Football

[Harvester]

Wolves 1-4 Man U
The misery continues but on the positive side we SCORED!!!!!

It’s beginning to look like Derby’s wretched points record is in danger!

 

[SJL2020]

The FA Cup 3rd Round draw has thrown up Manchester City vs Exeter City.

This will be the first time the two clubs have ever played each other in a competitive fixture.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Wolves 1-4 Man U
The misery continues but on the positive side we SCORED!!!!!

I genuinely fear we’re going to see the first Premier League season where a club doesn’t win a league game all season.

 

[Peeled Apples]

It’s beginning to look like Derby’s wretched points record is in danger!

It’s in severe danger!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2025 ==

I genuinely fear we’re going to see the first Premier League season where a club doesn’t win a league game all season.

It’s very possible the team is truly awful, it’s been coming for a few years one by one all the quality players sold off and replaced by players that simply aren’t good enough. I understand that players want to move on to bigger clubs but the likes of Palace, Bournemouth etc. manage to find quality players to replace them with whereas we recruit useless players, the fact that our Chairman called the summer a 9 out of 10 transfer window sums up the incompetence at the club.

 

[QSK19]

It’s in severe danger!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2025 ==


It’s very possible the team is truly awful, it’s been coming for a few years one by one all the quality players sold off and replaced by players that simply aren’t good enough. I understand that players want to move on to bigger clubs but the likes of Palace, Bournemouth etc. manage to find quality players to replace them with whereas we recruit useless players, the fact that our Chairman called the summer a 9 out of 10 transfer window sums up the incompetence at the club.

I see many parallels with my club Montpellier last season in Ligue 1. We ended up rock bottom and it was a thoroughly wretched, detestable season.

We’re now in Ligue 2, and, even though we’re not firing on all cylinders, it’s allowed us a chance to regroup, get back our mojo, stabilise and not approach every game like it’ll end up being an inevitable loss.

Whilst we didn’t finish with no wins, I think Wolves will need to do the same as us.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2025 ==

The FA Cup 3rd Round draw has thrown up Manchester City vs Exeter City.

This will be the first time the two clubs have ever played each other in a competitive fixture.

Makes me think back to when Exeter held Man Utd to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in 2005. Maybe the same will happen against City!

 

[Haywain]

Makes me think back to when Exeter held Man Utd to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in 2005. Maybe the same will happen against City!

Sadly, if they did they wouldn’t be rewarded with a money spinning replay this time.

 

[QSK19]

Sadly, if they did they wouldn’t be rewarded with a money spinning replay this time.

Very true! Unbelievable that their draw in Manchester was 20 years ago though!

 

[Ted633]

It’s in severe danger!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2025 ==


It’s very possible the team is truly awful, it’s been coming for a few years one by one all the quality players sold off and replaced by players that simply aren’t good enough. I understand that players want to move on to bigger clubs but the likes of Palace, Bournemouth etc. manage to find quality players to replace them with whereas we recruit useless players, the fact that our Chairman called the summer a 9 out of 10 transfer window sums up the incompetence at the club.

You haven’t played West Ham in the league yet (although you did beat us in the cup)
We‘re always good for giving teams 3 points when they really need it. Mark 3rd January in your calendar!

 

[Peeled Apples]

You haven’t played West Ham in the league yet (although you did beat us in the cup)
We‘re always good for giving teams 3 points when they really need it. Mark 3rd January in your calendar!

That’s usually our specialty, Huddersfield three wins all season two against us!

 

[d9009alycidon]

Sadly another club set to call in the administrators

Hamilton Accies set for administration as club fights for survival - Daily Record https://share.google/Axye7mVrniABXvS6I

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Sadly another club set to call in the administrators

Hamilton Accies set for administration as club fights for survival - Daily Record

If so, reckon that means an immediate 15 point deduction applied which would place Hamilton Accies bottom of SPFL League One.

(Assuming they don't fold, and their playing record is expunged).

 

[Haywain]

Sadly another club set to call in the administrators

Hamilton Accies set for administration as club fights for survival - Daily Record https://share.google/Axye7mVrniABXvS6I

Administration costs serious money, so I’m not sure where that would be coming from. They’ve got nothing to flog and if they had a benefactor they wouldn’t be in this mess. I fear they may fold.

 

[Peeled Apples]

Sadly another club set to call in the administrators

Hamilton Accies set for administration as club fights for survival - Daily Record https://share.google/Axye7mVrniABXvS6I

Terrible when this sort of thing happens. I imagine the ground situation hasn't helped.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sadly another club set to call in the administrators

Hamilton Accies set for administration as club fights for survival - Daily Record https://share.google/Axye7mVrniABXvS6I

After many years of clubs' participation in the Scottish League with not many clubs leaving the fold (Third Lanark always springs to mind as one of the unfortunate ones), there has been annual opportunities for the better non-league clubs to gain entry by means of end of season play-offs to the lowest division. One only has to see how many of those former non-league clubs are now regular features of the Scottish League.

One club, East Stirlingshire which was founded in 1881, eventually became one of the casualties of the play-off system and were relegated to the Lowland League. They are having a very poor season this year, being currently in bottom place and after playing 20 league matches, have won 2, drawn 2, lost 16.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

After many years of clubs' participation in the Scottish League with not many clubs leaving the fold (Third Lanark always springs to mind as one of the unfortunate ones), there has been annual opportunities for the better non-league clubs to gain entry by means of end of season play-offs to the lowest division. One only has to see how many of those former non-league clubs are now regular features of the Scottish League.

Airdrieonians and Gretna (after a very short Scottish League history) being others who 'left the fold' although with Clydebank on the brink investors in Airdrie bought that club and moved Clydebank to Airdrie and changed the name (shades of Wimbledon and MK Dons), to retain league football in that town, initially as Airdrie United, and with the passage of time subsequently permitted to revive the Airdrieonians name.
New clubs in Clydebank and Gretna now operate in the Lowland League, the latter on the original ground.

And lets not forget Rangers who went bust in 2012 and the authorities - not without some resistance - shoe horned the newly formed 'Rangers' straight into the fourth tier.

Hamilton have been in a mess for several years now which in many ways is a shame as they did have a very productive youth academy from which players were into the first team in Scotland Premier League at very young ages, subsequently progressing to greater things and International recognition such as James McCarthy, James McArthur and, more recently Lewis Ferguson now a regular in the Scotland midfield, and who captained Bologna to their Italian Cup win. .

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Barrow have sacked their manager. Not surprisingly as their recent league results have been very poor.

 

[Haywain]

And lets not forget Rangers who went bust in 2012 and the authorities - not without some resistance - shoe horned the newly formed 'Rangers' straight into the fourth tier.

I'm no fan of Rangers but they weren't "shoe horned" in as there was no promotion and relegation at the bottom of the SFL at that time. They obtained a place in the fourth tier in the only way possible, by being elected.

 

[150249]

Sadly, if they did they wouldn’t be rewarded with a money spinning replay this time.

Unfortunately not but it is still massive for Exeter. For a club in financial difficulties, £400,000+ will do us a lot of good.

 

[Haywain]

Unfortunately not but it is still massive for Exeter. For a club in financial difficulties, £400,000+ will do us a lot of good.

I really hope it does do that well for you.

 

[Peeled Apples]

Sadly, if they did they wouldn’t be rewarded with a money spinning replay this time.

A possible lifeline for lower league clubs sadly sacrificed to appease the greedy.

 

[Cross City]

A possible lifeline for lower league clubs sadly sacrificed to appease the greedy.

It's a double edge sword.

I believe people jump to the lazy conclusion of 'it's just to satisfy the PL teams' too easily and without much thought.

Should a lower league team now play well against one from a higher division and draw with them after 90 minutes, one might argue that going to extra time and penalties means they have by far a greater chance of winning the tie than they would if the game had gone to a replay. It's highly unlikely the higher placed team would play badly enough twice not not beat the team from a lower division.

I'd like to see some numbers somewhere, but I would bet that there have been more lower league teams beating higher placed ones since matched have moved to a single leg.

Yes, the money for a replay on TV at a big ground would be there, but I bet that money from progressing in the competition (and a higher likelihood of drawing a bigger team in later rounds) evens it out nicely.

On balance I am in favour of replays being scrapped.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It's a double edge sword.

I believe people jump to the lazy conclusion of 'it's just to satisfy the PL teams' too easily and without much thought.

Should a lower league team now play well against one from a higher division and draw with them after 90 minutes, one might argue that going to extra time and penalties means they have by far a greater chance of winning the tie than they would if the game had gone to a replay. It's highly unlikely the higher placed team would play badly enough twice not not beat the team from a lower division.

I'd like to see some numbers somewhere, but I would bet that there have been more lower league teams beating higher placed ones since matched have moved to a single leg.

On balance I am in favour of replays being scrapped.

Realistically, for the vast majority of lower league teams playing a premier league team, its about money and money alone.

A home replay effectively gets the income that a winning team would get in the next round with a home draw, but less than with an away draw

An away replay gets the income of an away draw in the next round, and beats the income from a home replay

Obviously there is prize money each round as well, and TV revenue but realistically any lower league team at home to a premier league team would be picked for TV regardless of first match or replay, or round of the competition

And as for the data, there's probably not enough data to make any meaningful analysis

 

[Cross City]

Realistically, for the vast majority of lower league teams playing a premier league team, its about money and money alone.

A home replay effectively gets the income that a winning team would get in the next round with a home draw, but less than with an away draw

An away replay gets the income of an away draw in the next round, and beats the income from a home replay

Obviously there is prize money each round as well, and TV revenue but realistically any lower league team at home to a premier league team would be picked for TV regardless of first match or replay, or round of the competition

And as for the data, there's probably not enough data to make any meaningful analysis

I disagree that an EFL team drawing a PL team will generate enough money to make a meaningful difference. These are not clubs with small coffers anymore, even in League 2. The Championship is the 5th biggest league in Europe and League One is the biggest 3rd division in the world.

Yeah OK fair enough it would make a difference to a non-league team but how many of them get through to the 3rd round and draw a PL team anyway?

This year it was 3 clubs in the 3rd round; 2 of those are at home (1 to a PL club) so not much revenue increase, and the other 1 is away to a League 2 side so there'll be little interest there.

 

[Haywain]

Should a lower league team now play well against one from a higher division and draw with them after 90 minutes, one might argue that going to extra time and penalties means they have by far a greater chance of winning the tie than they would if the game had gone to a replay.

I think that might be true if we, sensibly, did away with extra time and went straight to penalties but the greater strength and fitness of teams in the higher echelons usually plays out in the end.

I disagree that an EFL team drawing a PL team will generate enough money to make a meaningful difference. These are not clubs with small coffers anymore, even in League 2. The Championship is the 5th biggest league in Europe and League One is the biggest 3rd division in the world.

So, you don't think an few hundred grand would make much difference to Exeter? This is a club that is having to cut staff and other costs and doesn't have a sugar daddy.

 

[150249]

I disagree that an EFL team drawing a PL team will generate enough money to make a meaningful difference. These are not clubs with small coffers anymore, even in League 2. The Championship is the 5th biggest league in Europe and League One is the biggest 3rd division in the world.

Yeah OK fair enough it would make a difference to a non-league team but how many of them get through to the 3rd round and draw a PL team anyway?

This year it was 3 clubs in the 3rd round; 2 of those are at home (1 to a PL club) so not much revenue increase, and the other 1 is away to a League 2 side so there'll be little interest there.

I'd be interested to know who you support.

As an Exeter fan myself, I disagree with that. When we drew Manchester United in 2005 and pushed them for a replay, we generated over £800,000 which pretty much saved the club from folding. Admittedly, we won't make as much this time round, mainly owing to the lack of a replay, but at the same time we aren't in quite as much trouble as we were 21 years ago and £400,000 - £600,000 could very much make a massive difference.

I know that £400,000 isn't as much as it was two decades ago but my point still stands.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2025 ==

Should a lower league team now play well against one from a higher division and draw with them after 90 minutes, one might argue that going to extra time and penalties means they have by far a greater chance of winning the tie than they would if the game had gone to a replay. It's highly unlikely the higher placed team would play badly enough twice not not beat the team from a lower division.

If the lower League team are playing away from home and push the Premier League club to a draw, the home crowd is likely to encourage the players and create more of a hostile atmosphere.

Premier League clubs have players with a lot more quality to come off the bench and players with better endurance than lower league clubs so arguably two 90 minute legs would be more ideal. In the EFL Cup, ties go straight to a penalty shootout in the earlier rounds. I'm not saying I'd be in favour of this but it would be much more favourable to lower league teams as an alternative.

 

[Cross City]

So, you don't think an few hundred grand would make much difference to Exeter? This is a club that is having to cut staff and other costs and doesn't have a sugar daddy.

You've picked the one club that's in obvious financial trouble.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2025 ==

As an Exeter fan myself, I disagree with that. When we drew Manchester United in 2005 and pushed them for a replay, we generated over £800,000 which pretty much saved the club from folding.

20 years ago, football is a very different sport and business now.

If the lower League team are playing away from home and push the Premier League club to a draw, the home crowd is likely to encourage the players and create more of a hostile atmosphere.

The crowd, espeically a smaller one at a League 1/2 team, isn't going to be enough to make a PL tema play badly enough twice.

I'd be interested to know when the last time (before they were scrapped) a team from League 1 or below beat a PL team in a replay. I bet it was years.

Premier League clubs have players with a lot more quality to come off the bench and players with better endurance than lower league clubs so arguably two 90 minute legs would be more ideal. In the EFL Cup, ties go straight to a penalty shootout in the earlier rounds. I'm not saying I'd be in favour of this but it would be much more favourable to lower league teams as an alternative.

Agreed, I'd also scrap extra time as well as replays. They're usually very defensive cagey affairs and most of the time results in a shootout anyway.

 

[Haywain]

You've picked the one club that's in obvious financial trouble.

Because that is the club under discussion (see post #36,275 above). Why would we suddenly be discussing the impact on another club?

 

[Peeled Apples]

It's a double edge sword.

I believe people jump to the lazy conclusion of 'it's just to satisfy the PL teams' too easily and without much thought.

Replays were scrapped due to fixture congestion caused by the expansion of UEFA competitions one of the reasons for that was to stave off the Super League proposals which means it’s all about satisfying PL teams.

 

[DarloRich]

Yes, the money for a replay on TV at a big ground would be there, but I bet that money from progressing in the competition (and a higher likelihood of drawing a bigger team in later rounds) evens it out nicely.

it absolutely does not. Have you looked at the prize find for early round FA cup ties? The scrapping of replays was to appease the PL clubs. Nothing more. It does small clubs out of money but that doesn't matter because PL.

I'd be interested to know when the last time (before they were scrapped) a team from League 1 or below beat a PL team in a replay. I bet it was years.

it isn't about winning for small clubs, really - it is about money that will keep a club going. A TV game is like the promised land! As a fan you go for a good day out, a bit of a laugh, a nice visit to a good ground and some stories for 25 years down the line. You always hope you might "do a hereford" but you certainly don't go expecting to win!

I know that £400,000 isn't as much as it was two decades ago but my point still stands.

that kind of money is 2 or 3 seasons worth of funding for a small team. The PL always miss that..........

( we are c.£100k per year to fund our playing staff - that's £100k directly out of fans pockets. No American sugar daddies for us!)

 

[SuspectUsual]

Replays were scrapped due to fixture congestion caused by the expansion of UEFA competitions one of the reasons for that was to stave off the Super League proposals which means it’s all about satisfying six or seven of the PL teams.

Corrected that for you