English football is in uproar after the FA and Premier League reached an agreement to scrap FA Cup replays due to the expansion of European competitions from next season.
The FA did not discuss the controversial move with the FA Cup Committee and lower league clubs are aghast that replays are a huge financial boon.
Here you will find what the managers of the football pyramid said.
Managers have had their say after the FA and Premier League reached a deal to scrap FA Cup replays.
EFL MANAGERS
Russell Martin, Southampton
It would have been sensible to ask all the clubs involved in the competition what they think. I’m pretty sure all 20 Premier League clubs were asked.
What makes English football special is the pyramid and the number of people who have the opportunity to play professionally and the structure behind the Premier League and the Championship.
We look at how many players have played for England and come through lower league academies. It makes English football really special and unique. So to keep thinking that you can forget about the guys right at the bottom and just not care about them is really naive and unfair.
You have to be very, very careful if you just want to focus on protecting yourself and your money at the top of that chain because things can change very, very quickly in football.
Russell Martin believes all clubs should have been consulted and warned about the risk of jeopardizing England’s “unique” football pyramid.
Daniel Farke, Leeds United
As a coach you worry about too many games, but I prefer to play than train. The same goes for followers. It’s not easy, but I have seen the benefits in clubs that had repetitions.
Daniel Farke sees the benefits of repetitions and would rather play than use that time training
Mark Robins, Coventry City
It kicks everyone below the Premier League in the teeth, there’s no doubt about that.
There’s nothing we can do about it other than voice our concerns and maybe we need to rethink it. It is really difficult for lower league clubs to reach an agreement.
It’s difficult because you look and those clubs, the grassroots ones and the EFL and the bottom ones are all part of the pyramid that needs to feed each other and eventually feed the Premier League.
There are many players who come out of academies of Premier League teams who receive training and playing time, understanding, experience and come back and succeed at bigger clubs. Sometimes they join international teams.
We have all played our part in that development. This should never be underestimated or forgotten.
Mark Robins highlighted the importance of replays to the English football ecosystem, calling the move a “kick in the teeth”.
David Wagner, Norwich City
I am German and in the German Cup we never had replays. I like it. It’s a game and it’s life or death.
Apart from that, it’s always difficult as a coach if the schedule for the next few weeks is unclear because you don’t know if you or your opponent have a replay; This is a great challenge as a coach. In general, I like a game and you pass or you don’t. This excites me.
David Wagner is more enthusiastic about single cup matches, as he is used to in Germany
Ian Evatt, Bolton Wanderers
On one hand, I love this game and the story of this game. The FA Cup is a big part of that.
Growing up in Coventry and watching them win the Cup in 1987, and also witnessing their defeat by Sutton United the following year, leaves its mark.
But that is the glory of the FA Cup and the romantic part of it is something that should be left aside.
That said, and now sitting in the seat I’m in, it probably helps me in terms of game management.
We will end up playing more than 60 seasons and that is too much.
Ian Evatt understands the romance of the FA Cup but welcomes the prospect of fewer games
PREMIER LEAGUE COACHES
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United
It’s very sad for British football culture, but it’s also inevitable. Nobody can do anything about it, it is because of the calendar overload and that is dictated by FIFA and UEFA.
England is part of UEFA. We are a great competition, we have a great influence and a great impact with FIFA and UEFA.
But there are many other countries that are on the football calendar. You see, there is so much overload on players, we talk about it too often and this has to stop.
I feel very sad for the English football clubs.
But at least for the best players we can now make some space in the calendar.
Erik ten Hag called it “very sad for British football culture” but “inevitable” due to the increasing demands of Europe.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City
You know better than me the reason the FA Cup was created. It is so that teams in the lower divisions have the opportunity to play against big clubs and win money. In that sense, it is a problem. It’s a big blow.
For the big clubs that play in European competitions, it is much better. We have a tight schedule with many games and finding balance is very difficult.
I understand why lower division clubs complain and it has been a tradition for many years. But with the calendar we have, playing in European competitions and with many players going to the national teams, it is much better.
Pep Guardiola knows that it is a “big blow” for the lower category clubs, but he believes that it is “better” for the big ones
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
We cannot see it in isolation, but with the calendar we have for the coming seasons we have to get games out of the players.
I understand all points of view. Ours and mine is to protect our players. When I looked at how many minutes and games they’ve played in the last two years without breaks, how many they’re going to have to play in the next two years, that’s not healthy for sure. Somehow, somewhere we have to reduce the schedule.
Mikel Arteta understands all perspectives, but knows the schedule has to be cut somewhere
Rob Edwards, Luton Town
I managed League Two with Forest Green so I have complete empathy with EFL teams and know the value that replays can bring.
We played Bolton in a replay earlier this season, I know they are a bigger club on the way back but I know it was valuable for them.
I understand the frustrations of the clubs, but on the other hand I can see that with the match schedule next season, especially our teams that are going to be in European competitions, it is almost impossible to have the replays.
So I can understand both sides of the matter.
Rob Edwards understands the financial value of reps as a former lower league boss
David Moyes, West Ham
The football calendar is too full, there are too many games. Something has to give in football somewhere or you might find it very difficult.
I’m not saying this was what had to give, but at some point, something will have to loosen up a little to give players more space.
David Moyes called the football calendar “too full” and said “something has to give”
Gary O’Neil, Wolves
Right now a lot is asked of the best players. If I face my selfish Wolverhampton, if we are going to start with a team of 19 like this season, the fewer games the better.
The FA Cup ties should be played on Saturdays so that you have a full week of preparation and can take the games seriously. It’s a shame we had to go that route.
It could work both ways for lower league teams, where if you play at home against a big team, you prefer to play extra time and penalties because you would have a better chance of winning than if, for example, you drew 1-1 with Man City and I have to go to the Etihad to see the replay.
From a financial point of view, I understand that clubs lower in the table benefit greatly from the income from the additional games.
Gary O’Neil is happy with fewer games from a “selfish” point of view, but sympathizes with smaller teams