Sorry mate, Mark wasn't happy just at the prospect of going out if a third match was missed, never mind when it actually occurred !
Fact is that if any manager had zero blackmarks against them they could have every match not played and they wouldn't be punished but once they have a blackmark it all changes. The alternative is to reduce the blackmarks to two (which would be a disaster as anyone going on holiday would automatically be kicked out) or to carry on until one manager "earns" 3 black marks all on their own.
The problem with that scenario is it is conceivable that 7 weeks can be added just to the first round that way, and with the potential (heck the odds on certainty based on past seasons !) for extra weeks being required in later rounds the comp then goes from fitting easily into the season to potentially overrunning. Throw in the arguments as managers try to defend three blackmarks against them (it has happened before !) and ultimately everyone loses.
This way at least the comp remains relatively smooth running and the other teams don't sit waiting for a month or more between games ()by which time half forget and that causes a whole new batch of catch up games).
Simple trick is to never be to blame for a match failing, the majority of managers manage it all the time. Just unfortunate that the draw produced the "group of flakes" (
) with 3 managers incapable of getting it right
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