Nothing now, but in future: 1. Ask UEFA to put the last 16 of the Champs League back to how it used to be, across two weeks instead of split across four (lol). That's what's largely caused the FA Cup being a pain to fit in the last few years. 2. Schedule the season so that some of the blank midweeks earlier in the season have matches, freeing up more dates for later if they need them. 3. Make the season longer. Start earlier or finish later.
Republic of Mancunia don't like options 2 and 3, because you want more deciding/meaningful games to take part in late stages of the season. And making the season longer may be an option in odd years, but when you have Euros or World Cup, that's not going to work anyway. 1 is reasonable, but tbh, I like the fact that we have good European games for a good month starting in February and by mid march still have quarters, semis and final to go.
Get rid of replays in all rounds? I don't like the idea, but it's not that long ago that Giggs scored the last ever semi final replay goal so they are willing to change the structure of the tournament. Also not such a stretch back to the times of second and third replays. In terms of fairness to both sides no semi replay works as it's on a neutral venue to begin with, in the other rounds it's seen as though the away side has earned a re-match at their ground after a draw. I do like that although League Cup matches are ended in one night no matter what so they might just go with it in the FA Cup in future too. Speak to the government/police about scheduling replays 3/4 days after the original tie? It used to be the case that they'd take place with that kind of turnaround until the police said they needed more time to arrange stuff. Throw money at them to pay for overtime etc. if you need to, it's not like football isn't loaded. Whilst I don't want to compromise fan safety, you could maybe get some of the earlier rounds out of the way quicker, giving more free dates later. Haven't looked at the exact scheduling, but I'm sure you could somehow gain an extra date or two through that. Stud83 I see your point about less big games in the run in, at least for league games. If it was done you'd likely be playing slightly more league games pre-Christmas, less after. Bad for those who want the league games to come thick and fast in an exciting run in, but possibly good for those who are always looking for the FA Cup to regain prominence as you'd have more weeks that were exclusively about the cup. Over time, the cup matches might become bigger in people's minds again. With that in mind, and considering I lol'ed at the prospect of UEFA giving up tv time for the champs league, I can't see the Prem voluntarily stepping back a little either. It's a shame all these competitions are at war with each other.
A couple more ideas. Scrap the Community Shield and/or League Cup. I wouldn't like to see the latter go, and there are only 4 teams involved post Christmas anyway so there's no major clash with the FA Cup, but it would free up dates and allow a major overhaul of the season.
In all honesty, this is much ado about nothing. You want to compete for multiple trophies? You need a deep squad. There should be an advantage to be gained by smaller clubs who don't have to compete in the league when they make it late into cups.
@nickcoppack - United/Chelsea v Man City FA Cup semi-final on Sunday 14 April, kick-off 16:00 GMT. if we do advance to this game (which is at Wembley), that would bump Stoke away which was on the 15th.
We have a 13+ differential in GD, unlikely that Citeh could make up the gap without erasing that so 13 it is.
If we get 12 points that means we win 4 lose 5, or win 3 draw 3 lose 3, depending on how we lose and win GD can evaporate.
95- Highest point total ever (Chelsea) 94- 93- 92- 91- 90- Highest Point Total Achieved by Man Utd (Since 2000/01) 89- Last Year Winner (City) 88- Average number of Points for Winner (since 2000/01) 87- 86- City (Maximum Points) 85- 84- 83- 82- Chelsea (Max Points) 81- 80- 2010/11 Winner (Man Utd), Lowest point total for a winner (Man Utd, 2000-01 onwards) 79- 78- Tottenham (Max Points) 77- Arsenal (Max Points) 76- Highest point total for 4th (Liverpool) 75- Everton (Max Points) 74- Man Utd 73- 72- 71- 70- 69-Liverpool (Max Points) ,Last year 4th position 68- 2010/11 4th position (Arsenal), Average Number of points for 4th place (since 2000/2001) 67- 66- 65- 64- 63- 62- 61- 60- Lowest point total for 4th (Liverpool) 59- Man City 58- 57- 56- 55- Chelsea 54- Tottenham 53- 52- 51- 50- Arsenal 49- 48- Everton 47- 46- 45- Liverpool, 44-West Brom 43- 42- Highest point total to be relegated (West Ham) 41- 40- Swansea,Magical 40, 2010/11 Safe or 17th position (Wolves) 39- 38- Average Number of Points for Safe Position (Since 2000/01) 37- Last year 17th or safe position (QPR) 36- Fulham 35- 34- Stoke, , Norwich ,Lowest Point Total for survival (West Brom) 33- West Ham, Newcastle 32- 31- Sunderland, Southampton 30- A Villa 29- 28- 27- Wigan 26- 25- 24- 23- Reading, QPR Updated.
Code: Manchester United Manchester City March 22 Internationals 22 Internationals 26 Internationals 26 Internationals 30 Sunderland(A) 30 Newcastle(H) April 1 Chelsea(A) FAC 8 Man City(H) 8 Man United(A) 13 Man City FAC SF 13 Chelsea/Man United FAC SF 14 Stoke City(A) 15 West Brom(H) 17 West Ham(A) 17 Wigan(H) 22 Aston Villa(H) 21 Tottenham Hotspur(A) 28 Arsenal(A) 27 West Ham(H) May 4 Chelsea(H) 4 Swansea (A) 11 FA Cup Final 11 FA Cup Final 12 Swansea(H) 12 Reading(A) 19 West Brom(A) 19 Norwich(H) Updated
Surely there will be a change of date between the Sunderland and Chelsea class. Do we really play on Saturday, then Monday?
Chelsea have a game that same Sat, then us on Mon, then a Europa League match on Thursday, and then another match on Sat.