FA Cup to move to midweek?

El Presidente said:

Apparently the Premier League want fewer midweek fixtures as they're less popular with overseas broadcasters, so will try to negotiate with the FA that the FA Cup will move to midweek, there will be no replays from the third round onwards and also agree to a winter break.

Won't happen for a few years but could use World Cup 2022 as excuse for a shake up.

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trueblue said:

In a way, getting rid of replays could be a good thing. Granted, it denies the minnows the chance of double bubble by drawing with a big club - but generally your best shot at a giant-killing is first time out. Midweek? Wouldn't be fussed if they moved it. Sadly the FA Cup just isn't the same any more. Presumably the early rounds could stay on Saturdays.. I think it's those clubs it means more to.

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Mo Gosfield said:

It means the world to the grass roots of the game, who start playing in the competition in July and August and can play through five rounds before reaching the first round proper in November/December. It is really two competitions in one. Hundreds of smaller clubs, all burning with ambition to draw a league club and make some money, all battling like crazy pre Christmas. This is the life-blood of the competition. This is when it really matters.
Then we reach the third round and big Ugly Joe rears his head and suddenly all you hear are disparaging remarks about the competition from people who pay no heed to how much it means to the grass roots of the game. But then they pay no heed to the life-blood of the game anyway. The greatest cup competition in the world deserves to be played at weekends not lost in midweek amongst a plethora of European games. Bollocks to the PL and all their dictats. It was around a long, long time before an organisation set up to benefit a few elite clubs, which does nothing to enrich and encourage the whole game, as is the case with our beloved FA Cup.

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Mo Gosfield said:

It means the world to the grass roots of the game, who start playing in the competition in July and August and can play through five rounds before reaching the first round proper in November/December. It is really two competitions in one. Hundreds of smaller clubs, all burning with ambition to draw a league club and make some money, all battling like crazy pre Christmas. This is the life-blood of the competition. This is when it really matters.
Then we reach the third round and big Ugly Joe rears his head and suddenly all you hear are disparaging remarks about the competition from people who pay no heed to how much it means to the grass roots of the game. But then they pay no heed to the life-blood of the game anyway. The greatest cup competition in the world deserves to be played at weekends not lost in midweek amongst a plethora of European games. Bollocks to the PL and all their dictats. It was around a long, long time before an organisation set up to benefit a few elite clubs, which does nothing to enrich and encourage the whole game, as is the case with our beloved FA Cup.

Click to expand...

Mo Gosfield said:

It means the world to the grass roots of the game, who start playing in the competition in July and August and can play through five rounds before reaching the first round proper in November/December. It is really two competitions in one. Hundreds of smaller clubs, all burning with ambition to draw a league club and make some money, all battling like crazy pre Christmas. This is the life-blood of the competition. This is when it really matters.
Then we reach the third round and big Ugly Joe rears his head and suddenly all you hear are disparaging remarks about the competition from people who pay no heed to how much it means to the grass roots of the game. But then they pay no heed to the life-blood of the game anyway. The greatest cup competition in the world deserves to be played at weekends not lost in midweek amongst a plethora of European games. Bollocks to the PL and all their dictats. It was around a long, long time before an organisation set up to benefit a few elite clubs, which does nothing to enrich and encourage the whole game, as is the case with our beloved FA Cup.

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trueblue said:

As someone who's followed lower league football almost all my life, the appeal doesn't need explaining to me. I'm just not convinced that playing on a Saturday is essential to the attraction of the competition in the latter stages. It could still be played on the weekend up to the 3rd round - and beyond that I don't see why playing midweek would reduce interest dramatically.

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happypig said:

The FA should agree but on condition that the 4th Champions League spot goes to the winner of the Championship

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Wardy said:

Playing midweek from round 3 wouldn't be too much of an issue. However, I think the replays are important. For lower league teams the chance to go to a top prem team, get a draw and then bring them back to their ploughed field is part of the wonder of the cup. We all like watching a non-league team playing a top team at a ground that makes Withdean look like a top ground. The other option could be if the game ends in a draw, the team ranked lowest at kick-off goes through.

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