It'd be nice to think that rather than give one team a bye, they might allow some kind of lucky loser from the final round of qualifying to come through and make up the numbers. Can't see it happening, though.
To be fair they should, as a home game is a valuable source of income for teams, so a bye isnt great.It'd be nice to think that rather than give one team a bye, they might allow some kind of lucky loser from the final round of qualifying to come through and make up the numbers. Can't see it happening, though.
Problem would be that there will be some 4th round qualifying games that will go to a replay so all the winners and losers from that round will not be crystal clear when the draw is made on 21/10 unless every game ends without a draw on Sat 19/10.They could do a draw just before the main one from all the losers from the previous round- just pick out one team. Shouldn't be too hard to organise i would have thought.
Darlington re-entered the draw as lucky loser after we beat them in the 2nd round. They were then drawn away to Aston Villa, while we went to Walsall. I remember thinking we had been robbed of a day out, no expectation of getting to the quarter final of course.Back in 2000, Darlington were put back in the hat as a “lucky loser” to make up for Man Utd abstaining. We subsequently were drawn against them on our way to the quarter final. Maybe they’ll follow that precedent and draw a lucky loser this year rather than give a bye?
Darlington re-entered the draw as lucky loser after we beat them in the 2nd round. They were then drawn away to Aston Villa, while we went to Walsall. I remember thinking we had been robbed of a day out, no expectation of getting to the quarter final of course.
I forgot how decent the prize money is in the early rounds. Important for the budget that we go on a good run in this competition!Now confirmed by the FA - the last team drawn out of the hat on Monday will get a bye and the £36k prize money.
I shall probably watch Peterborough in the FA Cup tomorrow.