FA Cup replays gone

[Lousy Pint]

No, it’s relevant to Argyle.

I should have added a

 

[Greenarmy1234]

Think EFL clubs should boycott the competition in protest, the magic would soon be gone and the corrupt powers that be qould be forced to make the right call. If anything do away with the league cup, European trash can conference lwague etc. Who cares about those comps anyway

 

[Balham Green]

Bring back the Watney Cup!

 

[processr]

Surprise surprise Pep Guardiola is all for this and says it’s so much better for clubs playing in Europe competitions because they will have less games.

So naturally Pep won't be taking his Man City side to the Club World Cup next year with its seven matches if they go all the way to the final... right? Right??

 

[Simone]

Maybe if the club doesn’t boycott the cup then the supporters should.

 

[Argyleloyal]

Maybe if the club doesn’t boycott the cup then the supporters should.

What would that do? Just look at the Papa Johns trophy

 

[BBP]

Once a prestigious competition, the FA cup has now been reduced to the status domestic cup games have on the Continent, that is a very secondary competition

 

[Guiri Green]

Does anyone other than fans of the clubs involved, make an effort to watch any of these endless variations of 'European competitions' anyway ?

I watch the occasional high profile, latter stage Champions league game but only found out this morning that Liverpool were dumped out of whatever it was last night.

The viewing figures v the costs of staging these competitions would be interesting. As for having more and more higher profile games, even Man City v Real Madrid would lose it's lustre if it was a regular fixture.

Watching the highly paid prim donnas of some shell-shocked Club having to face the reality of not beating a National League South side at the first time of asking, having to play on either a muddy potholed pitch or at best, astro turf on a Sunday lunchtime is more of a draw than playing some European club with numbers in the name that you'd never heard of.

 

[terrymechan]

I would support this. Hope other Argyle supporters feel the same way. We are not just here to make money for the Premier League and Sky. This is our Community
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"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 crisis.

The FA failed on Friday to quell a growing revolt against a deal with the Premier League that has also seen the Cup final lose its traditional place in the calendar, with furious English Football League teams warning they stood ready to withdraw from the competition.

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, told Telegraph Sport he was ready to back the nuclear option."

 

[Ottawa Green]

 

[ChepstowGreen]

I would support a boycott for SURE.

An absolute disgrace that the EFL and clubs weren't even consulted.

The FA should be utterly ashamed but of course they don't care.

To claim that it's all to do with putting more money in grassroots makes it even more despicable, pull the other one.

The money that is awash in our national game, and yet the facilities our kids have to play across England is overwhelmingly awful.. absolutely disgusting.

 

[ChepstowGreen]

If the result is a draw at full time you give the clubs a choice. Replay or drop out of the competition.

Love that idea.

 

[Duncanrice1]

Given the superb Grimsby statement, what is the PAFC stance on this?

 

[Jon with no H]

Given the superb Grimsby statement, what is the PAFC stance on this?

Argyle released their own statement at around 15:00.

 

[Ottawa Green]

Argyle released their own statement at around 15:00.

Club Statement: Emirates FA Cup Replays​

8 HOURS AGO
Having taken in Thursday’s news at the removal of replays from the Emirates FA Cup, and noted Friday’s update from the FA, followed by a formal response from the EFL, we feel now is a good time to inform everyone of our stance on the issue.
Our overriding emotions are of disappointment, and this is essentially twofold. Firstly, we are saddened at the proposed abolition of replays, which are long established within our oldest, most treasured competition.
Secondly, it is very disappointing that such a decision has been taken with very little consultation with clubs at various levels. Had such consultation taken place, we feel very confident that the FA would have met with huge resistance, aside from a small number of elite clubs that benefit from this modification.
Friday’s FA statement indicates that consultations have taken place, but Plymouth Argyle have not been part of any consultations and neither, according to their recent statement, have the EFL at large.
As custodians of the game of football in England, the FA have a duty to represent not just the Premier League and the EFL, but teams throughout the footballing pyramid. One of the beauties of the FA Cup is that teams at various levels can come into contact, and replays enhance the joy of these meetings.
On one hand, there is the financial implication; how a smaller club can earn a second encounter with a giant of English football, and get compensated accordingly. In addition, there is that intangible of the romantic side of our game, the enjoyment we all, as supporters, can get by having an experience at a major stadium, or bringing a team back to your own ground.
We have our own examples in recent years. Not only did we benefit financially from two televised games against Liverpool in 2017, but we had a unique experience for supporters, bringing Liverpool to Home Park for the second tie. Finances that we, as a club, accrued from the Liverpool match and replay were specifically invested into projects that went towards our future sustainability.
More recently, we drew 1-1 with reigning European Champions Chelsea after 90 minutes in 2022. It was a tremendous experience, and a very memorable game, but it would have been enhanced even further by bringing Chelsea back to Home Park.
On that occasion, it was understandable to have no replays, as football sought to catch up from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is a tangible example of the disappointment others may face in coming seasons if replays are no longer a feature of the world-admired and envied FA Cup.
It is clear from a series of responses from teams in the EFL, National League and below that the proposals are overwhelmingly being rejected from football as a whole. Our experiences of listening to our fanbase also indicate a widespread condemnation of the removal of replays.
We stand with supporters and our fellow football clubs on this issue, which we not only feel is misguided, but has been taken without the consultation and care that surely should be an enshrined prerequisite.