Babs of Enfield writes on BBC Ceefax Sports letters page 359 to suggest that if after 90 minutes the match is a draw then the lower-placed team goes through.

I assume he means by league positions.

Not the best idea that has come forward but at least the guy is trying to be positive. I wonder what reaction he would have got if he had posted his comments on this forum? I think that words like ‘stupid’, ‘silly’, ‘crackpot’ and the like would have prominence in the responses.

However a Chris Weston from London comes up with the suggestion that each pair of teams due to play an FA cup-tie decide between themselves if the match is to go to a replay or not.

This suggestion is again a positive contribution to the debate and does have some merit in my view. Although I can foresee problems if both teams cannot agree. I guess that they would to agree to disagree and replays would be played because that is the norm.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

They did it last season:

The FA Cup 2005-06 was the 125th staging of the world's oldest football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup.
The competition began on August 20, 2005, with the lowest-ranked of the 674 entrants competing in the Extra Preliminary round. For England's top 44 clubs, the FA Cup began in the Third Round in January.

Ties are all single-legged and take place at the stadium of the club drawn first. If scores are level at the end of a match, it is replayed at the away club's stadium, usually 10 days later. If the scores are still level, extra-time and penalties (if necessary) are used to determine a winner. However, from the semi-finals onwards, the ties take place at a neutral stadium, and there are no replays. That is to say, extra-time and penalties are played if necessary to determine a winner in a single match.

At the special request of England national football team manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, the quarter-finals (i.e. 6th Round Proper) were held on weeknights (they would normally take place at weekends). This action was made to ensure that the season finishes as early as possible, allowing players a full month's rest before the 2006 World Cup finals.

The semi-finals were staged at neutral venues and, like the final, would not be replayed in the event of a draw.

The Football Association had hoped to stage the final at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium, London on May 13, 2006, but due to the uncertainty of the new stadium being completed in time, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff hosted the final, which was contested between Liverpool and West Ham United.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

In fact one off semi’s and finals has been the norm since the 1999 – 2000 season so that is not ‘going down like a lead balloon’ as shillelagh asked. All previous rounds were to be replayed if a draw was the result.

The last time that a semi was replayed was on the 11th April 1999 when Man U played Arsenal in the semi-final and drew 0 – 0. The replay was on the 14th where Man U won 2 – 1. Prior to then all semis were replayed if there were a draw.

Since then on the 2nd April 2000 Aston V drew 0 – 0 with Bolton and Aston V ended up playing Chelsea in the final. The stats do not show that there was a replay so I can only assume that some other method was used to decide the issue. I doubt if it was a toss of the coin so it must have been extra time and then penalties or maybe just penalties, although this is not indicated.

The last replayed final was on the 20th May 1993 where Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday drew 1 – 1. The match was replayed on the 20th May 1993 where Arsenal won 2 – 1, but the stats do not state where, although it was probably at Old Trafford. In the not too distant past a drawn final at Wembley would be replayed at another stadium.

So from that we can conclude that the FA ruled that the final would be a one off affair from some date after 1994 and the semi finals would also be one off affairs from 2000 onwards. Whether the ruling applied to both the final and the semi’s in the same year is unknown by me but it is probable that the year 2000 was the starting point for one off semi’s and finals.. As far as I can remember semi finals have always been on a neutral ground or at least in the last 30 years or so.

So what is the problem with also having the quarter finals as one off affairs on neutral grounds?

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

It's interesting to see that you only consider opinions of the teletext warriors to be positive when you agree with them.

Any suggestion of 'leave the FA Cup as it is' is deemed to be negative because you think it should be changed.

So much for debate !!!!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Theres no point furthering this discussion as everybody is wrong & jambutty is right !!

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

I have just re-read the whole thread and all there is, is opposition to the idea of one off cup-ties and opinions why it wouldn’t work. Not a single positive alternative to the proposal or any indication to how it might be able to work – all negative. That’s not debate. It’s opposition without an alternative proposal.

* - posts by lancsdave.
#2* – leave things alone.
#3 – talked about rival fans and how they can’t be kept apart.
#6 – wouldn’t work not enough grounds to go round.
#9* - reasons why it wouldn’t work.
#11 – more objections.
#12 – more objections
#14 – drifted off topic
#17 – pitch wear.
#18* - police involvement.
#20 – read it for yourself.
#22* - you asked a question
#24 – read that for yourself as well.
#26 – called silly.
#27 – seems to want to keep replays.
#28 – what if argument.
#33* - questioning my reasons.
#34 – nothing constructive.
#35 – another question.
#36* - making the point that the more replays the more money the FA makes.
#38 – more what if questions.
#39 – another question.
#41 – another question.
#44 - ??????

accymel is right – there is no point in continuing with this thread because all the contributors are of the opinion that one off cup-ties wouldn’t work so they are right any anyone else is wrong.

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Leave it alone seems a positive enough response to me. I didn't realise that the thread was only posted to get a list of alternative ideas. Either way it's irrelevant because the FA have already said they won't change things. Perhaps they do need the money after all :D

Re: Cup Replays Equal Fixture Pile-ups!
 

Leave it alone is not negative..speaking for myself I think the proposals from jambutty (or the proposals jambutty gets from other sources) have been half baked ..I like replays.. I don't care if there is a fixture "pile up".. I like to watch teams under pressure...I am a luddite!