Changes to the FA Cup you would make

GMoore23 said:
I'd give the winners the Champions League spot that usually goes to the 4th placed League team.

I feel this is the only thing that would give the Fa Cup back it's prestige.
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If they made League cup Olympic style rules for PL teams i.e. only allowed 3 players over 23, it would make that much more interesting (I would like to see more of our youth) whilst remaining competitive - with that age cap many of our first team can still play for example. This would then elevate the FA cup.

Then FA cup is the full fat domestic cup competition. It should be seen as a top tier cup around about the level/difficulty of the Europa. 4th or 5th CL place goes to the winner.
 
Bring back replays (while making Carabao Cup semifinal just one leg at neutral ground) and maybe play semifinals at stadiums around the country and not Wembley.

League Cup won't be abolished like it was in France but if that was to happen then you'd think Fa Cup would get some of it's prestige back as it would be only domestic trophy available other than league.
 
I'm a traditionalist and still love the FA Cup. I'd bring back replays so the smaller clubs get a chance of the big day out and money which can sort them for years, Tamworth would have had that this year.
No league games on FA Cup final day.
The main difference I'd make and I know this won't be popular, but I'd allocate one the the Champions League spots to the winner, if they end in the CL spots in league, just as normal then.
 
I'd love to have a rule where eg clubs like Tamworth get to play against the PL teams. I'd love to have a fixture where we play eg Oxford Utd or Salford instead of the same old PL fixtures. I know this rule would be harsh as the smaller teams would be knocked out but it'd give them a massive pay day.
 
Actually, I've changed my mind. Bring back replays.

"But fixture congestion?"

If there are no replays, big clubs will fill the calendar gaps with cash grab trips to Saudi Arabia and America anyways. Plus the replay helps the lower tier clubs with income. Plus the big clubs have the squads needed to handle extra games.
 
If the game ended in a draw it’d be decided by counting which team has the most tattoos.
 
tomaldinho1 said:
If they made League cup Olympic style rules for PL teams i.e. only allowed 3 players over 23, it would make that much more interesting (I would like to see more of our youth) whilst remaining competitive - with that age cap many of our first team can still play for example. This would then elevate the FA cup.
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This for sure! Would be so much more fun, although the lower ranked teams would suffer even more given how much youth quality the top teams have. Would be good for top teams to rest their players though and have youth get some real opportunities.

Other than that:
- Bring back replays.
- No ET, straight to Pens if no result after 2 games.
- Like OP mentioned, first game at the lower ranked team's stadium.
 
diarm said:
  • Bring back replays.
  • Winner qualifies for CL.
  • Make the League Cup only for teams who haven’t qualified for Europe.
These 3 changes would reignite passion for the FA Cup and sort the fixture congestion they’re trying to fix by scrapping replays.
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Great ideas.

On a different note, the problem with ruling small teams play at the big clubs ground for the payday works until a) where do you draw the line b) how long until people complain it gives the big team an unfair advantage, you are going to lose the potential of a giant killer scenario and c) you are losing what the fa cup was all about, there is something about the Prem clubs going to these grounds and the small teams earning a replay. Just bring back replays.
 
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No referees. Self-governed matches, like playground football

"That's a foul. Pen to us."
"No it wasn't!"
*Everyone kicks the shit out of each other until the headmaster confiscates the ball*
 
Xeque_279 said:
This for sure! Would be so much more fun, although the lower ranked teams would suffer even more given how much youth quality the top teams have. Would be good for top teams to rest their players though and have youth get some real opportunities.

Other than that:
- Bring back replays.
- No ET, straight to Pens if no result after 2 games.
- Like OP mentioned, first game at the lower ranked team's stadium.
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It's win win in my opinion. PL clubs can play more academy players, helping them develop or sell them, lower league teams have more of a chance to actually beat PL teams. There will always be some inequality between the top and bottom of the PL but I would imagine Soton, Wolves etc. have pretty damn good academies right now.

I think replays go hand in hand with the above, if you are just fielding your senior team for the league, 2 cups and Europe, we don't need replays. If they change the format for the league cup in order to elevate the FA cup, I think replays would be great.
 
Think the only thing that would restore it as a coveted, esteemed prize be if the prize money was tens of millions or if it got you a Champions League spot.

Anyway, I'm the ideas guy. I come up with the ideas. You figure out how to make it work. Over to you.
 
A CL space for the winner. However, this should be for a playoff spot. Essentially instead of doing the coefficient thing UEFA should've said the extra four spaces go to the domestic cup winners. Then those teams played one leg ties until four were left. The drop outs into the Conference/Europa depending on which round they were KO'd. Ideally this would also be a free draw rather than seeded. If they had done that UEFA would've also got some interesting play off games for the CL as well.
 
Dave Smith said:
A CL space for the winner. However, this should be for a playoff spot. Essentially instead of doing the coefficient thing UEFA should've said the extra four spaces go to the domestic cup winners. Then those teams played one leg ties until four were left. The drop outs into the Conference/Europa depending on which round they were KO'd. Ideally this would also be a free draw rather than seeded. If they had done that UEFA would've also got some interesting play off games for the CL as well.
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Dave Smith said:
A CL space for the winner. However, this should be for a playoff spot. Essentially instead of doing the coefficient thing UEFA should've said the extra four spaces go to the domestic cup winners. Then those teams played one leg ties until four were left. The drop outs into the Conference/Europa depending on which round they were KO'd. Ideally this would also be a free draw rather than seeded. If they had done that UEFA would've also got some interesting play off games for the CL as well.
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Excellent idea!
 
Scrap extra time and penalties and replace it with an 11 man tug of war.
 
Xeque_279 said:
This for sure! Would be so much more fun, although the lower ranked teams would suffer even more given how much youth quality the top teams have. Would be good for top teams to rest their players though and have youth get some real opportunities.

Other than that:
- Bring back replays.
- No ET, straight to Pens if no result after 2 games.
- Like OP mentioned, first game at the lower ranked team's stadium.
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Semis at the P̶r̶i̶n̶c̶i̶p̶a̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ Millennium stadium
 
Only red cards are allowed to be given out even if it's a yellow card offense.

Each team has to play in the other teams strip.

Pass back rule re-introduced. GKs can pick up the ball if it's passed back to them.

On a more serious note. January is FA Cup month. All games are played during the month of Jan while the leagues go on break. However, the final is saved for the weekend after the leagues finish up.
 
Introduce Kiss-Cam, like in the States.
 
  • Lower division side gets the home tie
  • Quarter-finals at neutral venues
  • CL spot for winner
  • Losers pelted with rotten fruit
 
As others take Semi from Wembley and put it in neutral venue. Final back to 3pm Saturday with buildup starting first thing in morning. The whole week around FA cup final was what made it such special.
 
Include Scottish, Welsh and North Ireland teams. UK fa cup.
 
jigen said:
Include Scottish, Welsh and North Ireland teams. UK fa cup.
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Won't include the Irish teams.

My home team (Newry City AFC) went bust a decade ago. Our phoenix club considered joining the Republic of Ireland league until the usual phalanx of unionist parties vetoed it.

If it kicks off again, there'll be no reason why NI clubs cannot play in an Irish league when they can appear in a different country's cup competition.

That's if the glamour of losing twelve nil to Stoke, whose fans are waving Union flags and singing 'no surrender' isn't too persuasive.
 
Matches with two teams from different leagues goes to a replay - two teams from same division is straight to EXT + penalties.

Semi's to take place at a neutral ground (in Saudi Arabia)
 
When the crowd shout shoot they have to take a shot. It might mean United only shoot from 40-50 yards though.
 
Players should meet in the center of the pitch and howl abuse at each other for 2 minutes before kick off.

Any player that's too soft with their abuse gets a red card.

VAR will oversee this as they're already proper cnuts.
 
Instead of replays/ET/shoot-outs ties will be settled by comparing collective follower counts on Instagram
 
Give it the 5th CL place in the years England has it. Top 5 just ruins the jeopardy in the league to a large degree, EL isn't enough of an incentive.
 
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