With the FA Cup now in full spirit with the first round of the tournament this weekend, the usual thing that gets many managers talking is the replays.
For anyone unaware of what the replay is, if the two sides draw in the initial game, they then have to play another game at the opposite venue to determine the winner of the tie.
Many managers believe that the FA Cup replays should be scrapped because of the amount of fixture congestion at an already busy time in the season and the journeys could be long on a Tuesday night.
However, from a fan perspective, the FA Cup replays can be one of the greatest things for a smaller side in the league pyramid.
A noticeable example was back in 2018 when Newport County forced a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur which led to a replay when Spurs were playing their home fixtures at Wembley.
Without the replays, Newport would not have been able to make memories and history if they weren’t able to make the trip to what is described as the “home of football”.
Understandably though, for some managers, the need for a replay can push more players towards the risk of injury.
Another world-famous FA Cup replay was back in 1972 when former Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers man scored the equaliser for Hereford United against Newcastle in the third round replay.
Forest Green Rovers boss David Horseman said on the potential of a replay: “We could do without a replay and with the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday, the fixture list is brutal at this level and we have enough to win the game in 90 minutes in the first round.”
Horseman also said: “Obviously we all love the FA Cup, but there are a couple which I will not name names, but there are a couple that they just cannot play.
“I cannot afford to lose them for the Tranmere game (in the league) which there would be a high risk with not loads but just a couple so that will not be risked as much.”
Of course, some would also argue that the replays are just there for more revenue with the need for more tickets to be sold and some games being covered by terrestrial television stations, but at the end of day the money from TV rights etc is split amongst the clubs that play in the trophy.
