BBC going down the ratings route rather than down the money-for-smaller-clubs route. Mind you they could have done both by broadcasting Liverpool v Newport / Plymouth.
Slightly surprised the BBC have passed on a 2nd round replay next week - or indeed 2nd round tie, with Stourbridge vs Northampton.
I thought they could have one, and BTSport have two?
It's irritating. During Football Focus and the build up to the third round, both BBC Sport and BT Sport, will be chirping up like a stuck record (kids - ask your parents) about 'the romance of the third round' and 'giant killing by the lower league teams' ect..ect.
So what do they mostly show? Popular ratings banker teams, and the BBC put on an all premiership tie on the Friday evening..
And I'm not seeing where BT lost a game last season. They did indeed only have three matches in the Third Round last season, plus two replays.
Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa
Manchester United v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Scunthorpe United
Bristol City v West Bromwich Albion (Replay)
Liverpool v Exeter City (Replay)
The BBC's picks were:
Exeter City v Liverpool
Oxford United v Swansea City (BBC Wales)
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur (Replay)
I don't think the BBC have ever shown 1st or 2nd round replays.
BT may have lost a game with the 6th round (QF) replay last year, where the BBC showed the only replay, although BT showed the only replay in the round before.
It was a really dull draw for "magic of the Cup" ties - hardly any Small Club v Big Club ties. It'd be insulting to call Preston a small club, but am really surprised the BBC didn't go for Preston v Arsenal, what with Mark Lawrenson's Preston links. Slightly surprised Bolton v Palace wasn't picked, too. But beyond that, slim pickings.
(Sutton v AFC Wimbledon would have been the perfect TV 2nd round tie, mind, considering AFC Wimbledon played their first game there.)
Talking of Wimbledon - they're playing MK Dons in the league for the first time this weekend. Would've thought that was a nailed on TV match - even for League One.... but hey.
I don't think the BBC have ever shown 1st or 2nd round replays.
No, they haven't. The only time first and second round replays have been on terrestrial TV was in 2009/10 when ITV had the exclusive rights for one season after Setanta went bust. There have occasionally been highlights shows but everything else has been on pay TV. Of course it wasn't until 2001 any first and second round ties were live on TV at all.
Talking of Wimbledon - they're playing MK Dons in the league for the first time this weekend. Would've thought that was a nailed on TV match - even for League One.... but hey.
They've already shown Wimbedon vs Franchise in the FA Cup, and they've played each other in the Cups a couple of times. I know this is a league match, but there's not much riding on it. Wimbledon fans just don't like to think about Franchise so won't be up for any trash talking or anything, Franchise fans don't care.
Talking of Wimbledon - they're playing MK Dons in the league for the first time this weekend. Would've thought that was a nailed on TV match - even for League One.... but hey.
They've already shown Wimbedon vs Franchise in the FA Cup, and they've played each other in the Cups a couple of times. I know this is a league match, but there's not much riding on it. Wimbledon fans just don't like to think about Franchise so won't be up for any trash talking or anything, Franchise fans don't care.
