FA consider rule changes
The surprise away FA Cup wins for Brighton & Hove Albion, Leyton Orient and Crawley Town have sparked a row over new plans at FA HQ. Premiership and Championship clubs are concerned that too many small clubs are reaching the 5th round of the competition. As one FA official pointed out “What if Crawley draw Leyton Orient, it will mean that a small club is one step from the semi-finals”. A spokesman called Ian from sponsors, Eon, also made it clear “We have got to make sure Manchester United and Chelsea play at Wembley to make it a memorable final for all football fans and sponsors”.
It looks likely that teams from a higher division may be a awarded goal before each match starts. As Ian from Eon explained “It’s simply a variation of the away goals counting double in European games – and we all accept that readily”. More controversially, Premiership teams will be allowed an extra goal if they field a weakened team. Ian pointed out that “It was a tough game for Manchester United at Southampton without the likes of Rooney and Berbatov. A two-goal start, one for being a Premiership club and one for fielding a weakened side, would have made it a much more satisfying experience for the sponsors”.
Further announcements are expected this week.
It looks likely that teams from a higher division may be a awarded goal before each match starts. As Ian from Eon explained “It’s simply a variation of the away goals counting double in European games – and we all accept that readily”. More controversially, Premiership teams will be allowed an extra goal if they field a weakened team. Ian pointed out that “It was a tough game for Manchester United at Southampton without the likes of Rooney and Berbatov. A two-goal start, one for being a Premiership club and one for fielding a weakened side, would have made it a much more satisfying experience for the sponsors”.
Further announcements are expected this week.
I decided to buy Lady Knobhead a flag this week and then by arranging various ornaments on the dining room table I instructed Lady Knobhead to raise the flag if the squirrel was offside. I should explain that the squirrel is a small offensive ornament bought by Lady Knobhead's eccentric sister as a memento of a wet week in the Lake District. Indeed, it says "Welcome to The Lakes" on its plinth. A plinth looks wrong for a striker, but it was the first thing that came to hand. Amazingly, Lady Knobhead raised her flag correctly in all five test scenarios which goes to show that Messrs Gray and Keys are wrong. Her only fault was that she did not raise her hand to signal an indirect free kick when the relatively oversized hedgehog, a similar gift from the Isle of Wight, was lining up to take the resulting free kick. Of course, as Lady Knobhead was the linesman, she didn't need to, I suppose.
Today, Lady Knobhead caught me smirking at this FA Cup article. I explained the contents to Lady Knobhead, who remarked that it was ridiculous that these overpaid "wotsits" should be given goals to help them when they were supposed to be better. I think she took me too seriously. Perhaps, she doesn't know as much about football as I had briefly feared after her 5 out of 5 score in the offside rule test. (FootballCynic writes: Was it Sebastien Squirrelaci that was offside?)
Reply to this
As Lord Knobhead of Knebworth will doubtless recall from his privileged youth, the original format of the FA Cup involved a "challenge round". Thus the initial 1872 winners, Wanderers, received a bye into the 1873 final. I think the sponsors would be more than happy to see this format return. To obviate risk of the annoying presence of the Orients and Crawleys of this world, I would suggest that the first automatic place in the final should be up for purchase. In subsequent years, maybe some form of handicapping system should be introduced to ensure quality of challenger remains undiluted. Perhaps eleven men for Premiership teams, ten for Championship and nine for the lower orders. In compensation, the latter could all be entitled to prefix their club names with "Plucky Little...", as in Manchester United/Arsenal 9, Plucky Little Crawley/Orient 0. (FootballCynic writes: This seems like a viable alternative to the FA plans FootballCynic has reported. The big clubs would rightly probably demand a right of veto in the use of the "Plucky Little" prefix if they only won by a margin of less than 9.)
Reply to this
Steady on. I wasn't around in 1873 even though Lady Knobhead often refers to me as behaving like an eccentric old fool. The plucky little idea is very good (or cool, as I am learning to say) (FootballCynic writes: Wicked)
Reply to this
As if the FA will make any changes quickly they are not called the FA for nothing. (FootballCynic writes: I think Fanny Adams is their president).
Reply to this