So, the FA and the Premier League feel that our bigger clubs play too many games and the poor little souls are getting too tired to compete properly. Their solution to this 'problem' appears to be a plan to devalue and ultimately kill off the greatest cup competition in the world. Seriously? Make the FA Cup a midweek competition with no replays?
Imagine the scenario. A non-league side is holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at home. It's the 91st minute and they are looking forward to a, possibly club saving, big game return at The Emirates. But wait.....let's have none of that. Let's just give the big club the advantage so that they are fresh to play Barcelona (again and again and again) next week. Besides, these little non-league players have got jobs to go to tomorrow. They don't want to be bothered with a second game, the biggest of their careers, next week do they?
If you really think that there are too many games and not enough free spots in the footballing calendar, and I agree that there probably is too much football played these days, why not do something more constructive for our game? For instance, and this is an ideal only (I realise it would never happen) how about lobbying UEFA to return the European competitions back to something like their original state? Why plan endless Champions League and Europa League group matches when a straight knockout would suffice? Could it be something to do with money?
Failing that, how about this solution, which could be implemented without having to change European football competitions.
First of all advise UEFA that, from this point onwards, we would only require two Champions League representatives and three UEFA Cup spots for English clubs.
Qualification for these competitions would be through the following methods.
The Champions would qualify for the Champions League (the clue is in the name). The second Champions League spot would be given to the FA Cup Winners. This would give an added boost to the competition (something that I hear various spokespeople say it is lacking in recent years). With only two teams competing in the Champions League it would mean that instead of Tuesday and Wednesday being written off for European matches, we could claw back a day. The FA could also give the two Champions League qualifiers the possibility of opting out of the FA Cup for one season. Of course, this would mean that they would have one fewer chance to qualify for the following season's competition.
The UEFA Cup, sorry Europa League, spots should be given to the second and third placed Premier League teams as well as the winner of the League Cup. The Europa League clubs, like the Champions League qualifiers, could be given an option to drop out of the following year's League Cup competition. One thing that I do agree with is the removal of two-legged League Cup Semi-Finals. I really don't see why this is necessary.
Of course none of this will ever happen because the real reason isn't the number of games. It isn't that these highly tuned athletes are getting a bit tired. It's money. Pure and simple greed.
I just hope that, one day, someone in the FA or Premier League will lose those dollar sign eyes and see that they are slowly and surely killing our national game.
Imagine the scenario. A non-league side is holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at home. It's the 91st minute and they are looking forward to a, possibly club saving, big game return at The Emirates. But wait.....let's have none of that. Let's just give the big club the advantage so that they are fresh to play Barcelona (again and again and again) next week. Besides, these little non-league players have got jobs to go to tomorrow. They don't want to be bothered with a second game, the biggest of their careers, next week do they?
If you really think that there are too many games and not enough free spots in the footballing calendar, and I agree that there probably is too much football played these days, why not do something more constructive for our game? For instance, and this is an ideal only (I realise it would never happen) how about lobbying UEFA to return the European competitions back to something like their original state? Why plan endless Champions League and Europa League group matches when a straight knockout would suffice? Could it be something to do with money?
Failing that, how about this solution, which could be implemented without having to change European football competitions.
First of all advise UEFA that, from this point onwards, we would only require two Champions League representatives and three UEFA Cup spots for English clubs.
Qualification for these competitions would be through the following methods.
The Champions would qualify for the Champions League (the clue is in the name). The second Champions League spot would be given to the FA Cup Winners. This would give an added boost to the competition (something that I hear various spokespeople say it is lacking in recent years). With only two teams competing in the Champions League it would mean that instead of Tuesday and Wednesday being written off for European matches, we could claw back a day. The FA could also give the two Champions League qualifiers the possibility of opting out of the FA Cup for one season. Of course, this would mean that they would have one fewer chance to qualify for the following season's competition.
The UEFA Cup, sorry Europa League, spots should be given to the second and third placed Premier League teams as well as the winner of the League Cup. The Europa League clubs, like the Champions League qualifiers, could be given an option to drop out of the following year's League Cup competition. One thing that I do agree with is the removal of two-legged League Cup Semi-Finals. I really don't see why this is necessary.
Of course none of this will ever happen because the real reason isn't the number of games. It isn't that these highly tuned athletes are getting a bit tired. It's money. Pure and simple greed.
I just hope that, one day, someone in the FA or Premier League will lose those dollar sign eyes and see that they are slowly and surely killing our national game.
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