I've never been able to figure this out. Are the draws for the FA and league cup completely random or are teams seeded to some extent? Is the site of a match also random; can a team somehow manage to continue to be drawn away each round?
It is random, each team gets a ball with a number, you pull a ball out, home team 1, pull a ball out, away team 1, repeat. Although sometimes teams will agree to play at the away teams ground, usually for the added gate of a bigger ground.
Although that should come to an end. If a game must be moved then it would be played at a ground close to the supposed home team.
Until relatively recently the draw was only covered by radio, with faceless FA officials picking balls from a velvet bag. To add to the crushing formality of the event, you weren't told in advance which club had which numbered ball and the radio reporters had to wait to be invited into the FA boardroom for the draw. It sounds terribly old-fashioned, and it was, but that, rather like the wonderful clicking noise of the ivory balls in the bag, just made it seem really special. These days it's done live on TV with football stars plucking cheap plastic balls from a clear plastic drum, with an invited audience to "ooh" & "aaah" at the potential excitement of each tie, and the footballing stars making ribbald comments with all the wit they can muster - which generally isn't much. I suppose something had to be done. Once the FA bowed to the pressure of accepting the 20th century had started and let TV cover the draw, the previously faceless officials suddenly had faces, all of which bore expressions with a strong implication of "oh my god I'm on live TV. I think I am crapping in my pants", but all in all, rather like a microwavable pizza, it's an an example of progress not equalling improvement.
Well said, Richard L. In addition to being only on radio, the draw was held at some bizarre time. 1.45 pm on the Monday following the previous round, I recall - perhaps so the faceless officials could do it in their lunch break.
Last year they re-introduced the Monday lunchtime draws (from the 3rd round onwards at least). Not old enough to remember it not being on telly (I don't think), but I always try to avoid knowing what numbers the teams are beforehand. It spoils it somewhat.
Carling (League) Cup The league cup WAS seeded in the second round. This was done to ensure that the teams who had progressed from the first round had a biggish draw. I am unsure if this is still the case, anyone know?