Putney

The Athletic and Telegraph saying it’s £15m plus £5m in add-ons. Fulham have had Birmingham’s pants down

If others/other bodies have made grander statements on what’s ‘lucrative’ for them then I must have missed it. Your response to me otherwise seemed directly about what I said, not about a wider point. The EFL supposedly were not involved, just the FA and Premier League. There’s a statement that was tweeted by Martyn Ziegler. Even if it’s a reality which shouldn’t be ignored, it’s a non guaranteed life support based on luck of the draw. Not all 732 entrants get to play at Old Trafford, vast majority will never be on TV. It’ll be the prize money for most of the 732 that is the incentive. Fulham, its ownership and its current league position doesn’t represent me or my views. The EFL have said it’s because of the expanded UEFA calendar which doesn’t involve them. I’m not renewing my season ticket because I’m disillusioned with it and enjoy watching my local 9th tier side more. I’d rather they scrapped replays for the preliminary rounds which my local side play in. Format wise, if a lower league team has been good enough to hold a higher team to a draw at 90 mins then what’s to say they couldn’t then win it in extra time or penalties? Not only is that probably more likely but it’s also more exciting to watch. One of the earlier examples of Tranmere beating PL Watford in a replay, in the first game they came from 3 down and Watford had a man sent off late on. Tranmere probably would have won it on the night. Magic of the cup would have still been alive and well.

Noted, I’ll keep my opinion on a football forum to myself until I’ve surveyed all FA cup entrants. Maybe they should play best of three, that’ll benefit them financially more.

Magic of the cup does happen yes, we see that already. It happens even less over two games though, hence my point. There isn’t a long list of giant killings in replays. Equally for every FL club that takes a PL club to a replay, there’s a lot more FL vs FL or PL vs PL. As a fan it’s rubbish and no one wants that.

Whilst I understand that, I disagree. It should absolutely not be about the money. Having extra games isn’t going to solve inequality in football. The payday that a lower league club would get from a one off game against Man Utd regardless of whether it’s home or away would be substantial vs the other clubs in its league who aren’t playing a lucrative team.

How effective is taking a top flight side to a replay though? Since 13/14 I believe* only around five lower league clubs have won a replay against a Premier League club. Even if abolishing replays benefits the big clubs more, replays are still rubbish. * Quick glance at wiki: 23/24 Bristol City vs West Ham 19/20 Tranmere vs Watford 18/19 Derby vs Southampton 17/18 Wigan vs Bournemouth 13/14 Sheff Utd vs Fulham

Huntelaar

Bobby Decordova Reid has played in every position for Fulham except centre back and goalkeeper. Always puts a solid performance in wherever he plays.

More goals at home this week than the entirety of the 20/21 season under Parker

It is mind blowing that people think the Premier League is corrupt to the point where they would fix Fulham beating Wolves

Missed the game today but they were absolutely shambolic apparently. ”turn up, kick it about and see what happens” ”mad that one of Luton or Sheffield United won’t finish bottom” “Luton were better” Could hear Basham’s leg snap halfway up the Hammersmith End apparently

Don’t disagree with your general point about PL being different although worth noting Fulham have a history of signing American players. Doubt we’d get any local fans if this was held in the Far East.

The gulf in quality between your Chelsea women’s and second tier women’s side is going to be rather stark, no different to the predicament of the international game. That’s an issue that the women’s game needs to solve but it isn’t a reflection of the level at very top of the Women’s game which Hayes is at.

What did Emma Hayes actually say that was insulting to AFCW and where did she say AFCW/L1 was a step down? No one here is saying the women’s game is on par as though WSL = PL, it’s a different game and the enemy is those who get all hot and bothered thinking they need to defend the men’s honour as those it’s some personal affront to them. A complete shock with football fans I know. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12206672/emma-hayes-shuts-down-afc-wimbledon-rumours-and-will-stay-on-as-chelsea-women-boss-in-wsl https://www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11668/12208230/emma-hayes-clarifies-afc-wimbledon-comments-no-amount-of-money-is-going-to-tempt-me-away-from-chelsea

People do realise that was not an actual match and just a training game right? Even so, using one game as an argument against women’s football isn’t a fair reflection. Chelsea drew to their own youth team once, there’s probably countless similar games that have gone unrecorded. Regarding the crowds, you should look up the attendance figures of women’s champions league football. It isn’t one woman and her dog. Chelsea WSL games were averaging the same as AFC Wimbledon until AFC Wimbledon moved to a bigger ground. Unless you mean the atmosphere, League One isn’t exactly on par with an Istanbul or Belgrade derby. There’s a number of reasons why players might not respect a manager, not managing before is be one of them but it isn’t the only one.

It was probably a good thing that Emma Hayes didn’t want the AFC Wimbledon job. They might be a ‘good’ community club but they’ve been utter crap for a while now and relegation from L1 was not IF but when with them. The absolute frenzy that would have ensued if they ended up relegated under her would have been horrific.

All Mitrovic’s fault

Palace have a relatively easy run in, they’ll be fine

As a direct result of Mitrovic’s actions 43 referees were brutally murdered at U12s games this weekend. Should have been a lifetime ban.

Next game is the derby away at Leicester. Could be so much riding on it.

As the moral arbiter as a fan of a club who hasn't cheated or certainly not been caught yet, I say crack on lads.

Great news for everyone except Chelsea and Brighton.

Yeah but proper club

Their owner sounds like a loon so would be amusing if they were utter khazi, just for the fall out.