Nuno Espirito Santo became the latest Premier League head coach to call for FA Cup replays to be scrapped, following Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Blackpool.
Nuno confirmed that Forest will reevaluate plans they had made for a training camp at the England training base at St George’s Park in the next few days, while they instead prepare for a trip to Bloomfield Road for a replay.
That match is likely to take place on Tuesday January 16 and will add to a schedule that the Forest head coach believes is demanding enough already.
“It is a reality, everybody is aware there is a big congestion of games, fixtures are every day, it is something we have to look at,” said Nuno.
“If you ask me personally I think it should be finished on the day, extra-time, penalties, and allow the players to have a little bit more time to recover.
“Premier League teams are suffering with that, you know the issues with injuries and one of the things is the amount of fixtures. Now the best thing is for team is now to start preparing for the replay.”
Forest had planned to spend three days at St George’s before having a few days off, ahead of what they anticipated would be their next game, at Brentford on Saturday January 20.
“We have to reorganise that. Now best for the team is to start preparing for the second leg. The priority is what’s best for the team is to have a small break and to start preparing for the replay,” said Nuno, who saw goals from Nico Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White get his side back into the tie, after Jordan Gabriel and Albie Morgan had put Blackpool 2-0 ahead with goals in the 25th and 27th minutes.
“It changes the plan. Now we have to reorganise and we won’t get a break because now the priority is the replay.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also voiced his concerns about the need for replays at this stage of the competition.
Unsurprisingly Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley had a different point of view, as he contemplated a home tie against Premier League opposition.
“I can’t go against Jurgen Klopp, he’s the boss!” said the former Liverpool academy manager. “But I can’t wait, replay at Bloomfield Road…
“I don’t think they should be scrapped at all. It is so important for football in general, the level now between the Premier League and the rest is getting wider and wider, it is making it harder to cause an upset.
“It is such an achievement to cause an upset. So if you get a second chance to do it we’d rip your hand off for that. We are delighted we have got a replay, yeah it’s a busy schedule, but so what, get on with it.
“This was our 35th game of the season, the Premier League teams haven’t played that. They get international breaks, time off, we don’t. I remember going when there were third games and fourth games, brilliant.
“Get on with it, look at the resources, the finance, the staffing, we don’t have that. It’s tough, get on with it, let’s play football.”
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