Would you welcome....

[Pancake]

...the introduction of the Scottish clubs from the SPL, Div1 and Div2 in to the FA Cup?

 

I know the majority of fans are against SPL clubs, specifically Ranger and Celtic, joining the English League system; but do you have the same feelings about a Cup competition?

[stevegrant]

I wouldn't, simply because the FA Cup is a big enough competition already without adding another 42 teams into the mix.

 

If anything, I would expect the early rounds of the competition proper to become regionalised to cut down on travelling costs for smaller clubs.

[Pancake]

How about the League Cup then Steve? Smaller cup, could be expanded and renamed the Combined Leagues Cup?

[stevegrant]

I don't see any reason why we need to include Scottish teams in English competitions, really.

[SuperMikey]

So, should we kick Swansea and Cardiff out then, as they're technically Welsh teams?

[RonManager]

So, should we kick Swansea and Cardiff out then, as they're technically Welsh teams?

 

Yes, and Newport County.

[stevegrant]

So, should we kick Swansea and Cardiff out then, as they're technically Welsh teams?

They're associate members of the FA now, and the situation with the Welsh teams is a hell of a lot different to that in Scotland in that Wales doesn't have its own professional league, whereas Scotland does.

[RonManager]

They're associate members of the FA now, and the situation with the Welsh teams is a hell of a lot different to that in Scotland in that Wales doesn't have its own professional league, whereas Scotland does.

 

Is the League of Wales not professional?

 

It would be cool to be drawn against The New Saints, though!

[stevegrant]

Is the League of Wales not professional?

All bar two (I think) of the teams in the Welsh Premier League are part-time.

 

Also, the ability level is on par with Blue Square South, at best.

[Saint 76er]

Firstly, can't see it ever happening or any need to. EUFA/FIFA regulations probably wouldn't allow it anyway, but how's it going to work if, say, Ross County get drawn away to Plymouth? That's about two days on a coach and for a club trying to exist on gates of a few hundred. Plymouth probably wouldn't be thrilled if a replay was required as well...

[Andy_Porter]

I would happily have them in the FA, we've had Scottish and other foreign clubs in the FA cup by invitation before.

 

The problems would be with regards to the Europa league place to the winners and how it would effect the UEFA coefficients, this is probably what would stop it happening.

[IamLeGod]

No! We don't need anymore of them foreigners coming in here and taking our cups!!

 

This country is swamped already!

[IamLeGod]

...oh sorry wrong board

[Smirking_Saint]

No, we are different countries and have our own seperate competitions.

 

You don't see the bigger teams of lesser leagues across europe being allowed into larger leagues cup competitions, why should it happen here ?

[oxfordshire_saint]

Firstly, can't see it ever happening or any need to. EUFA/FIFA regulations probably wouldn't allow it anyway, but how's it going to work if, say, Ross County get drawn away to Plymouth? That's about two days on a coach and for a club trying to exist on gates of a few hundred. Plymouth probably wouldn't be thrilled if a replay was required as well...

 

We're such a small country compared to some in Europe.

 

Ross to Plymouth is 457 miles.

 

When Udinese play, for example, Bari in Serie A, that's a 587 mile journey.

 

If Udinese fans fancy seeing their team away against either Palermo or Catania then that's a 970 mile journey including the short ferry across to Sicily.

 

In the French Ligue 1, Lille to Marseille is 624 miles.

 

I could go on...................

[hamster]

I would more welcome a Div 1 South and Div 1 North replacing the current Div 1 and 2.

 

Also fwiw I can't see any gain in having the welsh teams in our leagues. It is actually very damaging to the other welsh teams as it denies them much needed funds and having them take money from playing what are actually bigger games than they warrant English teams are worse off on the whole.

 

imho