3. Limit the length of the third and fourth rounds to two days
This year’s five-day epic third round stripped the once-glorious new year offering of its traditional dramatic context. Frankly, criminals have been given less time for repeat offences. Condensing the programme back into its long-established format reduces the risk of overkill.
4. Don’t select all-Premier League ties for live televised games in the third and fourth rounds
With the palate sated by blanket coverage of the Premier League, it was surely a mistake for the BBC this year to choose Arsenal v Hull over, for instance, Blyth Spartans against Birmingham. If nothing else, spreading the financial bounty of sending cameras to those clubs not already well paid for the broadcast of their league programme is the kind of commercial democracy the Football Association should be promoting in its competition. And the sight of a ground which television viewers have not grown used to seeing every weekend can only add to the Cup’s intriguingly different offering.
5. Move the semi-finals from Wembley
The mistake of staging the semis at the national headquarters has stripped the final of its unique distinction. Not to mention hugely inconvenienced travelling fans, especially those obliged to head to Wembley for matches at 5pm on a Sunday. The competition’s long-term health is of more significance than short-term financial implications of keeping the stadium occupied. So move the semis back to a suitable ground mutually convenient for the participants.
Moving the semi-finals from Wembley would be a positive step (GETTY IMAGES)
6. Ensure the Cup takes priority over Premier League scheduling
Clubs in the Championship decided not to stage a round of league games on New Year’s Day this year, knowing that it would not give sufficient time to recover before third-round matches on the first Saturday of the year. The Premier League was not so accommodating. And instead of insisting its competition took precedence, the FA extended the weekend for the top clubs’ convenience. Next season, when New Year’s Day is on Friday, the FA must insist on Premier League clubs playing on Saturday. And if they want to play league fixtures on New Year’s Day, they will be obliged to face the consequences.
7. Make sure the final is the last match of the season and, while you’re about it, return the kick off to 3pm
Hopeless romanticism, perhaps. But if the Cup is to reclaim its erstwhile position of prominence, it has to be seen as the climax of the domestic season. Not as an inconvenient sideshow during the conclusion of the league campaign.
8. A Champions League place for the winners
Pure bribery. But it might concentrate a few minds to treat the competition with the seriousness it once commanded. Not to mention give an outsider a chance of breaking into a club increasingly becoming the exclusive preserve of the monied.
It's not right that Rochdale caused the only real upset of the round (GETTY IMAGES)
9. Broadcast the competition solely on terrestrial television and reduce the number of live matches screened in the early rounds
If you include Cardiff’s game with Colchester, which was broadcast on BBC Wales, six third-round games were televised live this season, on the BBC and BT Sport. Talk about overkill. If you want the magic to be retained, two things are required: keep it terrestrial and don’t over-indulge. Besides, since the FA takes 10 per cent of the gate revenue of every tie, evangelising the competition through a wider reach will have implications in increased attendances at live games.
10. Kick the pink ball into touch
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling was on to something when he launched a couple of the ghastly spherical aberrations over the roof at Huish Park on Sunday. Having a special pastel toned FA Cup ball is an affectation too far. If only the organisers had been more robust in defending some of the competition’s historical nuances, there would be no need for such gimmicks.
No more of this monstrosity please (GETTY IMAGES)
Missing fans: How the third round was a box-office flop
- Telegraph