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Unfortunately these days we'd play our academy/reserves and put 100 on them. It's not the same game as it was back then. Full time pros vs amateurs isn't going to be a contest.
Definitely. In the age of a full time top division if you want to avoid a stupid first round proper then you end up with a very short comp that gradually gets devalued. But it's worth a try bringing back the early rounds IMO.nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 6:10 amHas it not been that way for a while?Mike wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 6:08 pm Does this mean we're in a round earlier? It probably a nice idea for the lower leagues, but another game in the schedule is tricky to justify. The CC is a bit weird at the moment, just two matches and then you're in the semi, sometimes that's the only hard game before you're at wembley. It doesn't seem much of a challenge some years.
I am not sure what it is going to achieve though because the gap in quality is so big already. The only way you could revamp it would be to create group stages that lead to knockouts (like they do in the Champions League in football).Mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:08 pmDefinitely. In the age of a full time top division if you want to avoid a stupid first round proper then you end up with a very short comp that gradually gets devalued. But it's worth a try bringing back the early rounds IMO.nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 6:10 amHas it not been that way for a while?Mike wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 6:08 pm Does this mean we're in a round earlier? It probably a nice idea for the lower leagues, but another game in the schedule is tricky to justify. The CC is a bit weird at the moment, just two matches and then you're in the semi, sometimes that's the only hard game before you're at wembley. It doesn't seem much of a challenge some years.
To really revamp the comp, you need more teams that you don't usually play that have a realistic chance of beating you. I.e. get the Aussies in it!
Round robins are just more of the same matches we already have too many off IMO. Maybe you'd have to count some matches for the league and the cup to avoid excessive fixtures. It's not a solvable problem until the game has more professional clubs IMO.nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:30 pmI am not sure what it is going to achieve though because the gap in quality is so big already. The only way you could revamp it would be to create group stages that lead to knockouts (like they do in the Champions League in football).Mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:08 pmDefinitely. In the age of a full time top division if you want to avoid a stupid first round proper then you end up with a very short comp that gradually gets devalued. But it's worth a try bringing back the early rounds IMO.
To really revamp the comp, you need more teams that you don't usually play that have a realistic chance of beating you. I.e. get the Aussies in it!
How often has a Championship team got to the final or semi final in the last 10 years?
How often has a League one team got to the quarters or semi in the last 10 years?
I agree in your points and frankly this is why the comp is doomed there’s very little chance any championship side would get to the semi final let alone the final so it’s just more of the same like putting lipstick on a pig it’s still a pig at the end of the day and the result of these changes are minimal at best because the gulf is so big between full and part time.nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:30 pmI am not sure what it is going to achieve though because the gap in quality is so big already. The only way you could revamp it would be to create group stages that lead to knockouts (like they do in the Champions League in football).Mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:08 pmDefinitely. In the age of a full time top division if you want to avoid a stupid first round proper then you end up with a very short comp that gradually gets devalued. But it's worth a try bringing back the early rounds IMO.
To really revamp the comp, you need more teams that you don't usually play that have a realistic chance of beating you. I.e. get the Aussies in it!
How often has a Championship team got to the final or semi final in the last 10 years?
How often has a League one team got to the quarters or semi in the last 10 years?
Agreed.eaststandspy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 11:41 am Much better system being proposed IMO, it is a joke that super league teams only join in the last 16 it's a closed shop competition.
The proposal for me is spot on, all S/L teams playing away gives the lower league teams a massive incentive to see one of the top teams at their home ground which in turn is a nice reward for their loyal supporters who have stuck by them.
The flip side though is the Challenge Cup has lost it's appeal, it will never see the packed out Wembley stadium of yesteryear again. I think the R/L should seriously consider relocating to the north, maybe to somewhere like the new home of Everton on the Bramley dock. Food for thought.