Games Moved for TV

[Somniloquism]

Why does the whole of Saturday need to be blocked off for what nowadays has become an evening kick-off? Maybe just have the Saturday games kick off a little earlier so that there can still be some build-up to the final.

Because of an agreement that the FA and PL reached that no games would happen the day of, or the day before the final for the next 6 years. Obviously the agreement has already been broken though. IF the only reason that Manure/Chelsea is on the Friday before is because the Women's  FA Cup final, then the FA need to not have it the same weekend as the Mens Final which would have solved that straight away.

[eamonn]

But then the Euros going on into the middle of July last summer presumably stopped the season starting any earlier than it did.

Cue the David Mitchell sketch about "all the football, all the time, it never ends" that Sky parodied recently.

[cdbearsfan]

But then the Euros going on into the middle of July last summer presumably stopped the season starting any earlier than it did.

Not really, we didn't start until 17th August. The FA Cup Final has been held last game of the season plenty of times when there has been a tournament the following summer. They could easily have had the FA Cup Final last game, but have chosen not to do so due to twattery.

[Percy McCarthy]

I can go now and I’ve just bought a ticket. It’s an ill wind etc.

[Crown Hill]

But then the Euros going on into the middle of July last summer presumably stopped the season starting any earlier than it did.

Not really, we didn't start until 17th August. The FA Cup Final has been held last game of the season plenty of times when there has been a tournament the following summer. They could easily have had the FA Cup Final last game, but have chosen not to do so due to twattery.

Suspect it’s due to playoff games being held at Wembley the week after but then they should have scheduled the EFL games better.

[LeeB]

I can go now and I’ve just bought a ticket. It’s an ill wind etc.

Just you or the kids as well?

[Drummond]

Is it just me that feels completely disengaged about the rest of the season because of this switch? Feels like an overreaction, and perhaps it's because it's on the back the Champions League and FA Cup exits but that's the last chance of going to a game gone.

[Percy McCarthy]

I can go now and I’ve just bought a ticket. It’s an ill wind etc.

Just you or the kids as well?

Just me. Only odd seats dotted about.

[martyn ellis]

My seat's now available for sale - thanks to the rearrangements.

[rougegorge]

I am not sure if this has been noted elsewhere, but this may be handy for planning ahead for next season. Due to the Europa League involvement, we will definitely be playing league games on a Sunday (or maybe the Monday) on the following dates:

October 5th
October 26th
November 9th
November 30th
December 14th
January 25th
February 1st

The first round of Europa League games is split over Wed September 24th and Thurs September 25th, so it isn't definite yet that we would play on Sunday 28th September.

For any knockout rounds we make, the Sunday league dates would then be:

February 22nd
March 1st

March 15th
March 22nd

April 12th
April 19th

May 3rd
May 10th

[eamonn]

So that's 15 out of 38 games if we go all the way. Plus being picked by TV for other Sunday/Monday/Friday (?) games, it could leave us with less than 10 Saturday games all season, maybe only 5 or 6 at Villa Park..

[cdbearsfan]

If we have a decent run in the Europa League, I'd be amazed if we had as many as five or six home league games on a Saturday.

[SoccerHQ]

If we have a decent run in the Europa League, I'd be amazed if we had as many as five or six home league games on a Saturday.

We had  four in the first half of last season, Wolves, Bournemouth, Palace, Southampton and Brighton would've been a Sun 3pm kick off but had to be moved due to them not playing on Boxing Day.

Ipswich was the only Sat 3pm in second half of the season.

Going to be very rare next season, at least all Sun 2pm games are being shown live on TV which is well overdue.

[Lsvilla]

I think I read that ManU had one Saturday 3pm home game all season. Not checked whether that's true.

[eamonn]

Maybe that's why they're crap, poor luvs.