FA Cup Reorganised

Again this isn't an original idea of mine but rather one that I would like to throw what little petulant force I have behind it.

The FA Cup is a great British tradition of allowing the minnows to take on the giants. I followed with pride and great emotion the progress of the Havant and Waterlooville Hawks in last year's campaign and especially that wonderful match at Anfield. In many ways that summed up the magic of the FA Cup. Indeed Portsmouth, not exactly a minnow but not exactly a giant, went on to win the cup!

However this year the FA Cup has been tarnished by some of the big clubs fielding reserve sides in the competition as their priorities are winning the Premiership or the European Championship or one of the other minor Cup tournaments. This devalues the FA Cup and the following proposal is an attempt to redress that situation. It is also an idea that might boost the chances of English footballers and ultimately the England team.

The proposal is that the FA Cup is seen as a British or English competition. I am not being insular here as I realise that lots of foreign players come here for the opportunity to play in the FA Cup, however I think they are well recompensed by the size of their fees and salaries. The Football Association must insist that all teams entered in the competition must field teams that consist of at least seven or eight English or British players. I realise that will create some fun as to who will qualify as what (see recent international qualification arguments for individual players and countries) but that wouldn't be a major concern. It would also leave a little leeway for those foreign players mentioned above. It would also give the FA a more hands on approach to their own major competition.

Most of the minnows already would qualify for the above proportion of English players to foreign (although sadly even here this situation is in decline - foreign players are cheaper!). Most of the giants could do it using the size of their squads and including their reserves and academies. This is the sort of approach they take now if they want to throw the match in the later stages of the contest when reassessing their priorities.However they wouldn't be doing it for their own purposes but because the rules of the competition require them to so do. It would also put all the giants in the same position rather than one choosing to lose to another. It would also level the playing field a little more for the minnows.

I can imagine the cries of horror that will go up from the giants as they will claim that the public will be horrified that such and such a star will not be able to appear. However all they have to do is carefully choose which of their stars will appear and will be cup=tied. I believe that after a general bit of upheaval and kerfuffle the public will like the more level playing field provided by the new rules, will like the breaking of the monopoly held by the top half dozen clubs, and will like the rise of new and upcoming English or British stars.

These English or British players will also experience the spotlight thrown upon them by such a prestigious competition and will be able to make a bid for places in the international squads. After all the European Cup and the World Cup are more akin to the FA Cup than they are to attrition of a over long Premiership campaign. I also believe national sponsors will be more than willing to support such a competition and of course the voracious monster that is television will equally devour the new aspects of the competition.

The FA Cup for the British!