Do all the A-League teams really deserve to play in the Football Federation Australia Cup?
When APIA Leichhardt Tigers convincingly beat Melbourne Victory in Round of 16 last year, questions were raised over the privilege of glamour clubs, and the exemption of football superstars.
For example, did Victory really take the game seriously, and, why wasn’t Keisuke Honda playing?
The FFA Cup is something prestigious that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Just ask one of the several hundred entrants within Australia.
All ten A-League clubs enter the knockout competition during its Round of 32. The draw is an exciting event covered by mainstream media, which allows for David versus Goliath battles to ensure.
This news coverage is secretly envied by other codes, whose lower leagues are rarely advertised. It’s a free licence for football in Australia to influence sport at a grassroots level.
Craig Goodwin of Adelaide. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Semi-professional squads fill a remaining 22 spots. Some critics will argue that smaller teams have fought harder than their larger counterparts.
The A-League clubs are given an easier path to qualify. It’s as if they’ve been gifted a walker, and spoon-fed formula when the food has cooled.
Such is their entitlement.
In the future, what will happen when the A-League expands? The introduction of Western United FC will probably see the reduction of amateur clubs that qualify.
In total, 22 semi-professional sides will now drop to 21.
A more balanced approach would be capping the amount of A-League clubs that make the cut.
Or, a more dramatic proposal could see the final A-League round act as a FFA Cup qualifying stage. Granted, interest at the business end of the year would spike dramatically.
Suddenly the lower squads outside the top six would have something to play for. This would benefit the Central Coast Mariners, as crowds would return for one last hurrah before the regular season ends.
It would even put added pressure on successful coaches not to rest their players before finals football.
Managers such as Tony Popovic and Steve Corica would be torn between competing for conflicting silverware. This would only enhance the value and credibility of football.
No other sporting code in Australia can compete with the magic of the cup. For the growth of the A-League, especially in regional centres, it requires our support.
For sheer persistence, our smaller Member Federation Clubs deserve fairer eligibility into the FFA Cup.
Loïc A
Guest
If that's really an all-comers competition, that reminds me more of the Coupe de France than the FA Cup: the FA has specific competitions for their lower divisions whereas the FFF's is open to all clubs, provided they are ready to fight it out through the rounds. And, of course, the highest division the club is in the easiest is it.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Might already be a long season for NPL but a round robin first past the post for the NPL Champion could be a quasi-Championship forerunner. Still wonder if the NPL Champion playing FFA Cup winner would be worth a try as well.
Brisvegas
Guest
I think you'll find that the preliminary qualifying rounds of the FA Cup are regionalised. And it isn't open to any team in England; there are certain criteria you must meet.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Bear in mind that only if you were based in Cornwall and had to travel to Tyne and Weir would your traveling be anything like experienced here. Victoria is a bit more fortunate than most but in NSW even for an under 12 game in champion of champions it is quite feasible to be drawn away and having to drive between 9 and 12 hours!
Nemesis
Guest
The difference with Eng FA Cup is that any team from England can play any other team from the Preliminary Round. But with German DFB Pokal & FFA Cup the Preliminary rounds are based on State/regional cup competitions. In Victoria, we are now at the 4th Round (64 teams) with NPL clubs entering. Around 130 teams are involved in Victoria. But, these teams can only play other Victorian teams. In England, they'd be playing anyone from any part of the country. In Germany they also play within their States in the Prelim Rounds.
Waz
Roar Rookie
The NPL finals are a good thing but they need to sort them out. It’s like a dogs breakfast at the moment.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"This news coverage [FFA Cup] is secretly envied by other codes, whose lower leagues are rarely advertised. It’s a free licence for football in Australia to influence sport at a grassroots level." - The FFA Cup might get more attention, but don't forget the NPL finals either. It might not be as big, but it's still a good competition for promoting the grassroots. I think the NPL Finals deserve a bit more attention and coverage. It might be a good idea to promote the competition as the NPL Cup and broadcast it, or at least the final on FTA.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
That’s slightly more pre-programmed though whereas the English FA Cup is open to all comers to about 8 or 10 leagues below L2 - providing you are happy to play 6 qualifying rounds before round 1 proper. No seeding, just byes up to and including R3. However, I think the FFA Cup was more based on the English one due to the romantic notion and the famous games down the years, my personal favourites during my time in the uk being West Ham beating Arsenal in 1980, Ipswich beating Arsenal in 1978 and Southampton beating Man United in 1976. Mind you, its actually the early rounds that are the most fun like when Leatherhead took on Leicester or Hereford took on Newcastle and Malcolm McDonald although I recall George Best scoring 6 or 7 goals when facing Northampton in the early 70’s - plenty of others and now we are building a history of similar events right here.
Nemesis
Guest
"The FFA Cup is very much based on the English FA Cup" Actually, the FFA Cup has a fair bit more in common with the German Cup (DFB Pokal). DFB Pokal begins with Ro64. - 36 teams from Bundesliga 1 & 2 - Top 4 from Bund3 - 21 slots to regional cup winners (FFA Cup gives it to State Cup winners or Top 4 in State Cups, depending on the State) DFB has seeding with Bundesliga 1 & most of Bund2 seeded & can't play each other. The non-Bund teams always play at home Only from Ro16 does DFB Pokal become totally random draw.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Correct, all the things that follow sentence that should be avoided. (Doesn’t read that well)
Buddy
Roar Rookie
The FFA Cup is very much based on the English FA Cup and the chance for minnows to upset some of the big names on the road to a one off final. The single knock out game offers that opportunity and just about anyone can enter. It is true that in England, with television money and European competitions the bigger clubs often play reserves or back up players but invariably, their quality shines through. The difference here between an A League side in pre season mode and a battle hardened NPL side is not great and therefore makes the contest more interesting. I wouldn’t be changing the format until there are more teams that need accommodating. For those really interested, the later rounds receive a healthy coverage and it is fun to watch the games unfold.
Nemesis
Guest
"basic elements have to be in play – group stages" It's a knockout competition. We should never have Group Stages in the FFA Cup.
Franko
Guest
I think it runs at the perfect time as it is. A-League clubs are in pre-season and NPL clubs are in full flight, does a little bit to close the gap. FFA Cup, IMO is actually a real success story of the past couple of years.
Waz
Roar Rookie
It amazes me how many people who say they support the FFA Cup don’t actually understand the basic principles that make it a success. All the senior sides (HAL at the moment but Div 2 later) should qualify automatically for the R32. Once there’s too many senior sides qualification can move to R64. That’s how it works. Junior sides have to fight their way through a myriad of qualifying rounds to join the senior sides, that creates the magic of the cup. Whether HAL teams give a damn about the early rounds is debatable. Many are just back in to preseason when the R32 occurs so they’re not at full strength nor are all players fit to play (try the R32 in January and you’d see many NPL sides with the same problems). If you want the cup to be a success the basic elements have to be in play - group stages, seedings, League placing fir qualification, convoluted draws need to be avoided and let the “luck of the draw” do its job. P.S. attendance and viewing of the FFA Cup are poor - I doubt any code is envious. Secretly or otherwise.