Whole Game Solution scrapped by EFL

[DarkSithLord]

http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/efl-whole-game-solution-statement-3418640.aspx

Due to the FA no longer being prepared to reschedule FA Cup matches. Fantastic news for Non league.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Just read that, great news though you do worry that the fact it fell on non-cooperation from the FA (ETA rather than seeing the error of their own ways) means the EFL might come back with something equally shit in the future.

 

[Bendubz]

only one reaction from me:

 

[Chris FGR]

Just read that, great news though you do worry that the fact it fell on non-cooperation from the FA (ETA rather than seeing the error of their own ways) means the EFL might come back with something equally shit in the future.

They almost certainly will. This is the EFL trying to put pressure on the FA. Twats.

Maybe they'll have a look at the Checkatrade Trophy next, that's been another monumental clusterfuck from Harvey and co.

 

[Sparrow]

All the underachieving BELTs won't like this. For some it was their only way back.

 

[Boz]

I'm not really convinced their plans would have been a major threat to the non-league set-up. Financially playing cup-ties in midweek was only likely to reduce income if you had a lucrative game against an opponent the other end of the country. While Rovers might have been one of the 6 to make up the 5th division, that was never guaranteed, so not bitter about that

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Bit of a shame it would have been nice to see barrow dover and gateshead in the league if it finished how it stands today

 

[Luke Imp]

FA Cup mid-week would have been a stupid idea.

They need to sack that Check-a-trophy thing off.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Never has a scheme been so misnamed.

 

[EnglishRed]

All the underachieving BELTs won't like this. For some it was their only way back.

I'm very upset. They would have decided league placing on average attendance, as is only right and proper.

 

[Bendubz]

I'm very upset. They would have decided league placing on average attendance, as is only right and proper.

Nah, they wouldn't do that, the EFL hates plastic pitches

 

[Chris FGR]

Nah, they wouldn't do that, the EFL hates plastic pitches

Would you tear your pitch up if it came to it?

 

[Bendubz]

Would you tear your pitch up if it came to it?

Personally I wouldn't, with the money it makes/saves and the cost of ripping it up and replacing with grass, I'd rather stay down.

 

[Paddy]

They need to sack that Check-a-trophy thing off.

Not at all. The FA Trophy is fine as it is. If anything make it optional or buy-out for the teams that think they are too big for it.

-edit-

On closer inspection you are referring to the EFL Trophy & I'm referring to the build-a-bear Trophy or whatever it is sponsored by. Nevermind.

 

[Bendubz]

Not at all. The FA Trophy is fine as it is. If anything make it optional or buy-out for the teams that think they are too big for it.

He means the FL trophy, though I'd still disagree, it just needs redesigning sans academy sides. What I'd do is:

Step 1 - Bin off the League Cup. The PL clubs don't care for it, the Championship clubs can't win it (and don't care for it), it diverts attention away from the league at a time when it takes too much of a back seat as it is because of all the international breaks, and by getting rid of it the FA Cup becomes the only domestic cup competition for PL sides making it gain back some of the magic it's lost over the years.
Step 2 - Get the academy sides out of the FL trophy. If you want to promote academy sides, great, but give them their own competition, don't devalue a secondary competition, why do you think everyone is boycotting it this year?
Step 3 - Make the FL trophy have ALL FL teams (ie increase to include Championship clubs). It does what it says on the tin then, it makes a hell of a lot more sense than having academy sides, it legitimises the trophy as a secondary cup competition, it adds a lot of big name teams to the tournament without adding anyone massive who would just overpower all the usual sides.
Step 4 - Reorganise the tournament structure. Whilst a novel idea, I don't think the group stage really works for a domestic competition, and it would need a restructure anyway with a different number of teams competing. An easy way to structure it would be -
- Round 1 = 16 sides, 9th-21st in last year's League 2 + THREE promoted sides (why not take out 2 birds with one stone), unregionalised
- Round 2 = 64 sides, 8 winners of Round 1 + 56 clubs yet to compete, north/south regionalisation, 12 championship in each half but league 1 and remaining league 2 sides combined with 20 north, 20 south, follow original format from here.


By doing this you remove fixture congestion for all (especially PL clubs which the FA will love), you get a proper secondary cup competition akin to the FA Trophy and the Europa League (though more so when it was still the UEFA Cup), you add a few glamour ties to the FL trophy, it does what it says on the tin and includes all FL clubs, you remove the reason for the boycotts, and you bring back some of the magic of the FA Cup.