Top-four seeding of Women's FA Cup would kill the magic and widen money gap

Proposals to seed top-four Women's Super League sides into the FA Cup could be a recipe for disaster, undermining the very essence of the competition.

The current system, which has been in place since 2015, ensures that all clubs have an equal chance of facing each other, regardless of league position. This leads to upsets and giant-killing acts, making each match a unique encounter between two teams from different tiers.

By seeding the top-four sides, the FA is effectively removing this element of unpredictability and replacing it with a more traditional knockout format, where matches are predetermined based on team strength. While this may generate additional revenue for broadcasters and commercial partners, it would undoubtedly kill the magic that makes the FA Cup so special – its ability to bring together teams from different levels of the pyramid.

Moreover, seeding the top-four sides would create an uneven playing field, with those clubs having a significantly higher chance of progressing to later rounds. This could lead to mismatches between these well-funded teams and lower-tier clubs, resulting in heavy defeats that are not only demoralizing but also potentially damaging for the smaller clubs' confidence and finances.

It's worth noting that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that giant-killing acts like those seen in men's football are becoming less common. According to data, no top-flight side has been knocked out by a club from below the second tier since 2019, yet mismatches such as Charlton's 10-0 victory over Swindon in this season's fourth round have become increasingly common.

Instead of enhancing the chances of top-four clubs, the FA should focus on filtering more money and support down the pyramid to help lift lower tiers. This would not only benefit local community facilities but also enhance the overall competitiveness and enjoyment of the competition.

The overwhelming reaction from fans has been one of anger and bafflement, with many feeling that seeding top-four clubs would go against the very ethos of the FA Cup. A spokesperson for the Manchester City Official Women's Supporters Club stated: "We feel it goes against the very ethos of what the FA Cup represents... Seeding the top four clubs would remove that magic and we feel strongly that it should not happen."

The Football Association must listen to fans' concerns and consider alternative solutions that prioritize fairness, competitiveness, and community engagement.

I gotta say , seeding top-four Women's Super League sides into the FA Cup could totally mess with the vibe of the competition, you know? It's all about those giant-killing acts and upsets, which is what makes it so special . By seeding them in, it's like taking the magic out of it, you feel me?

And let's be real, smaller clubs already have a tough time against top-four sides anyway . Adding an extra layer of advantage wouldn't help, would it? Plus, fans are totally right to be upset about this - it goes against what the FA Cup is all about .

Instead of giving more power to the rich clubs, the FA should focus on spreading some love down the pyramid, you know? More money and support for lower tiers could make a huge difference in terms of facilities, coaching, and overall competitiveness . That way, everyone has a fair shot at competing and enjoying themselves .

I think this change could be a bit of a bummer but at the same time I can see why they wanna make more cash . The FA Cup is such an iconic tournament and if it's not gonna be unpredictable then what's the point? On the other hand, seeding top-four teams would definitely create some huge mismatches and that wouldn't be good for the lower-tier clubs. They're already struggling to make ends meet so adding even more pressure on them could be devastating

I don't know man, this seeding thing just seems like a recipe for disaster ... I mean, think about all the awesome upsets we've seen in the FA Cup over the years - it's what makes it so special! But now they're trying to take that away? No way, dude. That would be like ruining the magic of the big game at Wembley .

And what's with all this talk about "giant-killing acts" not being as common anymore? I don't think that's true... I mean, remember when Charlton beat Swindon 10-0 or something crazy like that last season? That's what the FA Cup is all about - underdogs taking down the big boys.

But for real, if they're gonna mess with the format, can't they at least try to make it more fair for everyone? Like, give some extra support and money to the lower tiers so they can compete on a level playing field. That would be cool ...

man this seeding idea is a total buzzkill the whole point of the fa cup is to have those huge upsets where a lower tier team slays it against a top tier one its like they're trying to suck the magic outta it for some extra cash newsflash theres already enough money in football why fix what aint broke?

I don't get why the FA is even considering this . It's like they're trying to suck the life out of the competition. I mean, who needs a fair chance at competing against teams from different tiers? The whole point of the FA Cup is to see what happens when you pit teams that shouldn't be playing each other against each other . It's like watching a David vs Goliath story on steroids.

And yeah, sure, top-four clubs might get more revenue, but at what cost? The smaller clubs are already struggling as it is, and this would just give them an even bigger disadvantage . Plus, the whole magic thing that makes the FA Cup so special? That's exactly what they're trying to destroy .

The fans are right on this one - seeding top-four clubs would be a disaster . The FA should focus on giving more support down the pyramid, not just lining the pockets of the already-rich clubs . It's all about fairness and community engagement for me .

OMG I just had the craziest dream last night I was on a plane and there were puppies everywhere I don't know how they got there but it was so cute! Anyway back to this FA Cup thingy... I feel like seeding the top-four teams is gonna ruin the whole vibe of the tournament It's like, what if the underdog team wins? wouldn't that be awesome?! My friend's little sister plays in a lower league and she always says it's more fun to play against those teams because you never know what's gonna happen Does anyone else think this is gonna make the FA Cup less exciting?

I'm really worried about this proposal, it's gonna suck the life outta the FA Cup . I mean, think about it, if you seed the top-four teams, they're basically getting a free pass to the next round. It's not fair to the smaller clubs who are still fighting hard to make it in. And let's be real, those giant-killing acts are what make the FA Cup so exciting! Who wants to watch Manchester City vs Chelsea when you can watch a 10th place team pull off an upset? It's all about keeping things fresh and unpredictable.

I also think this is a money grab for the broadcasters. They're gonna love having more guaranteed wins, but what about the fans who want to see real matches? This would just make it feel like a chore to watch . And don't even get me started on the financial implications. Smaller clubs already struggle to make ends meet, this is just gonna widen the gap even further .

I hope the FA listens to all the angry fans and does something else with their money . Let's keep the magic of the FA Cup alive! ️

omg u no wot? seeding top 4 WSL sides into FA Cup r gonna be a total game changer its all bout the magic of upsets & giant killings but honestly who needs that drama when u can just have a straight knockout format? like, i get it revenue is key but thats not the point of FA Cup imo the point is to bring together teams from diff levels & let them play each other on their merits. seeding top 4 would make it all too predictable plus its gonna be super unfair to lower tier clubs they'll just get destroyed so yeah fa should focus on filtering more cash down the pyramid 2 help lift those poor teams

I'm telling you, this is just another move by the powers that be to control the narrative . They're trying to suck the life out of the FA Cup, which has always been about upsets and surprises. By seeding top-four teams, they'll be creating a predictable, formulaic competition that's more about broadcasting rights than community spirit . And don't even get me started on the uneven playing field – it's like they're pitting David against Goliath all over again . Let's not forget, fans have spoken out loud and clear about their concerns, so why aren't we hearing from the FA? It's just more evidence that they're hiding something behind this 'progressive' plan .

I mean, can you believe this?! They're gonna mess with the FA Cup tradition just for more money ? It's all about the benjamins, right? Newsflash: it won't be good for the smaller clubs or the fans. They love the upsets and the drama that comes with it – it's what makes the competition so special ! If they seed the top-four teams, it'll just be a bunch of predictable matches with huge scorelines. Where's the fun in that?

The idea of seeding top-four Women's Super League sides into the FA Cup is a total disaster waiting to happen . It's all about the benjamins for the broadcasters and sponsors but what about the actual fans who make the competition special? The magic of giant-killing acts will be gone and all we'll get is a bunch of mismatches where top clubs steamroll lower-tier teams 10-0 like Charlton did to Swindon this season . It's just not fair to the smaller clubs and it'll take away from the whole competitive spirit of the tournament .

I get why they wanna inject more money into the league, but seeding top-four teams into the FA Cup just feels like a cash grab . I mean, what's the point of even having an FA Cup if it's gonna be all about the big clubs? It'd kill the excitement of giant-killing acts and make the whole thing feel predictable. And yeah, you're right that there are still plenty of upsets happening in the men's game too ... but for me, that's part of what makes the FA Cup so special.

I also think it's a bit unfair to smaller clubs if top-four teams get seeded in. You've gotta make sure they're playing on an even level field or it just becomes a joke . The FA should be looking at ways to get more support down to the lower tiers, not taking money away from them.

I'm so down with the fans on this one . Like, what's the point of the FA Cup if we just gonna make it all about who's got the most cash? It's already hard enough for smaller clubs to compete, let's not throw them in at the deep end . And can we please keep that magic alive? It's what makes the tournament so special . Let's focus on supporting those lower-tier teams and giving 'em a fair shot instead of just handing it to the big boys .

Ugh, seeding the top-four teams into the FA Cup is just a money grab . I mean, what's next? Selling out the tournament to the highest bidder? The whole point of the FA Cup is to give smaller clubs a chance to shine against bigger opponents - it's what makes it so special . If they seed the top-four teams, you'll just get a bunch of blowouts and giant upsets will disappear . And don't even get me started on how demoralizing it would be for those smaller clubs who can't compete with all that financial power . Just give 'em some more funding and support down the pyramid and let them fight their own battles

I'm so worried about this ! If they seed the top-four Women's Super League sides into the FA Cup, it'll be like taking all the fun out of the competition . It's what makes the cup special - the underdog stories and upsets that make you go "wow!" What's wrong with a bit of unpredictability?

I mean, sure, it might bring in some extra cash for the FA, but is it really worth losing that unique magic? The top-four teams are already so dominant, I don't see why they need an advantage . It's like they're saying "we're too good to play against you" .

I love how the fans are speaking out and showing their disapproval . They know that if this happens, it'll just be another boring competition where one team dominates from start to finish . The FA should really listen to them and come up with a better solution, like giving more money to the lower tiers so they can compete fairly .

We need to preserve the spirit of the FA Cup, not crush it . It's what makes football special - the thrill of the unknown and the underdog stories . Let's keep the magic alive!

i think seeding top-four teams into the FA Cup is a bad idea... like what's the fun in watching a team from the lower leagues take down a super rich team from the top? it's already hard enough for smaller clubs to compete on equal grounds, adding more money and power to those already ahead of them would be devastating. i mean, we've seen some crazy upsets before - remember that time Charlton took down Swindon 10-0?! it's those unexpected moments that make the FA Cup so special!

I'm getting this vibe that we're talking about a system that's trying to balance progress with tradition, but might be neglecting the essence of what makes something special in the first place . The FA Cup is all about those epic upsets, right? Like Charlton's 10-0 thrashing of Swindon - it's just wild ! But at the same time, we gotta acknowledge that there might be some financial pressures at play here too . It's a tough call, but I think the FA should listen to the fans and explore ways to distribute more resources down the pyramid, so everyone can enjoy this beautiful game in its purest form .

OMG, seeding the top-four teams in the FA Cup is like ruining a good party ... I mean, what's the fun in that?! It's all about those upsets and giant killings, you know? Those are the moments that make the competition so exciting! By doing away with it, we'll just be left with a bunch of predictable matches that are, like, super boring . And don't even get me started on how it'll hurt the smaller clubs - they're already struggling to stay afloat financially . We need more support for them, not less!

I mean, I know some people might say it's all about revenue and stuff, but come on, can't we find other ways to make money without killing off the magic of the FA Cup? It's like they're saying the fans don't care about the "essence" of the competition, which is just not true! We love our FA Cup, and we want it to stay special and unpredictable. Let's listen to the fans and figure something else out !

I'm totally with the fans on this one seeding top-four teams in the FA Cup is a total recipe for disaster! It's all about removing the magic of upsets and giant-killing acts the current system is what makes the competition so special, and I'd hate to see it changed just for some extra cash

I mean, let's be real, the top-four teams already have a huge advantage over lower-tier clubs, and seeding them in would only make things worse adding more money and support down the pyramid is the way forward, IMHO