Sunday 10 January 2016 23:39, UK
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew feels the FA Cup will continue to be 'devalued' if the authorities do not have a rethink about the way it is scheduled.
A number of Premier League sides fielded weakened line-ups in their third round matches over the weekend and that has led to claims the competition is being made less relevant.
Pardew admitted he would have considered resting more players had Palace been struggling at the wrong end of the table, but he is targeting a trophy thanks to their positive first half of the season and was pleased with the 2-1 win over Southampton on Saturday.
"We're all a bit conscious that for the teams down the bottom it's tough to have a cup game like this off the back of the Christmas programme," he said.
"I keep saying, and I've said it before, that the third round needs to be moved. I don't think it's fair for the competition.
"Obviously our selection was strong because of our league position, but if I was down at the bottom I would be really thinking about Tuesday (a league fixture at Aston Villa) more than I did.
"It devalues the competition. They should really look at the scheduling, maybe put it back a bit or put it before the Christmas programme. Or do something that gives the FA Cup a little bit more respect."
Pardew has positive memories of the FA Cup and feels this season might be the one that sees Palace win the competition for the first time in their history.
He was part of the Eagles side beaten by Manchester United in the 1990 final and manager of the West Ham squad that went down on penalties to Liverpool in 2006.
"This team has the qualities to go to the final, there's no doubt about that," Pardew added. "I've seen teams get there who haven't got the technical quality or the tenacity or the spirit of this group.
"You still need luck, and anyone who has won it will tell you that you need the luck of the draw a little bit and also a little bit of fortune on the day. As resilient and tenacious as we were [at Southampton], we had a bit of luck but we go on to the next game.
"Unless I get dragged into that bottom four or five [of the Premier League], it will be my strongest team in every round. I want to win it."
