The Mail Bag
Wembley Idiocy
Comments (48)
So the've decided the Everton vs Man Utd game will take place on the Sunday rather than the Saturday... Which idiot thought that would be a good idea?
Living in London, this won't particularly affect me. It will, however, affect thousands of Everton (and Man Utd) fans who plan to travel down from the northwest for the game. They'll be stuck on the horribly slow Sunday trains and they'll have to rush back for work the next day.
It is almost unbelievable that nobody considered the possibility of hosting Chelsea vs Arsenal (two London teams) on the Sunday. After all, there should be none of the usual Sunday inconveniences for fans who mostly live within miles of Wembley.
Brian Richardson, Posted 11/03/2009 at 11:47:24
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Is kick off at 3pm? Or will it be 5:45???
Just wondering if the FA have thought about a time change for the final as well... maybe swapping Abide With Me to Let Me Entertain You would also be good...
Just wondering if the FA have thought about a time change for the final as well... maybe swapping Abide With Me to Let Me Entertain You would also be good...
Actually by the time the game is over, the trains will be back up to speed... still crazy but and a nightmare to book return tickets for if there is extra-time and penalties...
Its scheduled for a 4pm Kick-Off. TV companies pay the piper and the fans have to go along with it regardless.
Someone said somewhere why don?t the fans just boycott the game, yeah right! Big games are what we live for and the authorities realise that. God help us when in a few years time the masses from Asia and around the Globe start paying for TV coverage, as we?ll have Kick-Off?s at Midnight and beyond.
Virgin Trains has a direct train on the Sunday leaving at 8-ish to arrive 11am and return from Euston at 21:20 hrs, from £53.00 return.
Tickets though start at £25 which is extremely good. Surely that’s a typo on the OS.
Common sense would say the game is played Saturday but common sense is not in the FA vocabulary or that of the TV company ? that same one who fucked up and caused millions of people to miss our winner against The Shite ? that is hosting our game. I can't imagine they would miss United's winning goal now would they?
If I get a ticket then I'll be alright but I sympathise with all them coming down from Merseyside, it really is shambolic.
COYB FTRS
Stop fucking moaning. We?re at Wembley for God's sake, if we we?re playing at 9 o?clock on a Wednesday night, we?d still take all our tickets.
Besides that, I?ve a 50th do on the Friday so Sunday?s a great idea.
Besides that, I?ve a 50th do on the Friday so Sunday?s a great idea.
Don?t forget in all this that the game is only at Wembley for the FA to make money, nothing to do with adding status to the event. Many (Moyes included, I think) would say it detracts from the final itself.
It could have been played at the Reebok, but I think the City of Manchester Stadium would have been a good neutral venue ? easy enough for travelling blues and just as difficult as usual for the Mancs as all of their home games.
It could have been played at the Reebok, but I think the City of Manchester Stadium would have been a good neutral venue ? easy enough for travelling blues and just as difficult as usual for the Mancs as all of their home games.
Man U fans don't live in Manchester so it will be no problem for all the cockney reds to travel to the game on a Sunday!
Look at the positives:
There won't be nearly as much traffic on the Sunday so cars and coaches should find it easier.
There won't be nearly as much traffic on the Sunday so cars and coaches should find it easier.
It was a no-brainer it would be Everton v Man Utd on the Sunday. Why? Well the possibility for crowd trouble when these two sides meet is virtually guaranteed so it is much easier to have the majority travelling on the Sunday and thus avoiding two sets of supporters in London on a Saturday night.
The potential for trouble when all the bars and clubs are in full swing on a packed Saturday is far greater than it will be on Sunday when most fans will want to get off home.
This game's time and date will be because of the police taking a stand.
The potential for trouble when all the bars and clubs are in full swing on a packed Saturday is far greater than it will be on Sunday when most fans will want to get off home.
This game's time and date will be because of the police taking a stand.
That other semi-finalist, Brian, is Arsenal OR Hull v Chelsea, until advised otherwise. Don't get all Sky4 about it...
I actually think it makes more sense, the Saturday traffic, trains and cars are going to be a hell of a lot worse than on Sunday. Saturday both teams are from London so it shouldn’t be as mad as two teams from the North West trying to get into London on a Saturday morning.
Booked my train ticket already, they have started to go up too, £67 return
Booked my train ticket already, they have started to go up too, £67 return
Crap idea, Saturday would be the best day to travel as for most no work the next day. It will be a late night on Sunday and no recovery/celebration time. By the time we get back the pubs will be closed and we will be knackered.
I wonder if we will sell our allocation? If not it will be down to the time and day of the game.
Rather be there than not though.
I wonder if we will sell our allocation? If not it will be down to the time and day of the game.
Rather be there than not though.
We could play at midnight on a Thursday and still sell our allocation.
Stop moaning and enjoy the once in a lifetime trip.
Jenny above........I generally agree with you that there is a lot of moaning going on but you have to think how absurd it is to have two sets of fans travelling 350miles round trip because the new Wembley has to be paid for somehow.
I long for the old days of Hillsborough or Villa Park (or similar) for the semi’s and the reward being a Wembley day out.
Don’t get me wrong, I will be going to the semi with my sensible son (the other one supports Chelski for God’s sake, despite the beatings!), and hopefully, the final, too.
Good times again to be a blue and glad my little Toffeeman has got something to remember.
COYB!!!!!!!!!!!
I long for the old days of Hillsborough or Villa Park (or similar) for the semi’s and the reward being a Wembley day out.
Don’t get me wrong, I will be going to the semi with my sensible son (the other one supports Chelski for God’s sake, despite the beatings!), and hopefully, the final, too.
Good times again to be a blue and glad my little Toffeeman has got something to remember.
COYB!!!!!!!!!!!
"once in a lifetime" ???
I would think from the posters here alone that quite a few have been to Wembley before and if we somehow manage to win we will be back there the month after.
I would think from the posters here alone that quite a few have been to Wembley before and if we somehow manage to win we will be back there the month after.
Will the tickets only be available to season ticket holders?
I don?t live in the UK at the moment but I?ll be in London for the semi-final. Just want to know if anybody has any ideas on how flexible they?ll be...
I don?t live in the UK at the moment but I?ll be in London for the semi-final. Just want to know if anybody has any ideas on how flexible they?ll be...
On 19 April 2009 at Wembley, something is going to have to give, as Everton have last lost an FA Cup Semi-Final (Replay) in 1980 v West Ham at Elland Road and wait for it... the last time Man U lost an FA Cup Semi was 1966 against the mighty Blues.
So there you go ? something to hold on to for all those fearing the worst... how about young Rodders repeating Colin Harvey?s feat.
COYB
Spare a thought for all the kopites, travelling to their home games.
Sorry I meant to say the last time Man Utd lost a Semi without a replay which was 1966. The last time they lost at the Semi-Final stage was a 2nd replay in 1970 against Leeds Utd.
Sunday is a pain - but even more of a pain is a 4pm kick off. If it has to be Sunday because of policing / tv etc, then why can’t it have been 2 or 3pm. That would give more time to get back!
The more said about the idiocy that passes muster as the FA the better. Do they ever lift their noble brows to gaze quizzically northward at the badlands beyond Watford, other than at Manchester that is where its sleepless eye is ever trained? Or dare to venture on public transport? Apparently not.
It?s going to be chaos at Euston on the way back. Scousers and Mancs all trying to get onto trains at the same time although it could have been worse...
It?s going to be chaos at Euston on the way back. Scousers and Mancs all trying to get onto trains at the same time although it could have been worse...
Karen, don’t worry about Utd supporters at Euston: it’s easier for them to get a tube back to their homes in Ealing, Hammersmith, Islington and so on.
Bu the way folks, check with London Transport about the tube on the Saturday. Sundays can be a mare with works / restricted services.
Bu the way folks, check with London Transport about the tube on the Saturday. Sundays can be a mare with works / restricted services.
Look at positives, Man U who prefer flowing football will have a less quality pitch to play on after the Saturday match. This could help us win. Which is more important?
Pompey received 25,000 tickets for their semi-final last year.
As we have aprox 23,000 season ticket holders, it should be 1 ticket each and then 2,000 left over.
As we have aprox 23,000 season ticket holders, it should be 1 ticket each and then 2,000 left over.
It just comes down to money in the end. ITV have the Sunday game. And they know that even if United were playing the Winslow over-thirties, they would guarantee the bigger tv audience, which their paymasters the advertisers want. The only say the FA have is in choice of venue.
Take the Monday off. Treat yourself. Call my a pessimist, but you might not have the pleasure of a late night trip back from Wembley on a Sunday night for another few years... or fourteen.
The Sunday is better for me.
You shouldn?t be complaining, train tickets are about £20 cheaper on a Sunday than a Saturday!
I can?t go anyway as I have already booked to be on holiday that weekend ? shame cos its my birthday that day too!
I can?t go anyway as I have already booked to be on holiday that weekend ? shame cos its my birthday that day too!
Tony Marsh has got it spot on, that?s the exact reason why it will be played on a Sunday because the police will have been involved, hence the meeting with officials in London yesterday. And it is also a reason why, everytime we play Man Utd at Goodison now, it?s usually 12 o?clock kick-off, whether we are on Sky or Setanta.
Me, I?m not bothered, I?ll just take Monday off work and travel back then, make a long weekend of it.
An idea would be to drive to Milton Keynes train station (no charge for Sunday Parking) then take the short train journey into London. You?ll also miss traffic going into London. Yet again though this is another reason why the new Wemberlee should have been in Birmingham, but NO it?s all about bloody London isn?t it.
Man U on their site say they expect to receive an allocation of 32,000 tickets and their season ticket holders have to apply from 18 March 2008. So it will probably be similar for us, I would think.
Joe
Don?t assume there will be a regular service on Sunday from MK to Euston/ Wembley. London Midland frequently carry out engineering works on this day with reduced service / replacement buses.
Check out their website before doing this.
Better option would be to drive / park up at Watford Junction (big car park) ? more train services direct to Wembley Central or use other stations located in outlying (NW London) areas on the Met Line ? but you also need to check the TfL website for week end planned closures. Again this happens on this line more often than not.
There are very wide ranging parking controls on match days in the Wembley area.
I?m OK ? he says smugly ? as I live 5 miles from Wembley. But I am still not guaranteed a ticket!
Having said all that, it's still a farce to have the SF at Wembley
Don?t assume there will be a regular service on Sunday from MK to Euston/ Wembley. London Midland frequently carry out engineering works on this day with reduced service / replacement buses.
Check out their website before doing this.
Better option would be to drive / park up at Watford Junction (big car park) ? more train services direct to Wembley Central or use other stations located in outlying (NW London) areas on the Met Line ? but you also need to check the TfL website for week end planned closures. Again this happens on this line more often than not.
There are very wide ranging parking controls on match days in the Wembley area.
I?m OK ? he says smugly ? as I live 5 miles from Wembley. But I am still not guaranteed a ticket!
Having said all that, it's still a farce to have the SF at Wembley
it's a load of bollocks and would all the ?once in a lifetime? beauts stop swallowing the hype. It should never be at Wembley and a late Sunday kick-off just adds insult to injury.
The three London clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd, must be laughing; the FA and TV companies obviously think footy fans are knobheads and some of the posts on here prove it. I?d rather play the Mancs at City's ground. It's a con and a load of shite ? prepare to be mugged!
A gang of us are going down in a limo and it?s only costing £50 each. That works out cheaper and is better than worrying about train times etc.
I’ve just managed to change the timings of a meeting I have in Finland on Monday 20th April to allow me to now travel on Monday morning instead of Sunday night so I get to see the match.
Priorites are priorities.
Priorites are priorities.
It’s my 40th on the Sunday so my wife has had to cancel the ’surprise’ party! priceless.
Personally i think sundays great, coz i have to work on the saturday :)
I have to work that Saturday so I’m pleased it’s Sunday.
Shame the kick off is not at 3pm though.
We are on an incredible run of Sunday games though - and with all the Monday nights, Saturday lunchtimes and tea times etc, we have only kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday 9 times this season out of 29 weekends- Blackburn, WBA & Pompey were all in August leaving only the games against Arsenal in October, West Ham in November, Man City in December, Hull in January, Bolton in February and Stoke in March.
One Saturday 3pm kick off a month Home or Away all season long and April and May are lining up the same way.
TV really does rule and us supporters have no choice I am afraid.
Shame the kick off is not at 3pm though.
We are on an incredible run of Sunday games though - and with all the Monday nights, Saturday lunchtimes and tea times etc, we have only kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday 9 times this season out of 29 weekends- Blackburn, WBA & Pompey were all in August leaving only the games against Arsenal in October, West Ham in November, Man City in December, Hull in January, Bolton in February and Stoke in March.
One Saturday 3pm kick off a month Home or Away all season long and April and May are lining up the same way.
TV really does rule and us supporters have no choice I am afraid.
Look at the positives... we?re in the FA Cup Semi-Final!
Well that?s me fucked... no suitable flights that take into account possible extra time and any chance of getting home to Northern Ireland for work on Monday. I am a goodison regular along with many other from the Northern Ireland Supporters Club and many of us are now screwed... at least I got to the Liverpool, Villa and Boro games... hope the rest of you enjoy it!!!!!!! Bummer....
Anthony Dyer - Fortunately Asia are 6-8 hours ahead of UK - so actually a 3.00pm kick off time works pretty well for those watching in bars or at home in Hong Kong (10pm or 11pm). Asia already pays for TV - but fortunately Asia is a force for earlier kick-offs. Midnight kick off in the UK is 7.00 or 8.00am in Hong Kong - not too useful!
One good thing about playing on the Sunday is that the pitch may have taken a lot of hammer from the previous day's semi, and the ballerina?s from Manure may find it difficult. COYB
Anyone know how to get tickets if not a season ticket holder? Do they normally go on general sale or do they all get swallowed up by the fat corporate crowd?
Thanks David Ellis for your guide on Asian time zones. So a 12:45 Kick off here in the UK would be between 7 and 9pm in Asia. But a 4pm Kick off time would be around Midnight, whilst a 5-30pm KO would be in the wee small hours.
So why do we have all these strange kick off times if not for a mass overseas market?
It would seem that all PL games could KO at 1pm on a Saturday and it would still be peak viewing time for the Asian market.
Based soley on the Asian time zones there is absolutley no reason for all these strange KO times.
So why do we have all these strange kick off times if not for a mass overseas market?
It would seem that all PL games could KO at 1pm on a Saturday and it would still be peak viewing time for the Asian market.
Based soley on the Asian time zones there is absolutley no reason for all these strange KO times.
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1 Posted 11/03/2009 at 10:44:16
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Getting to Goodison on a Sunday by public transport is a pain... lord knows what going to London is going to be like. We all hope that we see the Blues run out at Wembley on a Saturday in May.