Quote from: joemamas on June 25, 2014, 02:10:51 PMhow long between rounds of the FA Cup?
It is a complete load of BS. The main reason (excuse) given was that it would allow the beaten provincial finalists more than a week to recover, therefore the pre scheduled Q/finals draws like we currently have.
The futility of it all will be evident over the next month, especially in the "A" group, with all due respect to other teams involved, the Q/finals on Sunday August 3rd will be Mayo/Galway V Kerry/Cork, pretty novel pairings don't you think. When the world cup hype dies down, some informed media pundits, (an oxymoron I know) will latch on to it.
It reeks of overkill/panic when trying to solve a simple problem, by making it worse. In footballing terms, it reminds me of John Maughan's efforts at replacing Dermot Flanagan in the All Ireland final in 1997.
The simple solution would be to play all championship games to a conclusion. It is something I have been saying for years, there is little or no excuse at this point, other than extra revenues. With all the excellent marketing of our games and concerts etc, paying off stadiums,this argument is nowhere near as strong as it was. What other sport I ask, allows their penultimate game, i.e. All-Ireland final to be a draw, I know tradition etc, but remember 40 years ago you still had the bishop, parish priest, local TD's throwing in the ball and then hightailing it to the sideline. It would also eliminate all the issues surround club football or the lack thereof. If the NFL in the US, can draw up a fixed schedule six months ahead of time, surely the GAA can. It would also allow a potential open draw/other championship format, while also keeping provincial championships.
Not to completely digress, but I was watching the end of the Tipperary V Limerick hurling game with my 15 year old daughter on line last month, just as the games finished , Ger Canning announced "and now Limerick go on to meet the winners of Cork and Clare in the Munster final in six weeks time" My daughter said "did he just say six weeks", I said "yes honey", her response "that's insane", my response "you are right".
No need to say anymore.
or Champions League knockout stages?