FA Cup 3rd Round Blackpool (H)

[PeterWithesShin]

I never got why they didn't just in it and just field the reserves. Clubs were already fielding weakened teams in cups and I think it was only round 3 they missed.

[DeKuip]

Competition rules allow only for the first team to enter and they couldn't be in two places at once. You can play reserve team players but they would be representing the first team.

[silhillvilla]

Alex Ferguson brought the trophy to it's knees and it's still not properly recovered. No thanks to the TV firms either.

Oh come on. Are we still blaming shit FA Cup attendances on a one-off decision forced on Man Utd? Really?

They started the diminutive cycle. Since then there have been a series of contributing factors. The Beeb are on overdrive to try and reignite the magic, hope they do some good.

[cdbearsfan]

As I said, had Man U refused to enter the World Club Cup, they'd have been hung out to dry for costing England the World Cup hosting rights. I don't think we can attribute too much blame to Man U, on this occasion.

"Man U ruined the FA Cup by withdrawing" is second only to "the Council banned Christmas" for ludicrous myths that get trotted out at this time of year.

[silhillvilla]

Point taken.
Yet all along what chance did we really have of landing the WC 2006??

[cdbearsfan]

None whatsoever. Shouldn't have gone back on the deal we made with Germany.

But nobody was saying that at the time, so Man U would've been castigated had they not travelled to Brazil.

[exigo]

Sunday Jan 4th. 3pm. Not on TV.

[Dave]

FFs that is the Sunday before most schools and work folk will go back to work on Monday 5th Jan. !!

Is it particularly different to the 50 or so other Sundays in the year when people have work and school the following day?

Yes. It's the Sunday at the back end of the Christmas holidays. Second only to the Sunday at the end of the long summer break.

I think you'll find that most people who work are back on January 2nd, not January 5th. And do many people apart from teachers and schoolchildren have a 'long summer break'?

And even if everybody did, what difference does it actually make? Because you have to go to work the following day rather than two days later, does that mean you have to sit at home and mentally prepare yourself rather than going to a football match?

[Pete3206]

Some people like myself, prefer a Saturday kick off, so I can leave the car at home and have a couple of extra beers afterwards, without having to think about going home early because I have work the next day. But, looking at the fixture list over the festive period, it does make sense to move to the Sunday.

[Dave]

Some people like myself, prefer a Saturday kick off, so I can leave the car at home and have a couple of extra beers afterwards, without having to think about going home early because I have work the next day.

I can fully understand that sentiment. I'd be far more likely to go to a Saturday game than a Sunday game for that very reason.

It's the fact that it is somehow worse because having to go work on Monday 5th January after a Sunday game is apparently massively different to all the other 'going to work on Mondays' that happen after all the other Sunday games which I find ridiculous.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

FFs that is the Sunday before most schools and work folk will go back to work on Monday 5th Jan. !!

Is it particularly different to the 50 or so other Sundays in the year when people have work and school the following day?

Yes. It's the Sunday at the back end of the Christmas holidays. Second only to the Sunday at the end of the long summer break.

I think you'll find that most people who work are back on January 2nd, not January 5th. And do many people apart from teachers and schoolchildren have a 'long summer break'?

And even if everybody did, what difference does it actually make? Because you have to go to work the following day rather than two days later, does that mean you have to sit at home and mentally prepare yourself rather than going to a football match?

Since I've retired I've made a point of getting up "as usual" on Mondays...I then go downstairs, make a cuppa and go back to bed to do the Grauniad crossword/s. It's Hell. But all part of my preparation for the gruelling day/week ahead.
So...yes!

UTV!

Up the workers!

[saunders_heroes]

What the hell is this game kicking off on a Sunday for when it's not on the telly?
I was looking forward to a sat 3pm kick off on FA Cup 3rd round day. Jeez!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I think it's because we play on Thursday Jan 1st.

[SoccerHQ]

Yep the problem is PL matches on the Thursday even if it's NYD.

[adrenachrome]

To get a crowd above the 20K mark, I surmise the club may well have to sell tickets for 8 blackjacks and a gobby.