Date set for FA Cup clash against Man City or Notts County

[spangley1812]

from Pravda

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2283444,00.html

[Villa'Zawg]

Thanks spangley

"Villa will face either Manchester City or Notts County in the FA Cup on Wednesday March 2.

The fifth round tie, in which Gerard Houllier's men face a trip to either Eastlands or Meadow Lane, is set to be screened live on ITV1, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Due to the forthcoming international break and Man City's Europa League commitments, the fourth round replay between Villa's prospective opponents has been set for Sunday February 20 [ko 2pm].

Villa booked their spot in the fifth round with 3-1 victories over Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.

Kyle Walker, Marc Albrighton and Stiliyan Petrov scored to seal a win over United at Bramall Lane in the third round.

Then, in round four, goals from Ciaran Clark, Robert Pires and Nathan Delfouneso meant Villa swept Rovers aside at Villa Park.

The claret and blues enjoyed a terrific run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season, eliminating Blackburn, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Reading along the way, before losing to Chelsea at Wembley.

Stay tuned to the official website for ticket news for the FA Cup fifth round clash"

[Monty]

A Wednesday. Bit ridiculous, no? Isn't their replay being played on the same day as the ties from the next round, meaning the winner plays two rounds of the Cup in a week or something like that? One way or another, the scheduling for this has been farcical.

[5ft811st2 Durham]

We'll have had the 6th round draw by then. Pathetic.

[Pete3206]

Looking forward to it. Night game, a few beers. Should be a good atmosphere.

[Chris Jameson]

Can't believe that people wonder why the FA Cup attracts such pitiful attendances.

[PaulWinch again]

Wednesday? that's a bit strange.

[villajk]

Does anybody, anywhere within football give a flying fig about the inconvenience to supporters?  Ever?

[Lobsterboy]

So on that basis we are already in the hat for the 6th round draw?

[Sister of Top Cat]

TC and I were going to go to this one.  Oh well, looks like it'll be an evening with Clive Tyldesley on ITV instead.

[Bad English]

What about "due to Citeh's FA Cup commitments, the Europa Money-making for UEFA scheme League could actually fuck off and play at a time that doesn't cause inconvenience to Villa fans"?

[The Walshmeister]

Shit date, shit time.............not happy!

[cumgetus]

might be in our fav as just  look on sky
if it is man city there due to play fulham on the monday nite then us on the weds
 

[frank]

A Wednesday. Bit ridiculous, no? Isn't their replay being played on the same day as the ties from the next round, meaning the winner plays two rounds of the Cup in a week or something like that? One way or another, the scheduling for this has been farcical.

If the tie goes to a replay, it'll presumably be played at Villa Park on March 9th, and it's difficult to see how the arrangements can be made for the 6th round just 3 days later. If there's no replay, there will be a week and a half, which is fair enough.
But the whole thing's a mess: the FA's scheduling and UEFA's determination to fit in as many matches as possible. As usual, the supporters are the last people to be considered. For me, living in Sussex, another midweek trip to (probably) Manchester is obviously inconvenient and expensive, but it'll also be very difficult for those of you in the Birmingham area. It'll be impossible to get a train back unless you miss the second half, so it'll mean coach travel, a late-night drive or an overnight stay. Who loses out? The fans. Who gains? TV, the clubs and the FA/UEFA.
By the way, I expect you've noticed that there's a full programme of PL matches on Cup Final day: another example of incompetent scheduling.

[bones.]

If theres a replay it will probably be played on the 6th rd weekend just as the Man City v Notts County replay is being played on the 5th rd weekend, I think the game on monday night that Man City have v  Fulham can be moved to sunday even though its scheduled for tv and the cup final is being played on that date because of Wembley needing a certain amount of time to prepare for the Champs league final wotsit. All in all badly organised any way you look at it unless of course your an accountant, but sadly money 1st, people last, is the way of the football world.