Man of Honour
The ESPN FC panel gets Spanish football reporter Sid Lowe’s thoughts on the draw for the Copa del Rey round of 16 and how he thinks the changes to the cup’s format have worked. Lowe outlines how making the matches one leg and letting the lower-division side host has made the matches more exciting and competitive. The panel debate what the English FA Cup can take from Spain to put interest back into their competition.
The solution to this is really simple: in all rounds of the competition, allow the teams to decide for themselves if they want a replay, extra-time or straight to penalties when the tie is drawn. Also bring back the ability for teams to agree to switch who hosts the game, so a lower league club can agree to no replay if they get to be away from home and maximise the amount of money they make. I'd also make usage of VAR when ties are played at Premier League grounds an agreeable option or not as well.
In regards to the video above, the FA Cup is the oldest and most prestigious inter-country cup competition in the world. Asking if it should copy an inferior one is like asking if Coca-Cola should stop what they are doing and copy Pepsi.
Injury waiting to happen, hopefully its Phil Jones.Good lord this pitch, it looks like they do rallying on it.
Good lord this pitch, it looks like they do rallying on it.
Injury waiting to happen, hopefully its Phil Jones.