“What’s the maximum number of games that an English league club could theoretically play in one season,” asks @jamesv_t.Adam W starts us off with some linear, perfectly sensible thinking. “By my calculations, assuming they reach the finals of all three cup competitions they are in and need replays where possible in the FA Cup, Wolves could play 74 games this season (38 PL, eight FA Cup, six League Cup, 22 Europa League).”Some lateral thinking from Andy Brook. “I think a League One team can play 78 matches if they reach the finals of the play-offs, FA Cup (with replays in every round), League Cup and Football League Trophy, “ he says. “They would start all cup competitions in the first round, of course. Although thinking further, that team could have theoretically won the FA Cup the previous season. In which case, they’d have the Community Shield and a bunch of Europa League matches too.” Original asker @jamesv_t goes yet further into the unknown and almost certainly impossible. “If a League One team had won the FA Cup two years previously, and the Europa League/FA Cup last season, could they not have Champions League football too? Maybe dropping down to Europa League after the group stage?”Finally, Brook returns to break it all down for us: “Season one: wins Champions League but relegated to Championship. Season two: retains Champions League, wins FA Cup but relegated to League One. Season three: competes in League One and makes playoffs, FA Cup, League Cup, EFL Trophy, Champions League, Community Shield, Super Cup and World Club Cup!“Working it out: Football League regular-season matches 46, playoffs three, FA Cup 12, League Cup six (I assume they’d start in the third round due to European competitions), EFL Trophy eight. Champions League group six. They finish third and enter the Europa League to play nine further games. Plus Community Shield for one game, Uefa Super Cup for another game, World Club Cup adds two more games. Which makes 94 (ninety-four)!”Pep Guardiola, it’s over to you.
