FA Cup

[hessisgod]

I loathe the premier league. Further erosion of the greatest cup competition by scrapping friendlies and moving the final so it’s before the end of the Premier League season.
Greed, greed, greed.

Someone needs to remind the FA that the EFL has more fans than the premier league and get them to grow a backbone.

[summerwell]

Agree 100%. The FA is a pathetic bunch of blazers.

[stewie]

I totally agree, this and the inclusion of 'B' teams in the EFL Cup is one of the reasons I am becoming tired with the game.
I have always felt that it is down to the individual clubs to fulfil their domestic fixtures in the season and that if this become problematic, then the first be to go should be the additional European ties. Alternatively, make the European cup competitions 'one off' knockout ties with no replays? There, saved the big clubs some games already.
The inclusion of 'B' teams in the EFL Cup was required to give the some of the Premiership's clubs fringe players competitive football, but why they couldn't organise a reserve league amongst themselves is beyond me. I suspect that the real reason is that the Premiership want 'B' teams in the EFL to further extend their influence and grow even bigger. I will refuse to watch these games or take any interest in this competition until the 'B' teams are removed.
Then the international breaks, another weekend with no fixtures because some of the 'stars' are representing their national teams (which used to be an aspiration in the 70s not a chore). But wait, if the 'stars' are elsewhere why not give some 'fringe' players a competitive game?. It always frustrated me that Gills had to play games when Simeon Jackson was on international duty, because he was the only squad player unavailable for duty in international weeks. How many Premier league teams would be happy having to fulfil domestic fixtures with their current prolific goal scorer repeatedly being not available for selection?
The Premier or 'Super' league was set up at the time supposedly to improve English football at National level. So, we can easily review the progress of this endeavour so far by the success of the national Men's team in the World Cup and European Cups which has hardly been consistent in this period. Meanwhile the national Ladies team without many of the advantages and investment of their male counterparts seem to be doing rather well by comparison.
So I will continue to follow the Gills in our homely ground, I have no inclination to support a 'big' team watching them on the TV each week, Id rather be part of the crowd at the game.

[mooonlightgraham]

I have found it difficult to watch Premier Division Football for some time now, take away the Big three or four clubs which everyone in Malaysia and Singapore, China,and other parts of the world support and what have you got, a really good Premier Division where teams like Fulham Wolves,Brighton, Palace can all compete for the title.
But what we have got at the moment is Manchester City lose a game, Sunday evening Pep is on a flight to the UAE, by lunch time Monday he is sitting with Sheikh Mansour saying , we lost yesterday because you forgot to send the check for 50 million so I could buy that player I told you I wanted,it's your fault Sheikhy old son. I am sorry Peppi, here is a check for 100 million buy two players,keep one in reserve.
Until there is a Cap on what a team can pay it's players, and NOT the sort of cap where players can take say 50 million in payments while they play,and defer the other 50 million to be paid over 10 years once they retire,then Premier Football I will be watch when there is nothing else going on in my little world.