Alan Gilliver
New member
- Oct 18, 2006
- 78
Hello
I am very rarely lost for words, but having just seen what FA Cup 3rd round replays ITV and ESPN are proposing to show next week, I had to check the calendar and see that it was not an April Fools joke.
Let's look at the three games and see which of them is a more attractive proposition than the only surviving non league club left in the competition up against Brighton.
Last Saturday's offering between Birmingham and Wolves saw an attendance of 14,594, including an away following of 2,488 watch the game, a distance of around 17 miles. Basically anyone who wanted to see the match could have watched it live at the ground. The same will go for the replay, I have no doubt. No one outside the west Midlands cares who wins
Leicester and Nottingham Forest attracted 18477, with 7816 fans making the 25 mile trip. Given that Leicester's capacity is marginally more than the City Ground the likelihood again is that anyone who wants to go will not struggle to get a ticket. Again no one outside the east Midlands cares about the result.
As for QPR vs Milton Keynes, where is the interest in that? Even a poor Premier League side is likely to beat a half decent League One team at home and even if QPR were beaten it a would only be on a par with Swindon beating Wigan last weekend. Yes, a struggling Premier League side beaten by a half decent League Two outfit - hardly earth shattering is it?
So this begs the question, why not non league Wrexham against Brighton with the reward for a giant killing a home tie with Newcastle?
It's not exactly easy for Brighton fans to take two days off at short notice to make a 500 miles round trip on a Tuesday night
The whole country bar a small section of Chester fans will be cheering on Wrexham. The club has struggled financially and nearly went out of business seven years ago. They could have done with the financial windfall far more than the other six teams in the games chosen.
Yet, you have chosen to ignore them. A quite staggering decision.
I, for one, will be boycotting your coverage next week and will be calling on football fans elsewhere to do the same.
I look forward to your explanation.
From: ITV Viewer Services <viewerservices@itv.com>
Subject: RE: A/F FA CUP REPLAYS
Thank you for your email regarding our FA Cup Replays
Wrexham were considered as a replay, but Mark Hughes' appointment as manager of QPR has sparked a great deal of interest and their replay with MK Dons marks his first home game in charge. The tie also offers the possibility of a League One side knocking out Premier League opponents.
The Wolves v Birmingham tie also throws up the chance of an upset and is a big Midlands derby.
Many thanks for taking the time to contact us here at ITV as we always welcome viewers feedback
If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us
Kind Regards
Ann
ITV VIEWER SERVICES
I replied thus.....
Ann
Your reply has missed the point entirely. While I am sure there is excitement in part of west London at Mark Hughes' appointment at QPR, it does not mean we are going to see an exciting match. Managers come and go. Had Venables returned to Loftus Road, I could see possibly see the point, but the new managerial appointment is about as exciting as a Geoff Boycott century.
As for Wolves vs Birmingham, not even the locals could get excited about it. Less than 15,000 bothered to turn up to the first game. If they aren't bothered do you really think the rest of us are? Not only will it not be a shock if a good Championship side beats a poor Premiership side, no one outside the west Midlands will care.
The whole point about FA Cup coverage is featuring a tie that catches the imagination of the public at large, not just the local population.
Wrexham's performance at the Amex epitomised what the FA Cup is all about. They were nearly out of business seven years ago, yet now they are poised not only for a return to the Football League, but have a genuine chance of of bringing Newcastle to the Racecourse Ground in the 4th round.
Of all the ties next Tuesday that is the one most neutrals will have their eye on.
If you and ESPN had the best interests of football fans at heart then I suspect a different decision would have been made. I suspect the proximity to major centres also played its part in the choice of games.
Regards
I am very rarely lost for words, but having just seen what FA Cup 3rd round replays ITV and ESPN are proposing to show next week, I had to check the calendar and see that it was not an April Fools joke.
Let's look at the three games and see which of them is a more attractive proposition than the only surviving non league club left in the competition up against Brighton.
Last Saturday's offering between Birmingham and Wolves saw an attendance of 14,594, including an away following of 2,488 watch the game, a distance of around 17 miles. Basically anyone who wanted to see the match could have watched it live at the ground. The same will go for the replay, I have no doubt. No one outside the west Midlands cares who wins
Leicester and Nottingham Forest attracted 18477, with 7816 fans making the 25 mile trip. Given that Leicester's capacity is marginally more than the City Ground the likelihood again is that anyone who wants to go will not struggle to get a ticket. Again no one outside the east Midlands cares about the result.
As for QPR vs Milton Keynes, where is the interest in that? Even a poor Premier League side is likely to beat a half decent League One team at home and even if QPR were beaten it a would only be on a par with Swindon beating Wigan last weekend. Yes, a struggling Premier League side beaten by a half decent League Two outfit - hardly earth shattering is it?
So this begs the question, why not non league Wrexham against Brighton with the reward for a giant killing a home tie with Newcastle?
It's not exactly easy for Brighton fans to take two days off at short notice to make a 500 miles round trip on a Tuesday night
The whole country bar a small section of Chester fans will be cheering on Wrexham. The club has struggled financially and nearly went out of business seven years ago. They could have done with the financial windfall far more than the other six teams in the games chosen.
Yet, you have chosen to ignore them. A quite staggering decision.
I, for one, will be boycotting your coverage next week and will be calling on football fans elsewhere to do the same.
I look forward to your explanation.
From: ITV Viewer Services <viewerservices@itv.com>
Subject: RE: A/F FA CUP REPLAYS
Thank you for your email regarding our FA Cup Replays
Wrexham were considered as a replay, but Mark Hughes' appointment as manager of QPR has sparked a great deal of interest and their replay with MK Dons marks his first home game in charge. The tie also offers the possibility of a League One side knocking out Premier League opponents.
The Wolves v Birmingham tie also throws up the chance of an upset and is a big Midlands derby.
Many thanks for taking the time to contact us here at ITV as we always welcome viewers feedback
If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us
Kind Regards
Ann
ITV VIEWER SERVICES
I replied thus.....
Ann
Your reply has missed the point entirely. While I am sure there is excitement in part of west London at Mark Hughes' appointment at QPR, it does not mean we are going to see an exciting match. Managers come and go. Had Venables returned to Loftus Road, I could see possibly see the point, but the new managerial appointment is about as exciting as a Geoff Boycott century.
As for Wolves vs Birmingham, not even the locals could get excited about it. Less than 15,000 bothered to turn up to the first game. If they aren't bothered do you really think the rest of us are? Not only will it not be a shock if a good Championship side beats a poor Premiership side, no one outside the west Midlands will care.
The whole point about FA Cup coverage is featuring a tie that catches the imagination of the public at large, not just the local population.
Wrexham's performance at the Amex epitomised what the FA Cup is all about. They were nearly out of business seven years ago, yet now they are poised not only for a return to the Football League, but have a genuine chance of of bringing Newcastle to the Racecourse Ground in the 4th round.
Of all the ties next Tuesday that is the one most neutrals will have their eye on.
If you and ESPN had the best interests of football fans at heart then I suspect a different decision would have been made. I suspect the proximity to major centres also played its part in the choice of games.
Regards
