Fans hit back as Brentford head coach Thomas Frank and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta calls for FA Cup replays to be axed.
Thomas Frank believes that the rules on match replays in the FA Cup competition should be scrapped as his side played out a 1-1 draw with Wolves on Friday night, while Arsenal take on Liverpool on Sunday evening.
Mikel Arteta meanwhile believes that a packed fixture schedule makes replays outdated, as after his side play Liverpool on Sunday, they will be out of action for 13 days, unless a draw to Liverpool would force the two sides to meet at Anfield, disrupting Arsenal’s near-fortnight off.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank does not think there should be FA Cup replays ❌⬇️pic.twitter.com/PR4l67sTuW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 6, 2024
Thomas Frank said in a press conference: “The worst outcome. Honestly, it is in every aspect. I said it yesterday. I simply don’t understand why we have a replay. Don’t understand it.
“I know Wolves get the home advantage, but I’m pretty sure if I’m not speaking with him in here in front of the media, I’m pretty sure he will say the same. Why play a game there? And with our luck, we probably get there Wednesday night before Nottingham. That’ll be perfect in many ways.
“So yeah, there must be some people who is. I simply don’t understand why there’s no one in the football world that changed this or I don’t know if it’s the FA who is in charge of it, but they need to take some more clever decisions.”
When a question was put to him asking if the Football Association (FA) should consider getting rid of replays, Arteta said: “I think so.
“We will see what happens because with the new format of the Champions League, there will be more games (to play) so I don’t know how we are going to fit them in.
“The (mini) break will be minimal and we have plans for both scenarios. We want to win the game and we will try to win the game, but that (cancelling replays) has to be considered.”
As mentioned, fans hit back as Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta calls for FA Cup replays to be axed…
@DanielFranks85: He wants to remember where Brentford were not so long ago and how much replays help that level of club. Crying about too many games but happy to take all the tv money the prem teams get. Give over
@phathowe: Sorry Thomas, totally disagree. FA cup replays provide significant additional revenue for clubs in the lower divisions. We should keep them until there’s fairer distribution across the leagues…
@Wolvoryan04: Only said that because he knows he’ll win with a man advantage, if we’d drawn 1-1 without us getting a red card, he wouldn’t have complained
@IanJamsie: Jeff sterling had a good point. Keep replays, but seed all the championship and prem teams at home in the third round. Then every lower league and non league club gets their chance at a big away day. If the prem club draws, it is their own damn fault and the replay is a bonus.
@MarkAEverson: Not so long ago, Brentford were not PL, never looked like they ever would be, and the opportunity to get that replay at a big club was a wonderful opportunity for the club, the players and the fans. Who does he think he is to tell the FA how they should run the FA Cup?
@IanChallis: That’s how the competition works. Wolves were able to dig in and get something, take Brentford back to their place and fair play to them. The FA Cup shouldn’t be messed with any further. Brentford had home advantage against 10 men and blew it.
@WestHamFanTone: Fa cup isn’t just for premier league teams. If a lower league team can scrap out a draw they can gain extra revenue from a reply at old Trafford for example. If it’s an extra game you don’t want Frank, void the reply and give wolves a bye into the next round
@JordanWebbx: This the most prestigious English cup there is. It’s our English game. Foreign managers incoming commenting on this doesn’t sit well with me personally. A reply with a squad of 25 heads who play avg 40-45 games a ssn if not in champs league/Europe. More than achievable.
@joshwellsss: He obviously doesn’t watch the FA cup before the third round then, when a non league team takes an EFL team to a replay it can financially help that club enormously
@bazzau73: What a surprise a foreign PL manager not getting the importance of the occasional replay to lower league clubs. If you don’t want a replay, play your strongest side or play the kids and throw the game. Always PL clubs moaning but will still go on post and pre season tours
@stringer_oafc: It’s not long ago that Brentford fans would have loved to have taken a Premier League team to a replay.
@jacobncm: have you considered winning the original tie at home against ten men for 81 minutes if you really don’t want a replay
@gjp12775: Literally, Cup replays saved @BrentfordFC from going bust, not that long ago. He should study his club’s history rather than stress over an extra game.
@andyhoj: Replays been around long before you came to manage here sunshine and hopefully will be after you’ve gone. Brentford used to be in League Two not that long ago and would have been happy with the revenue from a replay. Short memories
@HCfootball01: Easy for a Premier League club to say who doesn’t feel the financial benefit like a lower league club would 👍 If you don’t want a replay don’t draw 🤣
@keiran_wwfc: You just wanted to play extra time knowing that you had a man advantage
@AllAtSeaFanzine: Another example of a Premier League club which preens masses of players from clubs lower down but doesn’t want to play them. If a replay is too much stress, look at Southend. Haven’t been able to field 5 subs all season. I never expected this from Brentford tbf.
@Steve95071139: I can only assume hes forgot where Brentford have come from. It’s not that many years ago they would have loved a big game replay for the fans and a few quid in gate revenue. They are not even in Europe. So only 38 league games. Think about teams outside of the prem.
@_connor_01: Ok Thomas, despite there being what 2 weeks till the next prem game. If you’re that bothered, concede
@FPL_WadeWilson: Premier league entitlement at its finest. The FA Cup in its current format has always benefited lower league clubs and allowed them to make much needed money. Replays are a part of this and should remain regardless of what the premier league “elite” might think. It’s not that long since Brentford were one of those lower league sides themselves.
@oliviashley: awh you should’ve won then
@kumbdotcom: Poor Thomas Frank is unhappy about having to play an FA Cup replay. Perhaps he won’t be so keen to dismiss these potential money-spinning ties for non/lower league teams if Brentford (who, let’s not forget, play just 38 league games per season) are sent back to where they’ve spent the vast majority of their history at the end of the season.
@dtu_whu: Here’s a tip. Try winning against the 10 men you played against for 80 minutes
@Chrissyrunner: The irony, coming from the manager of Brentford who won League 2 in 2008-09. Replays are huge for the finances of the lower league sides. Replays make fans dream and bring much needed revenue. Don’t ever scrap FA Replays #facup
@MelbourneWolf: The FA Cup has been devalued enough by the big clubs. If a small club can get a draw against a bigger club then they deserve the right to a replay in front if their own fans. He should see the bigger picture not just from his own selfish perspective #gloryoftheFAcup
@fslconsult: It isn’t all that long ago that Brentford would’ve given anything to hold a Liverpool or a Man Utd to a draw at home to get that big replay. And now their manager wants to deprive those down the food chain of the same. I hope they go down
@ReservoirJogs: How soon they forget eh ? Not so long ago they were a club in the lower reaches probably praying for a plumb tie … sad 😔
@Iukeoafc: Is he taking the piss? 13 years ago they were in league two and a replay against a big team would’ve meant the world to them
@sambingham2708: Few years ago they played in a hell hole of a ground and were stuck in the lower levels of English football. Had a couple of years in the prem and they’ve gone massive time. Never get to big, remember where you came from. Muppet 👍🏻
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