FA Cup - The Road To Wembley - We Made it to The Final

Is it anxiety about everyone getting a ticket though or anxiety about getting the best tickets? I suspect it’s the latter for most really. ST holders deserve priority and first pick but the +1 thing would be a joke if it carries on for the final. I can’t see why I (Cat A home) should have to miss out on a more reasonably priced and positioned lower tier seat, as I did for the semi, because ST holders were allowed to boost their Cat C pals into the lively seats behind the goal.

The only reasonable exception I can see would be if the system was clever enough to pick up on parents wanting to take younger kids with them who aren’t in the higher categories but do have recent buying history. But it doesn’t seem to be.

I think it’d be better if the club allows couple of days of exclusive buying for ST holders as their friends’ categories go on sale. Something like:

ST holders
ST holders with a Cat A as well
Cat A
ST holders with a Cat A/B as well
Cat B
ST holders with a Cat A/B/C as well
Cat C

I should think that way ST holders would still be guaranteed a seat but would have to decide between using their priority to get the best seats or being happy to wait so they sit further back with their family and friends.

 

Just popped over to bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk to see their thoughts.

Wow. What an arrogant and vile bunch they are over there. Reading the spurs post match thread they think it's a foregone conclusion that they're through.

And in one about us, they have an unhealthy obsession with Troy. Not sure why they hate him or us so much. Very strange. What you get when a bunch of inbred neanderthals learn how to type.

Obviously most of them are guaranteed premier League jonny-come-latelys with no idea of where they were a few years ago in the depths of league 2!

Pretty sad and laughable really.

Still want them to win the league mind!

#anyonebutliverpool

 

Yes we've got Box Park and the Green Man again!

 

It’s a Manchester thing. Arrogant, tosspot swagger exaggerated by Liam Gallagher and subsequently adopted by all. That and the fact it took a mere 4-5 years of success for the supposedly humble City fans to one up their neighbours in the obnoxious, ****head stakes. They were ****s when they visited earlier in the season.

PS. We will, of course, be cockneys for the day.

 

Sunday was such an incredible day. It's such a shame it doesn't last longer.

Right now, I just don't want the final to come, I just want to soak up the respect we'll get from the media, the warm wishes from rival fans (ok fans who want the underdog to win or to see City fail), and the excitement as it builds to the 18th May. For me, this is the best part.

I remember vividly the build up in 1984. Watford were being talked about everywhere. I know the FA Cup isn't carried in such high esteem these days, but locally it will still be the talk of the town. Shops will adorn the colours and there will be Watford themed novelties everywhere. I just love it.

The build up is better than the actual match, well it certainly was in '84. Can we actually win it this time? Well of course we can, but a lot depends on how City play. They've always been a bit too clever for us, and have also got all the controversial decisions go their way in past recent matches.

This time it could be different. City are not looking quite the force they were earlier in the season. They seem to be stumbling through games. This City side, the way they are playing currently, I'd fancy Watford against them. Hopefully they will not be quite on form when we play them. Wigan have beaten them in their past 3 FA Cup meetings, including the final. There's no reason for us not to believe we can do it either.

 

I've been trying to work out what state we want Man City in by the time the final comes round.

Do we want them having the distraction of a Champions League final a fortnight later? Or out of that competition already with the quadruple gone?
Do we want them to win the league or not?
Do we want them to get through against Spurs next week so they have at least two more games than us between now and then?

I think if Liverpool win the league, especially if it's decided on the final day, and they've got the CL final to come, their players won't be as interested in the FA Cup. That might give us our best chance.

 

HB1 - saw this and thought you might be interested in the tactical analysis:

https://zonalmista.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/a-plan-with-some-magic/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

Excellent idea...submit it as an idea to the club immediately & it might percolate through for the NEXT time we're at a Wembley semi/final...

Seriously though, I think the timetable you've submitted is as equitable as could be proposed.

 

Good point, if they're still on for the quadruple it will be difficult for us. On Saturday and last night it seems they are wobbling again.

If they qualify for the CL final bearing in mind that in the 20 days between the end of the PL season and the CL Final, they will only have one competitive match to stay match fit. In my opinion our best chance will be if they fail to win the PL and get knocked out of the CL.

 

Disagree on the CL bit - City would definitely have players wary of not getting injured in the FA Cup Final with the CL Final on the horizon.

 

Yes I agree. I would prefer them to be involved in everything right to the last minute and certainly still thinking of the CL final when they play the FA cup final. Hopefully a few injuries too.

 

It's just a bit of a bummer it's a full fortnight away this season. I'm sure in the past there have been times it's been less than a week afterwards.

 

I think it's to do with the fact that the domestic league in some countries finish later than ours. Spain is notoriously late.


Edit: Just checked Wikipedia, La Liga's and Serie A's final round of matches is 26th May.

 

Exactly the same position as you, tough trying to weigh up which you love more.

 

Much as I don't wish an injury on any player, it's a shame that Kane got injured last night as opposed to say Delph or Sterling for that matter

 

City actually have quite a tough run in before the Cup final, certain for the rest of this month at least.

14/4 Palace (a )
17/4 Spurs (CL) (h )
20/4 Spurs (h )
24/4 Man Utd (a )
28/4 Burnley (a )
30/4 Champions League S/F
4/5 Leicester (h )
7/5 Champions League S/F
12/5 Brighton (a )
18/5 Watford (Wembley)
1/6 Champions League final (maybe)

If they get past Spurs, then it looks like their match at Burnley will have to be rearranged, although I'm not sure when they would be able to play it. Maybe they will switch it back to Saturday 27th April.

Either way, it looks like an exhausting run of games. The only time they get nearly a week off is the lead up to the FA Cup final. Other than that they are playing 2 games per week if they go all the way in the CL.

 

When do they announced how many tickets we get?

 

I can offer some comfort here. I truly believe in - if it's our time then it will happen. I personally think it could well be. The way we got through against Wolves, the way things went our way against Palace tells me there is something good about to happen.

But if we do lose, then you can console yourself by saying it just wasn't our moment. That's the only way you can look at cup competitions.

 

We won't be favourites but we absolutely have a chance of winning. Maybe about 1 in 10 ? Unlikely but certainly not impossible. We've all seen games where a team has 5 shots against an opponents 25 shots and somehow wins. 98% of the time it's Burnley !

 

In the moment it wasn't our moment. We go again.

 

I'd prefer them to come into the game thinking they are unbeatable.....

 

This is Mr IBB's theory,when I asked him if we had a chance.
He thought the sheer number of games and the emotional intensity of fighting for two (CL and PL ) elite prizes will drain them.
Having bought my physio at least two cars over 30 plus years with fees paid to him*,I wouldn't wish injury on anyone. However I have instructed Mr IBB to ask his players to not to wimp out in the tackling stakes!
* Not to mention the late, great Peggy P,rest her soul.

 

What I would want is for City to get past Spurs, and the PL goes to the final match. This way they will be forced to play a strong team, twice a week until the end of the season. The sheer fatigue and emotional rollercoaster of something like that could be a major factor.

However, I'm a bit concerned that the CL final is not until 1st June, which gives them plenty of time to recover. Meaning playing their strongest side in the Cup final is highly likely.

You just have to hope, the sheer volume of high pressure matches will take its toll and players are either not fit or a few are injured.

 

I don't mind undertaking the 'mad women with the missiles' in 'The Blues Brothers' role?

 

Yesterday.

 

Yes, this. I do believe that the CL final would be on their minds even if a full team is played and perhaps a bit of complacency/ not wanting to get injured may work in our favour.
Listen we aren't going to outplay them, whoever they play and whatever happens in the other comps. But if we can keep the ratio of their chances to ours no more than about 2:1 maybe 3:1, (and play our best keeper ), we will have a chance.

 

We can beat anyone on our day, apart from Liverpool and Man City.

We are in for a merciless thrashing.

 

They have such a strong squad I don't think anyone could agree on what Man City's best team is anyway.

 

What will you do if it’s not season ticket plus 1?

 

same here mate , if i cant land a ticket then prob watch it in walkabout or something like that!

 

I like your thinking, the proximity to the pond is good.

 

winning goal:
1984 - Andy Gray
2019 - Andre Gray