Champions League structure for Cup

[GUBRATS]

Change it to a 9s it'll be maooooosive 

 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

3 minutes ago, GUBRATS said:

So not the actual Challenge Cup then ?

 

Yes, it’s still the Challenge Cup. When was the last Lower League Team to a) get to a Final? or b) win the Final? Most lower league sides are part-time and the Challenge Cup just isn’t for them, IMO. Most lower league sides are out early doors anyway and playing professional clubs is nothing more than a dull formality that puts the players body’s on the line and the duty of care should be taken into consideration. 

By having two separate competitions, you get two more evenly spread competitions, where most sides competing in each competition have a more realistic chance of competing and playing clubs of a similar standing and stature, whilst giving four lots of fans’ days out and giving players from a wider area opportunity to play in a Final at Wembley. 

[Tommygilf]

43 minutes ago, fearnowt said:

This year, we were knocked out of the Challenge Cup in the 4th round at Thatto Heath. It's obviously a result we want to forget.

For Thatto Heath however, it was a huge occasion and achievement. A bigger than average crowd, the challenge cup on display, the Mayor of St Helens in her chain of office watching from the clubhouse balcony, and the game watched live by thousands on television (BBC red button I think).

Thatto Heath didn't just beat a League 1 team, they beat a league 1 team in the 4th round of the Challenge Cup. That makes it special.

There's no harm in discussing ideas on how to increase the attendance at the final, or making the competition more interesting, but I think that any idea that denies the Thatto Heath's of this world their well earned special moment, is a bad idea.

Totally agree.

Hence why in my preferred group stage model the current rounds 1-5 are effectively preseason till they reduce down to 4 who would compete with 12 SL teams in the group stages. The rest who have been knocked out go into a simultaneous draw for the 1895 cup. For the vast majority of the clubs competing almost nothing changes in terms of opportunity for a day in the sun. 

 

[GUBRATS]

8 minutes ago, Oliver Clothesoff said:

Yes, it’s still the Challenge Cup. When was the last Lower League Team to a) get to a Final? or b) win the Final? Most lower league sides are part-time and the Challenge Cup just isn’t for them, IMO. Most lower league sides are out early doors anyway and playing professional clubs is nothing more than a dull formality that puts the players body’s on the line and the duty of care should be taken into consideration. 

By having two separate competitions, you get two more evenly spread competitions, where most sides competing in each competition have a more realistic chance of competing and playing clubs of a similar standing and stature, whilst giving four lots of fans’ days out and giving players from a wider area opportunity to play in a Final at Wembley. 

So not the Challenge Cup then ?

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Just now, GUBRATS said:

So not the Challenge Cup then ?

No, the [Sponsors Name] Challenge Cup.