FA CUP Semi Final Lunacy

The FA through all its incompetence has decided that the FA Cup Semi-Final tomorrow between Liverpool and Everton should kick off at 12:45. No thought has been spared for the average punters who will all have to leave Merseyside on Grand National Day during the small hours of the morning to slog all the way to Wembley. We all know that the FA doesn't give a **** about the poor bastard supporters that pay their money but to arrange an early kick-off for this fixture at Wembley is just madness even by FA standards!

Being an unashamed traditionalist, I am totally against the FA Cup semi-finals being played at Wembley in the first place. The magic, mystique and allure of the final itself has been taken away by playing both Semi's at Wembley. The most obvious venue for tomorrow's game would be to use Old Trafford and for the Chelsea/Spurs fixture to be played at the Emirates. The good old days when we played at Villa Park and Highbury for the semi's brought about a nervous excitement of anticipation for the players and the fans alike. The Wembley semi-finals have destroyed all of this for the sake of increased revenues from the TV companies.

When was the last time anyone actually bothered to watch the final on TV?

 

I can't see how in the enviromental rules that every company has to stick to, can the FA say its ok for 80000 merseysiders to travel 300 odd miles to a game when there is a ground not more than 50 miles away that can be a more than suitable alternative. just think of the police present that will be needed at moterway services and such like.

Now about the timings, why when you want 2 teams that have to travel 300 odd miles do you say that they kick-off at lunchtime!!!!!!!!!!!! then have 2 london teams on the piss all of sunday to kick-off in the evening!!!!!!!!!!!!

i must have missed the story that Simon Clegg had a job at the FA!

 

I don't care if they use Wembley for the semis, if it's London or southern clubs then fine. A northern and a southern club then use Villa Park or Old Trafford or whatever... but getting the scousers to traipse all the way down to London is ludicrous, just as ludicrous as forcing Chelsea to play on the Sunday.

 

He is the FA's special advisor on turnstyle paint!

 

I totally agree warky, total greed for the wembley owners. And for me, the FA cup has totally lost all of it's allure and magic. It's just another money making scheme for the coffers of the FA.
The last time i genuinely watched the FA cup final, was back in 88 for Liverpool v Wimbledon. In fact, i can honestly say i havn't the foggiest who the holders are, and any of the winners since then.

 

The last FA Cup final I watched was the epic final between Liverpool and West Ham. A brilliant final I have to admit but tbh since then I just can't be bothered. Its a bit like supporting England these days, I just don't have any enthusiasm in supporting them at all!

 

As we have all known for a long while, Football has gone to hell in a hand-cart over a few pieces of silver! Old Trafford would have been the preferred venue for tomorrow bearing in mind the fans and indeed the players.

 

There is actually a reason for the Liverpool - Everton match being on tomorrow at 12.45.
It was agreed that it would not be played on Sunday due to it being the anniversary of Hillsborough. Liverpool have requested that none of their games are ever played on the 15/04 as a point of respect. Given that televised matches are not allowed to clash with normal league matches then the only options were 12.45 or 5.30 tomorrow or totally rearranged for another weekend.
The idea of playing them all at Wembley is 1 I dont like but when you own a stadium that does **** all most of the year, why pay the likes of Villa, Man Utd, Man City etc to hire theirs when yours is otherwise empty. It makes sense to play them at Wembley.
For me, the only bizarre idea is the 18.00 sunday kick off for the other match.

 

JWM,

Another reason is they have to drag in as much money as possible to pay off the cost of rebuilding the place......