You think so Libby? I'm not so sure. I won't say it was against any single club, but it was deliberate decision-making. Friday night games are not new btw. I can quote you Premier League games that were Friday night from years ago. A Newcastle game when Jenas was playing springs to mind. If it's about ratings why weren't they engineered to help CL clubs back then? And why were they stopped? Like I say it's not about it being anti-United or anti-Arsenal, but it was an advantage we could've done with when it was available.
The annoying one is Sat night. Most wives want to go out Saturday. Instant argument and cold shoulder right there.
When this tv game was arranged there was no CL fixture to speak of, or are you suggesting they shouldn't have put any of the four sides tonight just in case? I don't see any change in policy and like I say I think the PL have little say on it anyway.
Yeah there has been Friday night games previously but before last season there hadn't been any for at least 5 seasons so they were relatively new in that sense. The Premier League have never been and won't be interested in helping clubs in Europe as it doesn't benefit them, same with the international side.
Aside from the fact I was merely having a dig at my scouse pals with the coincidence bit, I should point our that our game is at 16.30 on Sunday. Thia was also made before we got knocked out, and would not have been changed if we'd got through. Ergo, the premier league and TV companies do not usually help champions league teams.
Our game against Liverpool next weekend has been switched from Sat to Sun for TV, then back to Sat but at 7:45pm as Liverpool are playing CL semi on following Tuesday. Its now going to cost me close to 500quid for two tickets, trains and hotel for me and my son to get there from Mcr. Still it will be money well spent if we can win the eternal gratitude of the English footballing public by finally ending their title hopes.
Thats my point and they haven't purposely done it here. You're playing Chelsea which is probably why you have the late Sunday slot as I think it's the most watched and considered the 'prime' one.
But the previous 12-15 years they had been. If TV ratings play their part, there's no reason why we couldn't have had the same. Whether it was to help us or not. Tbh I haven't looked at the last few seasons but the number of Sunday games United played during the Fergie years was ridiculous. Once again purely TV ratings. Personally, there's something about the Saturday 3pm kick off I like, especially if I'm going to the game. But that's a separate thing.
I'm not keeping a year by year record so that may be true. If as Libby says Friday night games have returned after a 5 year gap, then I can remember games at least as far back as 12 years to that. If there were gaps in between then fair enough. But the wider point is that if it is all down to TV ratings then there's no reason why it shouldn't have applied then as well when CL games were due.
