[jambutty]

Originally Posted by mthead

Yes Sir Alex did field a weaker team but so did Steve Coppell,so no real excuse there,I also can't blame Sir Alex with the Champions league game against Lille on tuesday night,its just he could have done without the replay.As for neutral gronds for all cup ties this wouldn't work due to the police,it will be nearly impossible to make sure rival fans are not playing near each other e.g. Blacburn, Burnley. Preston, Blackpool.Man.Utd,Man.City etc etc.I just dont think it would work although in theory it does sound good.

Steve Coppell didn’t field a weaker team. He fielded the team that had got Reading that far as a reward for their efforts to date as he stated during an interview before the match began. It just happened not to be what some people would say was his stronger team. As it turned out his team selection was spot on, whereas Ferguson’s was not and now he has a replay to contend with. What’s the betting that the Man U team for that match will be his ‘first’ team? I’ll also bet that Steve Coppell will play the eleven that played at Old Trafford.

With a one off cup-tie the chances are that Man U would have fielded their strongest team knowing that it was just a one off chance to win. By fielding a ‘weaker’ team he was not paying the FA cup the proper respect.

Wouldn’t work because of the police? I’m not too sure what you mean. Surely problems are there to be solved not encouraged to grow. The two teams would play at a neutral venue if that venue’s team was also had a match in that round and of course that team would be ‘away’ at some other neutral venue.

If Blackburn were due to play Preston the match could be held at Bolton, whilst Bolton playing say Hartlepools could play at one of the Yorkshire grounds and so on. If Bolton were out of the cup then a different venue would have to be selected. There is no problem for the semi-finals. You often get a semi-final at Old Trafford when Man U are out of the cup or Hillsborough or Birmingham etc.